| IPT Ltd recently released some survey results that | | | | has, and suggest your product or service as a solution. |
| proved very interesting reading. They asked the public | | | | As you show understanding of the problem, on a |
| what they considered to be the most effective | | | | subconscious level your email recipient will know that |
| marketing medium. There were no surprises to see | | | | you can solve it. Another way is to provide useful tips |
| that TV came first with 37%, but a surprising second | | | | people can use, as this demonstrates knowledge and |
| was email, which came in at 32%! Which approach do | | | | expertise. Also sending an email with a coupon that |
| you think will generate the best return for a small | | | | can be printed out and used as a discount is good |
| business? Yes, small business email marketing! | | | | business email marketing approach as well. |
| Obviously, you will need the contact details of your | | | | The same research completed by IPT also shows |
| customers as well as any new prospects, for your | | | | that most influential aspect of an email communication |
| small business email marketing plan to succeed. | | | | is discounts or money off at 27%, second comes |
| There are two ways that you can get people visiting | | | | general interest about product or service at 24% and |
| your business to give you their contact details. Get | | | | joint third place at 20% is prize draw and brand |
| them to fill out a form on the premises for you to | | | | familiarity. These statistics should help in your decisions |
| manually upload later or, (the best option), direct them | | | | as to what to include in your own small business email |
| to your website where they can fill in a opt in form. | | | | marketing campaign. |
| To ensure that people actually want to give you their | | | | One example in the 'real' world small business email |
| details, you'll need to offer them some kind of incentive. | | | | marketing success I can think of is a dog breeder who |
| Buy One Get One Free offers, competitions, and even | | | | started a monthly newsletter with photos of the dogs |
| valuable free information do a good job. Every person | | | | they had available. This meant that if a person came |
| who fills in the opt in form becomes a member of your | | | | by and didn't want any of the dogs on that particular |
| email "club", people you'll be able to contact time after | | | | day, they could sign up for the email newsletter and |
| time. | | | | get photos of new dogs sent to them each month, |
| There is a well known business maxim that goes | | | | without having to visit the breeder's home. Now these |
| "people only do business with people they like" and if | | | | dogs were selling for about $1300 a pop, so this was a |
| we add 'know and trust' then there you have the goal | | | | brilliant way to keep in touch with potential dog buyers. |
| of online email marketing. Each email you send will build | | | | You just need to look to the Fortune Global 500 |
| up trust and the likelihood that the email prospect will | | | | corporations to see more examples of email |
| buy from you when the time is right. | | | | marketing success. They recognize that staying in |
| Email marketing for small businesses is a really good | | | | touch with clients and customers through email can |
| business-building decision for all small businesses. As | | | | actually cut your advertising costs and get you more |
| well as being a extremely cost effective, emails build | | | | sales. With small business email marketing you can |
| trust, credibility and enable you to send messages to | | | | easily get to the stage where an email blast is more |
| your customers or clients at a time when they are | | | | successful than a £2,000 for a full page |
| ready to purchase, whether that is the 3rd email you | | | | newspaper ad. |
| send, 14th or 154th! | | | | So, what are you waiting for? Let's get you started |
| A good small business email marketing approach to | | | | then... |
| take is to describe a problem that your target market | | | | |