Many businesses, particularly small and medium business owners, wonder if email newsletters are really needed. With all the talk of spam and junk emails filling everyone’s email boxes, it is a worth the time to dissect the need for email newsletters. While emails used for marketing could fall into multiple categories such as newsletters, product launch updates, promotions, reminders, event invites and case studies, all these are commonly grouped into one as newsletters by most of the users. Obviously, newsletters can include any of the above subjects.
Don’t look for immediate Converts or Sales
Many email marketing users complain that they do not see immediate returns for their email communications, especially newsletters. Please remember that sending newsletters for those who have opted-in is part of the marketing activities. And purpose marketing is not to force every one to buy your products and services immediately. Marketing communication is meant for educating prospects, engaging the customers, reinforcing the brands, and slowly converting the prospects to leads. Marketing looks at long term and not short term. Email marketing newsletters serve the same purpose.
Educate the Prospects and Customers
Email Newsletter is an excellent tool in the hands of a marketer to educate everyone, including prospects, suspects, current customers and past customers. Even customers who have moved away from you will come back to you, if you continue to inform them with timely newsletters.
Follow the Rules
Recollect that email marketing is permission based; hence follow the rules – seek their permission before sending emails, unsubscribe them immediately if they opt-out, keep the email frequency to the minimum, personalize and target emails instead of blasting to every one on your list.
Results are not 100% measurable
It is very difficult to track the conversions (leads, sales) in the case of email marketing unless you are an online consumer services vendor, selling only on the web. Many customers use multiple email addresses and not necessarily that they should use the same email address while ordering and buying. Also, they might do the research by clicking on the links in the email, then come back later, use a different email address and buy the goods or services. There is no way to relate and track these transactions, unless you ask for and they provide the ‘lead source’. Also, the subscriber receiving the email newsletter may not become a customer, but may recommend your products to his/her colleagues, friends, or family members. There is no definitive way to know that your news letter communication has helped you close this sale!
Engage the Subscribers
Email Newsletters should be used to engage your subscribers without looking for immediate leads, converts or sales. During the days of direct (snail) mails, it is impossible to do this due to the prohibitive cost of printing and postage. With the advent of internet technology and wide spread usage of email marketing, it is very cost effective to inform, educate and engage the customers. Ask the subscriber about his tastes, areas of interest, frequency of mailing and feedback. If the subscriber intends to opt-out of your email list, don’t despair; he might come back to you, if your subject is of interest to him; otherwise he is saving you money and time!
Please share your thoughts on this subject!