| Email marketing is simply the most cost-effective | | | | Having access to your database at any time is a point |
| means of all Internet marketing channels. With the | | | | that so many companies tend to overlook. You should |
| flexibility to narrow down and target future customers | | | | be able to access any and all lists and key features |
| without the expenses of postage, paper, etc., email | | | | when it's convenient for you, not for your service. |
| goes unmatched by any other medium. But no matter | | | | Remember- not all great ideas come between 9 and |
| how cost-effective it is, there is still an associated cost, | | | | 5, Monday through Friday. |
| so you will obviously want to get the best return on | | | | All auto-responders should do their job, responding |
| your investment. To help you find the perfect service, | | | | automatically and quickly to any queries from future |
| here are a few things you should look for in an email | | | | customers, letting them know how important they are |
| marketing solution. | | | | to you and your business. Customers do not want to |
| Firstly, keeping your emails out of the "bulk" folders of | | | | be treated as a number, so an email marketing solution |
| your future customers has got to be the most | | | | should reflect this. |
| important aspect of any solid email marketing | | | | Of course, having the absolute best service without |
| campaign, as what good will even the best email | | | | easy set-up and management is just plain useless. You |
| creative do for you and your company if it's deleted | | | | should be able to get in and set up quickly and easily, |
| before it's even read? With more and more ISP's and | | | | with plenty of options available to you to get a |
| email services sorting the inbox-worthy email from the | | | | campaign up and running from day one. Online support |
| spam (and offering to delete the "not-worthy" before | | | | and customer service whenever you need it should be |
| the recipient could even check it), finding a service with | | | | a given. |
| a proven track record and high percentage of | | | | And finally, we'll touch upon SPAM. Be sure that your |
| delivered messages is the single most important | | | | email marketing service is fully compliant with all |
| feature. | | | | CAN-SPAM issues, as you want to be sure that your |
| A "smart-tracking feature" will allow you to easily | | | | auto responder (as well as yourself) stay out of legal |
| decipher which messages are pulling in the most | | | | trouble. Helpful features such as SPAM-Check steer |
| potential customers and which are a waste of your | | | | you in the direction to write your messages more |
| time, efforts and money. In direct marketing, it's crucial | | | | effectively and keep them from ending up in the "bulk |
| to be able to track everything possible so you can | | | | box". |
| eliminate quickly what isn't working. | | | | |