| Email is consistently rates as the most used | | | | better way to reinforce the relationship than |
| application on the Internet. According to Epsilon | | | | providing them with their own special offers? |
| International via Econsultancy Blog in June 2009: | | | | 3. Event invitations |
| Email is used more regularly than social networking | | | | Email marketing is a fantastic way of promoting |
| for personal communication. 79% of respondents use | | | | events you may be holding. Not only can you send |
| email as their primary mode of communication, only | | | | out emails informing customers and prospects that |
| 10% use social networks. | | | | you are holding an event, you can also use email to |
| Email has long been used as a form of marketing, but | | | | invite people directly. Email marketing tools are highly |
| if you're new to the email marketing game, you may | | | | sophisticated and are able to be personalised which |
| be unsure as to how to use it and what results you | | | | makes them great as an invitation tool. It also cuts |
| can expect. So here are our top five uses of email | | | | down the cost of printing and postage of traditional |
| marketing: | | | | invites. |
| 1. Newsletters | | | | 4. Promote blog posts |
| You can create newsletters to send to existing | | | | If you create a regular blog, you can use email to |
| customers and prospects on a regular basis. Some | | | | promote each new blog post. Some people may |
| companies opt for weekly, others monthly. If you're | | | | prefer to get a direct email containing your blog post, |
| really keen, you could even send them daily (as long | | | | rather than having to visit your site directly. |
| as the content was high quality). Sending email | | | | Alternatively you can send a weekly or monthly email |
| newsletters is a very effective form of | | | | containing a summary of all your recent blog posts, |
| communication and helps to further enhance your | | | | and use that as a way to drive traffic to your site. |
| brand. The more you can keep your name and logo | | | | 5. Business updates/press releases |
| in front of customers and prospects, the more likely | | | | If you've launched a new product, taken on a new |
| you'll be top of the list when the customer wants to | | | | member of staff, or have any other kind of |
| make a purchase. | | | | newsworthy announcement, email marketing is a |
| Newsletters can contain a variety of information - | | | | great way to communicate this to your mailing list. |
| new web pages you've added, new articles, changes | | | | You can also use email marketing to send out press |
| to your business, new product lines - anything goes, | | | | releases in bulk to your list of journalists. |
| as long as it is of value to the person you're sending | | | | The main benefits of email marketing are: |
| it to. | | | | - Speed |
| 2 Promotions | | | | - Flexibility |
| Many organisations like to use email marketing to | | | | - Low cost |
| send out coupons/codes or to promote a special | | | | - Ability to measure results These benefits make it a |
| offer they are holding. Offering exclusive coupons to | | | | useful tool for all businesses large and small. The low |
| mailing list subscribers has also shown to be an | | | | cost of entry means that virtually anyone can get |
| effective way of growing your email marketing list. If | | | | involved and start using it. |
| people are already engaged in your company, what | | | | |