Understanding Email Campaigns

Email campaigns come in various forms, each serving a distinct purpose. Whether it’s a promotional campaign to drive sales, a newsletter to keep subscribers informed, or a re-engagement campaign to win back inactive subscribers, understanding the different types of campaigns is essential for success. Before launching a campaign, it’s important to set clear goals and objectives to measure its effectiveness.

Crafting Engaging Content

The key to a successful email campaign lies in crafting content that resonates with your audience. Personalization is paramount, as subscribers are more likely to engage with content that feels tailored to their interests and needs. Writing compelling subject lines that grab attention and providing valuable, relevant content will increase open and click-through rates, driving conversions and engagement.

Designing Effective Calls to Action (CTAs)

Calls to action (CTAs) are the driving force behind email marketing campaigns, prompting subscribers to take the desired action, whether it’s making a purchase, signing up for a webinar, or downloading a resource. Designing effective CTAs involves using persuasive language, contrasting colors, and placing them strategically within the email to maximize visibility and engagement.

Segmentation and Personalization

Segmenting your email list based on demographics, purchase history, or engagement level allows you to tailor content to specific segments, increasing relevance and engagement. Personalizing email content further enhances the subscriber experience, fostering a deeper connection with your brand and improving overall campaign performance.

Automating Email Marketing Processes

Automation streamlines the email marketing process, allowing you to send targeted messages at the right time without manual intervention. Setting up automated email workflows, such as welcome series, abandoned cart reminders, or birthday emails, helps nurture leads, drive conversions, and improve customer retention.

Measuring and Analyzing Campaign Performance

Tracking key metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of your email campaigns. Analyzing this data allows you to identify areas for improvement, refine your strategies, and make data-driven decisions to optimize campaign performance.

Optimizing Email Deliverability

Ensuring that your emails reach the inbox is essential for the success of your email marketing efforts. Optimizing email deliverability involves following best practices, such as maintaining a clean email list, avoiding spammy content, and implementing authentication protocols like SPF and DKIM.

Integrating Email Marketing with Other Channels

Email marketing is most effective when integrated with other digital marketing channels such as social media, content marketing, and paid advertising. Cross-channel integration allows you to reach your audience at multiple touchpoints, reinforcing your message and maximizing campaign effectiveness.

Ensuring Compliance with Regulations

Compliance with regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the CAN-SPAM Act is essential for maintaining trust and credibility with your subscribers. Familiarize yourself with these regulations and ensure that your email marketing practices are in line with legal requirements to avoid fines and penalties.

Email Marketing Tools and Software

A wide range of email marketing tools and software is available to help streamline your email marketing efforts. From comprehensive platforms that offer advanced automation and personalization features to simple, user-friendly solutions for beginners, choosing the right tool depends on your specific needs and budget.

Case Studies and Examples

Examining real-life examples of successful email marketing campaigns provides valuable insights into effective strategies and tactics. Analyzing case studies allows you to learn from others’ successes and failures, guiding your own email marketing efforts and maximizing ROI.

Future Trends in Email Marketing

As technology evolves and consumer behavior changes, email marketing continues to adapt and innovate. Stay ahead of the curve by keeping an eye on emerging trends such as interactive emails, AI-powered personalization, and mobile optimization, and incorporating them into your strategy.

Tips for Beginners

For those new to email marketing, getting started can seem daunting. Begin by building a quality email list, focusing on segmentation and personalization, and experimenting with different types of content and CTAs. Don’t be afraid to test and iterate until you find what works best for your audience.

Conclusion

Email marketing remains a cornerstone of digital marketing strategy, offering unparalleled reach, engagement, and ROI when executed effectively. By understanding the key principles of email marketing, crafting engaging content, and leveraging automation and personalization, businesses can build stronger relationships with their audience and drive measurable results.

The post Mastering Email Marketing: Strategies for Compelling Campaigns, Personalized Content, & Effective Calls to Action appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Cost-Effectiveness

In an era where marketing budgets are constantly scrutinized, email marketing stands out for its cost-effectiveness. Compared to traditional marketing channels like print or television, email marketing incurs significantly lower costs, making it accessible even for businesses with modest budgets. Despite its affordability, email marketing boasts an impressive return on investment (ROI), delivering substantial value for every dollar spent.

