Does Email Marketing still work? A 2015 study by the DMA found that for every $1 spent, email has an average $38 return on investment (ROI). Email marketing is still a very effective marketing tool and has good lead generation if done properly.
Steps to create an Email Marketing plan
Step 1 – Identify your Target Audience
The first step is to be able to identify your target audience. You have to understand who your audience is, how to reach them, and the message that needs to be sent. Once you can identify the characteristics of your audience you will be able to create E-mail campaigns that are personalized and tailored to your target audience.
Step 2 – Create an E-Mail list.
The next step is to create an email list where you can ask customers to sign up for your emails. You can do it through a website, Social media, etc. You can encourage customers to sign up for your emails by incentivizing them through Contests, Giveaways, Discounts, etc. It’s important to know where your subscribers are coming from since you can focus your efforts on that platform.
Step 3 – Write E-Mail Content
After identifying your target audience and creating an E-Mail List the next step is to write the Email. The subject line has to be catchy and should grab the attention of the reader. Your Email should serve the purpose of your campaign. Emails should not be written to look like spam Emails. A good Email makes the reader feel that it was written specifically for them.
Step 4 – Decide on Frequency
It’s important to set a frequency this can be done by looking at previous campaigns to see what frequency works best with your target audience. Another way to monitor to see if you have set the right frequency is by looking at the click-through rate and unsubscribe rate.
Step 5 – Email Schedule
Having an Email schedule helps you deliver your emails on time and allows you to maintain your consistency and stick to your emailing frequency. It also helps you track the type of content around which emails were sent. Having an Email schedule helps you plan content and keeps you ahead on track of your timelines.
Step 6 – Email Design
Email design should be about your campaign objectives. A strong subject line will help in convincing users to open an Email. Your Pre-header should consist of what the Email is regarding. The most relevant and important content should be in the top part of your Email. If the Call to Action button has to be inserted makes it distinguishable and clear. Have unique visual elements.
Step 7 – Test Emails
Send out test emails to ensure there are no errors, typos, etc. It also gives you the chance to see how your email looks on different devices and you can take that feedback and make any changes if necessary. It’s always good to send out test Emails to ensure that your email sent out to your customers are error-free.
Step 8 – Analyze your Email plan
Evaluate your Email plan to see if your Email campaign is reaching its desired goals. You can look at metrics such as Click rates, Website visits, New subscribers, and Unsubscribe rates to understand how your Email plan is performing. Evaluating your Email plan helps you make tweaks and improvements to your existing plan to get maximum returns on your Email Campaigns.
