Email Marketing News

Monday, July 27, 2015

Internal Newsletters: The Underdog of Email Marketing

So, how can we transition from a away from wasting of everyone's time and treat the internal newsletter what it is: a huge opportunity.Related Articles

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Friday, July 24, 2015

How to Plan Your Campaign Newsletter

Now that you know about why campaign-driven newsletters are a marketing win, it’s time to put pen to paper and plan how you’re going to execute your next newsletter campaign.Related Articles

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8 Frequently Asked Questions About Photo Copyrights And Emails

Emails need images. That’s no surprise. Finding the perfect image can be tricky. To make things more complicated, there are copyright laws. Before you add an image to your email, you should know about these rules.

It’s tempting to grab an image from Google, but can you do that legally? What if you take your own picture, what then? Can you use an image from a stock site however you want for as long as you want?

Not to worry, we have the answers to these commonly asked questions.

1. Can I use images I find by doing a Google search?

No. If you didn’t take a picture, it’s not yours to use. Photographers, models and creators of any artwork or branding all have the right to say how the final image can be used. If you just take a picture from the internet, you could be violating copyright, even if you attribute it.

2. Can I take my own pictures?

Yes. It’s a great idea. Taking your own pictures not only helps avoid copyright infringement, but it also gives your emails and social media posts a personalized touch.

Check out this article, “9 Tips for Taking Top-Notch Smartphone Photos.”

3. How can I use photos from stock sites?

When you purchase or download an image for any reason, you’re not buying the image but rather the right to use that image in a particular way.

Buying an image isn’t like buying a pen or a chair. You can’t use it however you want, and you don’t own it after you buy rights to it. Instead, it’s more like a rental. You’re buying the right to use something in a certain way for a certain amount of time. You don’t really own it, but you can use it as long as you obey the rules.

What does royalty-free mean?

Royalty-free images are those you can use over and over after an initial purchase. They’re not necessarily free, and you’ll still have to provide attribution for the image. You can, however, add them to your library of photos without worrying about paying for the second, third or fifth usage. Most of the time, these images are sold over and over again to various users, so it’s not something you own.

What does rights-managed mean?

Another type of photo is rights-managed, which means you pay a one-time fee to use an image once. If you want to reuse the image, you have to re-license it. In this case, you can pay to get exclusive rights to a photo so it won’t be used anywhere else.

4. What should I look for when buying an image from a stock site?

Read the terms of service thoroughly
Check the terms of service to see if use is restricted in any way
Review the rules to see how many times it can be used
Note exactly how you must attribute the photo

Major stock photo sites:

5. What should I look for when using an image from a free stock site?

Again, review the terms and conditions. Most free sites require you to provide attribution, which means listing the author and website when you publish the photo.

Watch out though, the quality of images on free stock sites can sometimes be weak.

Free stock photo sites to check out:

6. Can I use images from Flickr?

Some people choose to get photos from Flickr. You can select free images in the Creative Commons section. In some cases, you can download free images as long as you attribute the source. You can also browse through free photos based on how you plan to use them. For example, if you plan to use an image for commercial purposes, you can browse by “commercial use allowed.”

The Creative Commons section on Flickr is popular because of its high-quality photos and searchable library. It’s worth checking out.

7. Can I use movie stills?

Using representative pictures from movies that illustrate a point can be extremely problematic in terms of copyright infringement, and it’s rarely worth the trouble of making sure you’re within the law for a simple email.

8. Can I use clipart?

Another picture option is clipart. If you’re looking for a graphic or an icon, clipart is an easy way to go. The rules are less strict with clipart since there aren’t models and photographers involved.

Some good clipart sites are:

Imagery is a key ingredient to any email. The next time you look for the perfect image to support your newsletter or promotional email, be sure to read the terms and conditions and make smart choices to safeguard against copyright infringement.

Sarah Tanksalvala is a freelance business, technology and lifestyle writer based in Evergreen, Colorado.

© 2015, VerticalResponse Blog. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.

The post 8 Frequently Asked Questions About Photo Copyrights And Emails appeared first on VerticalResponse Blog.

Thursday, July 23, 2015

Back to the Future With Email

Email is still one of the best, most cost-effective ways to reach targeted audiences with customised content.

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Why Campaign-Driven Newsletters Are a Win

The best approaches to marketing are those that integrate every effort under the campaign model. So, what is the campaign model?Related Articles

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How to Make Your Emails Pop in the Inbox

We all know that today’s inbox is a very crowded and competitive space. Getting your email to stand out from the crowd can be done with some relatively simple email design tricks that can make your email more visually appealing in just a matter of minutes. Yes, there are some basic dos and don’ts when it comes to email design. Your primary focus, however, should be on the main call to action of the email.

What do you ultimately want the reader to do? Click a button to buy something? To read an article? To visit your store? Or, book an appointment? These design enhancements let you focus your attention on the call to action and produce a better look and feel for your email.

Let’s use this before and after of a sample email template that has been slightly altered to show some of the email design elements that can make your email more enjoyable to read.

How to Make Your Emails Pop in the Inbox

Background Color or Image: Get your entire email to stand out by adding a solid background color or patterned image. With the blue background added in Option 2, the email content pops. However, keep in mind that some email clients like Outlook or Yahoo! Mail won’t display background images. Emails read on those email providers will appear with just a white background.

Text Highlight: Get your readers’ eyes focused on the message you want to highlight. Compare the first paragraphs between Option 1 and Option 2. By adding a colored box around the text, the eye is drawn to that area. You can also change the background color of that section of the box to highlight it even more. If you’re offering a promotion or having a seasonal sale, you could design a box with dashed lines to make it look like a traditional percent off coupon.

Call to Action Button: It’s usually the whole point of sending out an email in the first place– the call to action. And using a button to focus your readers on what you want them to do is an easy way to get them to take that action. Plus you make it simple for your mobile readers to get to your site if you give them a button to click. Design your button to get the most attention in the email. First the text needs to be as clear and concise as possible. The options are limitless, but the old standbys include “Buy Now”, “Get Started” or “Donate”. In terms of the button design, take into account the color, shape, size, width and border. The difference between Option 1 and Option 2 is the black border around the button. VerticalResponse offers a free button building tool within the email editor.

Break Up Your Content: If you’re sending out a lengthy email like a newsletter that has a few different articles, consider breaking up the content with some simple lines. Option 2 has a few lines added to break up the content between the articles. It also divides the main call to action “Get Started” from the secondary email content. Readers typically like to skim. Adding a divider line can help them discern different content elements.

One cautionary note, don’t go into email design overload where you inadvertently make the text difficult to read or the email too overwhelming to view. What’s worse than white font against a dark background? Email eyesores will only get your email noticed in a way that you don’t want. You know, like in “that’s the ugliest email I’ve ever seen” way. Always err on the side of simplicity with your design choices, and be consistent with your existing brand aesthetic.

Leverage background colors, text, buttons and dividing lines to set your email apart in the inbox. All these design options are available within the VerticalResponse email editor. Get a more polished, professional look with these design techniques to get your emails read and your audience responding.

The post How to Make Your Emails Pop in the Inbox appeared first on VerticalResponse Blog.

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Benchmark Email at RISE

Benchmark Email is thrilled to announce that we will have a booth at RISE, a new tech conference aiming to give leaders of enterprise a place to gather and display the ways in which their companies are changing the way we live.Related Articles

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