Email marketing enables you to proactively communicate with your existing customers and prospects instead of passively waiting for them to return to your Web site or storefront. It is a highly effective way to increase sales, drive site or store traffic and develop loyalty.

It's Immediate

Email marketing generates an immediate response. The call to action is clear: Initial campaign response generally occurs within 48 hours of the time the email campaign is sent.

"Orders pour in within 24 hours after you send your newsletters,"In an economy where most companies are suffering, I can't believe that I'm actually thriving and breaking revenue goals every month."

It's Targeted

You can easily segment your lists using a variety of criteria or interest groups so that your promotions go to the individuals most likely to respond to your offer.

Target email campaigns to your subscribers' opt-in interest categories.

It's Easy

There are Web-based email marketing products for small and medium businesses. Most include professional HTML templates, list segmentation and targeting capabilities, as well as, automatic tracking and reporting. So, you are free to concentrate on your unique message.

"This is definitely something a non-techie can do," said Shavi Mahtani, CEO of WatchZone.com. "It took us about 45 minutes - start to finish - to build and compose our e-mail. And each campaign since then has taken less time to set up."

"I don't need a Webmaster or a technical person to handle my newsletters anymore," said Raphael Baekeland, general manager of Kuartos.com. "My product manager and I can do everything very easily."