What is email marketing Guide ?
The definition of email marketing guide is a form of digital marketing that uses email to promote products or services to potential or existing customers. Email marketing uses email as a tool to promote a company’s products or services and foster customer loyalty. It’s a direct and digital marketing strategy designed to inform and engage people on your email list — whether that’s by promoting products, sharing discounts, or delivering news. It allows businesses to stay connected with customers, even when they’re not actively shopping.
Why is email marketing important?
Email marketing is one of the most profitable direct marketing channels, with Statista projecting global revenue from email to reach $17.9 billion by 2027. Email also allows for targeted messaging so businesses can send segment audiences to send relevant messages. It’s also a cost-effective and measurable channel that can nurture leads over time to boost brand loyalty.
When is the best time to send marketing emails?
Establishing the best times to send emails could be a question of testing different days and times with your various audiences.
According to research by OptinMonster, the best time to send an email is between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
Additional engagement peaks can occur in the early afternoon (1–2 p.m.) and evening (5–6 p.m.).
However, there is no set time that’s best. The most effective way to find out is through trial and error with your databases.
How to do email marketing: A step-by-step guide
Here’s a brief review of the steps of email marketing:
- Define your audience. Identify the various demographics of an ideal customer.
- Set goals. What is the purpose of your email campaign?
- Choose an email marketing platform. It can help you streamline everything from creating your email list and sending emails to evaluating analytics.
- Determine campaign type. How will your emails be coordinated? What is the CTA for customers?
- Build an email list. Do this organically and make sure everyone has opted in.
- Segment your list. For better targeting, create unique emails for segmented groups within your email list.
- Create your email. This content will determine whether customers engage further with your business.
- Test your email. Create variations of email elements to see what is most effective.
- Measure your results. Use analytics to see if you’re reaching your goals and how you can improve
The value and impact of email marketing for brands
The traditional practice of sending email blasts to broad lists is no longer effective; businesses need to personalize the experience for each recipient, no matter where they are in the customer journey. Dedicated email marketing services enhance relationship-building with potential and existing customers, which contributes directly to the company’s growth. Here are key advantages that underscore the effectiveness of email marketing for businesses:
Email marketing challenges
As several technical factors can affect deliverability, understanding them is essential to running an effective email campaign. Here are the most important of those factors
- Blacklists – ESPs (Email Service Providers) maintain blacklists of IP addresses or domains suspected of sending spam. To save yourself from blacklisting, regularly clean your email list, monitor your sender score, and take proactive steps to maintain a strong sender reputation.
- Authentication – Authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC help verify the authenticity of your emails. Thus, to improve deliverability and prevent your emails from being marked as spoofed, it’s crucial that you ensure these protocols are correctly set up.
- Content quality and formatting – Poorly formatted emails or those with broken links and images can trigger spam filters and hurt your reputation. For the best email performance, only send emails that are well-formatted and optimized for different email clients and devices.
- Sender reputation – Your sender reputation is a score given by ISPs (Internet Service Providers) based on your past email activity. To maintain a good reputation and avoid being blocked or labeled as a spammer, send emails only to those who have opted in, skip buying email lists, and create relevant content.