In the world of new and shiny digital marketing tricks, email marketing is still the most reliable, effective, and consistent communication tool. With over half of the world's population using email, a strong email marketing strategy is more than just a nice-to-have—it's an essential part of a successful marketing practice.
What is an email marketing strategy?
To get started with an email marketing program, you’ll need an email marketing strategy: a comprehensive plan that aligns your business goals with the content and timing of your email campaigns. This strategy should consider what you know about your audience, how you can deliver value, and when to integrate data-driven decisions to optimize and improve your emails.
The best email strategies are strategically designed and tested over time. With an ROI of $36 for every $1 spent, the financial benefits of email are also substantial, making it worth the time and effort to get your message just right.
Email Marketing Strategies to Use in Your Next Campaign
Are you ready to get started? Here are eight tried-and-true email marketing tips to enhance your email marketing campaigns and ensure their successful outcomes.
Strategy #1: Set the Stage with Clear Goals and Objectives
Defining your goals and objectives is the first step toward a successful email marketing campaign strategy. After all, without goals and objectives, how would you know what’s successful? Whether you're looking to drive traffic to your website or enhance customer retention, having clear goals allows you to create a focused and effective campaign.
Consider this email marketing tip: Use a SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) framework when setting your goals. This framework helps to check that your goals are clear, actionable, and tied to your business objectives.
Strategy #2: Gain Relevancy with Segmentation
Email segmentation is an invaluable strategy that involves dividing your email list into smaller, more targeted groups. You'll likely engage your audience better with more personalized and relevant information when you send more tailored messages to each segment.
If you’re just starting with segmentation, consider starting with something like demographic information such as gender, age, or location. As you gather more data and begin to learn more about your audience, refine your segments to reflect behavioral traits. This can include elements such as past purchases and website interactions.
Strategy #3: Craft Compelling Subject Lines
Subject lines are your first chance to grab the reader's attention, so they play an integral role in whether your email gets opened or ignored. This makes subject lines critical to the success of your email strategy!
As a best email marketing practice, we recommend subject lines that create curiosity and convey value. A/B testing is a way to continually improve your subject lines and help you determine what resonates with your audience. One test we love: Try using an emoji ♥️.
Strategy #4: Get More Opens and Revenue with Personalization
Personalization is more than simply addressing recipients by their names; it’s also about delivering content that resonates with their interests, needs, and habits. A personalized email is more likely to engage a reader and prompt them to take action. In fact, 90% of marketers believe this strategy helps them generate more revenue.
Personalization is an email marketing technique that uses dynamic content to personalize emails based on the recipient's data. This can range from product recommendations to content related to their past interactions with your brand.
Strategy #5: Structure Your Emails for Success
The structure of your email plays a key role in its effectiveness because a well-structured email is easy to navigate, helping engage your audience and drive them to take the desired action.
To structure emails for an effective email marketing strategy, be sure to include a compelling headline, a clear and concise message, and a strong call-to-action, and ensure it's mobile-friendly.
Read this blog to learn more about structuring your emails for success on mobile devices.
Strategy #6: Stun Readers with Impactful Email Design
Visual appeal can significantly impact an audience's perception of your brand and their engagement with your email. A clean, attractive design grabs attention and can improve readability and comprehension, which means a solid design is essential to getting your message across.
Check out the email design templates available from Beefree. Leverage our tools to find the perfect email design template for your next email campaign. Best of all, Beefree’s templates are compatible with your favorite email providers!
Strategy #7: Try it Again, But Different
The success of your email marketing campaigns hinges on your ability to learn from past results and make the necessary improvements to get better. A/B testing different email elements can help you learn what works best for your audience.
As best email marketing practices, we recommend regularly testing different components of your emails, such as subject lines, content, design, and send times, and using the results to optimize your future campaigns.
Strategy #8: Monitoring and Analyzing Results
Ensure your email marketing strategies are effective by monitoring and analyzing your results. Understanding your performance metrics allows you to make data-driven decisions to improve your campaigns and achieve better outcomes.
Regularly review these key metrics:
- Open rates: If they’re low, consider testing various subject lines.
- Click-through rates (CTR): If they’re not consistent, consider testing a new call-to-action phrase.
- Conversion rates: If these aren’t meeting your standards, try testing a new offer or different methods of selling.
Email Marketing Strategy Examples to Inspire Your Campaign
Learning from successful campaigns can provide invaluable insights for your own strategy. Here are three examples to consider.
A Personalized Way to Entice More Pizza Sales
Slice’s email showcases the power of personalization and well-structured content in its attempt to drive repeat business. This email keeps the content clear and concise to show the customer Slice appreciates their business and hopes they return.
Go Starry-Eyed for a Starbucks Welcome Email
Starbucks’ triggered email campaign cleverly targets its new users with ways to engage with its brand. Engagement offers at the bottom of the email are a great place to perform A/B testing and learn which options drive the most clicks and grow deeper engagement from new customers.
Spur Action with an Engaging Subject Line
See how Stanley Steemer’s subject line entices email opens by using an emoji in replace of a word? The image helps draw attention to the message. Then, the company makes great use of pre-text to provide information on an offer and services so the reader has even more reason to open the email.
Crafting Your Email Marketing Strategy
Understanding and implementing these best email marketing strategies is one step toward creating impactful email campaigns. Effective email marketing is about understanding your audience, delivering value, and continuously learning and improving.
Having the right tools in your arsenal can significantly enhance your email marketing efforts. With Beefree's wide range of responsive email design templates, you can create engaging, visually appealing emails for any occasion, sure to capture your audience's attention and drive conversions. Get started with Beefree today and take your email marketing campaigns to new heights!
