“E-mail marketing is a form of direct marketing which uses electronic mail as a means of communicating commercial or advertising messages to an audience. In its broadest sense, every e-mail sent to a potential or current customer could be considered e-mail marketing.”
Why Use E-Mail Marketing?
Sending e-mails with the purpose of enhancing relationship with current or old customers and to encourage customer loyalty and repeat business.
Sending e-mails with the purpose of acquiring new customers or convincing old customers to buy something immediately.
Adding advertisements in e-mails for marketing new products or services.
Purpose of E-Mail Marketing
Forty-five percent (119 million) of Americans now use e-mail, a 10 percent increase since 2000.
There are 95 million e-mail users in Europe holding about 200 million e-mail accounts.
E-mail marketing messages are sent at a cost of $5 to $7 per thousand while direct mailings cost $500 to $700 per thousand.
Eighty percent of e-mail marketing message responses come back within 48 hours, as compared with the 6-8 week period for traditional direct marketing methods.
Permission-based e-mail generates click-through rates (CTR) ten times greater (3.2 vs. 0.3 percent) than that of banner advertising.
Three out of five consumers prefer text-only formatted e-mail ads over HTML or rich media-based e-mail.
Benefits of Email Marketing
Email Marketing is Inexpensive
Email Marketing Creates Quick Response Cycles
Email Marketing Campaign Results Are Measurable
Email Marketing Has a Wide Reach
Email Marketing Drives Web Site Traffic and Registration
Email Marketing Strengthens Brand Awareness and Builds Customer Relationships
Email Marketing Can Be Highly Customized
Email Marketing is Easy to Implement and Requires Limited Resources
How to Market with E-Mail
Sending company newsletters and building an online community
Sending announcements and updates
Offering special discounts and sales incentives
Sending order confirmations and billing notifications