Is Email Marketing Worth the Investment in Time and Funds?

Despite the hype around social media, Email List Marketing continues to be one of the most successful direct marketing techniques.  Email is low-cost, targeted, generates higher response and is quick and easy to measure.  Research indicates that email generates $18 CAD for every $1 invested  (Marketing’s contribution to the Canadian Economy, CMA 2008), which is one reason why it remains a key opportunity for digital marketers.

Doing a quick search online will show you that there are many services out there that provide the means to send your digital marketing however what they don’t do:

• Provide you a way to collect a targeted list
• Help you understand effective email marketing or marketing in general
• Teach you to design quality target email content
• Use it considering Search Engine Optimization in mind

The results are that you could play around for years to discover what works and what doesn’t work.  And you can anger your potential customers in the process.

Also you must be aware that there are, at least in Canada some rules and regulations that need to be followed as outlined by Insustry Canada.  Email lists must:

• Be voluntarily collected
• Double Opt-In
• Contain an automated unsubscribe link

By the way that last point ensures that you cannot do this in your MS Outlook or Outlook express.

Other problems with email marketing from your own computer are that MOST website hosting providers “Muskoka Graphics Included”  limit the amount of email that can be sent in an hour per domain name.  This is to prevent RBL list from listing our servers as sending spam, thereby ensuring that email sent will not be delivered.  This means an outside email provider must be used.  There are several we recommend.  Mail Chimp topping the list, AWeber and Constant Contact are equally as good but the price differences can be astounding.

Let Muskoka Graphics show you how important it is for your business to include this in your website and in your monthly marketing campaign.