2016 Email Marketing Study

Insights from 300 physical security professionals

key findings from the report

Suppliers and manufacturers are using email marketing to nurture leads and keep customers updated on new releases. The findings address some of the biggest challenges faced by brands in physical security today. Here’s a quick overview of the findings from our research:

ONE | Security buyers are inundated by emails from brands almost on a daily basis and many are tuning out this messaging.

TWO | Manufacturers face a threat of disruption from newer, more agile companies that are technologically advanced.

THREE | Consumers are less interested in being sold to and instead want to be educated on the physical security space.

FOUR | Buying cycles are lengthening as security professionals are looking for fit rather than loyalty.

FIVE | An abundance of traditional and digital marketing channels makes it more difficult for brands to be heard.

email consumption habits

Where do you read emails most frequently?

Historically, physical security professionals tend to be careful technology adopters. However, the industry is slowly moving towards reading and engaging with emails on mobile devices. In this study, 19 percent of security buyers reported reading marketing emails on a mobile device.

How often do you receive emails from a security supplier/manufacturer?

The results showed that 64 percent of respondents said they receive marketing emails daily, and an overwhelming majority of respondents open them (86 percent).

44percent

will click-through if relevant industry news is provided in the email

The study found that just over a third of respondents (37 percent) are looking for product information or special pricing. However, providing relevant industry news turned out to actually be the top reason for links to be clicked through at 44 percent.

the email disconnect

What’s the most likely reason you’d unsubscribe from an email marketing list?

55of respondents unsubscribe because they don’t see relevance to their business.

The LRG Marketing Communications Email Marketing Study reveals that security professionals are too inundated with emails. 34 percent said they will often unsubscribe from an email list if it doesn’t feel relevant for their business. However, the most alarming cause for unsubscribes is that they don’t see the relevance of the email to their company, with 55 percent of respondents describing that as the top reason for unsubscribing from email lists.

Email marketing consumption habits by company type

Dealers and resellers have a vested interest in reading marketing emails and when surveyed, opened them more than any other group at 91 percent. However, despite being the most interested in emails from the security industry, they expressed the most disappointment with the content. A whopping 70 percent of respondents said they unsubscribe from email lists when the content is considered not relevant for their business.

 

70percentof respondents said they unsubscribe from email lists when the content is considered not relevant for their business

Reasons for email unsubscribers by company type

Considering dealers and resellers are ideal advocates for brands in the physical security space, marketers are wasting an opportunity to connect with a captive audience. Remember, when someone unsubscribes, it’s the equivalent of tuning a brand out. As security professionals continue to be inundated with emails and feel less compelled to stay loyal, staying highly relevant in marketing communications is crucial to retaining customers and prospects.

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additional resources

our methodology

The LRG Marketing Communications 2016 Email Marketing Study surveyed more than 300 physical security professionals across the U.S. on their email consumption habits and preferences for communication. The survey analyzed how security pros read emails from suppliers and manufacturers, in addition to their preferences for how email marketing within the industry can improve in the future. To see the breakdown of demographics surveyed, please view the chart at the bottom of this section.

LRG works with a variety of physical security companies, and similar research is available for clients.

The physical security industry is changing its marketing at a fast pace. Read our case studies and view our client list to see how we can help you stand out.

To learn more about how LRG Marketing Communication’s unique approach to integrated marketing achieves unprecedented results, visit us at lrgmarketing.com or view our page on physical security.

breakdown of demographics

additional reading

The Integrated Marketing Blueprint

Download Your Full-Year Planning Tool

How the security industry can benefit from content marketing

Learn how inbound marketing helps your brand

2016 Email Marketing Study

Learn what motivates someone to open, read and respond to your email.