Wide Reach

One of the key advantages of email marketing is its ability to reach a vast audience instantly. With a single click, businesses can connect with customers around the globe, breaking down geographical barriers and expanding their market reach. Furthermore, email marketing allows for precise audience segmentation, enabling businesses to tailor their messages to specific demographics, interests, or purchasing behaviors.

Personalization and Customization

One of the hallmarks of effective email marketing is its emphasis on personalization and customization. By leveraging customer data and behavioral insights, businesses can deliver tailored content that resonates with individual recipients. Whether it’s addressing recipients by name or recommending products based on their past purchases, personalized emails foster deeper connections and drive higher engagement rates.

Effective Communication Tool

Email marketing serves as a direct and efficient communication channel between businesses and their customers. Unlike social media or traditional advertising, which rely on algorithms or ad placements, email ensures that messages land directly in the recipient’s inbox, increasing the likelihood of engagement. Moreover, emails are delivered instantly, allowing businesses to communicate time-sensitive information or promotions with ease.

Measurable Results

One of the advantages of digital marketing, including email marketing, is its measurability. Through robust analytics and tracking tools, businesses can gain valuable insights into the performance of their email campaigns. From open rates and click-through rates to conversion metrics, these data points provide actionable insights for optimizing future campaigns. Additionally, A/B testing allows businesses to experiment with different elements of their emails to identify the most effective strategies.

Enhanced Brand Awareness

Consistent and strategic email marketing helps reinforce brand messaging and identity, fostering brand awareness among recipients. By delivering engaging content that aligns with their values and interests, businesses can cultivate a sense of loyalty and trust among their audience. Over time, this leads to increased brand recall and recognition, ultimately driving customer loyalty and advocacy.

Increased Traffic and Conversions

Email marketing serves as a powerful driver of website traffic and conversions. By including compelling call-to-action (CTA) buttons or links within their emails, businesses can direct recipients to relevant landing pages or product pages, facilitating the conversion process. Whether it’s making a purchase, signing up for a webinar, or downloading a resource, email campaigns play a pivotal role in driving desired actions from recipients.

Cross-Platform Compatibility

In an increasingly mobile-centric world, email marketing platforms prioritize cross-platform compatibility, ensuring that emails are optimized for viewing across various devices and screen sizes. Whether recipients are accessing their emails on desktop computers, smartphones, or tablets, businesses can rest assured that their messages will be displayed seamlessly, maximizing engagement opportunities.

Automation and Time-Saving

Automation features streamline the email marketing process, allowing businesses to set up automated workflows and scheduled campaigns in advance. Whether it’s sending welcome emails to new subscribers or triggering follow-up emails based on user interactions, automation saves time and resources while ensuring timely and relevant communication with recipients.

Versatility in Content Delivery

Email marketing offers versatility in content delivery, accommodating a wide range of communication objectives and formats. From informative newsletters and product updates to promotional offers and exclusive discounts, businesses can leverage email campaigns to deliver diverse content that resonates with their audience. This flexibility enables businesses to adapt their messaging to various stages of the customer journey, nurturing leads and driving conversions effectively.

Building Relationships and Nurturing Leads

Beyond driving immediate sales, email marketing plays a crucial role in building long-term relationships with customers and nurturing leads over time. Follow-up emails, drip campaigns, and personalized interactions demonstrate a genuine interest in the recipient’s needs and preferences, fostering trust and loyalty. By staying top-of-mind and providing value-added content, businesses can nurture leads through the sales funnel, ultimately converting them into loyal customers.

Regulatory Compliance and Privacy

As concerns around data privacy and consumer protection continue to rise, email marketers must adhere to regulatory standards such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography And Marketing (CAN-SPAM) Act. By obtaining explicit consent from recipients and implementing robust data protection measures, businesses can build trust and credibility while mitigating the risk of legal repercussions.

Adaptability and Evolution

Email marketing is not static but rather dynamic and adaptive, evolving alongside technological advancements and shifting consumer behaviors. Integration with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning enables businesses to deliver more personalized and predictive experiences to their audience. Moreover, advancements in email design and strategy continually push the boundaries of what is possible, ensuring that email remains a relevant and impactful marketing channel.

