Email Marketing Agency: A Comprehensive Guide

You might be thinking that it’s time you outsourced to an email marketing agency. And you might be right.

It’s 2023 and the world of email marketing is still completely mad.

It’s the wild west of digital advertising and awash with all manner of characters, from snake oil salesmen to grizzled retail veterans, all searching for that elusive vein of gold that will set them up for life.

And like any gold rush, there are bound to be casualties along the way.

Through the years I’ve heard first-hand accounts from business owners who got “robbed” by agencies who promised the world, only to deliver nothing but a handful of bounced emails and a load of unsubscribed.

One client, a Yoga teacher with a round head that resembled a shaved coconut told me:

My first stop was at a small agency in downtown LA, run by a couple of young guns who called themselves the “Email Mavericks”.

They promised to take me on a wild ride through the world of email marketing, and for a while, it seemed like they might just deliver.

They showed me how to craft subject lines that would stop subscribers in their tracks, and how to use data and analytics to target the right people with the right message at the right time.

They even showed me how to use automation to scale my campaigns and reach thousands of people with just a few clicks.

But as the weeks went by, I began to see the cracks in their façade.

The woman paused for a moment to take a sip of herbal tea.

Her hands trembled as the China cup pressed against her quivering lip.

Their reports were filled with errors and inconsistencies, and their “cutting-edge” tactics seemed to be nothing more than repackaged versions of the things I’d done myself a million times before.

And when I tried to reach out to them for support, they were nowhere to be found.

Her story wasn’t all that unusual.

Most of my clients had skin in the game for many years and had burned or been burned by one email marketing agency after another.

However, the Yoga instructor’s story didn’t end there. She recounted how she had moved on, and that her next stop was at a larger agency in San Francisco, run by a group of seasoned pros who called themselves the “Email Wizards“.

They had a slick office and a roster of big-name clients, and they promised to show her the secrets of email marketing success.

But as she dug deeper, she realized that their veneer of success was just that – a veneer.

Their tactics were spammy, their reports were superficial and unhelpful, and their client list was full of shell companies and pop-up shops that had long disappeared.

But still, business owners are drawn to the excitement and the potential rewards of email automation, so strap on their six-shooter, organise a Zoom call with the likes of me and ride into the unknown.

But as with any gold rush, there are also those who seek to take advantage of the situation.

The internet is filled with all manner of email marketing scams, from dodgy software that promises to deliver millions of email subscribers overnight, to sleazy agencies that charge exorbitant fees for subpar results.

And like any con artist, these scammers are masters of deception, using flashy websites and high-pressure sales tactics to lure in unsuspecting victims.

So how does one navigate this wild west of email marketing agencies?

The answer, my friends, is simple: do your research.

Read reviews, check references, and most importantly, trust your gut.

If an agency or a piece of software seems too good to be true, then it probably is.

Why email marketing ain’t dead yet.

It’s 2023, and email marketing is alive and kicking, baby.

Despite all the doom and gloom predictions, despite all the so-called experts declaring it will someday be a thing of the past, email marketing is still one of the most effective ways to reach and engage your target audience.

The effectiveness of email marketing cannot be overemphasized.

Email marketing has always been a crucial aspect of digital marketing and there’s no reason to think that this will ever change.

With the rise of the internet, email marketing has become a reliable channel to reach a wide range of customers and is an intimate one-to-one medium, unlike any other channel of traffic.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. “But Chris, isn’t everyone on social media these days? Don’t people just ignore their emails?”

People might spend more time on social media, but that doesn’t mean they’re ignoring their emails.

In fact, a study conducted by Adobe has shown that the average employee spends five hours of the working day looking at their email and that email has a significantly higher conversion rate than social media.

And let’s not forget, email is a highly personalized form of communication.

It allows you to build a relationship with your subscribers and deliver targeted, relevant messages straight to their inboxes.

You can’t do that on social media.

And what about your emails going straight to spam, you say?

Well, sure, spam is a problem.

But it’s a problem that’s easily solved with the right tactics and ensuring that the emails don’t have any red flags that might get you blacklisted.

By using opt-in lists, segmenting your audience, and crafting compelling subject lines, you can make sure your emails are being seen and read by the people who matter most.

So don’t believe the naysayers or nincompoops, my friends.

Email marketing isn’t dead, and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon.

In fact, it’s more important than ever.

The odds are that email marketing is one of your most effective channels for connecting with your customers, driving sales, and increasing customer engagement.

However, if you lack experience with copywriting, design and technical knowledge, then the performance of your automated email campaigns (i.e. open rate, click rate and conversion rate for sales) may suffer.

We can’t be excellent at everything (albeit you’re pretty excellent at most things!).

An email marketing agency like GoGoChimp specializes in creating, executing, and managing email marketing campaigns for B2B and B2C businesses.

This enables our clients to hit the metrics they need in order to achieve their wider business goals while lightening the workload so that they can focus on growing their company.

