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