3 Reasons Why Your Emails Are Not Being Responded To

Email deliverables are important - with an estimated 74 trillion emails being sent every year, it is necessary that your emails are reaching its intended inboxes. But reaching the inbox is one thing - acting upon it is another.

True, you can work on your subject line, making it catchy and arresting audience's interest, but that will only help to improve email opens. Conversions are still a matter of concern.

So why not examine what you are doing wrong with your emails that it is not encouraging conversions?

Here are the 3 popular reasons why emails do not get responded to:

Your emails are not personalized enough

Remarkable as it may be, personalized emails have 41% higher CTRs than non-personalized ones - and even then 70% marketers fail to personalize their email marketing messages. Personalization however does not mean adding the "name" of the recipient in the body of the email. It means creating content unique and relevant to your recipient.

But wait - how is that possible when you are sending thousands of emails? The answer lies in using segmented email lists. Segment your audience as per their preference and personalize emails as per that.

Some of the other things to remember during personalization include:

• Working on the "From" section - use your name instead of a company name
• In case you are running a contest, use email marketing automation to send personalized emails.

Social media proof and Mentions are lacking

Is your email being sent out without including the social handles? Not a smart move considering people like to know what others are thinking of your brand as well. When adding social icons however, it is wise to ensure that you are actually active on the platform and you have positive feedback on your page. It's of no use to drive people to your social page and then let them see only 200 likes or 500 followers. Not a very appealing number.

Also, when you are constructing the body of your emails, it's a good practice to include the names of some reliable client or event testimonial. People find these social signs more credible to believe than self-bragging. You are probably missing all mentions of your brand in your email messages and hence missing out on conversions as well.

Where is the carrot?

Whether you are into B2B or B2C marketing, the carrot or "added benefit" works for all.

If you are familiar with online shopping then the term 'cart abandonment' will not be new to you. What will also not be new is, receiving an email from the eCommerce vendor, reminding you in a polite way that things are waiting in your cart. If you still do not respond, there will probably be an email after two days with an additional 5% discount if you buy now!

This is also true with customers who have not been active for a while. You may be familiar receiving emails with subject lines like -"We have missed you!" or "Áre you still interested?"

The question is, have you been using these methods of audience engagement for your email campaigns? If not, this is probably where you can work on.

Go back to your email database today and identify customers who have not done business in the last 6 months and there you have something to look forward to with your business!

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7 Email Marketing Mistakes to Avoid to Run a Successful Campaign

Mistakes are inevitable.We all make mistakes. Some are big and some are insignificant. But when it comes to business, every single move adds to the final impact. Therefore, even an unseen mistake can cause serious damage and can affect the entire business operation.

Email marketing is one of the prominent channels of marketing used by businesses today. It not only helps businesses to position their brand and engage prospects but can also help in attaining astronomical sales revenue. Therefore, it becomes crucial for every marketing professional to be cautious while triggering an email marketing campaign. Here we mention 7 mistakes that should not be part of your email marketing campaign.

Mistake #1: You send without testing

Confidence is the key to success, but do not forget that we are amidst the ever-growing jungle of PCs and web-based email software. Businesses gain confidence by spotting flaws and resolving them in just few minutes testing a message in popular email clients like Gmail, Hotmail, Outlook, etc. Ensure that all the links work properly, images load correctly and there are no spelling or grammar mistakes. To get maximum return from an email campaign you must lay emphasis on how the message is displayed on various email programs. For an intense review of the message you can use services like Email Analysis. Moreover, if you are managing a campaign at pro level, A/B testing can always be fruitful in testing variations of the same message on a sample list, and then trigger the best performing one.

Mistake #2: You do not bother about a permission based mailing list

Unless you have recipient's permission, anything you send through an email is almost a spam, which is strictly against the law. Today, numerous businesses take shortcuts and purchase email lists and compile them in an unethical way. Do not forget, that spam also hampers your brand reputation. Read all the information on CAN-SPAM act to be well informed. Being aggressive sometimes drive businesses towards desperations, which leads to these unethical tactics. You can go through the Federal Trade Commission website to take corrective actions to mitigate the damage caused by your past mistakes.

