With email being one of the most popular forms of communication, it’s no wonder that email marketing in Canada has become a go-to for businesses trying to reach their target market.
If you are not sure how to get started with email marketing, don’t worry!
This guide will show you how to create an email list, design attractive emails, and measure your success.
What is email marketing?
Email marketing is in fact a digital marketing strategy that uses email to send promotional messages to customers. It can be used to build relationships with customers, promote new products or services, or drive sales.
It is one of the most effective ways to reach a large audience at a low cost, and it can be customized to target specific groups of people.
To help wrap your head around this, here are some mind-blowing statistics we could find:
- In 2020, an average of 306.4 billion emails were sent and received per day.
- 89% of marketers use email as the primary channel for generating leads.
- 22% of marketers report email click-through rates over 20% as opposed to an industry average of 10.69%.
- In 2020, the average open rate was 18%.
- Meanwhile, the average click-to-open rate was 14.1%.
Why email marketing?
Is this strategy worth it? Well, to say the least, email marketing can be a powerful tool for any business, large or small. By building a list of subscribers and sending out regular emails, businesses can stay top-of-mind with their customers and keep them updated on new products, services, or promotions.
As far as costs are concerned, email marketing in Canada can be relatively inexpensive compared to other marketing channels like paid advertising, and it is pretty easy to measure results.
In fact, with the right email marketing strategy, businesses can see a return on investment (ROI) of over 4200%.
This means that for every C$1 you spend, you get C$42 back🙌!
What’s more, this form of marketing is a great way to build relationships with customers and prospects.
You see, when you regularly send helpful, informative content, you can create a rapport with your audience and develop valuable relationships that lead to repeat business and referrals.
To illustrate the position of email marketing in the world of digital, here are some more statistics:
- Email is 40% better at converting (in comparison to Facebook and Twitter).
- 40% of B2B marketers claim that email newsletters are the most important tactic in their content marketing strategy.
- 37% of respondents name email as the most effective channel for customer loyalty and retention, while websites were named by 13% and social media by only 11%.
- Marketing and advertising emails influence the buying decision of 50.7% of customers.
Hope that paints a good picture of what you can achieve through email marketing in Canada.
If you are excited to jump in, here are some of the steps you can take now:
Pick a platform
While you can send emails manually through whichever client you are using, it is not a recommended way to approach email marketing in Canada.
That’s where the email marketing platform comes in.
These are tools/software designed specifically to handle every aspect of email marketing from the start to tracking results.
That said, here are some of the best email marketing platforms in Canada:
- MailChimp
- Constant Contact
- SendinBlue
- GetResponse
- AWeber
Best email marketing platforms of 2023
Some of the most popular email marketing platforms include MailChimp, Constant Contact, and SendGrid.
a). MailChimp
MailChimp is one of the most popular email marketing platforms with over 14 million customers. It offers a wide range of features including automation, segmentation, and personalization.
b). Constant Contact
Constant Contact is another popular email marketing platform with over 600,000 customers. It offers a wide range of features such as templates, contact management tools, and reporting.
c). SendGrid
SendGrid is a popular email marketing platform that offers a wide range of features such as automation, segmentation, and personalization.
d). GetResponse
GetResponse is an email marketing platform that offers a wide range of features such as templates, contact management tools, and reporting.
e). AWeber
AWeber is an email marketing platform that offers a wide range of features such as automation, segmentation, and personalization.
As you can see, there are a lot of different email marketing platforms out there. It can be tough to decide which one is right for you. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re choosing a platform:
- What kind of features do you need? Make a list of the must-haves and nice-to-haves.
- How easy is the platform to use? You don’t want to spend hours trying to figure out how to do something simple.
- How much does it cost? Some platforms have free plans, while others have monthly or annual subscription fees.
Once you’ve considered these factors, it should be easier to narrow down your choices and pick the right platform for your needs.
One more thing:
There are both paid and free platforms. It is best to first start with the free plan and if you like what you are getting, go ahead and upgrade your plan.
Creating an email list
Now that you have a platform before you can start emailing your customers, you need to create an email list.
What is an email list?
