Email marketing has become one of the most popular and most lucrative low cost marketing methods out there today. This has to do mostly with the lack of paper products and the lack of time consuming envelope stuffing and stamping that goes along with traditional mail marketing ? email marketing achieves the same benefits (in fact more benefits) than this traditional method, without the hassle. How can you develop relationships with clients online through email marketing? Here are three steps to take:

1. Build your List. The most difficult part of email marketing is building a suitable list of email addresses to which you can send your advertisements. There are several ways to do this, and some are more effective than others. You can purchase lists in their entirety from third party vendors, you can spend some time creating your own by setting up informational sites where viewers can request additional information via email (slower, but often more effective), or you can simply have a request for more info placed on your own site.

2. Send your Emails. Make use of your list, and send informative, interesting emails that will draw people to your website.

3. Track your Progress. Use bounce-back emails and unsubscribe lists to determine how well your email marketing is working. Have customers tell you where they found out about your site in follow-up emails. Develop your relationships and maintain them ? repeat customers are a great part of email marketing.

These steps will help you build a relationship with the people on your email list.