can emails win new business?

[Rebecca Spencer]

We're looking to expand our client base and considering email as one route to achieve this.

We get that they need to be both targeted and tailored but does anyone have any other tried and tested tips they'd be willing to share?

Thanks!

R

 

[Burford Secretarial]

Hi Rebecca,

I have compiled a few email campaigns for various clients they take a while to get right, but once you have the right target market and the right content they can bring in new business.

It sometimes takes 5 or 6 emails before they start remembering what you offer and how you can help them but I know for some businesses it does work very well.

If you decide to go down this route there are Constant Contact (although this will not allow you to use info email address), Aweber and MailChimp to name a few.

I hope this information helps.

 

[NextPoint]

E-mail campaigns are also a good way to capture intelligence about what your contacts are interested in.

 

[iblbuilder]

It will very much depend on the nature of your business, as to whether you can translate your offer into something that can be ascertained by email?

 

[linkappliances]

Email in domestic market is not popular as foreign market. People prefer to talk by phone as it can save time and easy.

 

[telemax]

Hi

I've found that there is a far higher chance of an email being opened, if you have actually spoken to someone in the target company. Even if it's reception. You can then put "conversation with Jane (or whoever)" in the subject line.

I hope this helps

Jonathan

 

[XanderMarketing]

Providing information always works better. A relevant informative PDF for example will work better than a sales email.

As Jonathon says having a good subject line is very important.

Use proper software, not Outlook!

Follow it up with a phone call.

If you want to take it to the next level you may want to consider Personalised URLs: http://www.xandermarketing.com/inde...hy-they-are-revolutionising-direct-marketing/

 

[E-wholesale]

I used this way, but seldom clients reply my email

 

[linkappliances]

We're looking to expand our client base and considering email as one route to achieve this.

We get that they need to be both targeted and tailored but does anyone have any other tried and tested tips they'd be willing to share?

Thanks!

R

can emails win new business? yes sure.
Thousands of emails maybe gain 1

 

[AndersenSoft]

We have just finished 2 email campaigns.
We sent emails, with good subject and body, with attached PDF presentation, with full contacts.
But we haven't received any answer...Some of them were considered as spam letters, I think...
Now we are doing a little bit another campaign: at first phone, then send presentation and then phone again. May be it will be more successful way.

Btw, how should look not spam letter?

 

[debbidoo]

This came through on B2B Marketing's email newsletter this morning... maybe you'll find it useful

 

[Call Tracker]

Pre-qualify your list making sure it's very targeted. Check the content, try not to be overtly salesy. Give the receiver something to read, keep emailing this list regularly on the same day each month with the same template but different content. Give great offers and lots of opportunities to click through to your website. It will take at least seven contacts with a cold list to get a response so keep on going.

Also, are you tracking the responses and finding out how many have clicked through, opened etc. It may be that they are opening the email, clicking through to your website but finding what's there is not for them. Create good landing pages for your click throughs and this will increase your response rates.

 

[BeorGar]

I have 120.000 emails database.

 

[OPC]

Hi Rebecca,

Generally works for us however it has taken a bit of time to build confidence in our clients and also build a decent database. We send a couple out each month with special offers and we do very well from it now.

So long as you are in the for the long run it will work for you but don't expect it to happen overnight.

Good luck with it

Regards

Colin

 

[BeorGar]

Btw, how should look not spam letter?

1. What is SPAM?

Electronic junk mail or junk newsgroup postings. Some people define spam even more generally as any unsolicited e-mail. However, if a long-lost brother finds your e-mail address and sends you a message, this could hardly be called spam, even though it's unsolicited. Real spam is generally e-mail advertising for some product sent to a mailing list or newsgroup.

 

[taz2822]

E-markerting is the most cost effective communication channel at the moment. Trick is making it look worthy.

 

[Mark Pocock]

Send a personal letter through the mail.
You'll double your response rate.

Why?

It's more likely to be read.

How many email lists are we all on?
Several I guess. Yet how many of these
subscribed emails which we've
opted in to do we read?