An email list is a collection of email addresses that are used to send messages to multiple recipients. Email lists can be used to send out newsletters, announcements, or other information to a group of people.
Without this list, there will be no email marketing!
How to build an email list easily
Now, there are a few different ways to create an email list.
a). Embed a sign-up form
The first way is to create a sign-up form on your website. This is a form that visitors can fill out to subscribe to your email list.
b). Create a landing page
Create a landing page, which is a standalone web page that is designed specifically for the purpose of collecting email addresses.
Here, you can collect the name and email addresses of your target audience.
c). Use pop-ups or exit-intent forms
The third way to create an email list is to use pop-ups or exit-intent forms. These are forms that appear on your website when someone is about to leave it, and they offer the visitor a chance to subscribe to your email list before they go.
d). Use social media
Another way you can build an email list is by using social media. You can do this by running ads on social media platforms like Facebook or Instagram, or by creating posts that include a call-to-action for people to sign up for your email list.
e). Purchase an email list
Finally, you can also purchase an email list. This is generally not recommended, as it can lead to a lot of spam complaints and bounced emails.
However, if you do decide to go this route, there are a few things you need to keep in mind:
- Make sure the list is from a reputable source.
- Only buy lists that contain opt-in subscribers (i.e., people who have given their permission to be on the list).
Designing email campaigns
Now that you have both an email list and a platform to help you manage it, you can start thinking about designing your first email campaign!
What is it?
Email campaigns are a series of emails that you send to your subscribers with the goal of achieving a specific objective.
For example, an email campaign could be created to welcome new subscribers and promote your latest blog post.
These campaigns usually consist of 3-5 emails sent over the course of 1-2 weeks.
But it all depends on what your goals are. Some people even start marketing immediately, while others nurture their subscribers before asking for the sale.
Now that we know what an email campaign is, let’s take a look at how to design one!
There are many different ways to approach designing an email campaign, but here are some tips to get you started:
1). Keep it simple
You want your subscribers to actually read your emails, so make sure they’re not too long or complex. Stick to one main message per email and use clear, concise language.
2). Get personal
Address your subscriber by name in the subject line and throughout the email. This will help create a more personal connection with them.
3). Be creative
Your emails should be visually appealing and easy to read. Use images, infographics, and videos to break up text and keep your subscribers engaged.
4). Provide value
Every email you send should provide some value to your subscribers, whether it’s helpful information or exclusive discounts. Keep them coming back for more!
This may sound like a lot of work, but don’t worry. Your chosen autoresponder will have guidelines and even tutorials on how to put together an effective email campaign.
Measuring success
By now, you should have at least one campaign and a few subscribers on your list.
As a business owner, you need to understand how to measure the success of your email marketing campaigns. By doing so, you can make necessary changes to improve your open and click-through rates.
Additionally, you can gauge whether your target audience is engaging with your content.
To help you achieve this, there are several key metrics that you should focus on when assessing the success of your email marketing campaigns:
- Open rate: This measures the percentage of people who open your emails. A good open rate is between 20-30%.
- Click-through rate: This measures the number of people who click on links within your email. A good click-through rate is between 2-5%.
- Bounce rate: This measures the number of people who receive an error message when trying to open your email. A good bounce rate is less than 5%.
- Unsubscribe rate This measures the number of people who unsubscribe from your email list. A good unsubscribe rate is less than 1%. There are a few different ways to track these metrics and assess the success of your campaigns.
However, the best way to analyze your email marketing campaigns is to use a tool like HubSpot or MailChimp (your chosen platform) that shows you how many people opened your emails, clicked on links, and converted them into leads.
In brief
To get started with email marketing in Canada, you will need to create an email list. This can be done by collecting email addresses from your website visitors or from people who have signed up for your emails.
Once you have a list of email addresses, you can start sending out promotional messages. Keep your messages relevant and interesting so that your subscribers will continue to open and read them.
You can also use email marketing to stay in touch with customers after they have made a purchase, by sending them follow-up emails or special offers.
Related:
Email Marketing FAQs
What is meant by email marketing?