Conclusion

In conclusion, email marketing offers a myriad of benefits for businesses seeking to enhance their digital outreach efforts. From its cost-effectiveness and wide reach to its ability to personalize content and drive measurable results, email marketing remains a cornerstone of modern marketing strategies. By leveraging its inherent strengths and staying attuned to evolving trends and best practices, businesses can unlock the full potential of email marketing to achieve their marketing objectives and drive sustained growth.

The post The Power of Email Marketing: Exploring Its Top Benefits appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

1. Craft a Compelling Story

Every successful nonprofit has a compelling story at its core. Share your organization’s mission, values, and the impact you aim to create. Use storytelling techniques to engage potential donors emotionally. Share success stories and testimonials to demonstrate the tangible difference your organization has made in people’s lives. A powerful narrative can captivate and inspire donors, fostering a deeper connection with your cause.

2. Leverage Social Media

Social media platforms provide a cost-effective way to reach a broad audience and engage with potential donors. Create compelling content, including impactful visuals and informative videos, to share your nonprofit’s work. Engage followers through interactive campaigns, live events, and user-generated content. Utilize social media analytics to track engagement and adapt your strategies accordingly.

3. Implement Email Marketing

Segment your email list based on interests, donation history, or demographics to tailor messages that resonate with each group. Personalize your emails, show gratitude for past donations, and provide updates on your organization’s impact. Use email automation to send timely messages and engage potential donors at different stages of their journey.

4. Utilize Peer-to-Peer Fundraising

Encourage your existing donors to create their fundraising pages and rally their networks on behalf of your cause. To maximize their impact, provide them with the necessary tools, such as branded templates and fundraising guides. Peer-to-peer fundraising expands your reach and strengthens community bonds.

5. Optimize Your Website

Your website serves as a digital hub for your nonprofit. Ensure it is user-friendly, visually appealing, and mobile-responsive. Clearly articulate your mission, impact, and donation options. Streamline the donation process by integrating secure and convenient payment gateways and leverage website analytics to track user behavior and identify areas for improvement.

6. Collaborate with Influencers

Identify influencers with a genuine interest in your organization and the ability to reach your target audience. Collaborate on social media campaigns, interviews, or events. Their endorsement can provide credibility and increase awareness of your nonprofit among their followers.

7. Host Engaging Events

Organize fundraisers, galas, workshops, or volunteer days to engage your community. Create memorable experiences that align with your cause and make attendees feel a part of something meaningful. Incorporate storytelling, interactive activities, and opportunities for attendees to contribute and become advocates for your nonprofit.

8. Cultivate Donor Relationships

Show appreciation for their contributions, acknowledge their impact, and keep them informed about your organization’s progress. Regularly communicate through newsletters, personalized messages, or exclusive updates. Provide opportunities for involvement, such as volunteering or joining advisory committees, to deepen their engagement.

Effective marketing strategies can significantly enhance the outreach efforts of nonprofit organizations. By implementing these marketing tricks, organizations can engage a broader audience, inspire more donors, and significantly impact the lives of the people they serve, ultimately building brighter futures and achieving a more substantial impact in their mission to make the world a better place.

The post 8 Helpful Marketing Tricks for a Nonprofit to Increase Donors appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

It’s targeted and personal.

When it comes to a personal touch, there’s no easier method of consumer outreach than email. Modern software programs allow for corporations to tailor email campaigns to multiple groups, while still remaining on-brand. When recipients receive personalized email content, they feel as though they are appreciated.

This dynamic increases customer engagement, as well as the likelihood a customer will become a repeat shopper. With regard to consumer targeting, list segmentation takes it one step further. With list segmentation, clients can tailor every single aspect of a campaign and direct it towards multiple consumer-groups at the same time. Whether clients choose to target consumers based on demographics, age or even business size, list segmentation creates a symbiotic relationship between prospective customers and your business.

It’s cost-effective.

Instead of costly television commercials and internet ads – which rarely achieve tangible results – why not try a different approach by directly targeting your consumers with content delivered right to their inbox? Email-based marketing is not only the most effective, but also the fastest method of consumer outreach on the market. For every dollar spent on email marketing strategies, there is an astounding forty-dollar return on investment – talk about an intelligent business decision. While social media marketing comes with its own set of advantages, it relies on in-the-moment customer interaction. Customers will only find value in a post if they are sitting in front of their computer or smartphone at the precise moment you post. Email, on the other hand, has a much higher success-rate of customer engagement because it is delivered straight to their inbox to read at their convenience.

