Email marketing is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most effective marketing campaigns that can be executed on the internet. If done correctly, email marketing costs next to nothing to undertake in comparison to the usual rate of return. This is partly why it is so popular. However, many people make mistakes when executing the actual campaign, which renders the advantages of email marketing redundant. Therefore, in order to prevent you making email marketing blunders, I have complied a list of common ‘faux pa’s’ and the ways in which you can avoid them.
- The Advantages of Double Opt In’s
You’ve probably heard of the term ‘opt in’. An ‘opt in’ recipient has actually given you consent to email them. For example, you may develop a list of ‘opt in’ emails by having a newsletter form or subscribe form on your website. However, what makes an email list really effective is when the email recipient accepts your email by ticking a box or emailing back. This is called a ‘double opt in’, and it means that you will gain full confirmation that the person or the people you are emailing are interested in what you have to say, which makes the potential for your email campaign is invaluable. Do whatever you can to develop an opt in mailing list. This involves having a method of gaining an email list, and then executing a tactic that gets the people on your list to willingly accept more emails from you.
- Distinguish Persistence from Spam
There is a fine line between frequent emailing and spam. Whilst it is perfectly acceptable to frequently update and send emails to your audience, it is not acceptable to over clutter their email inbox with worthless information and advertisements. In fact, even if your emails are very interesting, you should limit the amount you send. This is because people do not want to have their lives taken under siege by constant notifications, advertisements and offers that only waste mail box space. It will make you seem like a ‘pest’ and it will often prevent your audience from opening your emails, with some of them opting out.
- Always Be Professional
It is absolutely crucial to be as professional as possible in your emails. It is what makes your audience take you seriously, and ultimately believe what you’re trying to tell or sell them. You can make your emails more professional by having your emails graphically designed by freelancers. Having properly designed emails make you look serious, professional and more established than you actually are. It is also crucial to have good copy writing, which is the writing developed for advertising and marketing purposes, done correctly. If you cannot develop good content to put in your emails, try to hire a freelance writer. Freelancers can be massively helpful when developing email marketing campaigns, and they can be found on outsourcing websites such as oDesk, Freelancer and Guru.
Building an email list is a difficult task it needs to be continually reinforced by quality content that adds to the readers experience and not only keeps them coming back but it will keep them interested in your site and what you have to say. If you are successful in compiling a targeted email list that are actively interested in what you have to say you will soon find that affiliate marketing can reach a whole new level. Where all that is needed from you is to compile a mail highlighting the advantages of using a product or service, send it to your list and the sales will come shortly after.
It is so hard to find the line between constant emails and spamming. I’ve signed up to a few optins that i thought would be good, (and they where for a few weeks) and then you end up with regular spam trying to have things sold to you. It is not something that people want, but done so often.
I have never given e-mail marketing a try, but after reading this post.
I guess I know how to go about it.
Thanks for this Isha.
email marketing is something which i have to concentrate on it. Looking forward to get something from email marketing