Email Marketing…An Inexpensive Marketing Tool

Let's face it, email is probably one of the lowest cost and most effective methods of modern day marketing.

Good marketing requires building a relationship with your customers. No one wants to buy from a stranger. People prefer to buy from someone they know and trust. That is one of the most people prefer a small boutique to a large discount department store even though the boutique charges more for their products. Sales are all about relationships and trust.

The internet is pretty much of an anonymous media. So how do you build trust on the internet? One way is to use email marketing. Whether you write a simple announcement or send out a regular newsletter, you want to send it only to people who have given you permission to send them stuff.

Don't SPAM your list. “How can I spam an opt-in list? You ask. Easy, send them information on a topic they most likely aren't interested in hearing about. For example, if I sign up for a newsletter about gardening, sending me an email offering season football tickets is spam because it is totally unrelated to gardening, the subject I requested information about.

Write good headlines. Most people get hundreds of emails a day. You have approximately 5 seconds to convince them to open yours. Don't waste it. Give them a compelling reason to read what you sent.

Be honest with your list. Don't use a lot of hype. Tell the truth. The way to build trust is to give them valuable information and only recommend good products and services. Never promise something you can't deliver.

Repetition is the key. Studies have shown that most people need to hear about a product or service seven times before they actually buy it. So keep reminding them about all the benefits you offer. Eventually many of them will buy from you.

Don't make every contact a sales letter. Provide free information to gain trust. Tell them about important news that is relevant to their interests. Give free information in the beginning. Ask for money after they trust you.

Since emails are free or almost free to send, they can be a very inexpensive marketing method that has a good closing rate and a very high rate of return. Use it wisely and you will reap the benefits.