| Email marketing is comprised of two major parts: the | | | | and you'll see your list grow. |
| email itself and the email marketing list (also known as | | | | What should I do with that list once I have it? |
| the contact list). This list is the very core of every | | | | Your next step is to segment your list, if possible. Try |
| email marketing campaign, as well as the reason why | | | | and divide up the names and email addresses on that |
| you are email marketing at all. Without this list of | | | | list by product likes and dislikes, geographical location |
| people, all who should have given you permission to | | | | and other data. By doing this, you're dividing your list up |
| email them, you have no reason whatsoever to indulge | | | | and making it more targeted. Sending an email that |
| in email marketing to promote your business, goods or | | | | canvasses everyone on your list may work, but you'll |
| services. Here are three questions most email | | | | most likely have better luck sending different emails |
| marketers must ask when they're just starting out: | | | | that promote the products certain customers have |
| Where can I get my email list? | | | | already show they're interested in. |
| Before I go into where you can get your list, it's better | | | | How do I choose an email marketing service? |
| to discuss where you shouldn't get your list first. Buying, | | | | If you're not sure where to start, go online and find |
| renting or scraping email addresses off the Internet are | | | | which service you like best. The best email marketing |
| all terrible ideas. Why? Because those people haven't | | | | services have sophisticated list management systems |
| given you permission to email them. The quickest way | | | | that not only let you segment your list and upload it to |
| to lampoon your email marketing campaign is to obtain | | | | the system, but store your lists online and access them |
| a list that includes wrong email addresses and people | | | | 24/7. The advantage of a Web-based email marketing |
| who haven't given you permission. This results in spam | | | | suite is that you can pay a low monthly fee to use the |
| complaints that will ultimately ruin your email marketing | | | | service and you can access it anywhere in the world, |
| reputation. | | | | as long as you have Internet access. The best email |
| There are many creative, effective ways to build an | | | | marketing services also include reporting suites that |
| email list. Your first shot is putting a ListBuilder (also | | | | can tell, in real time, just how successful your email |
| known as a sign-up box) on every single page of your | | | | marketing campaigns are with recipients. |
| Website. Site visitors can use this box to enter info | | | | As an email marketer, remember that email marketing |
| and subscribe your email or newsletter. You can also | | | | requires lots of patience, planning and creativity. |
| build subscriptions by providing email address cards at | | | | However, if you build a great list and manage it |
| your shop, tradeshows and other venues. If you are | | | | accordingly, you'll gain more sales and respect from |
| creative and ambitious about growing a | | | | your email or newsletter recipients. |
| permission-based email list, you can do these things | | | | |