So, you’re curious about email marketing? It’s a really important part of ecommerce these days.
It’s a powerful tool that allows businesses to connect directly with their customers. Building an effective email list is a really important first step, though. So, whether you’re just starting or looking to refine your strategies, this guide will walk you through the basics of email marketing and show you how to create a high-quality email list that fosters genuine customer engagement.
What is Email Marketing?
So, let’s start by defining email marketing. Email marketing involves sending commercial messages to a group of people via their email addresses. Every email sent to a potential or current customer can be considered email marketing. You’ll need to craft something cleverly worded with an eye-catching subject line and a lot of pictures. There are a lot of theories behind how to actually build the ideal emails to get attention.
In short, email marketing is a form of direct marketing that can be used to inform, drive sales, and build a community around your brand.
Why is Email Marketing Important?
Why is it important, though? Can’t you just use other methods of communication? Yes and no. While other types of communication can be good, email marketing is a big deal because it can provide a high return on investment.
According to various reports, it can yield an average return of $36 for every $1 spent, making it one of the most effective forms of marketing available. So, you really can’t do without it and be successful. It allows direct communication with customers as well as personalization of messages, and has greater reach and lifespan compared to many social media platforms.
What Makes a High-Quality Email List?
In order to have successful marketing emails, you need a good list. Think about it–you could create the perfect email with great photos and an awesome subject line. However, if no one sees it, it won’t be successful.
A quality email list will be full of engaged subscribers who have actively opted-in to receive emails from you. How do we cultivate a lot like this? By following these steps:
- Easy-to-Find Email Sign-Up Form:
- Placement: Incorporate a simple sign-up form prominently on your site, such as on the homepage, blog sidebar, or footer.
- Simplicity: Ask only for essential information like their email address to reduce friction.
- Automated Welcome Email:
- Immediate Engagement: Configure an automated message that greets new subscribers as soon as they join your list. This should introduce your brand and outline what type of messages they can expect.
- Leveraging Social Media:
- Promotion: Use social media platforms to encourage followers to sign up for your emails.
- Exclusive Offers: Share special offers or content available to subscribers to motivate sign-ups.
- Engagement Through Content:
- Subject Lines: Craft compelling subject lines that entice recipients to open your emails.
- Personalization: Customize the content to align with the subscriber’s preferences and behaviors.
- Exit Intent Pop-Up:
- Capture Attention: Utilize exit-intent technology to present a pop-up form when a user is about to leave your site, offering them a valuable reason to subscribe.
- Incentivize Subscriptions:
- Rewards: Offer a discount or gift as a thank you for subscribing.
- Relevance: Ensure the incentive is desirable and relevant to your target audience.
Ready to start your email marketing journey? Building your first email list is an exciting step towards growing your business. By focusing on creating a high-quality list filled with engaged subscribers, you’ll be able to make your email marketing efforts way more effective. Remember, the goal is to build lasting relationships with your customers, giving them value in every message.
Need help getting started? Let’s talk! Our team of experts knows a thing or two about email marketing, and we would love to help you become more successful.