SMBs should also consider using an email marketing tool. I have noticed that many people get the point about the branded email, but still use a CC or BCC to blast out their periodic marketing communications. This is a huge mistake. It not only annoys customers, but it increases the chances that the email will go ignored as either spam or junk. Additionally, it is essential for a business to maintain a list of customers who are opted in or opted out of their marketing communications. This is not a task that should be maintained by hand, and there are lots of appropriate systems out there to manage this.

There are numerous low cost providers of this service, or you can find some free solutions out there.

-John