Email Marketing is the most cost-effective method to market to your customers. It provides you with the ability to tailor messages to different segments of your database as well as get the message out to your audience immediately. Furthermore, you can easily track the results and see how many people received, opened and responded to the message.

Because Email Marketing is the best way to increase your revenue while lowering your marketing costs... In fact, the Direct Marketing Association reports that email marketing has the highest ROI across advertising mediums, returning $43 for every $1 spent.*

Because you already have what you need to maximize your ROI (return on investment) - Your current customers and targeted prospects. With targeted email marketing, you can nurture and then capitalize on your existing customer and prospect relationships.

Because if your customers speak email, you need to speak email. 87% of Americans rely on email as their primary exchange with companies, per the Global Consumer Email Study.**

According to research conducted by E-Dialogue, 69% of consumers are willing to provide their email addresses if asked.

More importantly, 27% of consumers claim to have been motivated to make a purchase in a bricks-and-mortar store after being alerted to a product by a marketing e-mail.

1. Have an Email Sign-up sheet prominently displayed in your business
2. Ask people to sign up to receive special offers via Email while you are processing their sales
3. Call your customers and tell them you are going green and would like to communicate with them via Email
4. Collect Email addresses when customers enroll in your Loyalty Program
5. Collect Email addresses when customers purchase Gift Cards

When it comes to communicating with your customers, now's the time to take action. Sending email marketing campaigns is the best way to stay connected with your customers and to generate more business. Here are the best ways you can drive revenue and implement effectively via email marketing:

Promote Your Gift Cards - Gift Cards are the most popular gifts because they make shopping fast and easy, and allow the recipients to choose their gift. Remind your customers that you sell gift cards or have a sale on gift cards to encourage purchases.

Enroll Customers in your Loyalty Program - Whether you are kicking off a Loyalty program or taking it to the next level, you'll increase enrollment with ease.

Invite customers to a Shopping Event - Hold a private shopping event for your top customers complete with refreshments and special offers. Tie the event to a holiday or new merchandise arrival.

Implement a Gift Card with Purchase Program - This program is the most effective way to use gift cards to increase average purchase amount and number of purchases. You can quickly implement this cost-effective program via email marketing.

Announce a Sale - This is the best way to increase store traffic and the success of a sale.

Toot your Horn - Anytime your business is mentioned in the press or receives special recognition, let your customers know via an email announcement. Also, this is a great way to get the word out on new products or services.

Using all of these best practices will build brand awareness, strengthen customer loyalty and, most importantly, increase your profits. Click here to download a free PDF of these Best Practices.

*The Power of Direct Marketing: ROI, Sales, Expenditures, and Employment in the US, 2008-2009 Edition. Published October 2008 by the Direct Marketing Association.
**Study: Consumers Prefer E-mail Marketing, Neilsen Business Media, June 2009.