Email marketing is one of the most powerful and versatile marketing tools in a marketer’s toolbox. It allows you to send personalized content to specific subscribers, based on their interests and past purchases, to move them along the buyer’s journey towards becoming repeat customers and loyal advocates of your brand.
How to get started with email marketing
There are a lot of things you should keep in mind when you’re starting out with email marketing for your business. It’s important to understand that this is a digital channel that is always changing, and so it requires a constant commitment to staying on top of the latest trends, techniques, and best practices.
Segmentation by industry, company size, and other factors is a great way to ensure your emails are targeted to the right audience. This can increase response rates and help you get the most out of your campaigns, especially if you’re not an expert in your industry or a large business.
Subject lines are a crucial part of any email campaign, and they’re something you should work to optimize for open rates. Your subject line should be captivating and include a call to action, which will ensure that your message gets read and stays in the recipient’s inbox.
Invest in good design and images to make your messages stand out from the competition. Use a professional designer to create a consistent brand voice across all of your messaging, and to make sure the images you choose are relevant and eye-catching. Also, make sure that the image sizes and text are optimized for mobile, so your readers can view your message on their phones without any problems.
Don’t over-do it: Too many emails can start to feel like spam, so try not to overwhelm your subscribers with too many. They’re not only time-consuming, but also may take a toll on their open rates and engagement levels.
Be aware of national and international email regulations: There are several different laws that apply to how you can and should be using your email marketing. Be sure to adhere to these laws, including the CAN-SPAM Act in the United States and the CASL in Canada.
Create an email list: It’s crucial to have a well-curated email list in order to succeed at your email marketing efforts. This is because the list of people you are sending to will be the ones who will most likely interact with your brand. It’s also critical that the list of people you are sending to is active and engaged.
Keep it fresh: It’s a good idea to check your email list from time to time and remove unengaged or inactive subscribers. Keeping your subscriber list up to date will prevent future deliverability issues and keep your email marketing strategy on track.
Set up inactivity triggers: If your subscribers aren’t opening your emails anymore, you can set up alerts to automatically reengage them through targeted offers or new content. This will help you reengage your subscribers in a way that’s not intrusive, while keeping your inboxes clean and your bounce rates low.