1.    Make your emails interesting and valuable
2.    Offer a discount or special for subscribing
3.    Advertise your email list with a call to action on your website and Facebook page
4.    Use a QR code on print materials to allow people to scan to sign up
5.    Collect email addresses at an event or conference
6.    Encourage your current subscribers to share with their friends and family (You can even throw in a free gift or discount for those who do)
7.    Promote it on business cards
8.    Include the link on comment cards
9.    Do a contest or giveaway that requires an email address to enter (but be sure to include a disclaimer that they are opting in to email updates from your company)

One of the best marketing strategies to implement is email marketing. You can reach your customers directly with news, specials and deals, and other important information related to your business. If implemented correctly, an email marketing campaign can increase your business and sales, and help to engage your customers. The key is to know how and when to communicate with your customers so that your email marketing efforts are not wasted. If you have yet to launch an email marketing campaign, or even if you are in the middle of one, these simple steps can help you to get off on the right foot.

Define your objectives

• Set expectations for your email marketing so that you have a clearly defined goal.
• Create a calendar with upcoming promotions, events, and other information that you want to send out so that you keep it organized and spread out.

Create and organize your email lists

• Announce that you will be sending email updates to get contacts to sign up for your list voluntarily.
• Segment your lists to target certain markets differently.

Create interesting emails to send

• Send interesting and compelling content to catch their attention and get them to read the email.
• Use an attractive email design that includes both images and html text so that all users can see the content if they cannot view the images.

Follow best practices

• The subject line should be short and sweet. You want to get the point of the email across while making it enticing to open. Include a call to action if you can.
• Your from name and email address should be your business name and professional email address so that they know it is coming from a trusted source. You should also keep this consistent across all emails so that your customers begin to recognize your emails.
• Try to keep the most important information at the top of the email so readers see that first. Include a call to action so they have something to do at the end of the email.
• Include links to your website and social media accounts.
• Use plain text in your email.
• Keep your email short so that there is not too much information to digest in one email.

Timing

• Try out different times of the day and week to determine which is most optimal response for your business.

Measure your results

• Use your email statistics to track how often your email are opened and read.

If you follow these simple steps, your email marketing campaign will do great things for your business.

Chick-fil-A at Elizabethtown is now available, even on Sundays, through new social outlets!  Check out the new Facebook and Twitter pages for this location.  Also, look into receiving their new text alerts so you will never miss out on any of the deals, coupons, and customer rewards.  Sign up for free email notifications and be among the first to know of upcoming events and specials!