The recent financial turmoil in USA has caused a lot of anxieties in many business sectors; it is said to be one of the worst financial crisis ever since the 1930's great depression. Banks and financial institutions are overwhelmed by panicky customers' enquiries about their investments, savings and insurances. This is the time that frequent communications with customers are necessary as customers need assurance that their investments, savings and insurances remain safe and sound. Besides advertising on newspaper and relying PR campaigns for communication, what other tool is effective for such situation? The answer is Email Marketing, a cost-effective and immediate communication channel to communicate with the customers. Generally, email marketing is thought to be the marketers' tool but it is also an effective tool for PR during crisis management.


The benefit of using Email Marketing can be summarized as follow:



  • Update customers on organization's status to prevent any damage to its public image.

  • Distribute last-minute information to customers as its turnaround time is shorter than other traditional media.

  • Update customers with timely news to minimize any negative impact that may arise.

  • Restore customers' confidence by emailing them a weekly article from a financial expert or adviser.

  • Educate customers with financial tips during economic recession.

  • Measure the response rate to gauge the effectives of PR campaign


Features of Email Marketing



  • Personalization: This feature offers a personal touch by addressing the customers by name which helps them feel that they are not neglected by the organization during the crisis.

  • Scheduling: The scheduling function allows PR personnel to preset the email delivery time in advance so that they will have better control over the schedule

  • Multiple list broadcasting: The PR article can be broadcasted to the media and customers simultaneously, saving PR personnel time and effort for other critical tasks

  • Tracking: Online tracking allows PR personnel to check the response of the delivery. They can take alternative actions for those who have not open the email.

    The above list is not exhaustive, if you are interested to find out more about what email marketing can do for crisis management, you are welcome to email us for more information.