Effective Email Communication

There can be nothing worse for clients than a poorly conceived email campaign from a local business owner. Receiving unsolicited email with no opt-out (about to become illegal in South Africa), repetitive information, bad design and poor content are some of the reasons many clients do not wish to be placed on an email circulation register.

From a business owner's perspective though, email can be a very powerful tool. Reaching your target market with relevant, thought-provoking and useful content is very important. The writing of these emails is a skill all of its own and this blog will address this issue in the coming days.

Managing email lists and responding to client's return emails is also important as it speaks to the professionalism of your business. Just because your company operates out of a home office does not mean that you can be slack with this vital communication tool.

Over the years I have spent online I have come across numerous companies that offer email newsletter services. They offer to manage your lists, set up auto-responders, generate reports and deliver your content timeously. I have used GraphicMail in the past and they seem to deliver a good service. They also offer free use for non-profit organisations.

A company whose name I often see is AWeber. In fact, I subscribe to a few lists managed by them. These guys have been around for a while and seem to know their business well. According to their website they offer these benefits :

* Unlimited autoresponders.
* Unlimited personalized follow up messages.
* Unlimited message length, unlimited changes, and full integrated HTML creator and/or plain text message capability.
* Unlimited campaigns.
* Templates pre-designed HTML to allow larger fonts, bold, colors, and images. Fully customizable.
* Unlimited personalized broadcast newsletters and segmented broadcast capability.
* Easy web form generator allows easy addition of opt-in forms to your website, pop-ups, pop-overs, hover pops, and exit pops along with split testing of different forms.
* Name, date, geographical, 25 custom fields, and more personalization features.
* Graphical account statistics and reporting with automatic emailing of reports.
* Automatic undeliverable email handling.
* Automated ad tracking features.
* Complete 24/7 control over your own account, via an online control panel.
* Integrated CAN-SPAM compliance checks with SPF & Sender ID email authentication included.
* FREE unlimited customer support.

I am sure you will agree that this is a fairly comprehensive list! Their website offers much more information as well as video tutorials and a demo.

The cost ranges from around R140 per month to R1200 per year. I don't believe that this is excessive for the value you are receiving.

Go and take a look - AWeber - you'll be glad you did!