Email Marketing

When some people think of email marketing, they think of the seemingly never-ending stream of spam messages that show up in their inbox every day promoting products such as male enhancement pills and cheap pirated software. But when done properly – not to mention legally – email marketing can be a very effective method of online direct response marketing, particularly in the cost-per-acquisition (CPA) space. IncentaClick encourages the use of email marketing to both its affiliates and its advertisers, but adheres to the rules and guidelines outlined in the CAN-SPAM Act.

Email Marketing CAN-SPAM Act

The CAN-SPAM Act (aka Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act) came into effect on January 1, 2004 and is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). All e-mail messages distributed for the purpose of marketing a product or service must meet the provisions of the Act, and each violation can result in monetary penalties or even a prison sentence.

There are essentially four primary provisions covered by the Act that email marketers must adhere to:

1. Header information must be legitimate: the "To" and "From" headings of the e-mail must legitimately and accurately identify the person or company sending the e-mail.
2. Subject lines must not be misleading: any subject line considered misleading or deceitful is prohibited.
3. Consumers must have a method of opting out: the email marketer must provide a means for the consumer to opt out of receiving future mailings. The marketer can provide an e-mail address to which the consumer can write requesting to be removed from the marketer’s mailing list, or a website can be utilized that automatically removes the consumer from the mailing list with the click of a button. Sending messages to a consumer who did not request to receive them is considered illegal.
4. Purpose of e-mail must be noted and a physical address provided: it must be noted in each e-mail that the message is an advertisement and a physical (i.e. mailing) address must be provided by the marketer and/or commercial establishment.

Captivating Audience with Email Marketing = ROI

When executed properly, email marketing can be very profitable and cost effective. It is traditionally one of the highest converting (with respect to click-through rate and subsequent action) forms of online marketing. You are essentially promoting your product or service by sending an e-mail to someone who has previously chosen to receive your marketing messages and is therefore open to new ideas.

Email marketing is also an efficient way to maximize your return on investment with respect to individual customers. Not only can you utilize this marketing method to generate new customers and subsequent sales, but you can also use email marketing to generate repeat business from existing clients. And of course, email marketing is instantaneous; there are no wait times as with traditional print and television marketing methods. The moment your marketing message is sent, it is received.

For more information on the benefits of email marketing, or if you have any questions or concerns that you would like addressed, you are welcome to contact the IncentaClick sales department.