With the explosion of social media marketing in recent years, the traditional email format may appear outdated. But nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, email marketing is more powerful than ever before. Even with the pervasiveness of new technology, email still remains a persuasive digital marketing channel for building awareness, boosting acquisition, and increasing conversion.

Ignoring email as part of your marketing strategy means you are missing out on potential business opportunities. Whether you're talking about email marketing or social media marketing, there are some things that you need to consider.

1. Building your list. As I mentioned in a previous article, email marketing is not an all-powerful tool that enables you to reach out and touch millions with the touch of a button. That said, it is a powerful marketing tool that enables you to reach out and touch a relatively small number. So, you'll want to think of how you can build your email list, and then actually deliver a message to that list.

2. Using tools. You can use software to build your email list. Many software packages come with email promotion capabilities. However, if you are not savvy with computers, this may not be your best option. You'll want to learn how to use computers to your advantage. You'll start by purchasing an email list builder software package.

3. Engaging content. Content is king in marketing. There is no doubt. If you can create compelling content, it can make or break your campaign. And you definitely want to make your content compelling, it will build your subscribers' interest, and help you build a responsive list.

4. How often you send. In general, the more frequently you send, the more sales you will make. But, if you don't get complaints about your email messages, you'll receive complaints, and this can hurt your bottom line. (Again, this is a general guideline, and it is always good to review your emails to determine the frequency for your particular campaign)

Again, if you have already built a list, you're probably familiar with these ideas already.

In my experience, it is relatively simple to build an email list. However, it requires a considerable amount of work. I believe it is important to stress this point again:

It is crucial to build an email list. If you don't, you will miss out on the exponential growth that email has delivered to the internet in recent years.

Once you are able to build a responsive email list, you can start to build your business. With a list, you have access to an entirely different set of customers than you would without a list.

For example, you can send a series of emails that are part of a sales campaign to a list of prospects. And, they will know exactly what you are going to send them. You will be able to send content emails and newsletters, and still be able to send sales pitches to those on your email list.

You will, in essence, be able to send them any product or service you want them. That is the power of email marketing.

But, before you start sending out emails, you need to identify who on your list is going to be interested in the product or service you are going to send them.

If you have an affiliate program, you will want to do everything you can to build a list of prospects that are interested in the products that you sell. The email list is the key to this.