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How to Use an Email Campaign to Create a New Sales Funnel

How to Use an Email Campaign to Create a New Sales Funnel

Email campaigns are designed to encourage recipients to take action in response to promotional messages. Typically, these messages contain information about products and services. You may use email campaigns to send out promotions to customers, prospective customers, media outlets, bloggers, influencers, or anyone else you want to spread the word about your business.

It may seem like a given, but using email to generate sales is one of the most effective ways to build a new sales funnel. This is true whether you sell physical goods, digital products, or services. Email marketing works because it's a personal connection. It's less likely to annoy someone, and you can use it to introduce yourself to a prospect. It's also an excellent way to remind your clients and prospects about a specific offer or promotion you're running. But while creating an email campaign is easy, it can be challenging to use it to your advantage.

It's the simplest thing to sell online but also the hardest. You need a product or service people want to make sales online. To get that, you need a sales funnel. But the problem is that there are so many sales funnels out there that it takes time to decide which one to choose.

Today, we will look at one specific sale funnel: an email campaign.

We'll be looking at everything you need to know about building an email list and then using email to create a new sales funnel for your business.

What Is An Email Campaign?

Email Design Best Layouts

Email campaigns are newsletters sent out to your customers with promotional material. Although some email marketing software platforms now offer email templates, many people opt to build their email newsletter templates.

An email campaign typically contains the following elements:

  • Headline
  • Subtitle
  • Image
  • Body copy
  • Call-to-action (CTA)

Here are the top reasons why building your email campaign templates is brilliant.

1 – It saves money

Instead of paying for an email service provider to send your newsletter, you can do it yourself. That means you don't need to pay monthly for your emails.

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2 – It's less stressful

Building your templates makes it less stressful and more efficient. You get to design the layout and add your content.

3 – It allows you to tailor the message

Customising the template can tailor the messages to your audience and deliver a more personalised experience. This will improve your open rates.

4 – It makes it easier to track performance

It's easier to track the success of your emails when you build your own. You can track the number of opens, clicks, and opens, plus the number of subscribers. You can even track how your emails are performing in comparison to others.

5 – It can be fun

As long as you know how to design a template, you'll be able to personalise the email and add your pictures. You can even design your cover letter.

It may be worth the effort to build your template. For starters, it's much less expensive than hiring someone to build one. But there's another reason why it makes sense to build your own.

6 – You can build an email campaign without using any coding

Coding is a crucial element in creating your email campaign templates. Most people use a software platform to create their emails. However, you don't need to go through that process. To build an email, you can design your template with Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or other programs.

Email templates are now one of the easiest ways to promote your business. If you have the skills, it's time to start designing your own.

How Email Marketing Works

Simple Email Design Examples
Source: Tailwind

Most of us have received emails from family members, friends, and companies urging us to take advantage of the current holiday promotions or sign up for special offers. Email marketing, or email blasts, is a powerful tool for increasing sales and profits.

As long as your message stays short and sweet, you can send it out to thousands of potential customers within seconds. And once a customer signs up for your email list, they'll receive updates from you until they opt-out. The best part? It's free.

Email marketing works because it's an easy and affordable way to reach more customers. It's also great to stay connected with your existing clients and generate new business leads.

How Do I Get Started with Email Marketing?

Start by creating an attractive, relevant, and informative email. This includes your company's name, logo design, contact information, and other relevant details. You may also include an image or two to entice your audience.

Next, decide on the best platform to deliver your email. Popular platforms include Gmail, Yahoo Mail, and Outlook. Email everyone on your list at once for maximum exposure, and include a link to share with them.

Once you've built your email, include a clear unsubscribe button so people can opt-out if they no longer want to receive updates.

To create the perfect email campaign, start with the questions that matter to your customer base, and build your message around that.

Which Questions Should I Ask?

Think about the questions most likely to move your customers to act. They could be things like:

  • Why do I need to upgrade to a new phone?
  • What makes my favourite brand the best?
  • What is the best way to reduce wrinkles or fight age?
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Also, ask questions related to the subject of your product or service. For example, if you sell health products, you might ask, “What are some of the most common reasons people visit the doctor?”

Or, if you're selling a new type of kitchen appliance, you may wish to ask, “Do you ever make mistakes when preparing your meals?”

Another critical question is, “What is the one thing your competitors are missing?” By focusing on their competition, you'll gain insight into what they are doing right and what they should be doing better.

In addition to asking open-ended questions, it's also vital to ask closed-ended questions. These are questions that require a specific answer. Examples of closed-ended questions include:

  • What is the biggest problem you face in the kitchen?
  • What is your ideal setup?
  • How would you rate the quality of your last meal?

By asking your customers what they want and need, you'll gain insight into how you can help them.

An email campaign grows sales

Email Marketing Campaign Roi
Source: Tailwind

Email campaigns help grow sales, improve conversions, and maximise marketing efforts.

