Why Every Design & Development Business Needs an Email Marketing Strategy

Getting new clients can be a challenge for design and development businesses. Many rely on word-of-mouth or social media, but those methods can be unpredictable. Email marketing, on the other hand, provides a direct and reliable way to stay in touch with potential and past clients.

Unlike social media, where posts can get lost in the algorithm, emails land right in a subscriber’s inbox, making them hard to miss. With the right approach, email marketing keeps a business visible and helps turn one-time clients into repeat customers.

Automating Email Marketing for Better Results

Automation takes a lot of the work out of email marketing, which is especially helpful for design and development businesses that don’t have time to send emails manually. Setting up welcome emails helps new subscribers learn about a business right away, while automated follow-ups can remind potential clients about services they were interested in but never acted on.

For example, a web development company like 10Clouds could set up an automated email series introducing their services, explaining different hosting solutions, and eventually leading subscribers to a paid service. This keeps potential clients engaged without requiring constant manual effort.

Checking email performance is also important. If a freelance designer notices that emails showcasing their portfolio get the most clicks, they might focus on more visual content. On the other hand, if tutorial-based emails perform better, they might send more how-to guides.

When choosing an email marketing tool, both features and cost matter. Having the cheapest email marketing platform is beneficial for all kinds of design and development businesses, as email remains an important marketing tool but doesn’t have to take up too much of the budget. Many affordable options include automation, A/B testing, and analytics, making it easier to reach potential clients without overspending.

Building an Effective Email List

An email list is only valuable if it includes people who are actually interested in what a business offers. Design and development companies like Canva or Adobe InDesign need to focus on attracting the right subscribers instead of just collecting random emails.

One way to do this is by offering something useful in exchange for a signup. A web design agency, for example, could create a free guide called “10 Website Mistakes That Hurt Your Business” and encourage visitors to download it by entering their email.

Another great way to grow an email list is through networking. Attending industry events or joining online design communities can help businesses connect with potential clients. Agencies specializing in eCommerce website development, such as Duck.Design, Gravitate, or UX Studio, might offer a free website audit to business owners in exchange for their email.

It’s also important to send the right emails to the right people. A graphic design firm wouldn’t send the same email to a small business owner looking for branding help as it would to another designer interested in learning new skills.

Designing High-Converting Emails

The way an email looks can make a huge difference in how people respond to it. If it’s cluttered, too long, or not mobile-friendly, most readers will close it without taking action.

A design firm like Digital Silk or Goji Labs should make sure its emails match the same high-quality visuals it delivers to clients. Simple layouts, easy-to-read fonts, and a clear call-to-action help guide readers toward the next step, from booking a consultation to exploring a service.

Since many people check emails on their phones, making sure emails look good on all devices is just as important. A development company promoting a new web hosting service, for example, needs to ensure its emails are just as readable on mobile as they are on a desktop. Using larger buttons, keeping paragraphs short, and spacing out elements properly can make the email easier to navigate.