Tourism Internet Marketing U

Making Connections Through E-mail Marketing

E-mail is a communication medium, and, as with all forms of communication, you do not get a second chance to leave a first impression. E-mail must be used appropriately. People receive large amounts of e-mail each day, and the tips to this chapter will help to ensure that your e-mail is taken seriously.

One of the greatest benefits of e-mail is the speed with which you can communicate. E-mail takes seconds rather than weeks to send a message around the world. The cost of this form of communication is negligible, compared to making a long-distance phone call or sending a fax. The economies of scale are significant. One e-mail message can be sent to millions of people across the globe simultaneously. This type of mass mailing is done at a fraction of the cost and a fraction of the time (and internal resources) it would take with snail mail.

All kinds of files can be sent via e-mail, including audio, video, data, pictures, and text. With an autoresponder, information can immediately be sent automatically to customers and potential customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year in response to their online requests.

E-mail is interactive. Your current and potential customers can immediately respond to you and carry on an ongoing dialog with you. E-mail is seen much more like a conversation than a text document. It is perceived as being more personal than snail mail and can go quite a long way in building relationships.

Don’t let your business look foolish through email! Pick up my book for more of the little things that add up to bigger deals! 101 Ways to Promote Your Tourism Business Web Site!

-Written by Susan Sweeney