Email marketing has many advantages over traditional print based advertising. Emails are cost effective, responsive, easy to create, targeted and timely.
And all you need for email marketing is an email program and an email address.
Marketing to existing customers
Many businesses forget the customers they already have and constantly look for new clients. Existing customers help build business. You've already expended considerable energy and funds acquiring them, so why not maximize their potential for new business.
A monthly email letting existing customers know about new products and services can go along way to generating more revenue.
Marketing to new customers
You can start a new customer email list by asking people to sign-up to your email newsletter from your website. You can also ask them in person, if you are in retail, whether they would like to receive product updates via email.
Once a month you can send out emails to these prospective customers informing them of specials, new products and so on.
Once a month for emails is enough. Too many businesses send email after email with a "more is more" attitude. While in the short term this could generate additional revenue, this method is frowned upon by consumers and reputable businesses alike.
Build your business through credible marketing techniques and don't forget to give people an opt-out mechanism in your emails so they can unsubscribe from your mailing list.
Be responsive
There's little point going to the trouble of sending out emails to existing and potential customers if you're not ready to handle the results.
Make sure you have the time and staff to handle inquiries/orders and respond quickly to all emails. Make it a policy to get back to customer emails within 24 hours.
This will result in:
-Increased customer loyalty
-Increased customer dialogue
-Increased sales
-Increased word of mouth results
A failure to respond to customer inquiries will impact negatively on your business credibility and of course, result in lost sales.
SPAM
Don't forget that it's illegal in Australia to email people who have not asked you to send them promotional material. You also should also include an unsubscribe or opt out link on all your email promotions.