Bulk Email Advertising

Bulk email advertising has taken the place of bulk mail through the U.S. Postal Service for many companies, and the results can be even more satisfying because of the greater numbers of addresses reached. With old-fashioned bulk mailing of advertising circulars, most businesses were limited to a reasonable distance from their location and mailing lists purchased from local providers, or telephone books. Now with the Internet, the numbers of addresses reached is limited only by one's ability to pay for e-mail lists, and the distance from one's place of business is not a factor as long as the website to which customers are led also provides a way for visitors to place orders or contact the business owner by email with questions.

There are plenty of companies on the Internet that will provide lists for bulk email advertising to clients needing them. Prices vary, depending upon how large a list is purchased. One can convey enough information in a cleverly worded email to catch the attention of potential customers. The email will include a link to the advertiser's web page so the reader can see exactly what is available. Banner advertising on the website is another means of getting the attention of potential customers. Banners can be colorful, and have clever wording that will be remembered.

Banner advertising has been around for a long time. Some very elaborate and large banners have been seen sailing behind airplanes to draw the attention of people on the ground to a product or event. Pole banners have become increasingly popular in downtown areas of cities where they capture the attention of pedestrians, and of course the large banners over the entrances of businesses often advertise special events being held inside.

Anyone who has an Internet connection on his computer is familiar in some way with bulk email advertising because emails from advertisers appear in inboxes every day. The tracking devices attached to many online websites allow the owners to get the addresses of visitors, then these addresses are added to the advertising lists of the website owner. Soon the visitor is getting a message suggesting he buy the product or service from that website. Of course, someone in the group of visitors will be interested, even though there are many who will not respond. It isn't much different from the catalog companies' habits of sending out their catalogs to potential customers, hoping some of them will actually place an order.

There are companies that sell email databases to clients for their advertising campaigns. The best ones will verify the addresses to be sure they are not passing along outdated information with their bulk email advertising software. They will also make sure their lists are in compliance with the Can Spam Act of 2004. Another special service these companies provide is lists for targeted audiences. So, whether a business deals with a product or service that would be needed or wanted by just anyone, or it is something only a teenager could love, the correct audience will be reached. Targeted audiences received the letters that are recounted in the New Testament. "And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem." (1 Corinthians 16:3)

The approach for banner advertising can also be one of general appeal or specific appeal, depending entirely on what the product or service happens to be. Advertising is so vital to any business, that this kind of specific targeting ability can mean the difference in failure or success of the campaign. There are some events that will have a universal appeal, and they would call for a change in strategy. Anniversaries, for instance, always mean a celebration. Businesses usually want as many people as possible to share in the celebration, so there will be give-away items, special sales, and a celebration of some kind. Everybody loves a party. This would be one occasion where both bulk e-mail advertising and banner advertising would be used at the same time.

The companies involved in assisting online businesses with bulk email advertising will guarantee a certain number of visitors to a website, and their fees will be determined by that number. One such company charges $99.00 for 100,000 visits, and with various incremental prices in between, charges $1,499 for 10,000,000 visits. With this guarantee, there is no further charge until the promised number is reached. Banners can be just as effective, and the charges for them are based on similar numbers of visitors. There is proof of delivery in the form of email confirmations, and the providers of this service are anxious for customers to know they have kept their promise.

No matter what product is being sold through email or banner advertising, there are age-old principles involved. There has to be a means of letting people know the product exists and where it can be purchased. Whether that is by an ad in the local newspaper or posted on the Internet, the word has to be distributed to the widest possible target audience to be effective.

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