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Welcome Emails
It is very important that you send welcome emails to new or potential clients that have entrusted you with their email addresses. When you send the first email, you should make sure it actually makes a person feel welcome; after all it is called that for a good reason.
• Send the welcome email within 24 hours of them giving you their information. It is important to send it while they still remember you and you are at the top of their mind. If you wait too long, they may have forgotten you and will delete the email thinking it is just spam even though in reality they had handed you their email address themselves.
• In your welcome email, make sure you have an “About Me” section. This is a good way for the client to learn exactly what kind of company they are receiving emails from and decide whether they want to stay on your email list. It is a good place to gain some credibility through introducing yourself as the respectful, honest person that you are. When writing an About Me page, tell your professional story. Let them know how you got to be working for this company and why it is that you are so happy you do. Tell them what you can do for them. Even though it is an “About Me” section, you still want to make it clear that they are your first priority. Give examples of how you have helped others in similar situations as them. The last and most important thing is to make it clear to them why they can trust you.
• Make sure you tell them why it was a great idea for them to join the email list. Is it because they will now receive coupons or because they will be updated on the store’s holiday closings? Will you always include an inspirational quote for those days that they may just feel like they need some extra motivation?
• Adding a coupon or promotion to the very first email is a great way of helping a client feel like they made the right decision in giving you their email address. They will automatically feel rewarded for their actions and your credibility will increase a little bit.
• If possible, have a “shop now” button directing them to your website and your products. They just signed up for your list, so chances are they are excited about your products right now and this is the best time to get them acquainted with what you have to offer.
• Adding pictures to your first email will make it a warmer welcome. If you are a service-based company, a picture of your team will do just fine. If, on the other hand, you have some product to show off, go ahead and draw attention to that great merchandise.
• Make sure your email works on cell phones. A mobile-friendly welcome email is extremely important, especially in a world where so many people now check their mail on their cell phones.
• You can add a link to your website to make it easy for them to check out your online presence, but make sure you don’t go link crazy. One or two links at the most are best, otherwise they won’t click on any of them from the sheer intimidation of all the choices.
• A welcome email should be signed with a person’s name instead of a company name. This is friendlier and lets them know someone specific wants to take care of their purchases. As always, this is just another way to add to your credibility.
• You may want to let them know exactly what types of emails you will be sending their way in the future. This way they feel like they know exactly what they signed up for and can decide whether that is really what they wanted.
• In the unlikely event that they want to unsubscribe, make sure you have a clear button for them to do so. This is a very good way to build credibility. No one wants to lose customers from their email list, but allowing them to do so whenever they may want, makes your company more trustworthy. Also, have an email confirming their addition to the email list. This way you know for sure you don’t have anyone marking you as spam. If they clearly know they signed up, they will be eagerly awaiting your emails. The confirmation email will let them know that you don’t plan on ever sending them anything they do not ask for, and in turn will make them trust you more.
• If you have social media, create a link from the welcome email to show them how to become a fan on Facebook or follow you on Twitter. Social media goes hand in hand with emails. It is all part of the wonderful online world of marketing. If your client has just decided to receive emails from you, chances are they are happy to add you to their Instagram feed as well.
Your customer should feel welcome from the very first email you send them. This is creating a connection that will grow through your following emails. This is extremely important because it counts as the first point of email contact.