Welcome to the first post at Amazing Domains! Buying an amazing domain is just the first step on your journey to setting up an effective business. In our blog, we will be covering other things you need to know to develop your business and make it a success.
One of the most important steps you need to take to make your business effective is marketing. In our blog, one topic we’ll go into is the various ways you can market your new website.
Email marketing is easily the most cost-effective form of advertising. The Direct Marketing Association estimates that email marketing returns $43.52 for every dollar spent. No other form of advertising compares in cost and return.
Advantages of Email Marketing
The advantages of email marketing include:
1. Low Cost – The cost of an email campaign is approximately one cent per recipient. There are no mailing, printing or associated costs.
2. Customization – Email marketing campaigns are easily personalized to target a group of potential customers who have already shown interest in a product or service.
3. Fast Delivery – Emails are sent in a matter of minutes. The majority of email recipients read the email in the first 24-48 hours.
4. Immediate Response – Effective, targeted emails often result in immediate customer contact, including inquiries and direct sales.
5. Building Relationships – Strategically planned email marketing campaigns build trust and loyalty through name recognition.
6. Useful Statistics – Analyzing data allows senders to easily refine future email campaigns. Useful data includes defining which recipients opened an email, which links were the most popular and whether the email was forwarded. It also gives senders the ability to track sales directly related to the campaign.
Avoiding Email Spam
While there are many benefits of email, make sure that you follow strict guidelines when building a recipient list. Unsolicited email is considered spam, or, similar to junk mail, junk email. Those who send unsolicited emails may face serious legal consequences. Senders of unsolicited emails also risk being tagged by online spam watchdog groups, which may result in blocked emails. The safest way to build a recipient list and avoid being labeled a “spammer” is to ask for permission before sending emails.
Russ Henneberry puts it well: “If it makes you feel any better, sending unsolicited email doesn’t work anyway. Think about it. If someone sends you a Spammy email — what do you do with it? I thought so.”
Obtaining Permission
Email marketers may obtain permission using the following methods:
1. An Online Web Form – The recipient agrees to receive emails by filling out a web site form.
2. Offline Permission – The recipient fills out some kind of offline form and agrees to receive emails. This could be a checkbox on a contest or drawing entry, on a business card or other in-store form.
3. An Established Business Relationship – Implicit permission is granted if a customer bought a product or service in the last two years. Many businesses prefer to obtain additional permission from established customers as a precaution, however.
4. Include Unsubscribe Options – Each email sent out should contain a link that allows recipients to easily opt-out and stop receiving emails.
An ongoing, successful email marketing campaign gives business professionals an economical way to build customer relationships, fine tune marketing campaigns and increase revenue.
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