Are You Using E-mail Marketing?

"Should I consider e-mail marketing when planning my promotion strategy? What's all the hype about e-mail marketing?" Consider the numbers and see for yourself why e-mail marketing can be very cost-effective in promoting your product or service.

The one thing that computer users do more than anything else, is send and receive e-mail. At the end of the year 2000, there were close to 100 million active e-mail users in the US. These users are defined as those in the 14 years and older age group who send or receive 5 or more e-mail per week. It is estimated that by the year 2003, there will be 140 million active e-mail users.

When computers users were asked during many polls, what their main reason for going online is, approximately 90% said "e-mail." After turning on the computer, 70% of users say the first thing they do is check their e-mail.

Unfortunately, many e-mail users have to sort through unwanted and unsolicited e-mail to get to the ones they really want. Most times they will simply delete an e-mail if they do not recognize whom it is coming from. This presents a challenge if you are going to use e-mail marketing in your promotion campaign.

Sending e-mail to someone who did not request any business related material is a NO-NO. This is unsolicited e-mail marketing commonly referred to as SPAM. Your Internet account could be canceled if someone reports you to your ISP for 'spamming' or you could be 'flamed' by those who are not thrilled about receiving something they did not ask for.

E-mail marketing should be targeted at those who are interested in what you have to offer. An opt-in list would have the e-mail addresses of persons interested in your product or service. This is a list of persons who have requested more information about what you have to offer or something similar. Your e-mail marketing campaign will involve an opt-in list that you have developed or one that you have rented from a reputable company like NetCreations - www.postmasterdirect.com.

"NetCreations have the largest network of high quality, targeted opt-in email addresses on the Internet - more than 3,000 topical lists and more than 30 million email addresses...Their partner sites include About.com, CMPnet, internet.com, CDROM Guide, LuckySurf and CNET. With a minimum order of $1,000, you can rent their 100% Opt-In