Introduction to Email Marketing

Email marketing refers to marketing using electronic mail. This is use of the internet or other computer networks. Before an instant messenger was used, this required that both the sender and receiver be online. In today’s world, the email server can store as well as forward messages. Email messages normally consist of the message header and the message body. It is a form of direct marketing, meaning that messages are sent directly to customers without using the old methods of communication media like TV, radio and newspapers.

Direct marketing is straight to the point, it informs the potential client or the product or service and how to get it. It is used commercially to raise funds by sending emails to potential clients. This type of marketing is meant to inform new clients on the existence of a product so that they purchase it. You can also send emails in order to build your relationship business wise with already existing or new customers. Keeping in touch with customers helps in gaining customer loyalty. Emails are not only word documents, but you can also send photos and pictures. Advertisements on a product will usually be sent with this .Most advertisements will usually be accompanied by pictures. In emails, the act of sending pictures can be achieved by use of attachments.

There are different types of emails that one can use in email marketing. On of these is the Permission marketing or Opt in email. This is where the recipient of the email has allowed the receiving of emails. Unlike in methods where emails are sent at random to potential clients, in this one, the client already anticipates the mail. Such emails may contain information revolving around, the introduction of new products, changes in the product or upcoming events that the consumer should be aware of. Emails may be in form of newsletters. This is a good method of email marketing because sending emails to clients that they are already expecting, works more effectively. Emails sent without content may be referred to as unsolicited bulk email or spam. Sending spam is considered legal although there are certain specifications that must be met.

In the Opt in email, the emails can be sent over a pre-determined course. This might be once in a month or every week depending on the products that you are marketing.

Advertising through spam is also a good way of marketing because you will able to reach masses of people at once. Email marketing will involve that a single message is sent to large masses. The email addresses are normally outsourced from newsgroups, websites, chat rooms and customer lists. These sources are then sold from spammers to spammers. Another method is the Email Appending where information like the postal address of a client is known. This known information is then used to look for email addresses of these clients.

Email marketing is an affordable and fast way of marketing a company products or services. Users that are internet connected will definitely benefit from this method.