Thursday, March 16, 2017

From easy to expert | Email list segmentation 101 [Infographic]

You already know that email marketing is a fantastic marketing tool, with 72 percent of consumers saying they prefer email over other methods of communication from companies they do business with. To capitalize even more on the power of email marketing, consider segmenting your email lists – a smart and relatively simple way to boost your open and click-through rates. When you segment your lists into different groups based on demographics, habits, and more, you can email information and news relevant to each specific group — making those readers much more likely to act on the emails they receive.   

For help with your email list segmentation, check out our Email Segmentation 101 infographic below. And for more unmissable tips and advice on email list management, download our free eBook, Complete Guide to Email List Management.

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© 2017, John Habib. All rights reserved.

The post From easy to expert | Email list segmentation 101 [Infographic] appeared first on Vertical Response Blog.

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

11 Digital Marketers Who Are Innovating The Email Game

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Email marketing is one of the most effective channels for digital marketers and entrepreneurs. In fact, it's a top priority: 73% of marketers say email marketing is essential to growing their business. [bctt tweet="73% of marketers say email marketing is essential to growing their business. #DoMoreWithEmail"] When you think about it, email is really all about influence. We share content with our subscribers on a regular basis, weighing our influence into their decision to buy our product or service. Which is why we think following influencers is so important. The more you can learn and apply from them, the stronger your own email strategy will become. From content marketing gurus to growth hacking experts, see how these 11 digital marketers are using email in creative and innovative ways—and how you can apply their tactics to your own email strategy.

1. Nick Loper

Chief Side Hustler, Side Hustle Nation Twitter: @nloper

What's riskier: starting your own business or relying solely on your 9-to-5 as your only source of income? If you ask Nick Loper, it's the latter. Nick is an author, speaker and founder of Side Hustle Nation. An entrepreneur at heart, he's been through the ups and downs of starting his own business and now shares those learnings with his growing community. His content is a must read for aspiring side-hustlers and entrepreneurs alike.

Why you should follow him:

Many people use their thank you page to share more information with new subscribers. Nick takes it one step further and uses it as an opportunity to learn more about his new subscribers with a survey. By following Nick, you'll learn innovative ways to level up your email game, just like this one: Screen Shot 2017-03-15 at 10.02.03 AM Leverage this tactic to learn more information about your own subscribers by including a survey or poll on your email thank you page. You'd be surprised how willing your new subscribers are likely to share. In return, you'll have valuable insight into who your prospective customers are so you can tailor content to meet their needs (and make more sales in return).

2. Brian Dean

Founder, Backlink.o Twitter: @backlinko

Backlinko is filled to the brim with actionable strategies that marketers can use to get more traffic to their websites and generate more leads. Brian, the brains behind it all, is a fantastic marketer who knows how to create and promote content that converts the right people. He's super active and engaged with his Twitter audience, making him a great resource for marketers who want to take their strategy to the next level.

Why you should follow him:

So why do over 105,000 people subscribe to his list? Because Brian knows the secret to profitability is to offer something of value to his audience. His email list serves as a source for link-building strategies, SEO tips, marketing case studies and more. Screen Shot 2017-03-15 at 10.34.46 AM His post on the Content Upgrade should be required reading for any marketer looking to grow a strong, healthy list. When you follow him, you'll get nothing but high quality, actionable content.

3. Henneke Duistermaat

Founder, Enchanting Marketing Twitter: @henneked

Neil Patel calls her "the best business blogger" he knows. Copyblogger's Brian Clark says you "should follow her every word." She was also named one of "50 Incredible Women in Marketing to Follow" by Search Engine Journal. No big deal. With a no-frills approach to marketing, Henneke knows how to write practical, useful content to attract more leads and get more business. Connect with her on Twitter for 140-character marketing tips and links to some of her best content.

Why you should follow her:

Henneke is a killer copywriter and uses this skill to teach others how they can optimize their web and email copy. We love her friendly approach to email and how she encourages her subscribers to stay in touch.

Screen Shot 2017-03-15 at 10.36.24 AM

Try using her approach and inviting feedback from your subscribers in your emails. Like a survey, this is an excellent way to learn more about what your prospects needs and wants are.

