Reaching Out to Customers With E-mail Marketing

Looking for a way to get your company's name out there? These days it seems like every business owner is turning to e-mail to spread the word about products and services. But with the deluge of information filling customers' inboxes, how do you get your message to stand out? A recent article in U.S. News & World Report details the success stories of three small-business owners who use e-mail marketing as their main avenue for reaching out to customers.

Desiree Scales, founder and CEO of Georgia-based Bella Web Design, keeps customers informed about the latest design technologies and trends through her e-mails, which offer tips and commentary on industry news. Online retailer Lisa Timon of Create My Keepsake, which sells scrapbooking supplies, uses a monthly e-mail newsletter to let customers know about sales, promotions and new products—a tactic that gives her an edge in a competitive market. Josh Molinari and Anthony Green rely on e-mail coupons to draw customers to their Fajita Grill in Syracuse, NY. These owners share their secrets about how to launch a successful e-mail marketing campaign and how to keep the momentum going.