Email Marketing Rules6 Email Marketing Manipulations that Should Stop
Posted on November 29, 2016
While many brands have embraced customer-centricity, there are many relics of brand-centric thinking still out there in the email marketing world, unfortunately.
Here are 6 email marketing manipulations that we should stop in 2017:
- Using passive aggressive email signup and opt-out language
- Mandatory email opt-ins with purchase
- Hiding behind people’s names to obscure our brand
- Using misleading, vague, and overly clever subject lines
- Trying to trick Gmail and other inboxes into retabbing our emails
- Hiding unsubscribe links
For a full discussion of each of these manipulations, plus supporting research,…
>> Read the full column on MarketingLand.com
Webinar Recording + Q&A: Adapting to Consumers’ New Spam Definition
Posted on November 22, 2016
Marketers must shift their email strategies to match consumers’ shifting spam definition. Litmus worked with Fluent to survey 1,300+ American adults to determine what causes them to report emails as spam and to unsubscribe.
Jordan Cohen, Chief Marketing Officer at Fluent, and I teamed up to discuss these findings and what they mean for email marketers going forward. To watch the recording, download the slides, and read the Q&A from the webinar…
>> Get the full recap on the Litmus blog
Millennials Driven to Opt-out and Report Spam Largely by Same Factors as Everyone Else
Posted on November 16, 2016
Our Adapting to Consumers’ New Definition of Spam research, which surveyed more than 1,300 American adults, found that millennials were the same as older generations in many ways when it came to their email behavior. However, there were some differences.
Here are the five biggest differences that we could find from our research:
- Millennials check their spam folders more frequently and rescue brands they don’t want there more frequently.
- Millennials are more likely to take action based solely on an email’s subject line and other envelope content.
- Millennials are more likely to unsubscribe from emails over a bad customer service experience.
- Millennials are more likely to triage their mobile inbox, saving certain emails for later.
- Millennials are less likely to find unsubscribing from promotional emails to be difficult.
For all the details and takeaways on how to address each of these issues…
>> Read the entire post on the Litmus blog
Webinar: Adapting to Consumers’ New Definition of Spam
Posted on November 7, 2016
Consumer attitudes toward spam continue to shift dramatically, which in turn demands that brands make an equal shift in their email marketing strategies.
In this webinar, we’ll share findings and advice from our Adapting to Consumers’ New Definition of Spam report, which is based on a joint Litmus-Fluent survey of more than 1,300 American adults.
Join Jordan Cohen, Chief Marketing Officer of Fluent, and I on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 1 pm ET as we discuss:
- Consumers’ broadening definition of spam
- How consumers interact with the spam folder
- The blurring of the motivations for complaints and unsubscribes
- Consumers’ mobile inbox triaging behavior
- How millennials’ unsubscribe and complaint behavior differs from other age groups
- Their picks for the best ways to reduce spam complaints and unsubscribes
>> Register for the free webinar
The Last Word on October 2016
Posted on November 3, 2016
A roundup of email marketing articles, posts, and tweets you might have missed last month…
Must-read articles, posts & reports
2016 Lookbook (Shaw + Scott)
2016 Holiday Email Marketing Report (MailCharts)
Retailers to Prepare for Post-Election Holiday Shopping (National Retail Federation)
Get Your Customers Back With Excellent Win-Back Emails (Sleeknote)
Google has killed Email Marketing … Again (LinkedIn)
2017 will be the year of interactive email (Medium)
Insightful & entertaining tweets
The globals powers of the world are being hacked….via email. 2017 will surely bring a rise in encrypted and secured email clients https://t.co/a3E02CUBH1
— Anthony Chiulli (@AnthonyChiulli) October 27, 2016
When just one emoji in your preview text just won’t do. pic.twitter.com/1G9MIBQ3Cw
— Jaina Mistry (@jainamistry) October 27, 2016
Email, its strength and weakness, is how flexible it is in ways people don’t appreciate. A modern system would never be designed like this.
— SwiftOnSecurity (@SwiftOnSecurity) October 14, 2016
Noteworthy subject lines
Dell, 10/4 — Here it is! The new laptop that lets you decide. The choice is yours.
Lands’ End, 10/1 — Join Lands’ End in fighting breast cancer
Vera Bradley, 10/1 — Pick up Art Poppies for the cause…
M•A•C Cosmetics, 10/4 — Halloween: Space Squad – Galactic Ghoul & Space Vampire
Pier 1 Imports, 10/1 — Welcome to the after-party
Lego, 10/1 — New Exclusive Winter Holiday Train now available!
Peet’s Coffee, 10/1 — Our Holiday Blend preview roast is here!
The Container Store, 10/20 — Get Ready for Holiday Guests!
Neiman Marcus, 10/31 — Parties coming up? Our fashion director’s favorites
Hayneedle, 10/11 — 40% off Christmas trees? Yes, please! Plus dining, lighting & more.
IKEA, 10/14 — Easy, affordable ideas to get you ready for the holidays!
SeaWorld Orlando, 10/6 — Our New Christmas Hotel Package will make you merry
PersonalizationMall.com, 10/14 — Save 50% On Personalized Christmas Cards
Neiman Marcus, 10/19 — The 2016 Christmas Book is here! Fantasy Gifts, exclusive finds, styles of the season + more
ToysRUs, 10/29 — Our AWWWESOME holiday catalog is here – let the wishing begin!
Zulily, 10/30 — These toys are GAME CHANGERS! Come shop Santa’s Workshop
Pier 1 Imports, 10/6 — Be a part of the holiday crew.
ToysRUs & BabiesRUs, 10/1 — We’re Hiring!
