What is email marketing?
Email marketing is a type of direct marketing where emails are
sent as 
commercial or fund raising
messages to a specific targeted audience.
You can use email marketing for different purposes. For example, to keep good contact with your clients or to improve your contact with them. This stimulates repeated purchases and/ or orders. Emails can also be sent in order to make your clients aware of your new products and/or services or to turn potential clients into real clients.
Also read: The benefits of email marketing (PDF)
Email marketing, is it meant for you?
Your advantages:
- Measurable: You don't really know what the effect was of an ad in a newspaper or in a folder, however by sending out digital newsletters the effect is measurable. You can see how often your newsletter has been read and which links have been clicked on.
- Cheap: Printing folders and flyers is relatively expensive. Newsletters on the other hand are much cheaper. This will make a big difference in your budget.
- News: You can keep your clients posted on the changes in your organization, on your products and on your services. This means that several contact points can be made whenever you want, with all your relationships.
- Fast: You are not dependent on a printing company or on a delivery service.
Advantages for you clients:
- Personalized: By using the first name and the surname of your clients, the newsletter can be personally addressed. Moreover, the receiver will be able to open the newsletter at any time.
- Efficient: Almost everyone is able to read his/her mail several times a day. Emails are easily saved and retreived.
- Effective: Readers can simply click through to get to your website, where more information can be found.
- Viral: Thanks to the send-to-a-friend link, your emails can be sent through and reach a larger audience.
Some important tips about email marketing are given on the next page.
Go to important tips...