Mistake #3: Yours choice of "From" and "Subject" are really poor

7 Email Marketing Mistakes to Avoid to Run a Successful Campaign

After the mailing list mistake this is another common one the email marketers usually commit. Pay special attention to "from" and "subject line". It is a fact that your prospect takes a fraction of a second time to decide whether to open an email or not. In case, the recipients don't recognize the sender, it takes no time for them to move on or deleting the mail.

Mistake #4: Poor call-to-action usage

You run an email campaign for a purpose. And you want the readers to take a decision on reading your mail. You may want them to go to your website and register or download a piece of information or take a similar step. Whatever the objective may be, make your call-to-action statement simple and clear. Also, make sure that the landing page you choose to make your visitors land after clicking takes them to the right page to ensure your readers get what they want.

Mistake #5:You put graphics everywhere

It's a common mindset that graphics excites the readers and compel them to stay engaged, but the fact is that such days are gone.Today's readers are aware about their needs.Too much graphics can over shadow your primary message and may cause slower download speed that can turn off your readers.So, keep yourself away from such pump and show and be concise and to the point, thus helping the reader to take an action.

Mistake #6: You do not optimize your emails for mobile devices

7 Email Marketing Mistakes to Avoid to Run a Successful Campaign

The volume of mobile users is ruling the internet realm today. You have to be quite assured that your emails look good on mobile devices. Moreover, they should also be user-friendly for your subscribers. Make sure that all your buttons, links, call-to-action are big and distinct so that the readers don't accidentally click on the wrong links.The layout, responsiveness and compatibility are vital factors to ensure readability irrespective of devices it is viewed on.

Mistake #7: Your blind belief on purchased list

Businesses, especially the startups often show a strong affinity towards readymade mailing list. However, today most of the reputable email marketing agencies won't suggest you to email on a purchased list as they don't want to get dinged by spam complaints. But the right reason to not to go for a purchased list is the results. They can be so shocking that you would probably want your money back. Be patient and focus on building a list for a loyal consumer base. Remember, great email programs were not built overnight; it takes time to build a list that really works.

What do you think?

Have you ever made any such mistakes with your email marketing? Readers, if you think that you have dealt with a tough situation with your email marketing then please do share your experience below the post. We are always eager to listen and learn!

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Follow Up Emails

The first step in building a relationship with your opt-in list is the email sequence which follows on from either a subscription or a purchase. The majority of your subscribers will arrive via a free offer through which you encourage visitors to your website to exchange their name and email address (or other details) for a free eBook, report, etc. This is achieved using what is generally known as a "Squeeze Page". The squeeze page will contain a link to the free download which can be accessed by filling in a short form giving name and email address.

Once your website visitor has given their name and email in exchange - what happens next? The first thing they will receive will be a thank you email on which will be the link to the eBook or report for download. Once the subscriber has downloaded their gift the immediate transaction is completed. As far as an internet marketer is concerned, however, this is not the end of the story but the beginning. At intervals after that more follow up emails will be sent. An initial one (probably the following day) will arrive in the subscriber's inbox to 'reinforce' the thank you and check that the download was successful and offering help if there was a problem with this and offering to answer any question the subscriber might have.

The relationship building will then continue through subsequent emails (perhaps a couple each week). These will offer further free gifts or bonuses, raise interesting issues related to your niche or give links to interesting articles or videos. The whole process will keep your subscriber aware of your continued interest. In amongst the information they receive will be the occasional promotional emails, either for new products of your own or related Affiliate offers. The ideal is to build such a rapport with a subscriber that they look forward to receiving messages from you. That will more-or-less guarantee that they will, at least, open your email rather than ping it straight to the Trash.