RH, 10/26 — Luxe Faux Fur Gifts. Explore the Holiday 2016 Collection.
Barneys New York, 10/6 — Furry Textures Are Our Favorite Fall Accent
Under Armour, 10/4 — It’s Hoodie Season—You Ready?
The North Face, 10/30 — Warm boots for winter’s worst
GNC, 10/13 — It’s National Train Your Brain Day, Remember?!
IKEA, 10/12 — Chad: you’re invited to the IKEA Cook and Eat Your Way Event!
ASPCA, 10/7 — Hurricane Matthew: ASPCA Deploys Response Team
Wine.com, 10/21 — Top-Scoring Wines for Every Budget
Walmart, 10/4 — ******SPECIAL BUYS****** while supplies last
Gap, 10/20 — Don’t let FOMS happen (that’s Fear Of Missing Sale)
UncommonGoods, 10/26 — First World Problems: Solved
Anthropologie, 10/10 — Wear this dress. Make an entrance.
Blue Nile, 10/13 — Calling All Ring Fingers: Engagement Collections
Golfsmith, 10/14 — We’re Closing in Northborough & Bellingham – Take 40% Off Everything!
Applebee’s, 10/7 — Game Time – Go Boston!
New posts on EmailMarketingRules.com
Report: Adapting to Consumers’ New Definition of Spam
B2B Forum Presentation: Inbox Optimization
Key Success & Failure Metrics for the Hierarchy of Subscriber Needs
Posted on November 1, 2016
Subscriber expectations have grown steadily over the years, driven higher by a wide range of factors, including the adoption of smartphones, the increase in targeting, and the rise in omnichannel experiences.
For email marketers to be successful, they must exceed or at least meet these expectations, which can be measured by a set of success metrics and a set of failure metrics.
In my latest Marketing Land column, I discuss how these expectations line up with The Hierarchy of Subscriber Needs for respectful, functional, valuable, and remarkable experiences. I share the success metrics marketers should use to measure each of those needs.
Using the finding from our just-released Adapting to Consumers’ New Definition of Spam report, I share failure metrics for each of those needs as well.
>> Read my full column on MarketingLand.com
Report: Adapting to Consumers’ New Definition of Spam
Posted on October 26, 2016
Consumer attitudes toward spam continue to shift dramatically, which in turn demands that brands make an equal shift in their email marketing strategies. To understand consumers’ current definition of spam and why they end email relationships with brands, Litmus and Fluent surveyed more than 1,300 American adults, using Fluent’s ad serving technology.
Our research found that consumers unsubscribe and report emails as spam for the same reasons, and that those reasons now involve experiences that go well beyond the inbox.
To help you navigate these changes, we detail consumers’ spam folder behavior and share a 7-point plan for how marketers can avoid spam complaints and extend subscriber relationships:
- Improve your permissioning to ensure that your email consents are strong
- Send relevant emails at a good cadence
- Create mobile-friendly emails
- Create mobile-friendly landing page experiences
- Make opting out easy to avoid frustrating subscribers
- Don’t email subscribers who have just had poor customer experiences
- Maintain your subscribers’ interest
Use the findings and advice in this ebook to reduce list churn and in doing so increase your email list growth and subscriber lifetime value.
>> Download the free report
B2B Forum Presentation: Inbox Optimization
Posted on October 24, 2016
Consumers opt-out and report emails as spam for a wide range of reasons, only one of which is a lack of permission. That’s because while permission is needed to be welcome in the inbox, sending functional emails with relevant content is needed to stay welcome.
In our session at MarketingProfs’ B2B Forum in Boston, Litmus VP of Marketing Justine Jordan and I shared new research into consumer email behavior and tips on how to stay in subscribers’ good graces.
In addition to the information we discussed during our presentation, we also shared a workbook to help marketers create better campaigns that fulfill the Hierarchy of Subscriber Needs, plus links to a lot of resources where you can dive deeper into a topic.
>> Download the slides, workbook, and resource list
6 Shocking Subject Line Myths
Posted on October 12, 2016
Subject lines are the most written about email marketing element, and they’re probably the most misunderstood as well. The internet is full of bad subject line advice that gets endlessly echoed until it has the ring of truth to it.
Here are six myths about subject lines that you may believe are true:
- Subject lines have the biggest impact on whether a subscriber opens an email.
- Subject lines can only impact email open rates.
- The subject line’s one and only goal is to get subscribers to open the email.
- To compel subscribers to open, subject lines need to grab their attention with provocative and intriguing language.
- The worst thing that can happen to an email is that it isn’t opened.
- If an email isn’t opened, then it’s like you never sent it.
For the truth about email subject lines…
>>Read the full post on the Litmus blog
Tips for Holiday Email Success
Posted on October 7, 2016
For online retailers, the holiday season is a critical time of the year. MailCharts’ 2016 Holiday Email Marketing Report includes analysis of email frequency, promotions, discounts, subject line copy, and much more that can help you plan the most effective campaigns.
The report also includes holiday marketing advice from Litmus, as well as AWeber, Movable Ink, and Return Path. The advice I offered from Litmus included tips about email content planning, managing inactives, and triggered emails—particularly shopping cart abandonment emails.
In addition, the 114-page report contains lots of examples of seasonal email campaigns and subject lines.
>> Download MailCharts’ 2016 Holiday Email Marketing Report
Welcome! Email Marketing Rules is your guide to understanding the best practices of this complex, often misunderstood channel as you craft the best executions for your brand. Every week, we’ll explore strategies and tactics, discuss tips and inspiration, and dig into industry news and trends.
Chad S. White
Head of Research
Oracle Digital Experience Agency
Author of Email Marketing Rules and nearly 4,000 articles about digital and email marketing
Features