It has sheer audience volume.

Per recent studies, 3.9 billion individual email accounts exist worldwide. This number is expected to increase by an additional one billion accounts in the next year alone. With this number on the rise, doesn’t it stand to reason that vendors should factor email into their marketing strategies? Even if, for example, corporations reach only one percent of the total amount of viable email accounts, that’s still a whopping 39 million potential customers – the increased revenue potential alone is astounding. To take it one step further, combined active daily social media users, like Facebook or Twitter users, across the board amount to a mere fraction of the users who utilize email daily.

It promotes sales growth.

When it comes to the success of a business, the bottom line is that a business desires growth and increased sales year to year. That’s not a secret. How can email marketing campaigns drive new sales and foster trust with consumers? It’s simple: communication. Recent studies have shown that two-thirds of all repeat customers were convinced to return to a company because they felt valued and appreciated by the brand. This can be achieved in many ways, but the easiest solution is customer outreach through email. By using techniques like sending welcome messages, providing appointment reminders and offering exclusive content to new and repeat VIP subscribers, corporations are more successfully able to foster consumer relationships – while, hopefully turning a profit at the same time.

Email is an incredibly powerful tool – one that is more cost-effective than every marketing strategy on the market combined. It can grow your customer base, drive sales and, most importantly, improve cash flow for your business. Don’t make a costly mistake by leaving email out of your next marketing strategy.

The post 5 Reasons Not to Ignore Email in Your Marketing Strategy appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Tap Data

Successful email campaign messaging is becoming increasingly data-driven. To reach a customer, a brand must know basic demographics about the buyer, like age and geographic location, but a brand must also know where that customer actually is in the buying journey. This comes from tapping and analyzing data about consumers like how often they visit your website, how much money they’ve already spent, how often they purchase items, what items they’ve looked at but perhaps not purchased yet, and more. Where are these customers when it comes to buying and how can you reach out with relevant messaging?

Email marketing platforms that integrate with other apps that can deliver this data are ideal for understanding customers on an individual level. With the right data, brands can deliver relevant content that results in higher sales.

Automate Campaigns

Email automation is the ultimate way to save time while growing your brand. Today, automation services are affordable and accessible to everyone. Many automation companies provide basic-level services for free. Some even allow you to preview paid options for a limited time.

Automation services do the heavy lifting for you – design, segmentation, personalization, and targeted mailings. This leaves you more time to spend on creating relevant content for your customers. Automated emails are more time-optimized, giving you control over not only who is receiving your messages, but also when they are receiving them. Timely, relevant messages lead to a higher level of engagement. Automation platforms also do the work of providing analytics to help you measure the effectiveness of your campaigns.

Personalize

Marketers who use personalization in their email campaigns have a 2.5 times higher click-through rate and generate 6 times as many sales from their campaigns. Personalization doesn’t have to be complicated though. Campaign Monitor reports that subscribers are 26 percent more likely to open an email with a personalized subject line than a generic message. Adding a touch of personalization can make all the difference in how successful an email is in sales conversion to use this tool wisely.

Implement Video

Consumers love video and with the improvement of streaming internet speeds in the developed world, its estimated that video content will account for 75 percent of all online traffic by 2020. It’s not enough to create a YouTube channel or vlog for your brand though; you must make the best use of those videos by incorporating them in your email marketing. Give consumers a chance to watch your brand in action – modeling or demonstrating a new product, saying “thank you,” or attending an industry trade show. Give consumers the opportunity to watch your brand, not just read about it. Be sure to connect your calls to action, too, between your video platforms and your email marketing.

Integrate Easy Payment Options

It’s still in the horizon when it comes to email marketing tech, but soon brands may be able to have consumers buy and pay for items inside their emails (without being redirected to a different site). Email providers like Google and Yahoo are already experimenting with this technology that will essentially reduce the steps to making a sale. For now, though, make sure people have a one-click option to pay for goods and services through an email marketing campaign.

