The success of your email marketing campaign is often based on a set of complex factors. However, a number of these issues can be proactively managed to ensure an optimized response. When developing your next email campaign, consider the following guidelines.
1. Your list.
Definitely one of the single most important aspects of any email marketing campaign, your list is directly linked to your success. Is your list up to date? Have they subscribed and agreed to be marketed to? Have they shown an interest in products or services similar to your own? Always make sure you are using a house list, basically a list that you have created on your own. Failing that go to a broker with good reviews and reputation.
2. Your subject line.
This is important just to get them to open the damn email. The best way to see which subject line works the best is to break them down into 3 equal groups. Measure the response to each email and use the highest producing one as your control. In follow up emails, always try to beat the response rate of your control email.
3. Sender information.
What information appears on the sender line of your email? Will whoever you are sending it to recognize it? Do they even want to hear from you? Countless emails are deleted because people see a name that looks strange or they don't recognize.
4. Track your results.
This is key to long term learning people!! If you track your results you will learn what works and what does not. You can also see who opens your emails and who does not. There are many good programs out there that do this. Check out Yes Ware.
5. Make sure your unsubscribe method is in place and working.
The CAN-SPAM act of 2003 requires that all email messages contain clear directions on how to opt-out from subsequent mailings. Provide an unsubscribe mechanism that allows those receiving your email to send you and email and indicate their desire to opt-out from receiving further emails from you or your business. If recipients no longer want to hear from you, it's in your best interest to remove them from your list.
6. Your images are correctly referenced and you've used alt tags in each image.
Images need to be referenced properly, also you can put backlinks to your site in them. People often bung any old image in an email but visuals really do help sell a product. SO please, take more time guys.
7. Test, Test, and Test again!!
No matter what your involvement with email marketing happens to be, it is essential that you follow the guidelines above for successful results. In addition, the key is to test, test, test! After each email campaign, measure your opens, click-through, and purchases. Document the specific date, time, list, subject line, and content used to produce your results. Refer back to your documentation prior to your next campaign.
Email doesn't have to be a complex form of marketing. There are many best practices you can follow and some simple rules that ensure effectively delivery, open and conversion. By following the simple rules presented in this article, you'll not only deliver and effective email campaign, you'll discover a consistent method for generation revenue for your business.
1. Your list.
Definitely one of the single most important aspects of any email marketing campaign, your list is directly linked to your success. Is your list up to date? Have they subscribed and agreed to be marketed to? Have they shown an interest in products or services similar to your own? Always make sure you are using a house list, basically a list that you have created on your own. Failing that go to a broker with good reviews and reputation.
2. Your subject line.
This is important just to get them to open the damn email. The best way to see which subject line works the best is to break them down into 3 equal groups. Measure the response to each email and use the highest producing one as your control. In follow up emails, always try to beat the response rate of your control email.
3. Sender information.
What information appears on the sender line of your email? Will whoever you are sending it to recognize it? Do they even want to hear from you? Countless emails are deleted because people see a name that looks strange or they don't recognize.
4. Track your results.
This is key to long term learning people!! If you track your results you will learn what works and what does not. You can also see who opens your emails and who does not. There are many good programs out there that do this. Check out Yes Ware.
5. Make sure your unsubscribe method is in place and working.
The CAN-SPAM act of 2003 requires that all email messages contain clear directions on how to opt-out from subsequent mailings. Provide an unsubscribe mechanism that allows those receiving your email to send you and email and indicate their desire to opt-out from receiving further emails from you or your business. If recipients no longer want to hear from you, it's in your best interest to remove them from your list.
6. Your images are correctly referenced and you've used alt tags in each image.
Images need to be referenced properly, also you can put backlinks to your site in them. People often bung any old image in an email but visuals really do help sell a product. SO please, take more time guys.
7. Test, Test, and Test again!!
No matter what your involvement with email marketing happens to be, it is essential that you follow the guidelines above for successful results. In addition, the key is to test, test, test! After each email campaign, measure your opens, click-through, and purchases. Document the specific date, time, list, subject line, and content used to produce your results. Refer back to your documentation prior to your next campaign.
Email doesn't have to be a complex form of marketing. There are many best practices you can follow and some simple rules that ensure effectively delivery, open and conversion. By following the simple rules presented in this article, you'll not only deliver and effective email campaign, you'll discover a consistent method for generation revenue for your business.