Email Marketing: Avoiding the Junk Folder

If you are like me, chances are you do not like any unnecessary mail causing clutter in your email inbox. I even go as far as to unsubscribe from websites that I regularly visit or purchase from in order to prioritize more important emails. As with many people, I am guilty of accusing email marketing of being on its way out; however, upon more research, it turns out there are a few ways to ensure that your business can capitalize on effective email marketing and avoid being rejected by someone like me.

Here are 10 tips for a better email marketing strategy:

1. Build an acquisition strategy
 Find out how your customers commonly connect with your business and improve upon those experiences. This is especially important as mobile technology continues to grow.



2. Optimizing for mobile is extremely important
Speaking of mobile technology, make sure your email marketing strategies work well with mobile platforms. It is possible that your customers will be opening their emails almost entirely on their phones.

3. Your data should always be relevant
Just like your blogs, content is king. Focus on creating messages that your customers want to read. Quality material will always be preferred over click-bait or repetitive tactics.

4. Personalize email whenever possible
People will be more likely to open your email messages or subscribe for more when you know you respect them. Let them know that they are more than just a number to you and personalize your message or promotion to their wants and needs.

5. Email drives accessibility across-channels
Email is great in the respect that it works well across platforms. Mobile phone, tablet, or PC are all channels capable of sending and receiving emails. Therefore, it is important to ensure that your email strategy works cross-platform.

6. Get their permission to use it
I for one, am annoyed whenever I create an account or make an order and trying to avoid an automatic email subscription feels like defusing a bomb. Ensure that your customers are willing to receive your marketing emails, and treat it as the privilege it is.

7. Email drives deals
As it turns out, people prefer email to Facebook when it comes to receiving promotions. This is because customers would rather have the option to inventory the promotional items in a more controllable environment, such as email.
 
8. Sharing isn’t just for social networks
Private communications, such as email, can appeal to a more introverted crowd that don't actively engage in social media to a degree where social media marketing can be effective.

9. Did they abandon before they bought?
Depending on the type of item, sending abandoned cart messages to your customers can help those customers who are on the fence about their next purchase.

10. Automate your post-purchase messages
Send your customers post-purchase messages to improve your relationship with them. This is also helpful to suggest other items for future purchases.

(Source: 10 Tips to a Powerful Email Marketing Strategy)

 Spotlight: RunKeeper

 

RunKeeper is a great application for tracking your running. I've enjoyed using the app myself. Beyond functionality though, RunKeeper does an excellent job with email marketing. Their emails are useful and informative, keeping their users up to date on the latest with the RunKeeper app. Better yet, the emails have a personal and friendly feel, which ensure the users are not annoyed with receiving another automated email.

(Source: 16 Examples of Awesome Email Marketing Campaigns)