Connect Social Media

Email can be even more powerful when used in conjunction with social media, so be sure to use the two in tandem. Within your email messages, be sure to remind subscribers about your active social media community. Explain the benefits of following your company, perhaps enticing readers with contests or exclusive discounts. Include social media share buttons in the body of your email message so readers can share with their own spheres of influence by just clicking a button. You can also use your social media platforms to encourage consumers to join your email list. Remind your followers of the special content or exclusive offers they receive as a subscriber. This two-tier approach can help keep your customers even more connected.

Though it’s decades old, email continues to be a powerful tool for marketers with a high return on investment. Organizing, automating, and personalizing your email marketing efforts can help your company make sure you are sending the right content to the right person at the right time.

The post The Most Overlooked Email Marketing Strategies of 2018 appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Email is still one of the most powerful ways to reach an audience online, and contrary to the email hand-wringing and “concern trolling” of yesteryear, social media doesn’t have to kill email; it can actually work in tandem with it. When you combine email and social media in the following ways, you’ll have a powerful force that can encourage brand loyalty in your customers for years to come.

1. Cross-Promote Between Newsletters and Social Channels

This may seem obvious, but many businesses neglect the basics. Your email newsletter should promote your social media channels and vice versa. Periodically, encourage social media followers to sign up for your email newsletter. And every email newsletter should provide easy options for sharing and following your social media profiles.

A great way to achieve cross promotions between email and social channels is to incentivize email recipients to engage on social channels. This is important because some people, while they receive every one of your emails, may be much more engaged on their social media accounts than they are in their inbox. By encouraging them to get the same content in your brand’s social channels you can ensure your message is reaching a larger audience.

Get your email subscribers to engage on your social channels by including social buttons in your welcome email, and let them know what they will get when they follow you. This could include special offers or exclusive content to social followers that you can’t get anywhere else.

2. Create a Cohesive Narrative

The best brands have a story to tell. If the words “polar bears” and “Christmas” come up, you might think of Coca Cola’s iconic Christmas polar bears commercials. Now, most small businesses will not have the advertising budget for a massive commercial advertising campaign. However, social media and email can be combined to promote a cohesive narrative about the business.

For example, a local family restaurant might use email newsletters to send out personalized newsletters to subscribers, while its Twitter feed provides current status updates about goings-on with the family. It goes without saying that your voice should be consistent across your online communications. If you want to be informal and friendly in your newsletters, then make sure your website content and social media posts reflect that same voice. Consistency across all online media will make your brand more recognizable and distinguish it from the competition. If you want a good example of brands using a cohesive voice, take a look at Oreo’s social accounts.

3. Engage Users in a Conversation

Before the Internet, advertising was primarily a one-way street. Advertisers bought advertising in publications and on television and radio. Customers simply consumed the messaging without any public way of responding. Now, customers can be a part of the conversation. If your brand concept is strong, and your customer service is top-notch, this can only help you.

Leverage your social media followers to drive new email sign-ups where you can continue the conversation. Once social media followers convert to your email list, use email marketing tools like Campaign Monitor to automate email messages to engage with them. Ask for their suggestions and ideas. And then use your email messages to respond to some of the best contributions, feature followers, and offer social proof of your brand’s commitment to customer service. People like to be acknowledged, and by showing that you are truly listening to your customers, you will have no problem increasing brand loyalty.

Long Live Email!

The reports of email’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. By creating a cohesive strategy to leverage both email and social media, your brand is sure to grow. Don’t neglect one form of online outreach in favor of the other. Use both email campaigns combined with social media tie-ins to best solidify your position in the marketplace.

The post 3 Ways Social Media and Email Can Work Together to Build Brand Loyalty appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

1. Invite Your Followers to Join Your Email List

Building up an impressive social media following doesn’t always correlate with impressive profits. There could be a number of reasons your followers aren’t becoming customers, but, as we already mentioned, email will always convert better than most other marketing programs. So why not turn your social list into your email list?