4. Noah Kagan

Chief Sumo, SumoMe Twitter: @noahkagan

Noah is one the most recognizable names in the digital marketing industry—and for good reason. He boasts an impressive resume, most notably for his roles at Facebook and Mint. He has since gone on to become the founder of Gambit, AppSumo and Sumo, where he dishes out no-nonsense advice to marketers and entrepreneurs. Follow him on Twitter for actionable growth-hacking strategies, product updates and interviews with other digital marketing experts on his podcast.

Why you should follow him:

We all know how important it is to send great content. But you need people to opt in before you can start sending them the goods. Take note of how Noah approaches sign up form copy to attract and convert prospective subscribers. Screen Shot 2017-03-15 at 12.53.27 PM We especially love his use of social proof and how he shows off his personality, giving a taste of what to expect from his emails. This is a great way to start earning your subscriber's trust from the moment they hit your sign up form.

5. Amy Schmittauer

Founder, Savvy Sexy Social Twitter: @schmittastic

Are you a vlogger looking to monetize your viewership with email? You need to be following Amy Schmittauer. Amy has mastered the art of video marketing and now she's leveraging that expertise to show others how it's done with her YouTube series and book, Vlog Like a Boss. Short and sweet is Amy's schtick and it totally works. From her vlog to her emails, she connects with her audience on a personal level that keeps them coming back for more.

Why you should follow her:

Amy finds opportunities throughout her emails to connect with her subscribers on various social channels (Because why stick to just one channel?). Take this example, where she includes a link for new subscribers to share that they just joined her list.

Screen Shot 2017-03-15 at 10.46.09 AM

Why is this a smart approach? Because in return, she'll be exposing her brand to her subscriber's social networks, who are likely to have relevant interests. Try it for yourself and see just how effective it is!

6. Jeff Sieh

Founder and Host, Manly Pinterest Tips Twitter: @jeffsieh

Jeff is the founder of Manly Pinterest Tips—and host of the podcast by the same name—where he helps guys get to know how to leverage the marketing power of Pinterest. He's also the Pinterest Manager at Social Media Examiner, so you know he knows his stuff. His podcast is packed with actionable insights for men (and women), from power players like Cynthia Sanchez, Guy Kawasaki, Rebekah Radice and more. Follow him on Twitter to make sure you never miss an episode.

Why you should follow him:

Since he is a Pinterest guru, Jeff is all about using visuals to attract prospects. He even leverages his primary platform of Pinterest to teach marketers how to use—what else—Pinterest to drive traffic back to their websites and capture new leads. If you want to learn more about marketing on Pinterest, he's the guy to follow. 7790ea1abbed568c60136600b7b95eef Try sharing an eye-catching and descriptive image on Pinterest with links back to your website or landing pages. It's a great way to capture leads from relevant searches.

7. Derek Halpern

Founder and CEO, Social Triggers Twitter: @derekhalpern

Derek Halpern believes in the 80/20 rule. That is, you should be spending 20% of your time creating content and 80% promoting the heck out of it. It's this approach that skyrocketed the growth of his website, Social Triggers, and helped him to build audiences for websites across the internet. He's been featured in Fast Company and Entrepreneur and his podcast has hit number one on the iTunes Business section. I guess one could say he has a knack for writing copy that converts. His feed is filled with inspiration and actionable tactics that you can apply to your own strategy.

Why you should follow him:

From his blog to his emails, Derek is all about showcasing the value. That's why he's mastered the art of writing sign up forms. Notice how he positions his newsletter as "free"? This is a subtle way of hinting at the massive value that you'll receive at no cost when you join his newsletter. Screen Shot 2017-03-15 at 10.58.10 AM Always be sure to explain why someone should subscribe to your list. What's in it for them? The more valuable and descriptive you can be, the better.

8. Michael Stelzner

Founder and CEO, Social Media Examiner Twitter: @Mike_Stelzner

Michael is the founder of Social Media Examiner, host of the Social Media Marketing podcast, the man behind Social Media Marketing World, founder of the Social Media Marketing Society, author, talk show host ... I think it's safe to say he does it all. He covers everything from social media and and digital marketing to why email marketing is the number one channel to improve your ROI.

