If you believe that now is the right time to begin using email marketing, dive right in.

Since Constant Contact unveiled the first email marketing solution for small businesses in 1998, email marketing has undergone significant development. The efficiency of email marketing hasn’t changed, though. Studies demonstrate that email marketing continues to perform better than other digital marketing channels, such as sponsored search and social media.

And investing in email marketing may provide some significant returns, with an average return for every dollar invested. I’ve seen from speaking with small businesses that figuring out how to begin using email marketing is frequently the most challenging step.

To help you out, I’ve compiled 5 things you need to do when you’re getting started with email marketing:

1. Select a provider of email marketing services.

Working with an email marketing service provider is necessary if you’re serious about email marketing. The only option for your company to use email marketing automation to efficiently send messages to huge contacts or subscribers lists is to partner with a supplier.

Professional email designs, tools to expand and manage your email list, and tracking features that let you see who is reading and responding to your campaigns and messages are all additional benefits.

2. Compile a list of contacts for your email marketing campaign.

The majority of firms will already have some contacts to begin an email list. Consider the clients and acquaintances you already work with. Perhaps it’s the business contacts you regularly email, or perhaps you just start with a small group of encouraging friends and family.

Don’t give up even if you’re starting from scratch when creating an email list.

3. Configure your welcoming email.

The first email that you send to new email subscribers is your welcome email.

Welcome emails are crucial because they give individuals their first impression of you and reach them when they are most interested in your company. Your welcome email will likely receive a greater open rate than usual, so be sure to start off strong.

Start with a friendly hello, give them an outline of what they may anticipate from you moving forward, and then give them something helpful straight immediately. Your welcome email will automatically be sent to all new contacts once it has been set up.

4. Monitor your outcomes

Do not be fooled; email marketing continues after the send. You should monitor your open rate, click-through rate, unsubscribe rate, and other metrics so that you can aim to get better over time.

You must have a thorough grasp of each email’s performance in order to make adjustments and learn more about your subscribers and customers if you want to see actual results from your email marketing efforts.

5. Establish a reusable email template.

When selecting a template, aim for a design that is simple, striking, and will effectively convey your message. Choose a mobile-responsive email template that looks beautiful on any device because people swiftly skim through their inboxes, frequently while on the go.

The next step is to brand your template by placing your company’s logo right at the top of your email and linking the image to the main page of your website. Create an email footer with your company name, contact details, and links to your active social media accounts, and include your company’s signature colours in there as well.