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 old customers and to encourage customer loyalty and repeat business.
• Sending e-mails with the purpose of acquiring new customers or convincing old customers to buy something immediately.
• Adding advertisements in e-mails sent by other companies to their customers.

Researchers estimate that as of 2004 the E-mail Marketing industry’s revenues has surpassed the $1 billion/yr mark.

Links

• E-mail marketing article on About.com
• SpamCon Foundation
• Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial E-mail
• DIRECT Magazine – E-mail Marketing

This guide is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia.

Video: Successful Email Marketing – How It’s Done