When used properly, an email marketing list can help you drive traffic and sales with very little effort. However, it’s important to remember that this strategy can only be costeffective when you have set it up with a strong foundation. As automated marketing increases, people are becoming more vigilant about what is considered acceptable email, and what may simply be spam.

In order to create an effective marketing campaign through email, you will need to make sure you are providing relevant and valuable content as much as possible. People who sign up for your email list, whether this is through the website, your blog, or a link you have provided in your profile page for Yahoo! Answers, should be able to look forward to relevant and valuable information on every email blast. Key benefits of using an email marketing list effectively include:

• Being able to narrow down a niche
• Creating strong relationships
• Providng a platform for potential advertisers
• Keeping your brand at the top of the mind of the consumer
• Providing helpful hints and suggestions that cannot be found elsewhere on the web
• Providing coupons and special discounts to keep people interested in returning to the site
• Developing credibility with consistency and a strong brand

Think of your email list as a reciprocal game. The more people that find value in the information you are giving voluntarily, the higher the chances of them paying attention in the long term, and continuing to review your website for a possible purchase. When readers independently sign up for an email list through an opt-in form, they are much more likely to respond to email campaigns and convert their clicks into sales with minimal effort. This is why it becomes essential to target your readers in a positive way and encourage them to sign up as soon as possible.

Keep in mind that improved conversion and response rates will help convert prospects into buyers. This highly targeted market will help you carve out your niche in the industry, and it will become much less expensive to find these people through other online marketing efforts. Limiting commercial messages and developing your own ads will help you provide quality to your readers; this will limit the chances of them simply opting out, and you will be establishing goodwill with your readers as a result. An opt-in list also offers some legal implications and benefits. Sticking with a simple opt-in email list will prevent you from fines associated with unsolicited email, and fewer people simply thinking that the company is sending out spam.