5 Tips to Getting Your Emails Opened

If you own or run a business, or are the marketing director in one, you are constantly looking for cost-effective ways to market.

You want something that will get results too.

Email marketing can be a great way to go and is a good solution for most businesses. The only exception would be a really high-end product where more personal contact is needed. Even in those cases, email marketing can be effective if done correctly.

Writing effective emails takes some research about exactly who you are targeting. It also takes creating a plan and a schedule – just as with any other marketing you are doing.

Before sitting down to compose an email you want to decide a few important things:

1. Who is your target market?

For example if you are an insurance company, you might think that males are your target market. However, a closer look could reveal that it’s the women in the family who read the literature and decide on the insurance company that’s right for the family. The men may have a part in the decision (mainly approving the cost), but the women are the ones behind the purchase.

2. What makes them tick?

In the example above, let’s say those women are also mothers. They want something economical that will cover them and their children in the event of an accident. They don’t have time to haggle with someone over the phone or spend a long time on hold if they have a claim or a question. So, they also want fast, efficient service.

3. What product or service do you want them to buy?

Take a close look at the product or service you are selling and ask yourself what are all the features and the benefits of the product. Make a two-columned list of each and move on to the next question.

4. So what?

Why should your target market buy your product or service? In other words, what’s in it for them? This is where you really need to distinguish yourself from the competition to get people to see why you offer something special and/or different. Examine your list of features and benefits as well as who you are targeting, and write a one or two paragraph statement that best describes your product or service while also fitting in with what your target market is looking for.

5. Create a deadline or a sense of urgency.

If there is no “Buy now before this special discount runs out” or something similar, people will set aside your email and forget about it. You have to give them an offer they can’t refuse. Then you need to place an expiration date on that offer.

Use these tips to get your emails noticed and opened. There are more things that can be done to ensure you are crafting effective emails, but these are the basics that should be looked at before you begin writing.