Email Marketing for an Agency.

An agency can benefit significantly from email marketing in several ways.

Firstly, by sending regular emails, an agency can keep clients up-to-date on the latest projects, services, and offers.

This helps to build a strong relationship through regular engagement.

This empowers the agency to build trust with its clients (and let us not forget their potential clients) and to keep its audience informed about the agency’s capabilities or achievements.

Secondly, creating targeted email campaigns can help an agency to reach new customers.

However, the trick isn’t to send cold emails (that admittedly do work), but to have people willingly allow you to email them.

It is for this reason that the leading agencies use lead gen offers, and provide free software etc in exchange for users’ email addresses.

How Much Do Email Marketing Agencies Charge?

The cost of an email marketing agency varies based on the size of the company, the services offered, and the experience of the team.

On average, email marketing agencies charge anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per month with a retainer ranging from a 3-month to 12-month contract.

The cost of an email marketing agency can also vary based on the complexity of the campaigns, the tools used to manage them (this is often covered by the client) and the location of the email agency.

For example, an email marketing agency based in London is far more likely to charge more than an email marketing agency in Glasgow (as we are).

Ecommerce email marketing agency.

An ecommerce email marketing agency is a more specialized field that focuses on creating and executing email marketing campaigns for ecommerce businesses.

As an example, we helped both Enzymedica and Cura Nutrition with their automated email campaigns (that achieved quite spectacular results).

They understand the unique challenges that ecommerce businesses face and how to help the client to reach their target audience and increase sales.

Automation is key for all ecommerce businesses.

And a good agency will focus on getting more sales, increasing average order values, boosting customer lifetime value and reducing shopping cart abandonment.

Ecommerce email marketing agency pricing.

The cost of an ecommerce email marketing agency varies based on the services offered and the experience of the team.

Again, an ecommerce email marketing agency will charge anywhere from $500 to $5,000 per month.

However, the cost can vary based on the size of the ecommerce business and the complexity of the email campaigns.

In some rare circumstances, an email marketing team may take a small retainer in exchange for a share in increased revenue.

For example, if through email marketing they can demonstrate that they have grown your ecommerce revenue by $10,000 per month, then they get a share of that additional revenue on top of a retainer fee.

Klaviyo email marketing Agency.

Klaviyo is a powerful email marketing platform that is widely used by ecommerce businesses.

Klaviyo provides businesses with the tools to create, execute, and manage email marketing campaigns effectively.

Klaviyo also provides businesses with advanced features such as personalization, automation, and analytics, making it a popular choice for Shopify businesses looking to improve their email marketing campaigns.

How to find the best email marketing agency.

As mentioned previously, it’s crucial that you choose the right email marketing agency that fits your needs and goals.

Before choosing an agency, it’s essential to consider the following factors:

1. Experience: Look for an agency with a track record of success in email marketing. The agency should have a proven history of delivering results for its clients
2. Services offered: Ensure the agency offers the services you need, such as email design, copywriting, automation, and analytics
3. Price: Consider the cost of the agency and if their fees fit within your budget. Don’t compromise on quality for price, but also don’t overpay for services you don’t need
4. Communication and collaboration: Choose an agency that is easy to communicate with and willing to work with you to achieve your goals

Once you have chosen an email marketing agency, it’s crucial to work closely with the agency to ensure the success of your email marketing campaigns.

The agency should be able to provide you with regular updates and reports on the performance of your campaigns and should be open to feedback and suggestions from you.

To sum it all up.

In conclusion folks, email marketing is a critical aspect of digital marketing that can help businesses reach their target audience, increase sales, and improve customer engagement.

An email marketing agency can help businesses achieve their email marketing goals, but it’s crucial to choose the right company or freelancer that fits your needs and budget.

Work closely with your chosen email marketing agency to ensure the success of your email marketing campaigns.

It’s also important to keep in mind that email marketing is not a one-time thing.

It’s an ongoing process that requires consistent effort and attention to stay relevant and effective.

The right email marketing agency can help you develop a long-term strategy that keeps your email marketing campaigns fresh, engaging, and relevant to your target audience.

In addition, the right email marketing agency should also be able to provide you with data and insights on your email campaigns.

This information can be used to continuously improve your email marketing strategy and make data-driven decisions to increase the impact of your campaigns.

In the fast-paced world of digital marketing, staying ahead of the curve is crucial.

The right email marketing agency can help you stay ahead of the curve by providing you with the latest tools, technologies, and strategies to make your email marketing campaigns as effective as possible.

Finally, it’s essential to keep in mind the importance of being GDPR and CAN-SPAM compliant.

The right email marketing agency should be able to guide you through the legal requirements of email marketing and help you stay compliant with the latest laws and regulations.

Choosing the right email marketing agency, working closely with the agency, and continuously improving your email marketing strategy are key to the success of your email marketing campaigns.