The devil is in the deliverability
You're wasting time and resources creating an email message that doesn't reach your prospects. Make sure you thoroughly research the whitelisting process and deliverability rates of your email service provider. Outlook, Gmail, Yahoo, etc. were not created for mass emailing. Using them for this purpose will substantially diminish the impact of your efforts, as email servers will block your messages. As a final test, use a tool such as SpamAssassin to make sure your email will make it through spam filters.
Follow CAN SPAM best practices
Being a responsible e-marketer goes a long way. Before you even think of sending an email message, get comfortable with the FTC's guide to compliance. Most notably, you must have permission to email the recipient, provide a method for opt-out and include your business address. Alienating your prospects could mean much worse than losing a customer, including legal trouble and blacklisting.
Opt-in only
Use a list of contacts who want to receive your emails. When purchasing a list from a third party, make sure it's a reputable provider and that all addresses are double opt-in. Be wary of unscrupulous list dealers who try to sell you tens of thousands of emails for pennies on the dollar.
Build a better subject line
While there's no surefire science in crafting subject lines that convert, you must follow one critical guideline: keep it under 50 characters. Front-load with your most important words, be concise and avoid spam filter trigger words and phrases such as "FREE" or "GUARANTEE" (see a full list of checks here). As a general rule, the shorter the subject line, the higher the open rate. For other interesting insights, take a look at this research done by Epsilon.
Provide a user-friendly format
Creating a presentation that is overly fancy can kill the impact of your message. Construct the email in a manner that can be understood without images, as most programs require permission of the recipient before they are shown. Offer links to view the email as a web page and in text-only format—this is especially useful to those reading email on mobile phones.
Don't overload the inbox
Determine an email distribution schedule and frequency that is appropriate to your business. Your recipients will come to expect emails from you at certain times, so be consistent. If you are sending out product offers, ask your customers how often they wish to be contacted upon opting in.
Cater your content
If you're a business that offers multiple product lines or caters to unique types of customers, it may make sense to break down your list and write copy specific to each segment. Each customer group will receive relevant and engaging content, increasing loyalty to your brand. Nicholas Creative offers fully managed email marketing programs so you can skip the "do-it-yourself" learning curve and focus on your business. For more information, visit www.emailnewsletterservice.net, email info@nicholascreative.com or call (517) 292-2950. 2FGZ7XAVKN8V