They get an unfairly bad rep, those pesky little mailshots that ping into your inbox when you're not looking. Whilst corporate giants are firing them out, many small businesses and sole traders can overlook them, assuming they don't have the budget for some souped-up luxury email marketing platform. That's a real shame. Email marketing is one of the most successful ways to market to your subscribers ...once you've got a handle on what your subscribers want to see. Email marketing should be a central part of your marketing strategy, regardless of whether you're starting out or an established business. Here are some good reasons to get your inner Mailchimp chatting up your client's inboxes.

Your clients have already said 'yes'

They've subscribed; they have opened their inbox to you; the one place you'll reliably find them every day. You shouldn't, of course - and that's where big businesses can often go wrong. A 'yes' quickly turns to an 'unsubscribe' when you bombard them. Be respectful of their time and the privilege of being allowed into their inbox, and you'll keep that subscription.

You can find out exactly who's reading your content ...

Being able to drill right down to who has opened your emails, when, and how many times - means that you can target clients more effectively. Once you know what certain subscribers are clicking on regularly, you can develop a campaign around those topics or products.

... then target your audiences with Content relevant to their interests.

Email marketing platforms (eg., Mailchimp, SendinBlue, Drip, etc) are so easy to use, that segmenting your market is incredibly simple.  Upselling is also easy once you know what your audience is interested in. Craft a well put-together campaign with lots of candies that your subscribers will like, and you'll have a greater chance of converting their interest into sales.

It's so Affordable - it's free (up to a point).

Email marketing platforms like Mailchimp offer a forever-free service for up to 2000 clients. If you're starting out, this means that it costs nothing but your time to reach out to those who want to know more about you.

Your Email Marketing Platform's Capacity grows with your Business.

You can stay on the same platform as your mailing list grows - there's nothing to change. And the more subscribers you have, the easier it is to read the patterns of what they click on, and what they don't. Eventually, you might need to subscribe to the platform's premium account, but if you have reached their maximum number of subscribers, it's worth investing in to use the additional functionality.

You can use Online Campaigns for just about Anything

It's easy to get really creative with your newsletters and mailshots, using them to promote freebies and offers to attract new customers - the sky's the limit! They can also provide loyal customers with regular updates and information, and get them clicking to your website.

Give them a Good Read!

These are just some of the reasons that email marketing is so important for small businesses; but of course, it matters not a jot if what you're saying doesn't ring with your readers. Content is king. You need to woo your subscribers with engaging campaigns that pique their curiosity.  Even if they don't remember subscribing as your mail pops into their inbox, there was interest in what you are offering at some point.  Remind them with personal and persuasive content ...and leave the corporate jargon for the big businesses. If you'd like to know more about setting up a regular campaign for your business, get in touch. I work with small businesses to help them get started, taking care of everything from ideation to distribution, so they can focus on what they do best. [DISPLAY_ULTIMATE_SOCIAL_ICONS]