Email newsletters – are they still worthwhile?

Here’s why email newsletters are still a great way to grow your business

If my inbox is anything to go by, then email newsletters are alive and kicking.

Yes, more and more people are blogging but the two can co-exist.

A good newsletter email can avoid the deleted folder, for a while at least, and do more than you think.

Here are five reasons why the email newsletter is still a great way (despite GDPR) to help you grow your business:-

Not an aggressive sales tool

Most people don’t want to feel like they’re being sold to.

An email newsletter is a good way to promote your products and services because only some of the content should be sales based. Experts suggest a third or a tenth of the newsletter content. The rest can include industry news, activities you’ve taken part in for charity or the local community and maybe information about your people.

That said you have a captive audience so it would be crazy not to utilise it. You could include customer recommendations, a short video of a product demonstration or just information about a new service.

Email Newsletters can help to build your brand

Brand awareness is particularly important if your business is in its early stages. A fortnightly or monthly email, even if it’s not read, gets your name out there. Your logo and name will then become more recognisable, giving you an edge over your competitors. If people do need information or guidance they may turn to you because they remember the name.

Gives your business a personality

Getting customers and potential customers to understand what you do and what your business stands for is difficult. A newsletter is a way to start a dialogue, inject a bit of personality into proceedings and build relationships. It’s not just a chance for them to find out more about you, but you can find out about them too. Ask for their comments on a particular topic, get feedback on a new product or link to a short survey so you can get to know your audience.

Email newsletters are environmentally friendly and relatively low-cost

There are times when brochures and flyers work but increasingly we’re being made to look at our carbon footprint and save paper. An email newsletter saves trees, printing and the inevitable recycling.

As well as being good for the environment, many people can access their emails pretty much anytime anywhere.

Email newsletters should be kinder to the wallet too. There are free online services such as Mailchimp, which allow you to create your own emails, create audience lists and send them out without paying a penny. Additional services can be added for a fee.

Even if you get a professional to design and build a newsletter template for you, you can pay a one-off amount and use it as often as you like. No printing and distribution costs are needed.

Gives you social media content

Keeping up a social media presence can seem like a full-time job. If you’re creating an email newsletter it gives you regular, relevant content which can be recycled for Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Don’t let all that great stuff go to waste. Use it across your social media platforms and you might even bring people to your website that wouldn’t have otherwise found you.

Can I still send a newsletter with GDPR regulations?

GDPR hasn’t put a stop to all online marketing. You can still send a newsletter to people who have signed up to receive it or who are a customer or past customer and were given a clear opportunity to opt out and didn’t. Each newsletter should also give people the chance to opt-out of future newsletters. There is a great guide to direct marketing on the ICO’s website.

Yes, we’ve got one

We have our own email newsletter, which you can sign up-to here.  It’s full of great industry news and information about how to grow your business.

Seen something of interest?

You can speak to one of our friendly team at your local THP Office located in Sutton, Chelmsford, Wanstead and Saffron Walden anytime.

If you can’t pop in and see us though, don’t worry, we’re always happy to speak on the phone too.