Email marketing is one of the most effective and efficient tools for building customer relationships. Whether through emails, social media, or SMS text messages, there's no better way to reach your customers and create long-lasting relationships.

But as the adage goes, the proof is in the pudding. How can you prove the value of your marketing? By measuring the results of your email campaign.

Email marketing helps to drive more qualified leads, generate more customer conversations, and turn your existing customers into raving fans. The key is to keep track of your results and analyse how the email campaign affects your business.

It's essential to track the performance of your email campaigns, so you know what works and what doesn't. A great way to track results is with a data-driven approach.

What Are the Benefits of Data-Driven Email Marketing?

One of the main benefits of using data to your advantage is creating personalised, personalised, and customised messages that connect with your customers.

You can use data to learn more about your customers. This includes understanding their demographics, interests, and behaviours.

This information can help you write more effective emails, leading to higher open rates and more subscribers.

Another benefit is that you can segment your customers based on their interests. For example, you might target the following groups:

  1. New or first-time customers
  2. Buyers from a specific industry or product
  3. People who purchased within the past week
  4. Customers who signed up for your free trial

The best way to use this data is to send relevant, personalised emails.

So, What's the Difference Between Personalisation and Customisation?

Personalisation is the act of targeting your message to a specific individual. It's what you do when you email someone because they've made a recent purchase, signed up for a newsletter, or responded to an offer.

Personalisation helps to make your emails more engaging. This lets you target your audience and keep your content relevant and exciting.

In contrast, customisation is about the recipient. In other words, it's who gets the email, not what they get. When you customise your emails, you send the same message to everyone who receives it.

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Why Choose Customisation Over Personalisation?

Let's say that you sell kitchen appliances. You've created a customised email campaign for a specific person and sent the message to them. The email is personalised because it is tailored to that particular person.

However, the email is not personalised because it is tailored to the entire household of that particular person. You've just sent the same email to everyone in that household. This is true personalisation at its finest, but it doesn't provide any value for your customers.

Instead, the way to make the most of personalisation is to target your audience with relevant messages.

Is Email Marketing Worth the Time?

The answer depends on your business and the available time and resources. You'll probably need to invest some money, but there are many ways to measure the return on your investment.

For instance, if your email marketing budget is $2,500 per month, and you want to increase your sales by 20%, you'll need to spend $5,000 monthly. If you spend the same amount of time and effort on the rest of your marketing activities, you can expect a return of about $6,500 per month.

If you invest $5,000 per month, you'll see an ROI of about 18 months. That means you'd see a return on your investment of around $10,800 by the end of the year.

Do You Need Help With Email Marketing?

As you can see, email marketing is a proven advantageous strategy. However, it takes some effort and resources to implement.

There are many different tools available to help you with your email campaigns. We've listed some of the most popular ones below.

Gmail is the default email program for Google users. It's an incredibly easy-to-use program, which makes it perfect for beginners.

A simple interface and intuitive design make finding what you're looking for easy.

You can also send emails from the desktop, mobile browser, or mobile apps.

Another great option is MailerLite. It's the most prominent email marketing software provider, and many businesses use it.

With MailerLite, you can easily set up an automated email campaign. You can send automated emails, reminders, and welcome and farewell messages.

You can even add images or videos to your emails.

Finally, a third option is Mailchimp. This is the best if you prefer the simplicity of a tool that automatically sends emails.

How to Create a New Sales Funnel Using an Email Campaign

Email Campaign Sales Funnels
Source: MailerLite

I used to have no idea how to create new funnels. Now, my email campaigns lead to new funnels every day!

Most assume they can start selling immediately if they build an email list. Unfortunately, that's not the case. It takes time and hard work to nurture and grow your list.

It's important to know that building an email list is an investment in time and energy, which means you should set realistic expectations. However, you can start selling as soon as you launch your campaign. Here's how.

Step 1: Choose a Product That Interests Your Audience

The first step is to identify what type of product you'd like to sell. Are you a blogger who wants to create a course or eBook? Do you sell coaching services?

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I've written hundreds of articles, but most were written for free, so they don't generate sales. However, I sell courses that teach people how to start and scale profitable online businesses.

For example, in one of my more popular email courses, I cover everything from blogging and podcasting to starting a drop shipping business. People love these courses because they provide helpful information and actionable advice.

As for coaching, I've helped hundreds of entrepreneurs build successful online businesses and create passive income streams. In fact, over the past ten years, I've built a $1 million-a-year coaching practice, all while continuing to write free articles and blog posts.

My first step was to find out what would be most exciting and valuable to people. I asked myself this question: “What are the top three things people struggle with when building a business?”

That question helped me to choose which of my courses to offer to people. My courses aren't “one size fits all.” For example, I offer a step-by-step guide for starting a drop shipping business, but I also provide free marketing and email course for bloggers.