This won’t just help with conversions, either. It will make monitoring your efforts a lot easier, too.
Email lists are also much better for customer lifetime value (CLV). There are a couple of ways to harvest email subscribers from your social media platforms:

• Spread the Word: This is, by far, the easiest method. Make sure your followers know about your email list by referencing it periodically.
• Create a Lead Generation Card on Twitter: Here’s what a lead generation card on Twitter looks like. Creating a lead generation card is fairly easy, too. Canva is great for creating custom images for them.
• Change Your Facebook Cover Photo: If you have a business page on Facebook (you should), change your cover photo to either a reference to your emails (e.g. a mention of how many subscribers you have, how many newsletters you send out every month, a testimonial, etc.) or a free gift that would interest your followers. Either way, use the call-to-action button to send followers to your landing page.

It’s not always how you gain new email subscribers but how you engage with them. Everyone gets a ton of marketing emails in their inbox daily. Very few brands truly engage with their list to create advocates rather than just customers. It’s too time-consuming to engage with people on a one to one basis in order to build an advocate community. This is where email automation platforms like Infusionsoft are used to send new subscribers through an engagement funnel based on where they came from and how they engage with your brand.

2. Hold a Contest

35% of Facebook page fans only hit “Like” so they can participate in a contest. That could obviously help increase your exposure on Facebook, but how do you reroute that traffic to your email list? Simple. Tell people you’ll be announcing the winners to your email list. Then, use an app like Wishpond to collect email addresses from participants.

Also, offer multiple prizes. Even if they’re of lesser value than one larger prize, studies show that people are more attracted by the increased statistical probability of winning, than of possibly winning one grand prize.

3. Use Social Share Buttons

Just about all blogs now include social sharing buttons to make it easy for readers to put the content in front of their networks. You can also use these buttons in your emails. Doing so could even increase your email CTR by as much as 158%.

All you have to do is make an HTML version of your email content and pair it with a custom code. If you don’t know how to create one on your own, LoginRadius has widgets that can help. Then, your email subscribers can share the URL for the webpage version of your email from within the message.

You might have thousands of followers on Twitter, but if they aren’t eventually becoming customers, who cares?
Turning those followers into email subscribers will make it much easier to eventually turn them into customers, too. No matter what social media platforms you use, make sure you’re making the most of them by introducing your network to your email list using the simple methods above.

The post 3 Ways Social Media Can Supercharge Your Email Marketing Strategy appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Thanks to Josh Wardini and the folks at EveryCloud for granting us permission to republish this wonderful, comprehensive, and instructive email infographic!

The post The Best Email Marketing Infographic You’ve Ever Seen appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Has your company experienced the unsurpassed opportunities and growth that an email marketing platform can offer? Maybe you’re unfamiliar with your options or maybe you have been dragging your feet on making the email marketing investment. To help you get started with this powerful marketing platform, we did the legwork for you and identified the top 3 email platforms available.

1. Campaign Monitor

Campaign Monitor is the cream-of-the-crop when it comes to email marketing software vendors. In addition to its award-winning customer support team, the platform offers a user-friendly setup. Campaign Monitor features a drag-and-drop email builder that allows marketers to create personalized templates and send emails your customers can’t ignore! Campaign Monitor gives companies the ability to produce professional emails without the need for a graphic designer or advanced HTML coding knowledge. Furthermore, the email templates are created to display properly in all email accounts (even Outlook).

Campaign Monitor particularly stands out with its simple and intuitive automation capabilities. You can create a custom customer journey that will personalize emails based on what a recipient engaged with—and then send a personalized email to provide additional information or offer a discount. Another reason it stands above the crowd is its top-notch customer service. With a customer support team of email marketing experts available to help customers 24/7, you always have the support you need to ensure a successful and timely campaign.

2. SendGrid

SendGrid is another email marketing platform that marketers love; it has helped over 100,000 companies with their email marketing endeavors. SendGrid touts its ability to ensure emails are delivered thanks to its “deliverability experts.” SendGrid offers a simpler email building tool to help those looking for a more basic approach.

The company has excellent guides, such as best practice information for beginners. In addition, SendGrid gives users basic statistics to help measure your campaigns’ success.

3. MailChimp

Rounding out the top three email platforms is MailChimp. This well-known email marketing platform offers an efficient drag-and-drop email builder that allows marketers to easily customize their message. It also provides the option to set up automation and to select customers based on clicks and key triggers. MailChimp also does a great job automating emails to those with half-completed profiles or abandoned shopping carts.

