What Works?
Small Businesses Love Email Marketing
Email marketing remains one of the most effective and commonly used marketing tools for small businesses. In a May 2011 survey for small businesses, more than 73% of respondents claimed to use email marketing, with the majority reporting it to be a highly effective tactic for customer acquisition.
Let’s take a look at why email is such an effective marketing tool.
Email is Your Communication Hub
For most of us, email is the first thing we check in the morning and what we rely on most to communicate online. The same is true for most email users, including your customers and prospects.
Our world runs on email, and many of us feel like we live inside our inbox. Still, nobody ever says “I wish I had more email in my inbox”. That’s exactly why getting someone’s permission to send them email is so valuable.
Wondering if your email habit is a bit excessive? 83% of small business owners check email first thing when they go online for their business and 72% check their email six or more times per day.
Source: Constant Contact “Small Business Attitudes & Outlook Survey” May 2011
Permission to Email is “Marketing Gold”
When a customer or prospect willingly gives you their email address, they’re basically saying “I like you, what you have to offer and I want to learn more. I not only expect, but look forward to hearing from you soon.” So getting someone’s explicit permission to communicate is marketing gold.
Social media marketing also requires permission. When a customer “Likes” a brand on Facebook or a donor “Follows” an organization on Twitter, they’re giving permission to communicate.
Be Where Your Customers Are
People want to connect with businesses and organizations. And they want choices. Some of your customers will prefer to reserve Facebook for friends and family and aren’t looking to “Like” a brand on Facebook. Others will use Twitter to learn from businesses that inspire them or to simply keep track of the latest deals. And some just prefer to get an email.
It doesn’t really matter how your customers keep in touch, so long as your message meets them where they are. For most businesses and organizations that means having a presence in both email and social media.
Social aside, there are many more reasons why email marketing is such a great marketing tool.
Now, let’s learn why email and social media go hand-in-hand and how you can make them work for you.
Email & Social Media Marketing Go Together
Your main goal is to get your message heard and acted-upon. So which is more valuable: A “Like” on Facebook or an Email Opt-in?
They’re both valuable!
It’s best when you can get someone to opt-in to email and connect through one or more social channels. That’s because email is still the best way to get your message heard and social media is the best way to get your message spread.