Over the past year, I have developed an email marketing list to cultivate relationships with wedding vendors and potential clients. This has been hands down one of my most successful pieces of marketing. To develop the initial list I ran a giveaway to collect email addresses. This gave e a solid start with roughly 250 people. From here I have run other giveaways and collected email addresses through my online galleries. Right now my email list sits right below 1000 subscribers. On average I have a 50% open rate. Currently, my click rate is fairly low, but my main goal right now with the list is to use it as an update to keep my business front of mind. What I have loved about this list is the way it lets me connect with any person who has viewed a wedding gallery, many of whom may be my potential clients down the road. It has also allowed me to build trust with fellow wedding vendors. One DJ told me of the hundreds of photographers he works with, I am the only one who has included him on an email list. Due to this, he decided to book me for a family session. Outside of bookings, the biggest win the email list has brought was leveraging my community to win "Bozeman's Choice Photographer" I was able to ask for votes to get my small studio to be named the #1 photographer in my city. This has been huge for gaining the trust of new clients and opening doors to other opportunities. Down the road, I am looking to build out more custom automation to drive more bookings. Links: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IwiZIM4Mu7ER5lLyrp76PoPFW7N3wiK6/view?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xJnVatWGwPtpxDAIUAHKdp1hxwFHsvO6/view?usp=sharing
Most of my clients come from email marketing, so I have learned a few things about what does and doesn't work. You should plan out your first three emails before sending anything, and understand the purpose of each email. The first is to build trust and rapport, the second to learn more about their company, and the third to promote your services as a photographer. I've found the most success with not even mentioning photography in the first email and instead simply enquiring about who the best person would be to contact about collaborating with their company. My approach to email marketing is always to build a connection with clients who I genuinely think will benefit from my services, rather than just advertising my work.
I successfully used an email campaign to build excitement for my family mini shoots by creating a waitlist and offering early access to those who signed up. Initially, I sent engaging emails to my existing clients and social media followers, inviting them to join the waitlist for exclusive early booking. This generated anticipation and a sense of exclusivity. Once the waitlist was established, I launched the mini shoot dates to these potential clients, providing them with a link to a dedicated landing page to book their slots. This link was sent out two days before the dates went live to the general public, ensuring that my most interested clients had the first opportunity to secure their preferred time slots. This approach not only created a buzz around the mini shoots but also ensured that the initial slots were quickly filled, demonstrating strong demand and boosting overall bookings once the dates were opened to everyone.
I've been in the digital marketing space for over 30 years, and one project that stands out is a successful email marketing campaign for Jason Gardner Photo+Video. Creating an effective campaign involved several key components. First, we developed a series of personalized email templates using Mailchimp. These emails showcased Jason's work with compelling visuals, engaging headlines, and clear calls-to-action. We emphasized storytelling by highlighting client testimonials and behind-the-scenes content from photo shoots. We strategically segmented the mailing list into different audience groups: previous clients, inquiries, and event attendees. This helped us tailor the content for each segment, increasing the relevance of each email. The campaign's open rate increased by 28% and click-through rates by 15%, driving a significant uptick in website visits and inquiries. To measure success, we used Google Analytics to track user interactions post-email click-through. We saw a 20% increase in website traffic and received a notable number of new bookings specifically citing the email campaigns. Consistent follow-up emails ensured sustained engagement and conversion over time.
I've had the chance to dive deep into digital marketing, especially email campaigns. One of the most impactful projects was an email marketing campaign we ran for our second startup, which focused on software solutions. We utilized Hubspot for this campaign, leveraging its CRM integration for personalized content. We segmented our email list based on user behavior and past interactions, ensuring each email resonated with the recipient. This segmentation led to a 26% increase in open rates and a 22% climb in click-through rates. To create engaging content, we incorporated storytelling and clean design. We shared case studies about how our software helped clients solve specific problems. These stories were supported by customer testimonoals, which humanized our brand and fostered trust. We also used A/B testing on subject lines and email designs, optimizing for higher engagement. The results were impressive. We saw a 30% rise in inquiries and a 15% increase in conversions within three months. Tracking metrics through Hubspot’s analytics tools allowed us to continuously refine our approach, ensuring sustained success. Besides metrics, clients frequently mentioned our compelling emails during follow-up calls, highlighting the campaign's resonance.
I'm the founder and CEO of Cleartail Marketing, where we help B2B companies grow through cost-effective marketing strategies. One standout email marketing campaign was for a B2B client looking to increase customer engagement and revenue. We used SharpSpring for its robust automation features and segmented the client’s email list based on specific customer behaviors and past interactions. This segmentation alone led to a 278% increase in revenue in just 12 months. Our approach was driven by a well-structured strategy that included crafting personalized, visually appealing email templates with engaging content. We incorporated A/B testing to determine optimal subject lines and content, which improved the open rate and click-through metrics dramatically. One specific campaign increased a client’s website traffic by over 14,000% and achieved a 5,000% return on investment for a Google AdWords Campaign. Another critical factor was consistent follow-up, ensuring subscribers were nurtured with relevant content. For instance, a series of lead nurturing emails significantly reduced conversion times by delivering timely and educational content about the client’s products. This approach not only increased immediate engagement but also added over 400 emails per month to the client’s email list via LinkedIn Outreach, generating consistent leads and sales opportunities.