How To Do Successful Email Marketing

Maybe there is someone out there that still likes getting monthly or weekly emails in their inbox with subject lines like “August newsletter: update of company events at blah blah Inc.” However, for most of us the word “newsletter” has become unattractive; devoid of meaning and therefore any value. We don't like the newsletters we receive nor do we get anything out of them so we resist creating our own email marketing campaigns in fear of being that meaningless content dribbling into others inboxes that we dislike so much ourselves.

Why would we want to do that to anyone?! Well you should, and here’s why.

Newsletters have historically been emails that humble-brag about internal company achievements and give generic information to the poor saps that were unfortunate enough to end up on said company's RSS feed (whatever that is, or rather, was). So while the old “newsletter” content is useless and dead, successful marketers know that quality email marketing is still one of the best marketing tools available, especially for service-based businesses. Depending on which study you read, you get $35 to $40 back for every dollar you invest in email! This reinforces the fact that, hands down, there's nothing more valuable than direct access to someone’s attention.

Despite these numbers, many small business owners still hold on to negative feelings about email marketing, and understandably so, but it is preventing them from doing something that is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to market yourself and your business. Just because you hate being on some lists, doesn’t mean lists don’t work.

Just like branding, email marketing is all about speaking to your ideal clients.Whether it’s through a weekly or monthly email, if you can delight people by sharing unique insights with them on a regular basis, email is probably the first place you should focus your brand-building energy.

So whatever personal hang-ups you have about being on someone’s list, or potential customers being on yours, it’s time to get over them. Because, in the end, if you’re giving someone what they want, those people will read every single word you send their way and still want more. And that is one of the best ways to build long-term relationships with future clients, exponentially growing your business over time. 

What Is A Newsletter, Really?

Again, “newsletters” are annoying to all of us. Who wants to read your “Memorial Day Newsletter”? (Even your mom is only glancing at it and that’s just to be polite because she loves you). However, emails with your voice, philosophy and insights that the recipient actually appreciates and is interested in? That’s an entirely different beast. That is what we are going for here. RIP newsletters, hello email marketing.

No matter what your opinion of mass emails is, I guarantee there are at least a few you actually enjoy receiving and do get real value from. The only emails that are annoying are ones that don’t pertain to you or your situation and needs. And as someone who sends them myself, I can assure you that we absolutely want you to unsubscribe if that’s the case. Nobody wants to annoy you with their business emails!

As you consider building your own email list and sending periodic emails to engage potential clients, think about this: How do you feel about the emails you get that you doenjoy? Can you be that for someone else? Of course, you can! I stay subscribed to a handful of email lists that give me consistent value—personally and in business. Many are from people who inspire me from what they do. These are people I like being reminded of and thinking about once in a while for inspiration and motivation.

For instance, I like getting the New York Times cooking recipes. My partner Steve enjoys getting updates on the latest shows added to Netflix. I would never want an email from Netflix telling me anything, instant unsubscribe! Does this mean Netflix doesn’t benefit from its email marketing? Of course not. I am not someone who enjoys their emails so their email content isn’t really for me. It also doesn't affect my use or enjoyment of their service so let’s dispel the fear that if someone doesn’t enjoy your email content they will not use your service. So whether you prefer Seth Godin’s marketing emails or Marie Forleo’s weekly videos, the point is that marketing emails are all about what you have to offer that your idealcustomers want and need. Not what everyonewants.

If you are feeling yucky about the prospect of sending emails or writing a “sigh... newsletter,” chances are you’re either unable to articulate any real value through email, or you’re forgetting there are people out there who would value your insights. You just have to find them! It’s entirely on you to write something people will be delighted by—in your unique way.

Think about the information that pertains to your customers’ interests, desires, and needs. That could be colorful, opinionated commentary on your industry, original content, sharing resources like software and books or simply things you think are cool. Whatever it is, though, make sure it’s tailored to your brand and the unique offerings and benefits of working with you, as well as the issues you deal with, and the problems you solve in your industry.

Be thoughtful about what you’re putting out. If you run an IT firm and you think your audience might enjoy funny cartoons every week, make sure the cartoons are both on brand for your company, and that the content relates to your industry and its challenges that you solve. Images and illustrations that are completely unrelated to what you do probably aren’t going to help you very much; they’ll just be a cheap trick.

