Email Marketing: For Ethical Marketing Practice

Ethical marketing practices is necessary and latest buzz is that opt-in Email marketing is the best form of Email campaigns

Privacy of personal computer data is a must if anyone is practicing Email marketing. But a recent survey of StrongMail 2008 UK Study on Email Marketing Practices and Privacy reveals that it poses the biggest risk to the privacy of personal consumer data. According to the survey Email marketing presents the bigger threat to data protection in the UK ahead of the Internet, telemarketing and direct mail.

The study further reveals that over 60 per cent of data protection and marketing professionals have experienced a data breach of personal information in the past two years. And firms that outsourced their email marketing found data breaches had risen by 28 per cent in the past two years.

StongMail UK managing director Paul Bates says: “A cavalier attitude towards outsourcing customer data to third parties combined with complacent processes for keeping that data safe is a recipe for disaster. The fact is confidential customer data doesn’t travel well and providing it to third parties for outbound marketing purposes can, as the research shows, be a risky proposition. This data is extremely valuable to most firms, and we advise them to think very carefully about how they keep it safe.”

Hence, opt-in Email marketing has become the latest buzz. Because here receivers know about companies and companies also know about them. This is the best Email marketing practice in fact.

Email Marketing: Those Five Points for Everyone

Email marketing can provide best results for an advertiser. This has been proved. I am trying to let you know about those famous five points of an effective Email marketing.

Point 1: There is always a best time to contact your customers

Before sending promotional mails always think about the time factor and believe that there is always a best time to send an advertisement. Certain dates in the month may not be suitable or some may be more suitable when consumers would make a purchase. For example after pay day. It has been seen that Monday is not a suitable day and weekends are the best.

Point 2: Study the previous purchasing behaviour of customers

You can do it! You can monitor your customers’ purchasing habits and it is important also. Such data makes it easier to target customers with relevant offers. If you have in depth knowledge of your customers’ favourite products then it will allow you to target them more intelligently.

Point 3: Never forget to analyse general purchasing trends

Email marketing system provides you opportunity so that you can observe purchasing trends. You can monitor which section of your website is getting the most hits. It will give you visibility as to where consumer interest lies. Now what? Capitalise on this information in your marketing materials. Drive sales in accordance with market trends.

Point 4: Even your customers' purchasing behaviour can be categorised

You can make segments of your customers' database. It can make it more valuable. Now, customers can be ranked according to how frequently they purchase. This behavioural data simplifies targeting tremendously.

Point 5: Price range is also worth thinking

You must segment your database according to average spend. It would help to target clients with products they find cost-effective for them. You can also target high spend customers to make the business more profitable.