Finding the Best Platform for You

It is no secret that email marketing software makes it quick and easy to produce professional emails. When you are determining the ideal tool for your company, make sure you look for tools that are user-friendly and give you the versatility you’ll need as you create your messages. If you are newer to the marketing industry, take the time to find a platform that also offers an experienced customer support infrastructure.

The post 3 Email Marketing Platforms With Great Conversion Rates appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

We are living in an era of personalization, and brands are consciously aware of that. Take a look at some great personalized email examples below and see how these techniques can be applied to your own email marketing campaigns. The cheapest way to get a good corporate identity is to head on over to Logaster, where you can create it by yourself only for $29.99. Here’s a great guide to getting started.

1. Buffer

This social media scheduling app never ceases to amaze its users. The welcome email from Buffer is the first step to establishing a connection with its users, and Buffer does give a great first impression.

The message is simple. It is a plain thank you message with a link in case you need any help. The first person tone of the email eliminates all negativity, leading you to believe that you have arrived at the right place for your social media scheduling needs. The email from Joel and his team instantly give you a feeling that you are being taken care of, that you are important. It is vital to make your users feel that you care, and Buffer hits the bull’s-eye with its first message.

2. Contentmart

An online marketplace for freelance content writers and clients, Contentmart sends out regular newsletters to its target audience.

Often we sign up for newsletters but seldom check the originating website on a regular basis. It is not because we have lost interest but simply because it is human nature to forget. Since “out of sight, out of mind” is a common phenomenon, reminders like these on a weekly basis keep us on track. The neat design and enriched content is a great way to re-establish the connection with users every week, and the preview of the blog kind of seals the deal!

3. Airbnb

Budget-friendly homestays anywhere in the world are now possible, thanks to Airbnb. As unique as its business concept are Airbnb’s email campaigns. The welcome email from Airbnb will just steal your heart. The neat and organized step-by-step guide on how Airbnb can benefit you is an instant hit.

Airbnb makes it a point to send out the best deals for you across the globe. Adhering to all the UI/UX rules, Airbnb emails are a treat in that unique pink and white color combination.

4. Uber

Uber rivals other brands with its clean and simple emails. The properly balanced white space, black font color and customized address to the recipient are stellar examples of how businesses can stand out in their email correspondence.

If you thought the Welcome email was a winner, wait till you start using Uber and get trip details emailed to you. The specifications are right on the spot- the map, your location details, the travel details, vehicle details and fare breakdown; Uber has it all in place.

Uber ensures that every email you receive from them is customized and highly personalized. It will, without fail, give you the feeling of being treated as an individual, rather than simply one of its millions of users.

5. Flipkart

The poster boy of Indian E-commerce, Flipkart is always on toes to let its users know what’s happening in its online store. Recently, Flipkart ran a campaign to announce the opening of the “499 store” where selected goods would be available at INR 499.

Flipkart sent out an email announcing the commencement of this store and also an overview of all the items you will find. The email contained everything you might need to know. Starting with an overview of items, to the convincing tagline “Deals you do not want to miss” to reminding about their mobile app and gift vouchers to unsubscribe button, the email had all the required CTA buttons in place.

6. Viator

Viator, an international travel planning portal, keeps a tab on what you are searching. Based on your choice and location, Viator makes it a point to send out deals that will be of specific interest to you. Along with deals, Viator sends out surveys time to time. Your opinion and browsing satisfaction matters, and Viator knows just how to convey that in its personalized emails to customers.

7. Twitter

Emails from Twitter are always specifically addressed to its users. Things that require your attention are strategically highlighted to make the reading easy. Emails are short and to-the-point. The CTA button is like the icing on the cake.

The most stunning part of these emails is the initial question—and the accompanying CTA. In case you do not click on the first button, Twitter reiterates the benefits at the end.

8. Toggl

Time tracking tool Toggl sends out emails containing all of its updates that you might have missed. Addressing the email to you and immediately telling you what it’s about makes a great first impression. There are two actions included in this email: You either check out the new button immediately or read more to get convinced.

Also, sending out emails from real people working on the team is another way of making emails personalized. You just know instinctively that this person is real. The genuine factor takes it all!

9. Paypal

Overseas shopping is not something we do every day, but this email from Paypal makes it look like a matter-of-fact thing. The exclusive deals and promise to refund your purchase if unsatisfied builds trust in every individual user. And that’s what personalized emails are supposed to do, right!

