No matter what your business, email marketing can work for you. Whether you sell office widgets or offer a carpet-cleaning service, every business can benefit from this affordable marketing option.

“The return on investment for email marketing is high, about $40 for every $1 spent,” says Jill Bastian, our Community Education and Training Manager.

“This is not only a fantastic number to see, but it’s also held pretty steady over the years,” she adds. “Email marketing is very inexpensive, usually just pennies per email. It reaches lots of people and can bring in sales/donations very quickly.”

The return on investment is one of the main reasons so many businesses turn to email marketing, but how can you make it work for your business? Read on for three simple ways!

1. Select from professionally designed templates
When you’re ready to create and send an email, you can select from, for example, dozens of professionally designed templates. With just a few clicks, you can upload your company logo, add links to your website, and create a must-read message for your recipients.

No need for graphic design or coding skills; these are drop-and-drag templates that are a snap for any business owner to create. Time is money. Great templates keep your time commitment to a minimum.

2. Integrate your emails with social media channels
Email and social media marketing can work together to boost your business. That’s why you should link your social media accounts to your email marketing campaigns. Every email you send out shouldn’t just have your logo and a call to action; it should also include a one-click link to your social channels like this:

3. Send a variety of emails
From coupons to product advice, you want to offer email recipients a variety of content. Keep your email marketing fresh and valuable. It’s one of the best ways to keep your customers opening, reading and engaging with your email content.

“Keep sending interesting and beneficial info and your readers will in turn make a purchase, donation or attend an event,” Bastian says. “It’s one of the best ways to get customers to interact with your email.”

If you need a little email inspiration, check out “Nine Emails Your Business Should Be Sending.” In fact, our blog is chock-full of great tips to help you send an array of great emails.

A few tips to get you started
Now that you know how you’ll integrate email marketing into your day, here are a few tips to get your email engine running:

• Write creative, specific subject lines
  Your subject line should entice the reader to open your email. It should explain what’s inside. Give the reader an idea of what to expect.
• Keep it short
  Your recipients get hundreds of emails, so make sure you write a short, captivating message.
• Have a clear call to action
  Each email should have a clear call-to-action. What do you want the reader to do? Make a purchase, read a blog post? Whatever the desired action, make sure there is a link or a call-to-action button that takes the reader to the right spot on your website.
• Have fun
  Have some fun when creating and sending emails. Recipients respond to humorous, out-of-the-box content.

For more information, grab our free guides, How Email Marketing Helps Your Business and The Beginner’s Guide to Email Marketing.

How does email marketing work for you? Tell us in the comment section below.

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