How to Advertise Via Email

Email marketing is trackable, affordable and has a high return rate, making it valuable for small and medium-sized businesses. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to advertise via email.

EditSteps

1. 1
   Prepare a list.
   
   
   
   • Email lists used for marketing gather the names and email addresses of all people interested in receiving communications from a business.
   • The easiest way to gather these addresses is by adding a field to your website that allows visitors to submit their names and email addresses.
2. 2
   Decide on the frequency of emails you will be sending to your list. Once a week or every 2 weeks is a good starting point.
   
   
   
3. 3
   Create a message to send to the list. Be brief and deliver a targeted message to your audience.
   
   
   
4. 4
   Write any followup messages for your email campaign.
   
   
   
   • Followup messages provide emphasis on your product and remind customers of your business.
   • Send multiple different emails to pique readers' interest if you're trying to launch a specific deal or a new product.
5. 5
   Proofread and polish your messages. Errors in spelling and grammar can be disastrous to your reputation.
   
   
   
6. 6
   Send the first message to your list. Follow up according to your schedule.
   
   
   

EditTips

• There are numerous low-cost or free software programs available to help manage mailing to large lists if you're spending too much time on email marketing or if your customer base has boomed.
• If your company doesn't have a website, you can solicit email addresses for your list through customer questionnaires, a printed or emailed newsletter or by registering a customer in your database.
• Email marketing works best when it contains a variety of engaging and relevant content. Your messages should alternate between alerts and reminders, educational content and offers targeted at people on your list who have recently purchased items from you.