E-mail marketing program has become very popular in recent times and it had become a proven, cost-effective solution for marketing in online business. The phenomenal success of e-mail marketing is due to two major factors namely reduction in costs and effective communication.When appropriate content or methodology is adopted it can prove very successful.

What are the Different Types of E-Mail Marketing

Although different types of e-mail marketing services exist, there are three major forms of e-mail marketing that are proven successful. They are Direct e-mail, Retention e-mail, and the last one being advertising in other people's email.

Direct e-mail marketing

As the name implies, the direct e-mail marketing strategy involves sending promotional offers or announcements through e-mail to a list of prospective customers which is usually procured from different service companies. These e-mails can be targeted ones, as these service companies, on request, also provide data relevant to geographical locations, interests of customers and so on. If you think you can populate prospective customer's e-mail addresses that can also be done.

Retention e-mail marketing

Instead of sending e-mails that just feature marketing messages, these e-mails also consist of content that aims at developing an impact resulting in long-term relationship with the customer. These e-mails are in the form of newsletters that provide value to the readers - in other words, providing useful information other than just marketing messages. These e-mails are named as retention e-mails as they try to build a healthy relationship with the user and retain them.

Advertising in other people's e-mails

The third e-mail marketing strategy is to put up your advertising messages or content in newsletters published by others for which you need to pay for the advertising space. There are some newsletters that are published specially to contain these kinds of advertising messages.

'Permission' in online e-mail marketing

In online e-mail marketing, 'permission' from the user is very important - as spamming is strictly punishable by law. There are two types of permissions that are given by the users, the expressed permission and the implied permission. Expressed permission is the permission given by user himself that he/she agrees to receive promotional e-mails; here the user gives such permission when he clicks the check box on a site-registration form or point-of-purchase post card. On the other hand, implied permission is somewhat tricky and forcing things on users, here permission by the user is not given actively, and rather he/she is forced to accept marketing messages as a part of the terms and conditions in web site registration page. The 'permission' in e-mail marketing revolves around the concept of responsible online e-mail marketing. No user wants to receive unsolicited commercial e-mails, otherwise known as spam. Spamming is strictly prohibited by U.S. laws and spamming may also result in closing your email accounts and websites.

How to receive and have permission?

There are some simple approaches to seek the permission from the user. While sending marketing e-mails to promote products you have to be specific as what the product is all about, give them as much information as possible. There is no reason why one should not be straightforward in marketing products through e-mails. They will boost your image and credibility of your product/service in the long run.

Continue to : Key strategies for success in e-mail marketing

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