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"According to HubSpot, over 50% of respondents say they read most of their emails and 80% of people are reading their email on mobile devices." Now imagine this, it is January 1st and you are smiling ear to ear because you had a great holiday season of sales. You created amazing promotions, and used one simple tool to get the word out, Email Marketing! Now go on pat yourself on the back. The reality is you can DO THIS, using this superbly effective tool which is an absolute necessity for your small business shop, especially if you do not have online shopping. People are still reading their emails however they are more mobile about it, as noted above according to HubSpot over 50% read most of their emails and 80% on mobile phones. So over the next few weeks I want to help you with your email marketing campaigns, by providing simple easy to implement Holiday Email Marketing tips through this blog. So keep following. Let's get started with list building, before you can start emailing anyone, you need a list, right? Yes you do, and the way to create a list is by asking permission for people’s email instead of swiping, buying or getting it under false pretenses. Giving out your email is a big deal and if someone has entrusted you with theirs, be respectful and only send them what you promise and if they unsubscribe leave them alone. I know you are busy running a business, so I won’t give you 105 tips, who has the time, instead here are 5 ways I know work and are easy to implement. 1. Host a simple and fun event Host an event in your store, it could be a holiday party, a new arrivals display, or simply Friday Happy Hour drinks. If it’s doable, try and have regular events so that you can build your list throughout the year. Get people to rsvp by email, and also ask for their emails while they are attending your event, be sure to get their first name as well. Serve wine and appetizers if it’s in the budget and have a giveaway so your customers can feel rewarded for stopping by. Get the word out via fliers and through family and friends, make sure to invite neighboring businesses. 2. Ask at the cash register – how you ask is important. Throughout the year is the best way to build your email list, and one of the most effective ways I’ve seen it done is by asking at the cash register, however, most Sales Associates tend to say “do you want to provide your email address to be informed about our promotions”, right away most people would say no, because they are thinking here comes the spam. However, the most effective use of this simple question could be reworded to “would you like me to email you when we have more dresses like this in or when we have another 40% off promotion?” By tying the question directly into what the customer purchased or to the discount they received, it makes it much more personal and effective. Hello, yes you can send me notice when you have another 40% off discount, that’s worth my email address, especially if I found something amazing at a great price. 3. Use first names This is not necessarily a how to build your email list tactic, but I felt it was it was important to mention. Now that you’ve collected your email addresses, please make sure you have your customer’s first name, so that you can personalize your email to them. There is nothing worse than getting an email, that says, Dear "Text" or Dear "Valued Customer" at least use Dear "Friend" if you do not have first names. "According to HubSpot, Click through rate (CTR) is higher when using the recipient’s first name in the subject line over no use of the first name." 4. Have an online giveaway Offering a giveaway on your website that is of great value such as enticing discount for a limited time, free shipping if applicable, a gift with purchase, or an e-guide you know your customer will love is an excellent way to drive traffic to your store and build your brand. Although you may not have an online shop, it is important to have a good online presence, so that your customer can find your business when searching relevant terms and more importantly you want them to learn as much as possible about you enticing them to make a special trip to your store. Whatever you do, make your online offer easy to execute, you don't want to spend too much time bogged down with technical difficulties. 5. A few other simple online methods include: Use your social media pages effectively, post your offers and to encourage sign ups, and ask your friends and fans to endorse your offer when sharing with a testimonial. Chances are you have a contact list from everyday communication, send your contacts an email asking them to subscribe to your list, don’t just put them on it, they will appreciate you asking. Also, make sure your website, has a place for people to subscribe however, you need to provide a good offer for this to happen. Finally ask your family and friends to subscribe and support your efforts, they are not allowed to say no. Thank you for taking the time to read this post. I hope you found these tips helpful and my passion for marketing your small business empowering. I spend a great deal of time researching and writing my posts, so please share and leave me a comment or question. I promise to write back. Thank you so much.
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Hi my name is Farzanah. I am a marketing pro with 10 + years of experience in marketing management and a busy mom dedicated to helping small business owners improve their marketing with copy writing that transforms their online visitors into taking action. Trending Posts
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