Not many.

regards

Mark

 

[MJ Britton]

If you check out a recent blog post at signposter.typepad.com you'll find a list of open rates for email campaigns in different market sectors. This might help you figure out your likely response rates. Good luck!

 

[astutiumRob]

1. What is SPAM?
Electronic junk mail or junk newsgroup postings

Saying spam=junk misses the point of a definition - to explain the meaning of something

What is SPAM ?
*unsolicited* commercial email (also called UCE) usually sent in bulk (UBE)

Simply put, if they didnt ask for it, dont send it.

 

[AnnaWisdish]

Hi Rebecca,

Yes, they can be a very effective part of your marketing strategy! My tips would be:

> Choose a header/subject line that will get the reader's attention and encourage them to open the email.

> Be as targeted as you can in who you approach and your message to them. Use the email to offer a very specific service/solution that addresses a specific need/pain of a particular type of company. (A blanket information broadcast about your services will get much less response.)

> Keep it short.

> Include a call to action - what do you want the reader to do in response to your email?

> Track response - who reads it, who clicks through to links etc. There are tools available that can help you do this, e.g. Campaign Monitor

> Only email contacts if you have permission to do so - you'll find some useful guidance about this on the Campign Monitor website.

> Follow-up your email with a call a day or two later.

Other tips will depend on your particular business and the clients you hope
to attract. You're welcome to contact me directly if you want to chat further.

Good luck!
Anna

 

[elearning@witsindia]

Simply put, if they didnt ask for it, dont send it.[/quote]


yes thats the point...

Now how do i know whether i have permission to send em mails?

@mediamonitor
Is it really advisable to keep sending mails to same list?? In case people are not responding back, they might get irritated.

I only send mail once, if they reply back then second one goes...but responses are few...

 

[RBS]

I am planning to do email campaign, around 750 emails, B2B. I dont know how long it is going to take sending them one by one Any professionals here who write email sales letters?

 

[virtuallysorted]

Rob - this is a 5 minute job if you use some mailing software and it has the added bonus of being able to track who opened it and where they clicked so you can follow up hot leads.

In general terms, you shouldn't be looking for this as a "quick fix" though - it should be about positioning yourself as an expert in the field, building a relationship, being of use to the potential client, and increasing their interaction with your brand. I always say if you want to use email marketing, plan it over 6 months.

If you need a hand I'd be happy to give some pointers, just email [email protected]

Caroline

 

[RBS]

Rob - this is a 5 minute job if you use some mailing software and it has the added bonus of being able to track who opened it and where they clicked so you can follow up hot leads.

I am checking Mailchimp now for this. BUT anyway I have to visit 750 pages, copy and paste email address into mailing list. Thats gonna take LOT of time

 

[faz]

You definetly need to look at:

Targeting
Relevance
Day of send

Also need to consider what your call to action is? e.g. don't expect people to self navigate ensure you marry the creative to a page/form with a clear call to action and breif info/USPs.

Other factors to consider to avoid Junk/Spam folders is potentially the size/content of the mailing and words you are using e.g. Free, No fees, credit, loan etc etc will most likely end up in spam folder.

If you/anyone wants any help on creative set up then pm me with your email and I'll send you a guide.

 

[swifttaxi]

There's no harm in trying. Email marketing is effective and don't be affected by stories that they never had a good result as they say, why not try it by yourself to get the exact answer.

Avoid using spammy words like Cash, money, free, guaranteed, etc this will definitely will bring you to spam inbox.

 

[OfficeHounds]

Simply put, if they didnt ask for it, dont send it.

I only send mail once, if they reply back then second one goes...but responses are few...[/QUOTE]

Maybe responses are few because you've only written to them once. If your potential customers are busy, they might not even open your first and last email.

 

[OfficeHounds]

I like to give free tips in my emails, because even if the receiver doesn't buy from me, they will hopefully find the email useful.

 

[elearning@witsindia]

@officeHounds

So should i send mails ( different each time) to same list thrice or four times?

