Email marketing delivers maximum impact for small business and business professionals with limited budgets. According to the Direct Marketing Association, email marketing returned $43.26 for every dollar spent in 2009; a return on investment that far outperforms ROI for all other internet marketing media.

89% of U.S. adult users share email content with their friends, family, and associates, and 75% of U.S. adult internet users forward emails up to six other recipients. For small businesses that depend on word-of-mouth, best practices permission-based email marketing is “word-of-mouth on steroids.”

For small businesses with a low cost strategy, there is no more effective media for staying top of mind with customers and growing your business than email. Email marketing is about connecting with customers and new prospects to nurture and build relationships.

Not everyone buys right away – on average, it takes about seven touches for a sale to occur. By consistently communicating relevant, valuable, and interesting content, your email marketing and promotions are far more effective because you have established a trusted relationship.

It costs 6 to 7 times more to acquire new customers than to retain the ones you already have. And, if you are a small business or business professional, consider this – email marketing can be targeted in ways direct mail can’t, it’s inexpensive, and you can track and measure results in real time.

Returning customers spend more – up to 67% more – and they tell friends. After 10 purchases, a returning customer has referred up to seven other people. Email marketing helps you keep customers and prospects coming back – it’s all about customer retention which can lead to a 25% to 95% increase in profits.