| Every morning I get a great workout. Of | | | | care of his teeth) |
| course, it is only my index finger that is | | | | |
| receiving the benefits of that workout - | | | | If you did want to use their name, and the |
| deleting spam and unwanted emails from my | | | | customer did opt-in to your newsletter, then |
| inbox. Just like you, each morning I am | | | | use their name sparingly in the body of the |
| deluged with dozens of unsolicited emails.Of | | | | email. But using it their name in the subject |
| course, in my opinion, I think that society | | | | throws up another red flag.3. No punctuation, |
| makes more out of spam than it needs to. It | | | | Excessive capitalization, Symbols, etc.Again, |
| takes all of a minute or so to delete those | | | | if it looks too good to be true, it probably |
| unwanted spam emails. Before the Internet, we | | | | is, and will be deleted. Certainly you are |
| all received "spam" in our mailboxes at home. | | | | excited about your promotion or articles, and |
| But Congress doesn't seem as concerned about | | | | that should shine through in the body copy of |
| that. To me, it's easier to press delete a | | | | the email. The better the offer is, the more |
| few times than it is to clutter my garbage | | | | important it is to make sure you do not go |
| cans and our landfills with junk mail. But | | | | overboard in the subject. Remember that among |
| that's another article for another day.In | | | | the least effective email campaigns are the |
| reality, many people today find unsolicited | | | | ones that state that the recipient is already |
| emails extremely irksome. And because of | | | | a winner. Delete.4. First Things First.I |
| that, your legitimate email marketing is | | | | constantly see email newsletters that mention |
| going to be scrutinized and given only a | | | | an article or promotion in the subject. Yet |
| second or two before it is trashed or opened. | | | | after scanning the entire newsletter, I |
| This article is designed to help you create | | | | either find the article hanging out near the |
| an email, whether a newsletter, promotion, or | | | | bottom, or I can't find it at all.The subject |
| just a marketing message, that has a better | | | | isn't just an attention-getter, it needs to |
| chance of being read, than being dead.We've | | | | flow seamlessly into the newsletter. If your |
| been bombarded with so much Spam, that most | | | | subject mentions a new way to lose weight, |
| of it is easy to spot with just a glance at | | | | that article needs to be front and center |
| the subject. "Impress your wife" = Spam. | | | | when the recipient opens the newsletter. If |
| "Mortgage rates at all time low" = Spam. | | | | it's not there, most recipients won't hunt |
| "Viagra by the truckload" = Spam. Those are | | | | for it. Rather they'll consider it a ploy to |
| the easy ones.But your email communications | | | | get them to open the newsletter - |
| aren't spam. If the email marketing or | | | | Delete.Think about how Old Navy conducts |
| newsletter is done right, it contains | | | | their "Item of the Week" promotion. They |
| targeted, quality content that is useful to | | | | advertise a clothing item at a reduced price. |
| the recipients. The problem is, they won't | | | | So when you walk into the store, the promoted |
| know that your email is not spam until they | | | | clothing item is the first thing you see - |
| open it up and read it. And as ridiculous as | | | | you can't miss it. Make sure that your first |
| it may seem, when it comes to email | | | | priority promotion or article is the first |
| communications, you are usually guilty before | | | | thing your recipient sees.5. Targeted |
| proven innocent. In order for your prospects | | | | SubjectLet your recipients know immediately |
| to read your valuable content, you have one | | | | that the newsletter was meant for their eyes. |
| or two seconds to scream, "Wait!!! Don't | | | | Not by using their name, but by featuring |
| delete me! I have something great to say! I'm | | | | their industry or interest in the subject |
| not Sp....."DELETE.Email spam is defined as | | | | line.As an example, I get several email |
| any email that is not requested. In this | | | | newsletters and articles each day, most of |
| literal sense of the definition, 99% of all | | | | which are related to marketing, design or |
| emails are spam. Think about it. How many | | | | business. If I see a newsletter with the word |
| times do you call your boss just to give her | | | | marketing in the subject, I'm either reading |
| a head's up that you will be sending an | | | | it right then, or saving it to read later. On |
| email. Spammers have taken one of the best | | | | the other side of the coin, if I get a |
| means of marketing ever created and turned it | | | | marketing-type newsletter that mentions |
| into a tool which many are afraid to touch. | | | | nothing about marketing, I may or may not |
| And likewise the spam-fearers have | | | | open it.Remember, you've got only a couple of |
| over-reacted. The result is an email that | | | | seconds to make your case and get your |
| must past several tests before it dodges the | | | | recipient to open the newsletter. Make sure |
| delete key, gets opened and read. The | | | | that your newsletter centers around their |
| following tests will help more of your emails | | | | interests and you've won half the battle. Of |
| get the response they deserve.1. Avoid | | | | course, if you don't know what your |
| Spam-Alert WordsYou know the big ones, like, | | | | prospects' industries or interests are, you |
| er, um, "big ones". And "free", "offer", | | | | might be doomed from the start.6. Who is it |
| "special", "limited time". You see any of | | | | FromAfter the subject, the next thing your |
| these words in the subject, and your spam | | | | recipient will usually look at to determine |
| sensor is alerted and your finger is poised | | | | if they will open it is who sent the email. |
| to delete.Those are the obvious ones. To | | | | The worst choice is to use an email address |
| combat this, I've read a few articles that | | | | that is gibberish or doesn't go directly to a |
| suggest using synonyms and close alternatives | | | | human.The best results will be if your email |
| to these words. Will this work? Yes and no. | | | | is sent from a person at your company, i.e. |
| Yes, you may be able to circumvent the | | | | This way it looks less like a form email and |
| "Spam-blockers" that your recipients may | | | | it also makes your email communications more |
| have. But, even if it those words escape the | | | | personal.7. Email contentThe final tip that |
| spam-blockers, human eyes are even tougher. | | | | gives your email the best odds at being read |
| They'll see the words "No cost" as the same | | | | has to do with the content itself. Always |
| as "free" and immediately throw up a red | | | | give your recipients an option of HTML or |
| flag. Delete.Don't try to beat the system | | | | text and make sure that you send it to them |
| with similar words. You need your customer to | | | | in the format that they request. This may |
| trust that your email communication has | | | | have less to do with the speed of their |
| nothing to do with spam. To do that, your | | | | computer and more to do with their own |
| subject should be void of any words that are | | | | preference.Also include an opt-out option in |
| similar to spam words.2. Avoid Using the | | | | the email and put them both at the top and |
| Recipient's Name in the SubjectFour years | | | | bottom of the email. The recipient needs to |
| ago, the latest trend in email marketing was | | | | know that they are reading this under their |
| to use your recipient's name in the subject | | | | own volition and they can stop receiving the |
| line. Such as, "Don't be the last one to get | | | | email communications if they wish.With these |
| one of these, Warren." Four years ago, Warren | | | | tips, you'll give your email the best chance |
| may have gotten excited about seeing his name | | | | at being read.Steve Reynolds has been helping |
| in print, and he may have assumed that the | | | | small businesses develop a marketing front |
| email must be important if they knew his | | | | that generates leads, build brand recognition |
| name.Not the case today. If he saw his name | | | | and creates business opportunities. My |
| in the subject line today, Warren would see | | | | experience in design, copywriting, and |
| it as common trickery that many Spammers | | | | marketing strategies is a combination that |
| partake in. He quickly presses Delete before | | | | works well for small businesses and start-up |
| going to floss (Warren has always taken great | | | | companies. |