Reaching out to customers and prospects via bulk emailing is an important way for you to increase your sales and get your message out there. In today’s information-saturated world however, harried consumers may forget about you if they don’t hear from you on a regular basis. Following are some tips for planning and executing a mass email campaign.
1) Plot your strategy. Delivering bulk email can be deceptively simple. Deceptive because jus sending out emails without first planning how to optimally word and deliver them, or selecting the ideal audience to target in those emails, can negatively impact your results. You should first identify your campaign’s goals as well as who would be most receptive to its messaging, and then determine what mix of editorial/informational as opposed to sales content should be used to increase its effectiveness.
2) Refine your list. Once you have identified a strategy, buying or developing a list of prospects that best fit that strategy is the next step. Make sure you are using your website, in-person visits, and other options to voluntarily capture emails. If you need more prospects, check with various list vendors to find one that can deliver email blasting lists to expand your campaign’s scope.
3) Create compelling content. This is perhaps the most important part of all. If you send out emails with text that is flat or poorly written, your success rate is likely to drop significantly. Make sure that your emails are powerfully written, with a compelling call-to-action for the promotional portion of the campaign, and persuasive, cogent reasoning when it comes to the informational/news part. The writing should be relatable but not flippant, and should deliver your message effectively and concisely.
4) Keep your titles snappy. The title or subject line goes a long way towards determining if your prospects will open an email, making it crucial when it comes to developing a successful campaign. Take the time necessary to develop subject lines that pique the interest of your recipients.
5) Monitor results by segment. To enhance your campaign while it is in progress, as well as future campaigns, track your campaign segment by segment. See which subject lines are performing best, as well as which of your calls-to-action are getting the greatest response.
6) Allow for opt-outs. Your best prospects are those who enjoy hearing about your products and any other information you may provide. At the same time, those who don’t appreciate receiving emails from you on a regular basis should have a chance to opt-out. Provide such a link on each email you send to cut down on any such complaints.