The content you create and share should engage people in ways that make them clients in the future. Start by asking, “Whose attention am I trying to keep and what would they be interested in seeing from me?” If it’s on brand for you, it’s also valuable to them. Do this, and people will love you for sharing your expertise with them and will ask for more (or, at least, stay subscribed long enough to get to know you and your business better until the the time is right for them to buy).

Finding Your Audience

If you’re new to this, you’re definitely going to face some personal resistance. After all, even if you have no hang-ups pestering people in their inbox, you’re still going to be putting your ideas and thoughts out into the world and that can be scary. We all hope that our content will be coherent, useful, not invasive or annoying and please god never offensive to anyone! For anyone who is not seasoned in the arena of public opinion, critique and criticism, putting yourself  “out there” in those first few articles or emails will be nerve-racking.

When I look back at my first batch of emails, I cringe; they were terrible. Accept that yours will be, too. A link will be broken, you’ll have a typo or typos (and everybody will email to point out your idiotic spelling mistake) or you will reread what you’ve written later and feel differently. The list of growing pain blunders goes on. It’s best to experience and move through some of those stresses and mistakes at the beginning when you don't have a huge audience yet. At first, you’ll be mortified. But it’s also not as bad as you think because the stakes are still low.

Getting started and finding your audience is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can feel demoralizing to think, “Nobody's reading this.” On the other hand, you're still finding your flow, and figuring out what your best stuff is. Better to do that with a small audience than with a list of 10,000+.

It's a slow process at first, but you have to remember that you’re developing your skill of writing awesome content unique to your business and finding your voice all at the same time. Your list and your audience will grow as you and your content deserve it.

For years, I’ve focused on giving the branding and small business insights I’ve gathered through my own experiences in my articles, knowing that as I build fans and a bigger audience, more work will flow in my direction. Year after year, my content continues to get better and more focused on the benefits my business offers to clients and in turn my audience gets bigger too. It takes time, but the perseverance is worth it.

Ignore Those Unsubscribes

A certain number of people will unsubscribe with each email blast. And the more your list grows, the more that unsubscribe number will go up. Accept this truth now, and you’ll save yourself a ton of mental anguish.  

It’s hard not to take the unsubscribes personally at first, especially for service-based business owners pouring their heart and soul into content. When you see people leave your list while you’re still trying to gain confidence and footing, it’s demoralizing. But it also doesn’t matter at all. In fact, it’s great. The people leaving aren’t right for you anyway, so they’re really doing you a favor.

Which is why you should just turn those notifications off. Don’t even pay attention to the numbers early on because every unsubscribe is going to feel personal. I used to obsessively refresh unsubscribe data and experienced each one as a breakup, like I was being dumped! But we’re not for the people who don’t need and like what we have to offer, we’re for the ones who love it and can’t get enough! Now I don't even look at the unsubscribe list.

The one thing you should watch, though, are the number of unopens. Depending on your email service provider, you're probably paying for every single email, opened or not. There’s no need to pay for emails that go to a spam box.

As your list grows, it’s important to prune it from time to time. I highly recommend creating a system that tells people who have a specific number of unopens, “I appreciate you allowing me to email you weekly, but I’ve noticed you haven’t engaged in a while. Please reply to this email to stay subscribed.”

Give them one last chance. And if they don't respond, you get rid of them. It sounds cold-blooded, but it necessary. You have to stay focused on quality, not quantity. I'd rather have 500 people on my list who are reading my articles and loving them rather than 5,000 people who never open one.

Engagement is all that matters.

Don’t Forget! Quality Not Quantity

Whatever form your newsletter takes, know it’s just one of many touchpoints. But it’s the most direct way to speak to the people who may be your clients someday consistently with no marginal cost. Focus on delivering value to them—even if there’s only 10 of them at first. For most service businesses just two or three new clients for the year is such a big payoff that nurturing a small list of interested subscribers thoughtfully is completely worth it. However, if you sell low cost products then quantity is important and building a huge list would be your goal.    

In those early days, I assumed an email list was something that should always grow or it wasn’t doing it’s job. The more the better, right? Now, I look at it as a place for people to join me, experience my ideas for a while, and buy or leave. Some people stick around for the long term, but if they don’t, that’s okay.

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