Does anyone have experience with email marketing? I know it is very important not to send spam, but does a concentrated, semi-personalized email work? I’ve read mixed reviews about it and I don’t want to waste the time if it’s not worth it.

Brian

 With email marketing as with direct mail it's all about the list.  If the email is going out to the right people and is well written it can be very effective.   So the 2 keys are making sure you know who you want as your target client and verifying that these are indeed the people who will be receiving the email.

Yes e-mail direct marketing works so long as it gives away free value, and is written.  But if it all comes across as spam it won't work at all. Massive value is a must.

Check out this company's email campaign:

www.realsocialdynamics.com

They have an immediate squeeze page when you visit their website, and they consistenly send newsletters and promitional offers. All very tasteful, nothing tacky.

-Rusty

Email marketing is very effective if used with the right list. To just blindly send out email, of course , is spam. However, if you have a nice list that you email, good, quality tips regularly, you don't come across as a sales person but a trusted advisor.

For example, you go to a local restaurant and say you are going to buy a dinner for two every month for a local business owner. You set up a box for business cards and mention that dropping in a business card or filling out a form enters the business owner a chance for a free dinner. It ALSO signs the owner up for a FREE local biz tips email newsletter. 

With that in mind, you can get a lot of business owners for an email list and THEN you can give tips with an offer, say, once a month.

This will work with customers of tanning spas, candy stores, teacher resource centers, etc.

There are lots of ways to build lists. And once you build them, you can market to them. (SLOWLY)

Cheers,

MWGrubb

 What's the final cost for this campaign?

Savannah