5 Basic Tips For Email Marketing
Emails can be a simple way to follow up with customers and keep them engaged. These emails can be anything from signing up for a newsletter to confirming a purchase. With just five easy tips you can start to use these emails to market.
1. Use a Real Reply-To Address
There is a divide between using and not using “noreply@” as your reply-to address. Some believe there is good cause to use “noreply@” because the one sending the email may not be the same person that handles questions or a better means of contact has been included in the email. Those who are opposed to its use believe that it’s impersonal and even rude because it gives off the impression that their time is more important than yours. These emails are intended to provide valuable information for the reader and the email becomes more personal and trustworthy if you provide them with a real address.
2. Write Straightforward Subject Lines
Your subject line is one of the most important parts of a good transactional email. It lets the reader know right away what the email is about. If you are writing an email to confirm an order make sure similar words like “order confirmation” are in the subject line. Customers also prefer a specific detail. Rather than put the order number, include the product name or if it’s a special offer, state the deal in the subject lines. These specifics will make it easier for customers to find information when looking through their read emails.
3. Create a Consistent Design
Build brand recognition for your company by including your logo in every email and making sure that your emails follow a similar template. Consistency will make your customers more comfortable with your brand and it will also give you a more professional appearance. Logos and images are also perfect opportunities to link back to your site through the homepage, a product, or even service information. In your email, you want people to be able to recognize your brand, but avoid making your emails too cluttered, as this will irritate readers.
HTML vs. Plain Text
While plain text emails communicate well and are easier to make quick changes, they don’t offer much flexibility when it comes to design. Using HTML allows you to include your logo and some more design elements that will add personality to your emails. Don’t completely do away with plain text. It is still good to have as an option because it’s easier to read on smaller screens like smartphones and tablets.
4. Include a Call-To-Action
Good email marketing is about telling people what you want them to do and how you want them to do it. A call-to-action invites your customer to engage further; whether that means purchasing an item to go with an item they’ve already bought, participating in a special offer, or signing up for a newsletter. This is a key element to any email, but make sure that it doesn’t take up more than 1/3 of your message and should appear at the end, after the initial purpose of the email. Avoid using “click here” links as they sometimes go unnoticed and use buttons with a more actionable title instead.
5. Make It Easy To Unsubscribe
It may seem like a step back when marketing, but making it easy for your customers to remove themselves from your emails will make them feel more at ease. More important emails like order confirmations and shipment statuses don’t need an unsubscribe link, but anything like special offers, account notifications and newsletters should include some way to unsubscribe. Be kind when handling an unsubscribe request. Customers will appreciate a quick, polite response and will be more likely to continue business with your company.
Good marketing through emails is about creating a personal relationship with your customers. Always be considerate of their time and you’ll be one step closer to a more engaged audience.
Keep in touch for more tips. Or contact us now if you have questions.
-Stay Creative