Want to connect with your customers on a deeper level and watch your planner sales soar? Email marketing is your golden ticket! It’s a fantastic way to build relationships, share your passion for planning, and keep your shop top-of-mind with your audience.
Think of it this way: social media is like casting a wide net, hoping to catch a few interested fish. Email marketing, on the other hand, is like sending a personalized message in a bottle directly to the people who already love what you do.
Why Email Marketing is a Must-Have for Planner Shops
- Reach the Right People: Emails land directly in your customer’s inbox, not lost in the sea of social media posts. This means they’re much more likely to see your message and engage with your shop. It’s like having a one-on-one conversation with each customer, building a connection that social media just can’t replicate.
- Build a Loyal Tribe: Email allows you to nurture relationships with your customers over time. Share valuable content that resonates with their planning needs, offer exclusive deals that make them feel special, and provide a personalized experience that shows you care. This creates a sense of community and loyalty, turning casual shoppers into raving fans who eagerly anticipate your next email.
- Boost Your Sales: Use emails strategically to drive sales. Announce new planner releases with eye-catching visuals and compelling descriptions. Promote limited-time offers that create a sense of urgency. Remind customers about their favorite products or suggest complementary items they might love. With email, you can gently guide customers towards a purchase and increase your revenue.
- Start Small, Spend Less: One of the best things about email marketing is that it doesn’t have to break the bank, especially when you’re just starting. Many platforms offer free plans or trials, making it easy to experiment and find the right fit for your business. (Keep in mind that costs might increase as your email list grows, but the return on investment can be significant.)
- See What’s Working: Most email marketing tools provide valuable insights into how your emails are performing. You can track open rates (how many people opened your email), click-through rates (how many people clicked on a link in your email), and conversions (how many people made a purchase after clicking on your link). This data helps you understand what your customers like, what they don’t, and how you can improve your emails to get even better results.
Building Your Email List: Attract Those Subscribers!
Before you can start sending out awesome emails, you need an audience to send them to! Here’s how to attract those eager planner enthusiasts and get them to sign up for your email list:
- Offer Cool Free Stuff: Everyone loves freebies! Offer a tempting gift in exchange for their email address. This could be a free printable planner page, a set of digital stickers, a helpful guide to goal setting, or access to exclusive content like a mini-course or video tutorial. By providing something valuable for free, you demonstrate your expertise and generosity, making people more likely to trust you and join your email list.
- Run Fun Contests and Giveaways: Inject some excitement into your email list building efforts by hosting contests or giveaways on social media. Announce a prize that your target audience would love to win, such as a planner bundle, a gift card to your shop, or a collaboration with another planner brand. Make subscribing to your email list a requirement for entry. This is a great way to generate buzz, increase engagement with your brand, and attract new subscribers.
- Use Gumroad: Gumroad is a fantastic platform for selling and distributing digital products. It also offers a seamless way to grow your email list. Create a landing page on Gumroad offering a free digital download, such as a set of planner printables or a helpful guide. In exchange for the download, require visitors to provide their email address. Gumroad automatically collects these email addresses and adds them to your list, making the process effortless.
- Give Discount Codes: Offer a discount code as a reward for subscribing to your email list. This can be a powerful incentive for potential customers who are already interested in your products. Promote the discount code on your website, social media channels, and in your Etsy shop announcements. Make sure the discount is enticing enough to encourage sign-ups.
- Spread the Word on Social Media: Don’t be shy about promoting your email list on your social media channels! Regularly remind your followers about the cool things they’ll get if they sign up for your emails, like sneak peeks of new products, behind-the-scenes content, or early access to sales and special offers.
Pro Tip: Make it super easy for people to sign up! Put email signup forms on your website, in your social media bios, and at the end of your blog posts. The easier it is to join, the more subscribers you’ll attract.
Writing Awesome Emails: Keep Them Engaged
Now that you have a growing list of subscribers, it’s time to craft emails that they’ll love to read! Here’s how to write emails that capture attention and keep your audience engaged:
- Catchy Subject Lines: The subject line is the first thing people see, so make it count! Use intriguing and relevant subject lines that make people want to open your email. Here are a few examples:
- “Free Planner Printable!”