Email marketing is a form of direct marketing that uses electronic mail as a means of communicating commercial or fund-raising messages to an audience. In its broadest sense, every email sent to a potential or current customer could be considered email marketing. However, the term is usually used to refer to:
- Sending emails with the purpose of enhancing the relationship of a merchant with its current or previous customers
- Sending emails with the purpose of acquiring new customers or convincing current customers to purchase something immediately, and
- Adding advertisements to emails sent by other companies to their customers.
Email marketing is an efficient way to stay in touch with your customers and promote your business. The first step is understanding what your goals are for email marketing. Next, you need to gather subscribers’ email addresses.
What are the 3 types of email marketing?
Email marketing can be a great way to connect with customers and promote your business. There are three main types of email marketing: transactional, direct, and promotional.
Transactional emails are messages that are sent in response to an action that the customer has taken. For example, a transactional email might be sent when someone signs up for a newsletter or makes a purchase. Direct emails are messages that are sent directly to the customer, without any specific action being taken. Promotional emails are sent to customers in order to promote a product or service. They can include coupons, discounts, or special offers.
What is the importance of email marketing?
Email marketing is one of the most important tools in a marketer’s toolkit. It allows you to reach a large audience with your message, and to track how well your message is received. Email marketing is also an effective way to build relationships with potential and current customers.
With email marketing, you can send out messages to a large group of people at once. This is perfect for announcements, special offers, or anything else you want to share with your audience. You can also track how many people open your email, click on links, or unsubscribe from your list. This helps you to gauge the effectiveness of your message and make necessary adjustments.
Finally, email marketing is an excellent way to nurture relationships with customers and potential customers. By sending helpful information or special offers, you can stay top-of-mind with your audience and build trust over time.
How do I get free email leads?
There are a few methods for getting free email leads that you can use to jumpstart your business. These methods may require some work on your part, but they are well worth it in the end.
One method for getting free email leads is by writing articles and submitting them to article directories. Make sure to include a resource box at the end of each article with your contact information so that interested readers can reach out to you.
Another great way to get free email leads is by participating in online forums and discussion groups related to your industry. Be sure to add value to the conversation and build relationships with other members over time. Then, you can start promoting your business or products to those individuals through private messages or emails.
Finally, you can also use social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to generate free email leads.
How do I create an email list?
Here’s a simple way to start an email list from scratch:
1. Decide why you want an email list. Whether it’s to share news, promote discounts, or build a community, know your goal before moving forward.
2. Choose an email service provider (ESP). This is the company that will host your email list and helps deliver your emails to subscribers. Some popular ESPs include MailChimp and Constant Contact.
3. Create a sign-up form for your website or blog. Include a brief description of what subscribers can expect to receive from you, and be sure to link to your ESP’s privacy policy so people know their information will be safe.
4. Drive traffic to your sign-up form. Add a link to your form in the header or footer of your website, share it on social media, or write a blog post about it.
5. Welcome new subscribers with a warm email. Introduce yourself and let them know what they can expect from you moving forward. This is also a great opportunity to include any additional resources (such as links to blog posts or other helpful information) that they might find useful.
How do I grow my email list in 2023?
Email lists are a great way to stay connected with your audience and grow your business. Here are some tips on how to grow your email list in 2023:
1. Use social media to promote your sign-up form.
2. Make it easy for people to sign up by placing the form on multiple pages of your website.
3. Offer an incentive for signing up, such as a discount or free shipping.
4. Run a contest or giveaway that requires an email address for entry.
5. Add a sign-up form to your offline marketing materials, such as business cards and flyers.
6. Collect emails at events and trade shows using iPads or other tablet devices.
Is email marketing still effective?
Email marketing is one of the most efficient and effective ways to connect with customers and promote your business. It allows you to reach a large audience quickly and easily, without spending a lot of money. However, some experts have proclaimed that email marketing is no longer effective. So, what’s the truth?
Is email marketing still effective? The answer is a resounding yes! Email marketing is still one of the most efficient and effective ways to connect with customers and promote your business. Here’s why:
Email allows you to reach a large audience quickly and easily. It’s an extremely cost-effective way to reach potential customers. And, contrary to what some experts claim, people do read emails! In fact, according to a recent study, 91% of people check their email every day.
Email marketing is also highly personalized.