Through email marketing, small businesses are acquiring the necessary resources and tools to improve their performance and grow their business. For some small businesses hiring a team to handle marketing is simply not affordable. As a result, companies are searching for other ways to go about reaching new customers, through automated marketing technics like mass emailing.

Email Marketing is a strategy used for sending emails to prospective clients and current customers. This can be more useful than traditional advertising since a majority of consumers check their email on a daily basis. It is a challenge attempting to stay on top of everything including customers and emails but using this software will allow you to stay in control of the content, keep track of emails, and staying up to date with trends.

Advantages of using email marketing are pricing, design, time-saving automation, and an increase in sales:

• Pricing:

Some marketing tools are paid, while some provide you with a free version for up to a certain number of subscribers and emails per month.

• Design:

Being able to control design allows you to provide more branding and creativity to your business.

• Time – Saving:

With automation and bulk lists, you will not need to spend time sending emails with scheduling tools, instead, you can schedule a time that the email is sent so that it will easily reach and be opened by all of your clients.

• Increased in Sales:

You can promote your new ideas or products with a click of a button to encourage customers to try out your products or visit your website.

Likewise, the disadvantages of using this tool are the risk of being detected as spam, size issues, and undeliverable emails:

• Spam:

Some email providers may label your email as spam which ruins the purpose of using an email marketing tool.

• Size Issues:

If a file is too large, then it may take longer to download or it may not download at all. This can cause you to lose out on reaching members of your target audience.

• Undelivered Emails:

One challenge of sending an email is making sure you have the correct email address for your customer. If you do not have a high quality and accurate email list many of the messages will bounce.

Furthermore, if you are new to email marketing there is an easy way to get started and learn the basics.  At Officense, we can assist you with developing your marketing campaign or setting up an email marketing account to add more customers to your business.  We’ve been providing administrative support for small businesses for over 10 years and allowing companies to focus more on clients.  If you are interested in someone managing your email marketing efforts or setting up a bulk email campaign, then give us a call at 410-814-7500 or check out our virtual assistant page.

The idea of starting your own business may frighten you and leave you wondering if this is a good idea. The longer you sit around and doubt yourself, the sooner someone else can jump in to take your idea. Here is a list of 4 simple, yet helpful tips to answer the most common questions that may be delaying you from becoming an entrepreneur.

Question 1: Is My Business Idea Any Good?

Tip 1:

If your idea can solve a problem or address any issues that can affect individuals, then the answer is Yes. More than likely, if you are experiencing this problem then others have experienced the same problem. You should test out your theory on a couple of friends or family members to test your ideas before you try your product on potential customers. This will allow you to determine the pros and cons of your product before you put yourself out there. Another factor that will play a key role in your business is the price of your product. Is your product for a upscale or more economical customer? You should make the cost of your product lean more towards your target audience.

Question 2: Should I Write a Formal Business Plan?

Tip 2:

This question can go either way. You can write a business plan if you think this will help you visualize your goals, or at the very least write an informal plan that outlines your ideas for your business. If you are struggling to write a plan, then the best way to come up with a plan is using the Elevator Pitch. An elevator ride usually lasts less than a minute or two which leaves you with 60 to 120 seconds to explain to a potential customer about your goals and what your company does. Some banks, angels, or venture capitalists will want a formal business plan that should include a financial overview of expenses and marketing strategy.

Question 3: I Have a Unique Product or Business Method. Should I Get a Patent?

Tip 3:

You should only get a patent if you do not want your competition to take your ideas. Tesla founder Elon Musk decided he would not sue anyone who used Tesla’s patents. He said, “Tesla, other companies making electric cars, and the world would all benefit from a common, rapidly evolving technology platform.” However, if you need an investment, investors tend to favor companies that hold patents.

Question 4: Do I Have What It Takes to Be a Founder?

Tip 4:

Being a risk taker plays a key role in becoming a founder and if you lack this characteristic, then you may not be cut out to be a founder.  At Inc. 500, 85 percent of CEOs are risk takers. Another key factor in becoming a founder is having what it takes to identify and solve problems. Once you acquire these skills and characteristics, then you should have what it takes to be a founder.

Here at Officense, we provide custom business solutions for start-up entrepreneurs such as legal professionals, realtors, contractors, and more. We can assist you with adding an address to your business, answering your calls, and handling your mail. Give us a call at 410-814-7500 for further details.