In this example, you'll choose a relevant topic for your audience. Your first task is to find an existing solution to a problem that's solved well or to add value to an existing solution.

Step 2: Start by Targeting People Who Have an Interest in the Topic

After you've chosen your topic, you need to decide which audience to target. If you're planning to launch an online course or create an eBook, your target audience is people who want to learn more about the topic.

If you're planning to start a coaching business, your target audience is people who are serious about building a business.

Once you understand what your audience is interested in, you can identify which people within that group you need to reach to grow your list.

Step 3: Write Out a Detailed Plan to Build Your List

If you need to familiarise yourself with email marketing, create a plan that includes a welcome and a follow-up series.

Your welcome series is where you tell your subscribers about your upcoming course or eBook. This is also an excellent time to ask for their email address.

Your follow-up series is where you ask for people's names and email addresses. You can also use the opportunity to encourage people to sign up for your upcoming course or eBook.

This email sequence takes anywhere from two to four weeks to complete, depending on the number of emails you send.

You can begin a similar email campaign to build your list if you have a product ready to sell. The first step is to choose a topic and figure out how you'd like to position it.

Next, think about your audience. What are the top three things that people struggle with? Then, start a targeted email sequence, as explained above.

After you launch your campaign, you'll be able to track the results and adjust your strategy.

Questions to Ask Yourself:

  • What's the best way to create new funnels?
  • What should I include in an email sequence that will drive sales?
  • Are there any resources you should read before launching your campaign?
  • Are there any specific tools you need?
  • Can you use affiliate marketing?
  • How much time do you need to build an extensive email list?
  • Are there any other ways to find new customers?
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Measure the success of your email marketing

We all know that email marketing is the best way to build your business. When starting, it can take time to determine if you are getting the results you are looking for or how to improve your campaign. Below are three ways to measure the effectiveness of your email marketing campaigns.

1 – Set a Goal

Start with the end in mind, and set a goal for your campaign. It might be a simple goal, such as more subscribers, a higher open rate, or increased sales. Whatever you want to achieve, make sure your target is attainable. Once you have set a goal, you can set up a campaign to reach that goal.

2 – Measure the Campaign

Once you are ready to launch your campaign, start measuring your results. Here are some examples of how to measure your campaigns:

  • Reach: This is the total number of emails sent during your campaign.
  • Open Rate: This is the number of people who opened your email.
  • Click Through Rate: This is the percentage of people who clicked on a link within the email.
  • Conversion Rate: This is the percentage of people who purchased after clicking on a link in your email.
  • Cost per Click: This is the price you are paying for each click on your ads. It is calculated by dividing the cost of your ad by the number of clicks.

3 – Optimise the Campaign

As your campaign runs, check back every few weeks to review your results and see where you can improve. If your goal is to increase your reach, ensure you send fewer emails to the same audience. Consider tweaking your offer if your goal is to increase the conversion rate. And if your goal is to increase sales, consider adding a call to action. The main thing is to keep an eye on the numbers and adjust your strategy as necessary.

Wrapping Up

Email marketing is one of the easiest ways to drive sales. It's the most effective way to drive sales. Email marketing provides a direct line to your audience's inboxes.

It's a great way to stay top-of-mind with your customers, but it only requires a little work. You have to send them emails and let them know about new products or special promotions.

If you want to maximise your efforts, you can even use email automation to simultaneously send the same message to multiple lists. That way, you can send the same offer to multiple customers at once.

However, even though it seems easy, there is much to know about email marketing. You have to consider the customers you have, their interests, and the types of messages that will resonate with them.

It also helps to make sure your email messages are visually appealing. If people don't feel engaged with your content, they might ignore it altogether.

Get my free step-by-step guide on how to create a winning email campaign!

FAQs

What is the difference between automated and manual email campaigns?

An automated campaign is done automatically by your email service provider (ESP) and usually requires you to add some code. Manual campaigns are sent manually from you and may require you to enter some data.

How do you get started with an email campaign?

You start with the goal. What do you want to accomplish with the campaign? The next step is to define your audience. Who is your target audience? What are their needs?

What is the best type of content to include in an email campaign?

The most relevant information is the best type of content to include in an email campaign. This is because you want to provide your target audience with the best possible experience.

What's the best way to segment your email list?

The best way to segment your email list is by the type of content you are sending. For example, you may send a newsletter to people who bought a product recently.

What's the best way to build a list of subscribers?

The best way to build a list of subscribers is to offer something your audience wants. This is called “give, and they will come.”

What is the best way to measure success?

The best measure of success is to analyse what happened after the campaign. Did your audience buy? Did they click through to your website?

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Stuart Crawford

Stuart Crawford is an award-winning creative director and brand strategist with over 15 years of experience building memorable and influential brands. As Creative Director at Inkbot Design, a leading branding agency, Stuart oversees all creative projects and ensures each client receives a customised brand strategy and visual identity.

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