- “New Stickers You’ll Love”
- “Plan a Great Year!”
- “Don’t Miss This Planner Sale!”
- “[Subscriber Name], Your Exclusive Discount Inside!”
- Helpful Content: Don’t just try to sell things all the time. Share useful planning tips, organization ideas, inspiring customer stories, or links to interesting blog posts. Give your readers something valuable in every email to keep them coming back for more.
- Make it Look Good: Use attractive images and graphics to make your emails more visually appealing. Show off your planner designs, create mood boards that inspire, or share pictures of how other people are using your planners (with their permission, of course!).
- Tell Them What to Do: Make it clear what you want people to do after reading your email. Include buttons or links to your shop, product pages, or free downloads. Guide your readers towards the action you want them to take.
- Make it Personal: Use the person’s name in the email to add a personal touch. You can also segment your list to send different emails to different groups of people. For example, you might send a welcome email to new subscribers and a different email to people who have bought from you before.
Pro Tip: Be yourself! Use a friendly and consistent tone in your emails. Let your personality shine through, whether you’re fun and quirky or more professional and helpful.
Sending Emails Regularly: Stay Top-of-Mind
Consistency is key in email marketing. Think of it like watering your plants – you need to do it regularly to keep them healthy and growing. But don’t overdo it! No one wants to be bombarded with emails every day.
- Find Your Rhythm: Experiment to find a sending frequency that works for your audience. Maybe you send one email a week, one every other week, or one a month. See what feels right and stick to a consistent schedule.
- Mix It Up: Don’t send the same kind of email every time. Keep things interesting by sending a variety of content. Here are some ideas:
- New Product Announcements: Share your latest and greatest planner designs.
- Special Offers and Promotions: Give your subscribers exclusive discounts or early access to sales.
- Helpful Planning Tips and Ideas: Help your audience use their planners effectively.
- Customer Spotlights: Show how other people are using your products in creative ways.
- Blog Post Promotions: Share links to your latest blog posts.
- Special Occasions: Send special emails for holidays or other events. You could offer a discount or a free printable with a holiday theme.
Pro Tip: Use an email marketing tool that lets you schedule emails ahead of time. This saves you time and helps you send emails consistently.
Don't Forget Etsy!
If you sell your planners on Etsy, they already do some of the email marketing work for you.
- Automatic Emails: Etsy automatically sends emails to people who have bought from you before. This helps you stay in touch with them and encourages repeat business.
- Build Your Own List (It’s Still Important!): Even though Etsy sends some emails, it’s still a good idea to have your own email list. This gives you more control and lets you connect with customers outside of Etsy. You can tell people about your email list on your Etsy shop page, in your product descriptions, and on social media.
Analyzing and Improving: Make Your Emails Even Better
To make sure your email marketing is working well, keep an eye on how people respond to your emails.
- Track Your Results: Most email marketing tools show you how many people open your emails and click your links. This tells you what’s working and what’s not.
- Try Different Things: Experiment with different subject lines, email content, and sending times to see what your customers like best.
Group Your Subscribers: Divide your email list into groups based on what they like or how they’ve interacted with your shop before. This lets you send more personalized emails.
Email Marketing Tools to Get You Started
Here are a few popular email marketing tools to explore:
- Mailchimp: Easy to use, even for beginners. They have a free plan for small email lists.
- ConvertKit: Has more advanced features for growing businesses.
- Flodesk: Known for having beautiful email templates that are easy to use.
- MailerLite: Affordable with a good free plan and lots of features.
Email marketing is a fantastic way to connect with your customers and grow your planner business. By following these tips and using the right tools, you can build strong relationships with your audience and reach your business goals.
Want more tips and inspiration for building your own custom planner or launching a personalized planner brand? Check out our blog for a helpful beginner’s guide: “What You Need to Start a Planner Shop” and Courses to help you get started. Planify Pro has more DIY tips to help you personalize your planner, whether you’re designing a gift, building a product line, or just creating a layout that works for you.
Check out these easy tutorials and bring your custom planner ideas to life Click Here! Don’t forget to visit our Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest for more inspiration—and to explore our wide selection of premade planner templates, design stickers, and fonts for making your own personalized planner. Let Planify Pro help you on your journey to planner success!
