The Last Word on December 2014

Posted by Chad S. White on January 2, 2015

Must-read articles, posts & whitepapers

Study Sheds New Light On ‘Dark’ Social, Finds Consumers Underestimate Their Own Behavior 2-to-1 (MediaPost)

For Retailers, Email Marketing Helped Boost Cyber Monday (The Street)

Gmail: Larger font sizes don’t mean media query support (Campaign Monitor)

Email Fraud Protection Needs to be on the CISO’s Agenda (Return Path)

Insightful & entertaining tweets

@withoutgorms: He’s making a database,
He’s filtering twice
SELECT * FROM customers WHERE behaviour = Nice
Santa Clause is Coming to town.

@ryanpphelan: Frequency rules should actually apply in triggered (non-trans) emails based on a value score for the behavior #mpeis

@SpencerKollas: How many blog posts will we see about optimizing email for watches? @DelaQuist #mpeis

@michaeljbarber: No doubt @mparkerbyrd gets the best slide of the day award. You get preheader text, and you, and you!!! http://t.co/UjfdN1w00Y

@mparkerbyrd: You know you’re an email marketer when your phone autocorrects “exact” to “ExactTarget”

@EmailKarma: Cute #email disclamer “Someone, hopefully you, has subscribed your email address to the following newsletters”

@iamelliot: 2015 will be the year we all run up on gmail’s html rendering dept and demand satisfaction

Great additions to the Swipe File pinboards

Sony asks subscribers what they want for Black Friday >> View the pin

Uncommon Goods’ email campaign ties clickthroughs to charity >> View the pin

Sephora joins personalization to persona-based shopping >> View the pin

Home Depot email creates urgency before and after offer expires >> View the pin

Noteworthy subject lines

Threadless, 12/31 — 10 Reasons to Open this Email
Lenovo, 12/30 — Drop a few PC lbs
American Red Cross, 12/30 — Tax deadline: Tomorrow
Vera Bradley, 12/29 — New tech feeling cold? We’re on the case!
Walmart, 12/28 — Have a gift card you don’t want?
Target, 12/30 — Undeck the halls & save up to 20% on storage items.
MAC Cosmetics, 12/30 — Shop The Top Rated New Products of 2014!
Wayfair, 12/29 — Feeling frosty? Save on throws, bedding, space heaters, and more
Home Depot, 12/24 — Forget a Gift? eGift Cards Have You Covered
Urban Outfitters, 12/24 — Still need gifts? UO IS OPEN!
Nike, 12/22 — Order Today. Get It Tomorrow.
Uncommon Goods, 12/22 — See You Tomorrow
Saks Fifth Avenue, 12/22 — Christmas delivery? Order TODAY before 6pm ET
Adidas, 12/22 — Q: procrastinate? A: $10 overnight shipping
Levi’s, 12/22 — FREE. OVERNIGHT. SHIPPING. (+ 30% off extended!)
Nike, 12/20 — Our Gift to You: Free Next-Day Delivery
J.Crew, 12/22 — You need to shop ASAP. Get your gifts tomorrow with $10 overnight shipping. Plus, 30% off full-price styles & extra 40% off sale.
ThinkGeek, 12/22 — HO³… up to 30% off your cart full o’ stuff!‏
Target, 12/22 — Order gifts online; pick ’em up by Christmas time.
American Apparel, 12/21 — Holidays Shmolidays‏
FansEdge, 12/19 — The late bird gets the worm too! Up to 40% Off + FREE Shipping Over $60
Banana Republic, 12/18 — Life is short. Stop ironing.
Lululemon, 12/18 — no time like the present
Victoria’s Secret, 12/18 — $20 Reward Card with any $75 purchase in stores!
Uncommon Goods, 12/7 — 100 Great Gifts in 1 Email? Are We Crazy?
Sony, 12/11 — Check Gifts Off Your List | Under: $100  $200  $300 
Baby Gap, 12/11 — $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Zappos, 12/1 — $, $$, $$$ → You decide!
TigerDirect, 12/7 — Green Monday LEAKED: Samsung 55″ | Microsoft Surface Pro 3 | See Them All
eBags, 12/7 — Green means GO ► Shop Green Monday Deals Now + Save 20% & Free Shipping over $49‏
Overstock.com, 12/7 — GREEN MONDAY! LAST CHANCE 12% OFF COUPON!
Babies “R” Us, 12/7 — It’s Our Green Monday Sale – Let’s Go Gifting!
FansEdge, 12/7 — Green for 24-Hours! 30% off everything or Free Shipping‏
Costco, 12/3 — 15 Days of Christmas Deals Start Today! Day 1: Delicious Savings on Gift Baskets!
Horchow, 12/3 — WOW! 12 Deals of Christmas + 25% off decor + 30% off rugs + FREE shipping!‏
AJ Madison, 12/3 — Cyber Week Last Chance!‏
HP, 12/3 — ✫ Cyber week – lowest price ever on these bonus offers ✫
Toys “R” Us, 12/3 — Time’s Running Out! Hurry & Shop Cyber Week Savings
TigerDirect, 12/3 — Cyber Week Components: $44 1TB HD | $24 Windows 7 Bundle | Hundreds More Cyber Week Deals
Target, 12/2 — Come play with our Cyber Week toy deals.‏
Sears, 12/2 — Happy Cyber Week! Extra 25% off coupon inside!
Overstock, 12/2 — CYBER WEEK STARTS NOW!‏
Babies “R” Us, 12/2 — Cyber Week Savings on the Hottest Brands!
Northern Tool, 12/2 — New Deals For Cyber Week + Free Gift Card!
Nikon, 12/2 — Cyber Week Continues! 10% Off Refurbished Products‏
Clinique, 12/2 — Starts now: Pick 5 FREE for Cyber Week.
Walmart, 12/2 — Cyber Week: More top tech. More great deals.
Lenovo, 12/2 — Cyber Monday prices all week long
Lands’ End, 12/2 — Cyber Tuesday: extra day to save 40% off + free shipping & new markdowns
Lands’ End, 12/1 — 40% off + free shipping – even your boss is shopping today‏