24 Tips To Set Up An Effective Email Marketing Campaign - Part 2

This article is the continuation of 24 Tips to Set Up an Effective Email Marketing Campaign. 14 tips were covered in the first article. Here are the remaining 10.

24 Tips To Set Up An Effective Email Marketing Campaign cont’d…

15. Use Compelling Heading, and Subheadings
    
    Break up large body of text with compelling subheadings to hold the interest of your readers.
    
    And also most people will first give a cursory glance over your email before they read the full text. Subheadings provide a quick summary of your email text. If you want people to read your full email text, make your heading and subheadings compelling.
    
    
16. Use words like ‘free’, ‘discounts’, ‘bonus’, ‘specials’ sparingly
    
    Excessive use of these words in the email text you send out may be construed as spamming. Don’t be surprised if your email copy gets trashed. Avoid these signs: $#%@&.
    
    Perform a quick test with Yahoo free email before you send out your email copy. Sign up for a Yahoo free email if you don't have one. Send your email copy to the same account. Yahoo and other similar free email services have Spam filters by default. Watch where your email copy lands. Inbox or bulk mail folder. If it lands in the bulk folder, it is likely that your email copy will be treated like junk mail or spamming.
    
    
17. Use in text links
    
    They are still proven to be more effective than banner ads.
    
    
18. Make sure all in text links are working
    
    Nothing is more annoying than links that are not working. If you want a link to go straight to your website, then this is how it should be written in your email program: http://www.mysite.com. Most email programs will recognize this as a link. Your email link should be written this way: mailto:emailaddress@yoursite.com
    
    
19. Create Your Signature File
    
    What is a signature file? It is a short paragraph that automatically appends to the end of your email messages. It gives people your name, job title, company’s name, email address, website URL. You may include fax and telephone numbers.
    
    You may also promote your website, products or services, and free gifts you may have to offer. But keep your promotion to a minimum. Don’t overdo it especially if you are using the same signature file for article submissions. As a rule of thumb 3 to 6 lines is a good length for a signature file.
    
    This is how my signature file looks:
    Gerrick W – mailto:gw@1stinternetmarketingsolution.com
    We provide information and software tools you need to
    effectively market your online business.
    Visit: http://www.1stinternetmarketingsolution.com
    
    Include your signature file in all the email messages you send, even to friends and family. You are spreading word about your business.
    
    
20. Formatting your text
    
    For text format you need to limit your characters to 65 characters per line. While typing your text you need to hit hard the enter key to break the lines at the correct character count of 65. Otherwise your text will appear all over the shop in your subscribers’ email programs, making it difficult to read. If possible test with different email programs.
    
    For Microsoft Outlook Express you can automatically set the number of characters per line.
    
    - On the Tools menu, click Options.
    - On the Send tab, in the Mail Sending Format section, select Plain Text, and then click the Plain Text Settings button.
    - Set Automatically Wrap at 65 characters, when sending.
    
    You could send out your text through Microsoft Outlook Express. If not you could send the text to yourself. The lines will be formatted to break at 65 characters. Store a copy of the formatted text in another folder. It is now ready for copy and paste.
    
    
21. Tracking
    
    This is critical. It gives you a clear idea where your business is coming from and which email marketing campaign is working.
    
    
22. Generate Feedback
    
    This area is often overlooked. Provide a means for subscribers to give feedback on how you can improve your product or service, or even ask them why they don’t buy from you. Good feedback will go a long way to build your business.
    
    
23. Option to unsubscribe
    
    It is considered spamming, if you do not have a link in your email for people to unsubscribe. Normally, your auto-responder provider will do this for you. Most services will have this link at the end of your email text. This link automatically removes subscribers from your database.
    
    
24. Respect the privacy of your subscribers
    
    You must make it clear to your subscribers that you respect their privacy, and would in no way give, sell or rent out their email address.
    
    Keep your word.
    
    Period.
    

Everyday, people are bombarded by increasing choices. To stay in competition, Internet marketers use cost effective email marketing to keep in touch with customers, and to update them of latest offers and new products. An effective email marketing campaign will see returning visitors to your website and increase sales.

24 Tips to Set Up an Effective Email Marketing Campaign - Part 2 © 2005 http://www.1stinternetmarketingsolution.com