| Developing and executing a successful e-mail | | | | exceed 40 characters when developing your |
| marketing campaign is becoming more challenging. | | | | subject line.Step #5 - Remind your subscribers |
| The SPAM problem isn't improving and laws are | | | | where and when they opted-inIf you do not |
| tightening their grip on e-mail marketing.So, you | | | | e-mail your subscribers very often, say once |
| need to carefully develop your e-mail marketing | | | | every fortnight, it would be good to remind them |
| campaign with great care.Here are 10 steps you | | | | where and when they opted-in, right at the top |
| can use to develop a successful e-mail marketing | | | | of your e-mail.In e-mail marketing, the popular |
| campaign:Step #1 - Define the purpose of your | | | | axiom, "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" bears much |
| e-mail campaignWhilst this step may seem pretty | | | | truth.Don't expect your subscribers to remember |
| obvious, you will be surprised at how many e-mail | | | | where and when they opted-in to receive |
| marketing campaigns are carried out without a | | | | information from you if you're not in frequent |
| clear purpose or goal.This is especially prevalent | | | | contact with them.If they can't recall when they |
| with online newsletters or e-zines - many don't | | | | opted-in to your list and you fail remind them - |
| provide the reader any valuable or useful | | | | don't be surprised if they scream "SPAM"!Step #6 |
| information.So, start your e-mail campaign right - | | | | - Provide an unsubscribe linkIn e-mail marketing, |
| by first defining a clear purpose or goal.Step #2 - | | | | you should never ever hold anyone hostage.You'd |
| Develop a clear call to actionA call to action is a | | | | rather settle for happy unsubscribers than angry |
| specific set of instruction(s) contained within the | | | | subscribers, right?So, provide your readers with |
| e-mail with the sole purpose of leading the reader | | | | an easy and convenient method to |
| to take a specific action.Here's an example of a | | | | unsubscribe.They'll sleep more soundly at night and |
| call to action: "Click here to download your f~ree | | | | so will you.Step # 7 - Check and test your |
| Special Report"With the introduction of the | | | | e-mailYou've spent a great deal of time crafting |
| CAN-SPAM act and advancement in SPAM filter | | | | your e-mail.So it is a good practice to check |
| technology, it is difficult enough these days to get | | | | through your e-mail to make sure you do not |
| your e-mail pass SPAM filters, yet alone opened | | | | overlook the following: 1) Spell check your e-mail |
| and finally read.It would be a sheer waste of time | | | | 2) SPAM check your e-mail 3) Test all e-mail links |
| for both your reader and yourself if you didn't | | | | 4) Double-check mail merge codes (if any) e.g. |
| create a clear call to action in your e-mail.Step #3 | | | | $firstname$ vs. {FIRSTNAME} (especially if you're |
| - Personalize your e-mail messageUse your full | | | | sending out the same e-mail using different |
| name in the From: field rather than your | | | | autoresponder software)Step #8 - Use fixed-pitch |
| company's name.And use your recipient's name in | | | | font and proper formattingUse a fixed-pitch font |
| the subject line.This will increase the "open rate" | | | | like Courier and perform a hard carriage return at |
| of your e-mail (The "open rate" is the percentage | | | | the end of each line at 60 characters to avoid |
| of e-mails opened against e-mails successfully | | | | formatting problems.Step #9 - Track all e-mail |
| delivered), because recipients will more likely open | | | | linksThis is an often over-looked step. Tracking |
| and read e-mails from people they | | | | your e-mail links will allow you to gain valuable |
| recognize.Personalization will also reduce the | | | | insights and discover what works and what |
| probability of the e-mail being mistaken as | | | | doesn't.Use the tracking information to refine your |
| SPAM.Step #4 - Develop an interesting subject | | | | future e-mail marketing campaigns.Step #10 - |
| lineIt's true.First impressions DO count in e-mail | | | | KISS (Keep It Simple and Short)Lastly, keep your |
| marketing!If you have an important e-mail you | | | | e-mails simple and short.The more e-mail content |
| want your reader to open and read, you need to | | | | you create, the higher the chance of triggering |
| develop an interesting subject line to woo your | | | | the SPAM filters.If possible, use e-mail marketing |
| readers attention.The reason's really simple.If your | | | | to Pre-Sell, not Sell.Follow these 10 steps in your |
| subject line does not appeal to the reader, your | | | | next e-mail marketing campaign and watch your |
| e-mail will not get opened and your e-mail | | | | campaign results skyrocket! |
| campaign will fail miserably.And remember not | | | | |