As a small hospitality business owner, you know that getting your message in front of your target audience can be a challenge. While social media and other digital marketing channels can be effective, they can also be crowded and noisy. This is where email marketing comes in.

Email marketing allows you to reach your audience directly in their inbox. It’s a powerful tool for building relationships, promoting your business, and driving revenue. In fact, email marketing has an average ROI of 4200%, meaning that for every dollar you spend on email marketing, you can expect an average return of $42. (The ROI of email marketing can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the quality of your email list, the content of your emails, and the frequency of your emails.)

In this post, we’ll explore the value of building and nurturing your email list for small hospitality businesses. We’ll explain why email marketing should be a key part of your marketing strategy, and we’ll offer actionable tips and examples for building and nurturing your email list. Whether you run an independent restaurant, a boutique hotel, a unique lodging venue, a vineyard, a brewery, a winery, or a distillery, this post is for you. Let’s dive in!

Why building an email list is important for hospitality businesses

Email marketing has several advantages for hospitality businesses, including:

1. Direct access to your audience: With email marketing, you can reach your target audience directly in their inbox. Unlike social media or other digital channels, you don’t have to compete with other businesses for attention.
2. High ROI: As mentioned earlier, email marketing has an ROI of 4200%. This means that it’s a cost-effective way to promote your business and drive revenue.
3. Personalization: With email marketing, you can personalize your messages based on your subscribers’ preferences and behaviors. This can help you build stronger relationships with your audience and increase their loyalty to your brand.
4. Measurable results: Email marketing allows you to track and measure your results. You can see how many people opened your emails, clicked on your links, and made a purchase as a result of your emails.
5. Given these advantages, it’s clear that email marketing should be a key part of your marketing strategy. However, to take advantage of these benefits, you need to have an email list. Here’s why building an email list is so important:
6. Permission-based marketing: When someone gives you their email address, they’re giving you permission to market to them. This means that they’re more likely to be interested in what you have to say and more likely to engage with your messages.
7. Long-term relationship building: An email list allows you to build long-term relationships with your audience. By sending regular emails that provide value and build trust, you can keep your subscribers engaged and interested in your business.
8. Control over your audience: Unlike social media or other digital channels, you own your email list. This means that you have control over how and when you communicate with your audience. You’re not at the mercy of algorithms or changes to the platform’s policies.

On the other hand, not having an email list can be risky for your business. If you rely too heavily on social media or other channels, you’re vulnerable to changes in those platforms’ algorithms or policies. If those platforms decide to reduce your reach or shut down your account, you could lose access to your audience altogether. Building an email list provides a more stable and reliable way to communicate with your audience.

How to build an email list for hospitality businesses

Building an email list may seem daunting, but it’s actually fairly straightforward. Here are some actionable tips for building an email list for your hospitality business:

1. Start with your existing customers: Your existing customers are a great place to start when building an email list. Ask for their email addresses when they make a purchase or sign up for a loyalty program.
2. Use a sign-up form on your website: A sign-up form on your website is an easy way to collect email addresses from potential customers. Make sure your form is prominent and easy to use.
3. Offer incentives: Offer your website visitors an incentive to sign up for your email list, such as a discount on their next purchase or a free guide related to your business.
4. Attend events: If you attend events related to your business, bring a sign-up sheet and encourage attendees to sign up for your email list.
5. Use social media: Use your social media channels to promote your email list and encourage people to sign up.

It’s important to emphasize that you should always get consent before adding someone to your email list. This means that you should never buy email lists or add people without their permission. Not only is this illegal in some countries, but it can also harm your reputation and lead to low engagement rates.

In addition to getting consent, it’s also important to provide value to your subscribers. Your email list should not be just another way to promote your business. Instead, provide your subscribers with useful information, tips, and exclusive offers that they can’t find anywhere else.

Lead magnets:

One effective way to provide value and encourage people to sign up for your email list is to offer a lead magnet. A lead magnet is a free resource that you offer in exchange for someone’s email address. Here are some lead magnet ideas that work well for hospitality businesses:

1. Recipe book: If you’re a restaurant or food-related business, offer a free recipe book to your email subscribers.
2. Travel guide: If you’re a hotel or lodging business, offer a free travel guide to your email subscribers that highlights the best things to see and do in your area.
3. Wine-tasting guide: If you’re a winery, offer a free wine-tasting guide that provides tips and recommendations to your email subscribers.