To have a large opt-in list is the ambition of all internet marketers. It is much easier to promote products and services to your list than to go fishing in cold waters every time you have a new offer. In our home town or neighbourhood we all have our favourite shops and/or businesses we go to for certain things. We will probably have our favourite shop for groceries, our preferred DIY store to meet our household needs and our favourite restaurants or pubs. It is just the same online as off. If our subscribers have been treated well and have received quality products and quality service they will keep coming back. The response to new offers will be massively higher from our subscribers than from advertising in the wider marketplace.

Follow up emails are one of the very best ways to keep our subscribers happy. However, don't see them just as punters to be milked dry. They should feel valued and not taken for granted. If you want to take you must be prepared to give, give and give again.

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7 For 17: Trends to Look Out for and Adapt in Your 2017 Marketing Strategies

1. Interactive & Multimedia Content
Because 2017 won't be all about the impact of words; it will be about the experiences created for the consumer, and sometimes words are simply just not enough to educate, entertain and engage. We have all found ourselves skimming through text only to move to something new because we lose interest. For this reason alone, all brands must try to engage their audiences through images, quizzes, clips, GIFs, videos, infographics - anything that will make your brand's value jump off of the screen, because words alone are like empty promises nowadays. Start experimenting and explore the endless possibilities on offer!

2. Live Streaming & Video Content
Ditch the script, improvise, and go live - simple as that! What better way to engage with your audience than giving them a real glimpse of what you're doing and what your core values are. Live streaming and video content will continue to push the boundaries, allowing brands to drop the corporate veil, connect human-to-human, and allow users to participate in brand storytelling in ways that enrich the customer experience. So, start embracing the digital conversation by incorporating live content streaming, visuals and videos!

3. Personalisation
Everyone's special, or at least we all like to think we are. No matter what your stance is on this, you have to get personal with your target audience - for starters, your website, emails and social media should. Start segmenting your content to reach different types of audience members based on their preferences, habits, etc. - because let's face it, if you keep treating them as one homogeneous group you are bound to lose out on the huge potential of your message. Start truly analysing the data: location, age, needs, hobbies and so forth - the technology is available, so make the most of it and you won't lose out.

4. Purpose Driven Marketing
Become a brand that gives and gets! In today's world we're all looking to be part of something bigger, something meaningful that will make a difference. Everyone's passionate about their causes and trust me, customers will love that you have one too. Partner with a non-profit or charity, or set up an internal programme that "gives back" in some way - and you're bound to win over the hearts of your customers as well as employees, helping them connect more fully with your brand as a whole.

5. Native Advertising
No one likes ads, unless you manage to slip them into content contexts that your users are already part of and give value to. This is the core reason native advertising is taking the marketing world by storm: $36.3 billion will be spent on native ad spending by 2021. Good native advertising is not meant to be trickery; it's merely allowing a storyteller to share publishing tools with marketer, whilst at the same time maintain consumer trust by telling the truth, being transparent as to who's telling it, and finally adding value to the conversation with an audience. If done properly, it can be a win-win situation.

6. Mobile
Mobile is not just first, it's second, third - it's everywhere and everything! Internet traffic is firmly derived more from mobile devices than desktops and if you're not gearing your content, ads and online experience towards mobile users, you are definitely missing a huge opportunity. Remember not to stop at optimizing for mobile. Also, ensure that the specific content is integrated and respectful of the lifestyles of users-on-the-go!

7. Embrace the lOT
How awesome is it that your fridge can actually remind you that you're running out of milk and gives you the option to place an order immediately! Everyday objects are beginning to connect to the internet, and this trend is going to open the doors for brands to play a more active part in the everyday lives of consumers. By 2020 there will be 75 billion connected devices - now that's a boom! The implications are huge and far ranging as we will witness a transformation in the way we live our lives, and consequently the way we market our brands.