 

[RBS]

I suggest you all ask FAZ to send that guide. Its VERY useful!

 

[OfficeHounds]

@officeHounds

So should i send mails ( different each time) to same list thrice or four times?

I definitely think it's worth trying. The good thing about email marketing is that you don't lose anything apart from the time it takes you to prepare and send the emails. It's been working for me.

I'm also currently testing following up the emails with phone calls. I haven't won any work this way yet, but I'm learning as I go along. I have received some positive feedback and am gaining a better understanding of my target market.

 

[OfficeHounds]

I suggest you all ask FAZ to send that guide. Its VERY useful!

I will. Thanks!

 

[4little1s]

For us its been good but has been a learning process of what works / what doesn't. Using Constant Contact has given us info like how many people opened the email and how many people then went on to click to our site etc etc

Have recently been splitting out our contact list into very specific products people have bought and then targeting that 'mini' lists if you like.

My tip is to pre-qualify the list and make sure it's targeted.

 

[virtuallysorted]

Rob - I'd strongly suggest starting your list from scratch rather than mining email addresses from different sites. You will get better results if people have opted in (never mind the quagmire of data protection!).

If you have a list of people who have already done business with you, it would be polite to send them an email directing them to your sign up page on the site, rather than just starting to send lots of emails.

Good email marketing:
- gives relevant and useful information.
- links thru to your website to increase visitors.
- is consistent but not irritatingly regular - you should expect to "touch" each person 7 times before they consider buying from you, and I'd suggest no more than one email every 3 weeks unless it's something pretty special.
- will get business each time you send it out after the initial 6 months.
- has bullets/short copy or draws the reader into a story rather than a sales pitch

I actually had a really bad example of what not to do from one of my fave companies recently. Lots of really desperate sounding emails which made me question whether or not they were going out of business. Every single one was littered with typos. It was a "no reply" email address which wasn't even domain specific. The copy was almost entirely sales, with no real value for me being on the list. They would send 5 in a week and then nothing for 3 months. All extremely odd!

 

[PureIT]

How do you go about building an email list from scratch? I'm interested in new business - is it worth purchasing lists?

 

[virtuallysorted]

I'd suggest getting together all your old leads/clients/contacts and building a list from there. Include a sign up with a compelling reason on your website, on marketing materials etc. If you have a shop or exhibit anywhere, make sure you have a sign up sheet handy. If you don't have emails than get on the phones and ask people for their contact details.

Bought in lists can work, but I'd always prefer to use a natural list.

 

[hevanapl]

that depends on what you sent and to whom you do, if your content is interesting, more people will open it and even reply you, but some times they never see it.

take an example, if one day you have 10 mails in in your mailbox from someone you dont know, and they are all ads, but maybe you will open 1 or 2 of them or throw away all of them, this depends on you are happy or not, or if the mail interest you, the same thing with that you send mails to others~~`

 

[uzii_86]

emailing for this purpose doesnt really work. no matter how big your company name is the instance the person gets to knw its any poromotional capmign sort of a thng he/will instaneously close that window considering it as a spam.

the only possibilty is when you hit sum1 at the right time, means that person was in need for that thing and you emailed what he/she requried at that time. this is a rare case and u cant afford to invest so much time studyn everyone's needs and wants.

only if your purpose is to win few BIG customers den i would suggest that this is a good approach else this is no way effective if you wana target mass, as you can just create awarness through emails but perform ny marketing gimmick through this channels as the ones sitting at the other end are quite aware and knowledgeable about all these stuffs.

 

[Mailing Manager]

Email marketing will provide great results and reponses dependant on a few small but important things :

1. The quality of your subscriber list. Purchased lists do not work and and provide terrible results not to mention the potential damage they will do to your sender domain.
2. The content of your email campaign. A happy balance between graphics and text will provide better deliverbility.
3. Always check your campaign with a spam checker before sending and it is always worth sending a couple of test emails to colleagues to check deliverability.

Mailing Manager is a UK based company that provides telephone support and advice to all of our prospective and subscribed customers.