Remember, the key to building an email list is to provide value and get consent. With these tips and lead magnet ideas, you’ll be on your way to building a strong and engaged email list for your hospitality business.

How to nurture an email list for hospitality businesses

Once you’ve built your email list, it’s important to keep your subscribers engaged and interested. Here’s why: engaged subscribers are more likely to open your emails, click through to your website, and make purchases. In contrast, unengaged subscribers can harm your email deliverability and lead to low engagement rates.

Here are some actionable tips for nurturing an email list for your hospitality business:

1. Segment your list: Segmenting your list means grouping your subscribers based on their interests or behavior. By segmenting your list, you can send targeted and relevant messages to your subscribers, which can lead to higher engagement rates.
2. Personalize your emails: Personalizing your emails means addressing your subscribers by name and using data to personalize the content of your email. For example, if a subscriber has previously purchased a wine tour at your vineyard, you can send them an email about your new wine tasting tour offerings.
3. Send valuable content: Send your subscribers content that they will find valuable, such as tips, news, and exclusive offers. Avoid sending too many promotional messages or you may risk losing subscribers.
4. Use eye-catching design: Use eye-catching design in your emails to grab your subscribers’ attention and make your messages more memorable. Consider using high-quality images, videos, and graphics to make your emails stand out.

Examples:

Here are some examples of effective email marketing campaigns for hospitality businesses:

1. Restaurant newsletter: A restaurant can send a monthly newsletter to their subscribers that includes recipes, news, and exclusive offers.
2. Hotel loyalty program: A hotel can send targeted emails to their loyalty program members that offer exclusive discounts and benefits.
3. Winery event invitation: A winery can send an email invitation to their subscribers for an upcoming wine tasting event, complete with a special offer for subscribers who attend.

By following these tips and examples, you can build a strong and engaged email list for your hospitality business, leading to increased customer loyalty and revenue.

Tools for managing and growing an email list

To effectively manage and grow your email list, you need the right tools and platforms. Here are some popular email marketing tools and platforms to consider:

1. Mailchimp: Mailchimp is a popular email marketing platform that offers a variety of features, including audience segmentation, email automation, and A/B testing. Mailchimp’s free plan is a great option for small businesses with fewer than 2,000 subscribers.
2. Constant Contact: Constant Contact is another email marketing platform that offers features such as customizable email templates, social media integration, and list management tools. Constant Contact offers a 60-day free trial and has plans starting at just $20 per month.
3. ConvertKit: ConvertKit is an email marketing platform designed specifically for creators and bloggers. ConvertKit’s features include automation workflows, customizable landing pages, and subscriber tagging. ConvertKit offers a free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers, with plans starting at $29 per month.
4. HubSpot: HubSpot is an all-in-one marketing platform that includes email marketing, CRM, and marketing automation tools. HubSpot’s features include email templates, list segmentation, and analytics. HubSpot offers a free plan with limited features, with plans starting at $50 per month.

Important tips:

When selecting an email marketing tool for your hospitality business, consider these tips:

1. Your budget: Consider how much you can afford to spend on an email marketing platform. While some platforms are free or offer a free trial, others can be expensive.
2. Features: Consider the features you need for your hospitality business. For example, if you run a hotel, you may need a platform that offers list segmentation and automation features.
3. Ease of use: Consider how user-friendly the platform is. If you’re new to email marketing, you may want to choose a platform with a simple and intuitive interface.

By selecting the right email marketing tool for your hospitality business, you can effectively manage and grow your email list, leading to increased customer engagement and revenue.

Wrapping things up: Start Building Your Email List Today

In today’s competitive hospitality industry, building and nurturing an email list is crucial to staying in touch with your customers and growing your business. By providing value, offering incentives, and keeping your subscribers engaged, you can build a loyal customer base that will keep coming back to your business.

Remember, email marketing is not just about selling. It’s about building relationships with your customers and providing them with valuable content that keeps them interested in your brand.

If you need help building and nurturing your email list, consider hiring a freelance content writer and social media manager like Over Drinks. With years of experience in the hospitality industry, we can help you create engaging email campaigns that resonate with your audience and drive results.

Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you grow your hospitality business through email marketing.