Did you know that…
- 44% of email recipients made at least one purchase last year based on a promotional email. (Convinceandconvert.com)
- 7 in 10 people say they made use of a coupon or discount from a marketing email in the prior week. (2012 Blue Kangaroo Study)
- For every $1 spent, $44.25 is the average return on email marketing investment. (Experian)
The numbers speak for themselves. Email marketing is a MUST DO marketing strategy you need to have in your arsenal.
Of course, to generate leads and sales from your emails, you have to have a list of people of send the emails to in the first place. And of course, you want to follow-best practices and show respect for your prospect’s email address by only communicating with those folks who have given you permission to do so.
So how DO you go about building a permission based list of email contacts that are interested in your area of expertise?
Here are 5 quick tips to get you started:
- Look at your existing database – Don’t overlook the obvious. You probably already have a database of contacts (AHEM! Like all of those people in your Outlook contacts list!) who would love to hear from you more often. Send them an email (individually) and invite them to sign up for a free problem solving gift (like a checklist, video or pdf report) and periodic emails on helpful tips and resources you have to share.
- Ask your family and friends – It’s been said that, on average, each of have a network of about 250 people we are regularly in contact with. Which means each of your friends and family members also has a network you can tap into. Don’t be shy about the solutions you offer! Look to your personal network to help kick start your list growth by inviting them to share your free gift with their network.
- Collect emails via text – Customers of Constant Contact can take advantage of their “Text to Join” feature which is a easy way o collect email addresses from contacts via text message within the US. The service is supported AT&T, Verizon Wireless, Sprint, T-Mobile, Alltel, Boost, and Nextel and is simple for you and your new contact to use. You simply have them text a code word which prompts a confirmation message that ask for their email address. And voila! They are added to your list. This is a GREAT way to ease into mobile marketing.
- Host a free event – Online marketing certainly has it’s advantages, but there’s nothing like a face to face interaction to jumpstart a new relationship. You can use a tool like EventSpot to help you organize your event and the invitations you send. Either tool allows you to easily collect the email addresses of your attendees and you can follow-up with them afterwards to further develop the relationship and extend a relevant (free or paid) offer.
- Sponsor an event – Work with other businesses and organizations in your community to host an event. It’s a great way to introduce your business (and your email list) to a whole new audience. You can host a raffle, offer complementary consults, sell products, services and so much more, all the while growing your email list.
Email works and is an essential tool for any small business because you reach your customers where they are every day. Their inbox. And that drives real business results.
With Constant Contact you can use Email Marketing to…
- Create beautiful, professional-looking personalized emails to connect and engage with your customers and prospects
- Integrate with your social media marketing to reach your customers everywhere
- Track your success and see a clear return on your investment.
Get a FREE 60-day trial of the software today and start increasing your revenue!
