As an entrepreneur, it can be difficult to compete with big businesses. You don’t have the same resources or budget at your disposal, therefore, marketing can be hard. However, email marketing can drastically level the playing field. Email marketing is more than just sending random emails, it’s a powerful tool for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
How to Get Started
Before getting started with any email marketing campaign, you must have a clear objective. Drafting that initial email will be easier once you determine what it is you want to achieve. Your goal for the campaign determines your design, subject line, and content, so give it a lot of thought before jumping in.
Advantages of Email Marketing
Even with the explosion of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram, email is still a great way to interact with customers. Once you build a list, it belongs to you and isn’t dependent on the rules or guidelines of a particular platform to decide how often you can interact with them. In addition, people are still dependent on their emails and check them constantly, especially with the invention of smartphones, which allows email to be accessible at all times.
How to Get People to Sign Up
The main difference between an entrepreneur and a big business is the number of clients. In order to compete, you need customers, and that means growing your client base. Email marketing is the best way to do that. When you offer something compelling and valuable for free, you give people an incentive to subscribe to your list.
Other ways to get people to sign up include running a contest or a fun survey or poll. Once you have subscribers, make them feel important–like they’re part of an exclusive club. Send them special discount offers and coupons, and up-to-date news meant only for them. This is how you build brand loyalty. It ensures your subscribers will open every email you send and tell their friends about your company.
For many businesses, email marketing seems old-fashioned; therefore they neglect it. Don’t make the same mistake. It’s your best tool for gaining the visibility your company needs to build its customer base, so take advantage of the opportunities it will open up for you. Even if you don’t have anyone in your company experienced with email marketing, many companies exist that can help you with all aspects, from the email’s design to the logistics of building a marketing campaign. Sending an email is a low-cost endeavor that will provide maximum return.
Featured Image: Thinkstock/Oko_SwanOmurphy
