E-mail marketing is a form of direct marketing which uses electronic mail as a means of communicating commercial or fundraising messages to an audience. In its broadest sense, every e-mail sent to a potential or current customer could be considered e-mail marketing. However, the term is usually used to refer to:

* sending e-mails with the purpose of enhancing the relationship of a merchant with its current or previous customers and to encourage customer loyalty and repeat business
* sending e-mails with the purpose of acquiring new customers or convincing current customers to purchase something immediately
* adding advertisements to e-mails sent by other companies to their customers
* sending e-mails over the Internet, as e-mail did and does exist outside the Internet (e.g., network e-mail and FIDO).

Advantages
E-mail marketing (on the Internet) is popular with companies for several reasons:

* An exact return on investment can be tracked ("track to basket") and has proven to be high when done properly. E-mail marketing is often reported as second only to search marketing as the most effective online marketing tactic.
* Advertisers can reach substantial numbers of e-mail subscribers who have opted in (i.e., consented) to receive e-mail communications on subjects of interest to them.
* Over half of Internet users check or send e-mail on a typical day.
* E-mail is popular with digital marketers, rising an estimated 15% in 2009 to £292m in the UK.

Benefits
* Improving your customer retention with more frequent contact
* Cutting down on printing and administration costs
* Announcing events, new products and company news to your customers
* Encouraging repeat buying on your e-commerce website by targeting your specials and discounts to each customer's buying preferences

E-mail marketing process
* Devising a strategy and distribution schedule
* Creating a customized email layout to give your emails a professionally branded look and feel
* Implementing an opt-in form on your website that encourages new customers to subscribe
* Ongoing maintenance and management of your distribution lists
* Distributing all emails through our email marketing system
* Performing testing to determine the best layout and content for high click-thoughs and conversions
* Analyzing your send data and reports to pinpoint the most successful campaigns for your customers

Masterdev's e-mail marketing system is permission-based, meaning subscribers can subscribe and unsubscribe. We ensure you are fully compliant with all CAN-SPAM regulations and guidelines.