The use of email marketing continues to thrive in 2012. Email remains unbeaten, with ROI still almost $41 per dollar spent. It has maintained its dominant position in relation to other Internet channels, which remain far behind in their ROI results: mobile – $10.51, social media – $12.71, display – $19.72 and search – $22.24, according to figures from Direct Marketing Association.
Social media is one of the channels helping to grow email marketing's renewed growth. Marketing Profs writes "Facebook fans sign up for newsletters on fan pages. Email users hit "Tweet this!" buttons in messages to share hot offers with their followers. Smartphone users consume email communication while stuck in traffic jams or while waiting in line at coffee shops."
Out of this renewed interest in email marketing comes some helpful tips below for you to plan your next email marketing program.
Pick Specific Dates
With email personalization, you can customize marketing emails to go out on specific dates for each customer, like on their birthdays or right before holidays. This added touch to your offers or specials lets customers feel like you are paying specific attention to them. You will need a direct email marketing software to do this effectively when you have more than a thousand emails to send out, so install one like JangoMail email marketing software. It will effectively send out emails on these exact days, corresponding to a calendar you have set up.
Review Solicitation
Review solicitation is an email marketing program that sends customers a note to encourage them to write reviews after buying a product. You can step up your efforts to gain reviews by offering a chance to win a prize or gift card. Through this, you will not only receive valuable information about what you are marketing, but also have a chance to get more information about your customer so you can send them different email marketing materials in the future.
Have Great Subject Lines
One of the best ways to make your marketing email stand out is by using great subject lines. Writing an intriguing subject headline can make your reader pause and possibly laugh or think about the email and 9 out of 10 times it will get opened. You can catch their attention by being funny, mentioning a famous name in the subject line or by alluding to a very current event. Crafting great subject lines is an art and a science. Do your research on what works best.
Cleaner, Smarter Emails
A good tip is to write cleaner, smarter emails. Well-designed, well-written and seemingly relevant emails will make an impression on a prospective customer. Think of your marketing email as an announcement to the people who want to hear what you have to say. Make sure it is meaningful and really stands out on all fronts.
Know Your Contacts
Implementing a direct email marketing program for email blasts is a great way to save time reaching out to all customers, but it certainly should not override you taking the time to really know your customers and those you are marketing to on a regular basis.
There are other software programs out there that will do these types of specific analytics for you, but doing some research on who your customers actually are will help you to shape these marketing emails to better match their personalities. The more you can relate to your audience, the more they will pay attention to whatever it is you are selling.
Article written by Robin Harrington
