If you are a permission-based email marketer, why do you still get spam complaints?

You will almost certainly get far fewer complaints than if you were not following a permission-based process, but they still happen. What's the deal?

So you send out an email newsletter, and a few folks mark it as spam--what's the big deal? Email is free, right?

While it's true that the average end-user does not pay much (if anything) for his or her email account, it is also irrelevant. Users hate spam because it is an annoying interruption of their daily routine--it has nothing to do with the price.

You have probably heard it dozens of times: "Kansas City is a big city that feels like a small town." It's important to realize that this is true online, as well as down the street. If your neighbors think you are spamming their Inboxes and computers, they probably won't want to buy your products and services.

If you are going to reap the benefits of email marketing, you must first avoid the pitfalls--especially in a tight-knit community like Kansas City.

One of the most valuable things you do is to reinforce your relationships with existing customers.

Customer loyalty means more sales, more profits, and ultimately, as satisfied clients refer you to others, more customers.

Crafting an effective brand that will be recognized, respected and valued by your customers is a serious commitment. You don't want to invest time and money in brand creation unless it's going to work.

How can email marketing help build your brand?