A few months ago, I wrote a guide entitled: 101 Writing Tips for Successful Email Marketing. In fact, many COPY TIPS subscribers have a copy. Since that time, I have worked on dozens of successful projects and have discovered some additional tips for boosting response.
1. Ask a question in the Subject line. This almost always gets the email opened. I suspect this is because questions are so much a part of everyday email between friends and colleagues. It's a natural way to begin a conversation. Just be sure your question is honest and straightforward - not cryptic, hyped, or suspicious.
2. Write a letter, not an ad. With the growing use of graphics in email, a lot of marketers are experimenting with formats that look more like an ad than a personal message. The fact is, an "email ad" is more likely to be deleted on sight than one that appears to be a personal message ? even if that message is obviously promotional.
3. Don't be afraid to go long. In the early days of email marketing, short copy was the rule. But this is changing. For some offers at least, longer copy that tells a more complete story is doing better. This is especially true when a transaction is involved, such as a subscription or sign up.
4. Beginning, middle, and end. Most click-thru responses will come from the hyperlink at the top, bottom, and middle of your email message ? in that order. A lot of marketers forget the middle hyperlink. Don't. Your response rates will suffer.
5. Show a picture. For graphics-enhanced email, consider including a picture of your product. This will tend to lift response. Of course, if your product is intangible, you'll have to think of an interesting way to present it as an image. But, trust me, it's worth the effort.
6. Link the images. If your email contains pictures and other graphics, be sure to hyperlink them. You'll be surprised how many prospects will click on these to respond.
7. Drop-text images. A drop-text is a text message that appears when your curser hovers over a graphic. This is common on web pages. In email, this technique works like a picture caption or sidebar that displays as your prospect interacts. Very powerful.
8. Bribes work well. An offer of free shipping, a discount, an invitation, or a free gift is extremely effective in email marketing. For my money (and my clients') information premiums - white papers, guides, checklists, downloads - work best.
9. Add a toll free number. Most prospects will click thru and respond to your offer online. But some prefer to call and speak with someone live. A toll free number will often boost response.
About The Author
An award-winning copywriter, Steve Slaunwhite helps companies achieve their direct mail and email marketing objectives. He can be reached at www.steveslaunwhite.com
apartment cleaning near Highland Park ..Joyce Carol Oates. Langston Hughes. Anne Sexton. F. Scott Fitzgerald.... Read More
People want information, they want it quick, frequently in short... Read More
My Dad has this old joke that goes, "What's the... Read More
The tiniest things can be so useful when you come... Read More
To capitalize on ways to make extra income you can... Read More
Open any book on 'how to write,' and somewhere you... Read More
If your articles aren't getting published very often, or you... Read More
9 out of 10 professionals and small business owners have... Read More
For several years before I left teaching to write full... Read More
Writing can be more difficult that just compiling your thoughts... Read More
The greatest gift you have to give to yourself and... Read More
The only way to become a writer is to write.... Read More
I call it cheap therapy. That gushing, near-religious, poured-from-the-body stress... Read More
1. Use Logic: Check for External PressuresAre you under physical... Read More
Structure in the form of frameworks, work processes and goals... Read More
Are you ready to abandon your short stories? Before you... Read More
Want to write your book? But, need a blueprint on... Read More
Think you can't write a book that will sell? You... Read More
Peter Abrahams is the author of thirteen novels, including "The... Read More
Writing for the web is very different from writing for... Read More
ESSAY 3Writing an autobiography involves a matching up of a... Read More
Summer's here and the time is write for dancing in... Read More
Part 1 of this article discussed the experience you need... Read More
The big question. Do you submit directly to the publishers,... Read More
I???ve spoken to hundreds of editors, employers, and project managers... Read More
cleaning lady near Arlington Heights ..The hardest part of nonfiction writing is finding a subject... Read More
There is no doubt that a staff writer enjoys advantages... Read More
Recently, I was hunting for a book that would simply... Read More
There is one key difference between reports and most other... Read More
Did you know that your back cover information is, after... Read More
10 - You will always have a job. As long... Read More
Real Estate has "Location, location, location," and writing has "Clips,... Read More
A UK based freelance proofreader should be able to provide... Read More
Bookcoaching clients come to me at different stages of writing... Read More
This is a tough question for every freelance writer. For... Read More
The journey to having my first novel for children published... Read More
1) Can you summarize the story in about a sentence... Read More
Sometime one must coax the words out.Each day is a... Read More
11 Secrets from an Experienced InterviewerOne of the unwritten rules... Read More
If you are an aspiring writer, or you simply want... Read More
Despite the widespread use of e-mail in commerce today, traditional... Read More
All your publishing options are as follows:--Conventional publishing--Vanity or subsidy... Read More
This article contains a short guide on how to edit... Read More
As a professional copywriter, not only do I do a... Read More
What's the best way to plot?Quick answer: the best way... Read More
Questions and answers on writing life experiences for ourselves and... Read More
Have you ever wondered why certain writers are able to... Read More
It's important to have a space set aside in your... Read More
Having problems writing? I don't know why. San Francisco Chronicle... Read More
I'm a writing fool! 2 book proposals, 1 user's guide,... Read More
Writing |