Technology has made it easier to reach potential customers in a number of ways. Automated email marketing allows you to speak to an entire database of contacts with the push of a button. And while email has proven to be far more efficient customer conversions than social media, your prospect’s inboxes are getting busier every day.
We have reached the point where most consumers can smell a sales email a mile away and delete it in seconds. They expect that when they open it, they will receive blanket messages, “salutation” and general content. Usually they are right. Consistent e-mails do not help your company and can even harm it.
As a salesperson, you know that getting to know your customers and building relationships with them is still the best way to close a deal. As more relationships are forged behind a screen, the need to connect is more important than ever. The question arises, how can you harness the power of technology? and build a relationship with your customer?
Personalizing your emails will set you apart from your competitors and help you stand out in a sea of equality. A few minutes of research and personalization can create a whole new playing field for you. There are a number of ways you can accomplish this with your sales emails, but before we discuss these, let’s cover some of the benefits of adding a personal touch.
Advantages of personalization
Imagine walking into a car dealership and being greeted by a robot who will call you a “Dear Customer” and determine which car is best for you (and everyone else) before asking you what you are looking for . You’d probably run out of that dealership – not go.
However, we do that every day with generic sales emails.
By adding a personal touch to your email, you can:
Build rapport
Personalized emails allow you to connect with your prospects and see them as real people. This connection will encourage them to do business with you and be loyal to you.
build up trust
Consumers want to feel like they understand their pain. A general explosion of email sent to hundreds or thousands of people is not aimed at their individual problems. However, when you see a personalized email addressing their specific challenges and offering hope for a solution, it builds their trust in your brand.
Make your customers feel like they’re talking to them
Every industry has its own language for the problems it solves. Unfortunately, that’s not necessarily the word that resonates with a potential customer. If you get to know your customers better and then take advantage of personalization, you can reach them directly.
Make your customers happy
By and large, customers are less receptive to emails that are not personalized and they are completely confused. The provision of customization and personalization makes consumers happy so always try to find ways to incorporate these types of elements.
Improve opening, sales and conversion rates
When consumers know you understand their problems and are reliably sending relevant content, they feel personally connected to your company – a feeling that is more likely to make them open your emails and, in turn, do business with you.
Personalization ideas
There are several approaches you can take to personalize your sales emails. Here are some of the most effective.
1. Start with a strong template.
It might sound like a contradiction in terms, but when you start with a template, you will gain time to research your prospects. Remember, this is just a starting point. You will customize sections and change words to suit your audience. You can find a variety of sales email templates from Hubspot to get you started.
2. Send them content they actually want.
Sending content to prospective (and existing) customers is a great way to stay tuned and establish yourself as a thought leader in your field. Nobody, however, wants to be inundated with information that they do not think is necessary or applicable. Base the content you send out on what your customers actually want.
Icebreaker by UpContent is an integration application that you can use to address your prospects again when the conversation is over. By sending them third-party content that has already been curated by your team, you can fuel the conversation and keep the relationship going. This content is relevant for your company and your customers and has already been released for distribution.
3. Personalize offers and product recommendations.
It goes without saying, but every customer is unique and their problems require at least some individual solutions. As you learn more about your customers, use this information to provide personalized recommendations that suit you you need rather than yours.
4. Show appreciation.
Sales emails shouldn’t be all about sales. Once you’ve established a relationship with a customer, you need to nurture it. When they become a customer, send them a welcome email, celebrate milestones in their life and relationship, and wish them a happy birthday. These emails will keep you fresh in your mind without being intrusive or annoying.
5. No more cold calling.
There are very few sellers in the world who actually enjoy make a cold call. Those who know you need to connect early on by starting a conversation about something other than the product you are selling.
The same goes for email. Reaching out to people in your database – even if they signed up for a free quote – is still pretty much still cold calling. co-pilot is an app that integrates conversation starters like local weather, local news, and upcoming local holidays into your contact records. This gives you a starting point to break the ice and personalize your email for a better connection.
Whether or not you use the technology at your disposal, a real human connection will always be the best selling tactic. By connecting with prospects and existing customers, you can build a relationship, build trust, and make your customers feel valued so they will keep coming back. It’s easy and important to personalize your sales emails to get loyal, satisfied customers.