e-Marketing
One of the most effective marketing mediums is e-mail because it usually costs only a few cents per message as opposed to traditional direct mail which can cost $1 or more per piece. Response rates are also very strong, from 5% to 35% as opposed to response rates for traditional mail averages in the 1% to 3% range. You can also find out your customer demographic information, but it is important not to go overboard in the amount of questions you ask.
HTML tends to have higher response rates than direct mail and the graphics and colors make it look more professional, but it can also be slower to download and some HTML e-mail is screened out by certain providers.
It is also important to tell customers about the benefits they can receive of receiving your newsletters, including early notification of special sales.
There are many studies which state that customers tend to read e-mail newsletters way more carefully when there is often information besides a sales pitch such as helpful tips and humor.
Even if you do not sell online, a business web site is always an effective marketing tool, especially because you can easily update the site with little cost. A web site can make you stand out from your competition and provide better, faster customer service and communication.
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