As a business owner you have probably heard that email marketing is a great way to reach your target audience and get more business. And it’s true! But when you are first starting out, setting up an email list, designing emails, and coming up with something to say can be a little daunting.

 

And you may be wondering where the heck you should start or if it is even worth your time.

Email Marketing has some powerful benefits, but to be successful it has to be well thought out and carefully managed. In this post we will look at some of the basics of email marketing – how to get started, how to build your list and what to say in that first email!

 

You probably already have an email provider that you use for your business emails – Gmail is the most popular one. While using your current email provider will work, it isn’t the most effective way to send emails to a client list. We want to work smarter not harder. When I first started using email marketing, I would copy and past my entire client list into a gmail email….crazy!

 

There are several great options out there for building an email list. I recommend MailChimp.comas a great place to start. It’s free up to 1,000 emails so you don’t have to pay big bucks for all the bells and whistles like some of the larger email marketing companies. Once you start growing your list, you can look into more robust systems like ConvertKitor Ontraportif you need more intricate systems in place.

 

 

Aside from setting up your email account, this is probably the MOSTimportant step! You have to have emails in order to have a successful email marketing campaign.

 

But how and where do you get them?

 

The easiest place to start is with your past clients. Contact each of them and ask them to join your email list (you have to ASK for permission before you can just add them). Then post on social media. Ask anyone and everyone that could be a potential client to join your email list. You never know when or how it will pay off.

 

I have had random friends of past clients sign up for my email list and years later reply to a marketing email about a photo session or wedding. This stuff works y’all!

 

 

Would you give out your personal information to just anyone that asked you for it? Probably not, so getting people to sign up for your email list can feel like pulling teeth if they don’t TRUSTyou.

 

So how do you build trust?

 

The easiest way is to GIVEthem something of value! I call this the “freebie”.

 

This doesn’t mean giving them your best product or your top package. But it DOESmean giving them something they can take away. I offer wedding planning guides for brides. If you are a make-up artist, create a PDF with make-up tips. If you have an online boutique, give them a 10% discount code.

 

The sky is the limit! Put yourself if your client’s shoes and figure out what will entice them to sign up, then share it like crazy….on your website, on your blog, on social media. Get it out there for people to see! Sometimes a $20 Facebook ad can do wonders for building an email list.

 

 

 

Now that you have your email list going, and your “freebie”is brining in new emails for you, it’s time to start sending out your own emails!

 

The best first email is a Welcome email. Keep it short and sweet. Tell them WHOyou are and WHATyou do. Let them know what they can expect from being on your email list.

 

Start with a catchy subject line – Welcome to my email list– probably isn’t going to make people want to open it. BUT – 10% off your order– OR – Have you heard the news? – Is going to catch their attention and make them want to read what you have to say.

Once you have your first email out there, it’s time to start thinking ahead. I suggest sending 1 email per month to get started. Your emails can include special offers or events, free or discounted items for only those people on your email list (making it seem exclusive helps) or just helpful tips. Make sure your emails offer them something from time to time instead of always saying – hey look at my cool stuff, come buy it!

 

Email marketing doesn’t have to be daunting or overwhelming. Just take it one step at a time, and before you know it you will be rockin’ your email list!