Email marketing is hailed as the most effective form of marketing on the web. That alone is reason enough to use email marketing. However, many online business owners start emailing prospects without any real focus for why they're doing it. They use email marketing because it is said to be the best.
But why is email marketing the most effective technique? I think it has something to do with the many ways email can be used. Of course, to get results, each emailing that you send has to be specific in terms of what you want each reader to get out of it.
Four of the most effective and popular ways to use email marketing are:
Special Offers Invitations Follow-up Staying In Touch
1. Special Offers - If you were to simply offer special discounts and coupons on your site, people would only know about them if they decided to pay your site a visit. But with email marketing, you can notify people every time you have a sale, or offer them discounts and coupons that will draw them back to your site.
2. Invitations - Do you know of seminars, conferences, or any other special events your customers would be interested in? Extend them an invitation, and you can subtly remind them of your presence.
3. Follow-up - Once you make a contact, it can take up toseven reminders or more before that person will purchase from you. Email marketing is the perfect way to send reminders and follow-up pitches without being annoying.
4. Staying in Touch - With email marketing, you can send brief emails every couple of weeks or every month just to keep in touch with your customers. These emails can include anything from special offers to invitations to articles. | 
