Getting Results by Email Marketing – Part 1

Even with technology rapidly moving forward and social media getting most of the attention, email marketing is still a very effective way to build repeat business. Receiving a newsletter in your inbox from a familiar brand is a less intimidating, more personal environment, making people more apt to take the time to review your message. But with so much junk mail these days, you want to guarantee that your mail gets read. This will be the first of a three part series on avenues to enhance your marketing by email. We will review how to attract more subscribers, the process of expanding your mailing lists, and ways to make the most of your efforts for a successful return.

Increasing Subscribers –

• Having an attractive homepage section with clear sign-up instructions is important to growing your email list. Appealing, branded sign-up boxes are key to drawing attention and getting more email subscribers.

• Always brand your newsletter as something exclusive. If the reader thinks they can get the same information on your website, they see no reason to sign up. Everyone is short on time so your emails must include valuable and trustworthy information.

• Provide incentives for customers to sign up: exclusive email offers, discounts on reservations, gifts on arrival, and other specials.

• Set up automatic emails to thank customers for joining your mailing list and give incentives to share with their friends.

• Social networking is a top marketing tool so include links to have followers sign up through Google+ and Facebook. Remember to create a sign-up incentive with a giveaway or contest.

• For third party or call-in inquiries, export contacts monthly and add to a pool of people you plan on sending an opt-in email.

• Create an opt-in section as part of your booking process.

Stay tuned for the next part of this series which will focus on the process of opting people in, and then segmenting them for the best results.