The post 8 Excellent Examples of Building Brand Loyalty Through Personalized Email appeared first on Social Media Explorer.

Every week, we publish an informative and insightful and it occurred to us that not all of our blog readers are subscribers — and not all of our subscribers are blog readers. So, in an attempt to bring everyone the best of our content (just in case you missed it) here’s our picks for the week from SME — and from around the web.

NOTE: If you are NOT already a subscriber to our newsletter, why not subscribe via our VERY easy signup page here:

And if you ARE already a newsletter subscriber and already saw the following content already this week, well, here’s some content you might like instead:

Either way, thanks for stopping by. Feel free to connect with me personally on Twitter, follow @smxplorer, or join our on Facebook.

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Any marketer knows that getting email right, let alone understanding the mechanics behind it, is one of the most difficult parts of the job. That said, email works. If you’re unsure about that, take Tom Klein’s word for it. He’s the CMO of MailChimp after all. It walks and talks when it comes to email marketing, having sent 36 million of its own marketing emails in June alone. To understand more about this sticky subject, open the following insights from Mr. Klein in your mental inbox and file under “important.”

Who’s “Doing” Email

Big or small, email marketing benefits almost every company whose target is digitally connected.

“Email has always been a great way to communicate directly with consumers in an economical way,”

says Mr. Klein. Most of MailChimp’s customers are companies with 200 employees, he says, which speaks to the positive ROI of email for growing enterprises. Who isn’t taking advantage of email marketing, but should, in Mr. Klein’s view? Large packaged food companies.

“I have friends who work in marketing for…brands that have over a billion-dollar budget–and they don’t know who their customers are,” he says. “If one of these companies wanted to communicate with 5 million people, we have customer lists of that size.”

However, he says, their dollars are going elsewhere.

“I think doing that is an important first step, and next would be optimization.”

Doing Email Better

While any company can send an email to its customers, successful execution involves extensive

“testing and learning. It sounds really boring, but it’s very straightforward and valuable.”

says Mr. Klein, MailChimp offers A/B testing in its free products, but Pro users can take advantage of three styles of multivariate testing to find the best mix of content for audiences.

“One method, for example, allows you to take a list and divide it into a few different subsets,” says Mr. Klein. “For a list of 10,000, you could do five different emails and send them to 2,000 people.”

His team runs its own tests, in fact, and says that they’re relatively easy to set up.Given that MailChimp customers are largely creative companies, the multivariate testing caters to their inherent curiosity and hands-on inclinations.

“We also want our customers to feel liberated from a creative perspective,” says Mr. Klein. “Using the multivariate tool, you can test many options to find the winner.”

Not only does this kind of testing keep MailChimp’s clientele happy, but it also provides results. “That’s probably the most straightforward thing that we would love to get our customers doing,” he says, “because we know it works.”

What Role Does Social Media Play?

If you’ve ever been asked to jump from email to social media or vice versa, you know that it often makes for an awkward user experience, usually involving a series of apps or browser windows. When it comes to integrating social within email campaigns, Mr. Klein concedes that it’s an evolving art.

“Email is a kind of beast, from a technical perspective,” he says.

Ideally, the email client could act as a browser window, but unfortunately the technology simply isn’t there yet. Despite the limitations, Mr. Klein says that MailChimp has developed an integration with Facebook that allows companies to post their emails to the platform.

“Customers can also use their email subscriber list as a way to take these subscribers and generate an ad based on them,”

he says. Barring any major changes, however, Mr. Klein and team will be maintaining a simple relationship between email and social.

“So if you’re our customer, we tend to keep your email relatively straightforward,” he says.

Expanding the Email Empire

As in nearly every area of marketing, Mr. Klein says that there’s plenty of potential for progress in email and in his own department.

“We’re growing and hiring,” he says, “so we’re really looking to improve all aspects of the company.”

He also nods to the fact that many of MailChimp’s customers are indeed marketing agencies and hopes that his team can better support those clients moving forward. Finally, while the company is based in Atlanta, Mr. Klein says that MailChimp does in fact have global reach—and global ambitions.

“We also want to get better at engaging with our customers around the world.”

May his (and your) messages go far.

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