Email marketing can be an extremely effective method to get your messages to your readers. In general, this method is relatively inexpensive to implement and is a great way to increase your credibility. And, as compared to direct (traditional) mail, email marketing is definitely a great bargain with an average cost per message of a few cents with a response rate range of 5-35%, depending on the industry and format. One of the biggest advantages to using email marketing is the ability to find out about the needs and wants of your readers. Most opt in software give you the ability to tailor your opt in box to fit your need. With this ability, you can then use that information to target your posts and your newsletter to accommodate your readers.

The advantages to this type of marketing:

Your audience is already interested in what you have to offer or the information you provide them.

It’s cost effective. In comparison to other types of direct marketing, this technique is significantly less expensive.

Due to how much time it takes to develop and execute conventional direct marketing methods, not to mention the time it takes to evaluate the results of such a campaign, email marketing promotions give you the ability to implement a campaign in days and give you instant feedback of your campaign in real time as it runs. Compared to traditional direct ad marketing, a monthly email ezine or newsletter in your niche strengthens both your credibility and your capability by educating your readers while at the same time, passively marketing yourself, a product or service. And it’s that which establishes you as an expert.

Downloadable digital products, like ebooks, videos and audios, provide instant gratification and autoresponders can be used to automate the entire process. An autoresponder is script that automatically sends email back to people who fill out a opt in form. You can host a autoresponder script yourself or you can do what most marketers do and use a online service that hosts the service for you. Aweber, Getresponse and FreeAutoBot are both free and paid examples of online autoresponder service providers. These services give you the ability to provide the information that your readers are looking for without any additional individual follow up from you.

There are some disadvantages to email marketing. Due to spam merchants, many people simply scan their email for particular messages. And, due to spam filters and anti spam measures, there’s always some email that may not get through. And, although I have seen some email novels, short emails are usually the norm. Because people have a life, prospects tend to not want lengthy copy. Long winded supporting arguments and facts in a email generally don’t get read, even in an HTML ad.

However, if you can develop a relationship with your readers by providing fresh, quality, and relevent information that they can then use, you can create an environment where people begin to look to you for answers. Becoming a trusted source. And that’s what’s it’s all about.

That’s all I have today and I hope this finds you well.