Guide to Email Marketing plus 3 Best Practices

There’s a piece of advice that businesses everywhere are receiving that you can’t ignore: start your email marketing list and grow it.

As you can tell from the abundance of blog posts on this topic, I’m not the only one who agrees with this advice.

Email is the fastest, cheapest, most powerful way to engage with your customers at scale. No other service (not even social media) is as personal as email.

As effective as social media is for engaging with your clients and customers – not to mention discoverability – there’s nothing that quite compares to a robust email marketing list.

Right about now you probably think that it’s an excellent piece of advice but just how can you accomplish this goal? That’s exactly what this post is about so lean back, take a sip of your coffee, tea, or tequila (or bourbon or wine), and keep reading.

Start with MailChimp

 

I use MailChimp. I researched a variety of email marketing applications five years ago and settled on this one. Some people like Constant Contact (I don’t) and others swear by Aweber (never tried it), and some are now using Convert Kit.

I’m sticking with MailChimp. (Notice that I’m not using an affiliate link for MailChimp.)

Once you sign up, you’ll need to start a list. Don’t worry that you don’t have any names to add to the list; that will happen with time. The first task is to create a list name. Click the parallel lines to open a menu and click lists.

Next click Create List, complete the details, and Save.

Once you create a list, click signup forms and then click Select next to general forms. Now you’ll work on writing a series of sign-up and confirmation forms for your list. Keep your branding in mind when creating the forms.

For example, what are your brand colors? What does your website banner look like? In my case, I use my Social Media Just for Writers logo.

As the drop-down menu changes, you’ll be able to work on different forms in the series of emails your subscribers will receive.

Email Marketing Signup Tips

Now that you have your forms set up, you need to move to your website and insert a widget that encourages signups. (You may need your webmaster to create the widget for you.)

The best way to encourage signups is by offering something for free. Your reader will receive the freebie once he or she turns over an email address. It’s what Joel Friedlander calls the ethical bribe.

What can you give away for free? Here are some ideas:

1. A tips sheet. For example, if you’re an aesthetician, offer tips on how to have luxurious skin even during the winter.
2. An ebook to help your clients learn more. If you are a mortgage broker, prepare them for buying their first home and qualifying for a mortgage. Or, prepare your prospective client on qualifying for a reverse mortgage.

What you give away is as important as how you phrase your signup widget.

Notice that I never use the word subscribe. Instead, I promote the benefit of the freebie and then use the words Get It Now! Avoid using the words email list or subscribe when creating your signup widget.

I also offer a free email course on social media on my other website, SocialMediaJustforWriters.com. Here’s the sign-up form from that website:

Again, I stress the benefits and never mention the word subscribe, which tends to turn people off.

Email Marketing Best Practices

The folks at Hubspot, an internet software and marketing company, recommend these three parameters before venturing into email marketing.

1. Create and use a simple template. You want to focus on your content, not the form.
2. Keep your template within 600 pixels. This way your recipients, if they use Outlook, can see your content in the vertical preview pane.
3. Don’t neglect to follow CAN-SPAM rules. All of your marketing emails, including your series of gratitude emails, must contain the word “unsubscribe.” In addition to providing an unsubscribe option in every email, you must also include your company name and address.

Here are some more tips I recommend:

1. Write compelling email subject lines. What would entice you to open an email? Try to replicate that.
2. Use actionable language in the present tense.
3. Personalize your introduction.
4. Edit your content carefully. People don’t like to read long emails so make your content concise, meaningful, and useful.
5. Use clear calls to action, and just use one per newsletter.

Do you need help getting started with your email marketing program? Send me an email and let’s see if I can help you get started.

Frances Caballo is an online marketing consultant and the author of six books on social media. Click here to schedule an appointment with her. Writing a book can serve as the best possible business card you can possibly have and establish your authority in your field. Once you publish your book, learn to market it by visiting my other website, SocialMediaJustforWriters.com.