From Facebook to LinkedIn to Twitter, social media channels have created exciting new opportunities for online marketing and brand development. If your marketing focus has always been on emails and e-newsletters up to this point, don’t despair! There are plenty of ways to connect your social media and email marketing efforts and make the most of both opportunities.
Use social media to boost newsletter conversions
Not sure how much to divulge on your blog or on Facebook? Are tweets too brief for what you have to say? Try using social media tools to deliver headlines and spark interest, then invite people to sign up for your e-newsletter. It’s a great way to build rapport, kick-start conversations, and get people interested in your messages.
Consider your customers
If you’ve been sending out an email newsletter for years and are noticing a dip in interest and results, it might be time to take a look at your customers’ preferences for information delivery. Many people who used to read emails are finding it easier to access information on a Blackberry or other mobile device, using either a social media application or even SMS.
Where have your customers gone? It’s worth taking the time to find out where your demographic prefers to see industry articles and business specials, and then target them there. Maybe it will mean duplicating your newsletter content in a blog, or sending out SMS or Twitter notices about events and bargains.
Encourage sharing
Perhaps most importantly, social media tools make it easy to encourage your clients to share information they find relevant or useful with their friends, colleagues, and peers. Make it easy for them to spread the word by adding sharing features to your content wherever possible. Word of mouth is a marketer’s best friend, especially online.
The best and most effective email marketing campaigns make use of today’s social media trends to help publicize their solutions and generate new business.