The holidays are here, and with the hustle and bustle of the season comes holiday email marketing that could seriously increase the revenue of your business. From Black Friday to Cyber Monday, this is the time of year when consumers are ready to spend, and businesses of all types can reap the benefits. The key to success is in knowing the kinds of emails to send, what content to include, and how you can stand out in a crowded holiday inbox.
Here are a few tips to help you rework and maximize your email marketing this holiday season:
Know Your Audience
First and foremost, before you ever send an email, you need to be aware of who it is that you are reaching. This knowledge will help you regardless of the time of year, but it is especially important during a time when buyers are receiving endless emails from other businesses also hoping to market their product or service. One of the most valuable steps you can take is to segment your email lists. This is done by keeping careful data on your subscribers and using this data to send them relevant emails that are more likely to appeal to them based on their past purchases or their demographic.
You also don’t want to forget that it is the holiday season. Add a human element to your emails. Offer your customers warm holiday wishes, sincerely thank them for their business, and explain what your business or service can add to their holiday experience.
Make a Strong First Impression
You absolutely must send a quality welcome email whenever someone engages with your business. Statistics have shown that the average open rate for welcome emails is 50%, with these first emails generating over 300 times more revenue than a random promotional email. Plus, over 70% of online users surveyed actually expect a welcome email to show up in their mailbox after subscribing to a website — but only a little more than half of businesses send them. These welcome emails are clearly your chance at getting the attention of people interested in your website, so you’ll not only want to have a system for sending them immediately after a person interacts with your site, but you’ll also want to fill your email with content that will make your visitor want to return.
Consider offering a welcome discount within the email and, since so many emails are viewed on mobile devices these days, strive to create a mobile-friendly design that is pleasing to its readers. Be sure to include links to your social media channels to provide your email recipients with another platform to interact with your business.
Have a Little Fun
Make your marketing emails entertaining and creative. These days, text alone simply isn’t appealing enough to consumers. Add mobile-friendly visuals and interactive opportunities to your emails. The current trend is gamification, which is essentially just what it sounds like. Marketers might send out actual games in their emails that lead to offers or social media platforms, they might hold contests, or they may simply encourage consumers to share something on social media in exchange for a discount code. This gamification email from Taco Bell has garnered a lot of attention online for its crafty way of luring potential customers.
The bottom line is that shoppers receive a lot of emails. Drawing them in with something new and exciting is a clever way to make them want to receive yours.
Make Your Subscribers Feel Special
Your subscribers are your VIP buyers. After all, they signed up for your emails, or made a purchase, because they already like what you have to offer. Keep that momentum going by offering exclusive rewards or promotions to email subscribers, as though being apart of your email list is a kind of exclusive club. When someone does make a purchase, pack that receipt email with future discounts, upcoming products or events, and recommendations based on their purchase. Because, what’s the other email most likely to be opened? A transactional email.
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
The holidays are filled with opportunities for your business to grow. With shoppers ready and eager to try new products and services, your email strategy can make all the difference. Of course, this is also the time of year that business owners may feel overwhelmed. Running a business and running a successful email marketing campaign is no easy feat. You’ll also need to make sure your website is regularly maintained and updated. Bamboo Marketing can help. Contact us today to learn what our team of experts can do to market your business this holiday season, and year-round.