Did you know that email is the number 1 digital platform to generate qualified leads? For some, you might associate email with unwanted spam. Nobody wants unsolicited mail just like nobody wants unsolicited phone calls. However, if you have ever bought anything online and started receiving emails, chances are you are interested in what they are sharing and quite possibly will be a repeat customer. That is exactly why you need to build an email strategy.
Today, many big brands use various tactics to encourage sales through their email campaigns. Here are my top five ways that you can use for your business.
• Create Exclusivity
The people you have sent emails to are a special group of people who you thought was worth keeping in touch with. So treat them like the exclusive group of people they are to you and reward them with perks that only they can have access to. This will have your customers looking forward to your emails and will encourage more subscribers. One example you can use is to give them a chance to buy your new product before everyone else, or give them special freebies that only they can redeem.
• Design
Nobody wants to receive an email that looks like a research paper. Your email layout should be pleasant to look at and be read at a glance. The most effective email newsletters I have seen are straightforward messages with relevant and enticing images that complement the point of the email. Well-designed emails like such are excellent for keeping customers in the loop to what your business offers while not taking too much of their time, which they will greatly appreciate.
• Exchange information
Emails are a great way to humanize your business and drive people to your website. Use content marketing hand-in-hand with email marketing to share interesting information and promotions about your business. It is great if you create content like articles and videos, but just sharing them on your social media sites is not enough. Utilize your emails to put your content in front of your customers and drive them to your website. One example of a brand that is doing an excellent job is Buzzfeed. Their catchy article titles and email subject headers always encourage me to click and read on, thus bringing me straight to their website for more content. By using the same strategy of using a catchy subject line accompanied by an interesting content piece, your business will be able to boost engagement with your customers.
• Call to action
Never forget to include something that your reader can do after reading your email. And more importantly, make it easy for them to do it. Should they click on a link to check out that great promotion on your website? Should they retweet a great article that you shared on Twitter? If your reader clicked into your email, do not lose the opportunity to give them a way to interact with your business. Be sure to always include a clear call-to-action with a button they can click on.
• Thank you
Finally, never forget to thank customers whom you email to. Instead of conveniently unsubscribing to your emails, they are the group of people who are interested in what your business has to offer. Always give them a reason to stick around. Driving home the point of exclusivity, treat this group of people like they are fans of your business and give them a reason to like being exclusive part of the group. If your business passed a milestone, send an email to thank your customers, or even better, maybe share the happiness by giving them a good deal.
There you have it. 5 easy-to-use ideas that you can implement for your next email marketing campaign. You should note that you can’t just send a massive amount of emails from your work or personal email addresses as you can get tagged as a spammer. Consult with your marketing professional to help get you set up. Until next time, good luck!
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Giancarlo Pacheco is the Co-Founder and CEO of PCA, a full-service marketing and communications agency with offices in Los Angeles and New York. For over a decade, the agency has been a leader in providing integrated campaigns for Fortune 1000 companies. PCA has served a wide array of clients including Gilead Life Sciences, Pernod Ricard USA, Jollibee Food Corporation, AARP, City National Bank, Verizon, Philippine Airlines and Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. For more information, please visit please visit www.plancagency.com