In short, keep the 7 in mind, utilise your budgets effectively and stay ahead of the game

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4 Tips for Effective Emails

Just like social media, email marketing has become a staple in how businesses drive sales and retain customers. Creating an effective email marketing campaign can result in significant increases in sales, retention, and customer satisfaction. Follow these four tips to start sending effective emails today:

Catchy Subject Lines

Just like a gatekeeper can block a person from getting to their intended recipient, a weak subject line may prevent your email from being opened. Think about it: the subject line is the first thing that the recipient will see. First and foremost: make sure you're consistent with your brand. If you tend to have more of a humorous approach to your communications, then keep your email subject line light. If you're all business, then keep the subject buttoned-up. While there's no silver bullet to creating a catchy subject line, consider some of the following ideas: 

• Ask a Question: "Is your business getting the most out of social media?" The idea here is that the recipient will have to open the email to find out.
• Mention a mutual connection: "John Doe told me to reach out." A personal connection is always a sure-fire way to grab someone's attention.
• Tell them what's inside: "New Updates to your platform inside!" This will make the recipient want to open your email to find out.
• Use actionable language: "Catch a pass from Tom Brady!" wins over something like "Local Sports Hero Visiting." It helps the reader visualize actually being there.

Think about the kind of language that piques your interests and gets you to open an email, and always keep it short and sweet.

Get Right to the Point

Think about how you read your emails. Most email is scanned beginning with the subject line and preview pane, and not read in its entirety at all. Don't inundate the beginning of your emails with an over-abundance of images, icons, and introductory language. Instead, use that space to get to point of your email. If have images and other related copy, put it after the primary point at the beginning, and then restate it at the end.

Personalize

This works in two primary ways. If you have the recipients first name, use it in your introductory line. Something as simple as "Hi John," goes a long way. Many email marketing platforms such as MailChimp and Constant Contact have tools that automatically fill in your contacts first name in your emails blasts. Then, if you have a working relationship, following with a friendly greeting is a great way to truly personalize the message. Something as simple as "It was great speaking with you last week!" goes a long way as well.

Add Value

These days, everyone gets inundated with emails day-in, day-out. Before you send your email, think about what sets your email apart from others. By and large, people join email lists not only to learn more about their interests but also to receive something of value just for being signed up. Think of your email list as something of a VIP club and try to treat your subscribers as such. If you're sending a sales-related email, consider including an exclusive deal for your email subscribers. If it's an update to existing customers, try to give them something they can use - helpful tips and tricks, tools, or first access to new features.

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Where Do You Start With Email Marketing?

Nobody ever says "I wish I could receive more emails". So when somebody signs up to receive emails from you they are giving you very special permission to send them information.

Email marketing is about making real connections with real people who want to hear from you. As they receive your messages, they'll grow more attached to your brand, engage with your content and be much more likely to buy from you.

So where do you start with email marketing?

1. Determine Your Objective

What do you want email marketing to accomplish for you? Do you want to increase sales for your product or service? Do you want to develop relationships with subscribers? How will it fit with your overall marketing strategy?

2. Identify Your Ideal Subscriber

Your can't sell everything to everyone so the more focused you are your ideal subscriber, the easier it will be to connect to that individual. What problems can your product or service solve for them? How can you make their life easier or more comfortable?

3. How Will You Get Email Addresses?

You can't use email marketing if you don't have any email addresses to send your messages. The most common way to build a list of addresses is via an email opt-in form on your website. Or you can direct prospects to a specific landing page where they are offered something for free, like a report or eBook, in exchange for their email address.

4. What Are You Going To Email Them?

A lot of businesses know that they need email marketing to develop their business, but get stuck trying to decide what type of content to send their subscribers.There is a whole variety of options. You can send welcome emails when somebody joins your email list, educational emails about your niche or industry, newsletters, e-courses and, of course, promotional emails where you're offering products for sale.

5. How Often Should Use Email Marketing?

There's no one right or wrong answer for how often you should send emails. If you've got nothing of value to say via email, then don't send an email. If you send an email every day for two weeks then wait three weeks before sending the next one, your subscribers may have forgotten about you. Remain consistent. If you email once per week, stick to that schedule and ensure that every email you send provides value to your subscriber.

You have to give your prospects something of value in exchange for their email address. And if you're offering a boring, 'seen it all before' report that doesn't address your visitor's problems with any urgency, they won't be enticed to give you their email details.

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