Why you should follow him:

Despite his social media marketing background, Michael knows the value that email can provide. That's why he emails his subscribers three times a week with the latest content from the Social Media Examiner blog and is a huge proponent of email marketing. [bctt tweet="Email is the most important channel for you to cultivate. @Mike_Stelzner #DoMoreWithEmail"] Take a cue from Michael and keep a regular cadence with your list. How often you send emails can have a huge impact on your results. While there's no right or wrong answer for how often to send, being upfront about it with your audience so that there's no surprises can significantly decrease your chances of unsubscribes (or worse, being marked as spam).

9. Laura Atkins

Owner and Deliverability Consultant, Word to the Wise Twitter: @wise_laura

With email deliverability a hot topic these days, who can we turn to to make sure that our emails make it to the inbox? Word on the street is that Laura is the industry’s email deliverability expert. She’s also the founder of Word to the Wise, an email consulting firm specializing in email deliverability and program management. Laura is serious about email deliverability and her Twitter feed serves up tips and strategies for marketers who want to make sure their messages get delivered.

Why you should follow her:

Because you want your emails to get delivered. The Word to the Wise blog is a great resource for staying in the know about changes and updates that could affect your deliverability. https://twitter.com/wise_laura/status/824760842415599617 Email deliverability is no joke. Make sure you're following email marketing best practices to make sure your emails get to their destination.

10. Ben Settle

Email Marketing Specialist and Author, BenSettle.com Twitter: @BenSettle

Ben is a great resource for marketers who want to amp up their email copywriting to convert more customers and make money with email marketing. People call him their "email marketing mentor" and he's even been referred to as "the King of Email". Pretty impressive, huh? Not only does he specialize in email copywriting, but he teaches others how to do the same on his blog, which is a great resource for those who want to understand how buyer psychology plays a role in the marketing funnel.

Why you should follow him:

Sign up for his daily Email Players newsletter to see for yourself just how effective his copywriting is. You'll also get a copy of his 24-Point Email Marketing Cheat Sheet, filled with subject lines, email openings and more profitable email tactics. Screen Shot 2017-03-15 at 10.11.45 AM Try out a few of his email marketing hacks and see how they work for you.

11. John Corcoran

Founder and CEO, Smart Business Revolution Twitter: @JohnCorcoran

John teaches aspiring entrepreneurs how to build profitable business relationships and expand their networks. He knows the power of investing in email marketing firsthand—his list is the driving force behind monetizing his blog and business. His expertise has been featured in Forbes, The Huffington Post and Newsweek (to name a few) and his content is aimed at helping business owners market themselves for maximum profitability.

Why you should follow him:

John knows his audience. His marketing approach is smart, straight-forward and offers valuable incentives to get the right people on his list. Screen Shot 2017-03-15 at 1.12.09 PM Try creating offers with your audience in mind (like the one above) to convert more subscribers and grow your list in no time.

What's Next

While we've added links to Twitter, we highly recommend connecting with these incredible marketers through their other platforms. Check out their websites and blogs and sign up for their emails to see firsthand why we chose them for our list. And follow us on Twitter for the latest email marketing strategies, tactics and news. Are we missing anyone from this list? Let us know in the comments! [bctt tweet="11 Digital Marketers Who Are Innovating The Email Game #DoMoreWithEmail"]

The post 11 Digital Marketers Who Are Innovating The Email Game appeared first on Email Marketing Tips.



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Tuesday, March 14, 2017

16 Ways to Segment Subscribers and Boost Engagement

SegmentSubscribers_AWeberBlog 2

Sending targeted emails to segmented subscribers isn’t just a great way to deliver more relevant content to those who need it most, it also works. According to the Direct Marketing Association, targeted emails can drive up to 77 percent of your overall email ROI. It’s also why the AWeber team has devoted its time to developing new features that will help you send more targeted emails with ease. In just two weeks, we’ll be launching new updates to subscriber segmentation and tagging that allow customers to send broadcasts based on tags, create more advanced subscriber segments and simplify subscriber management. Some of you have been waiting for these features to subscriber segmentation, and we are thrilled to announce they are right around the corner! But what if you’re not sure how you can use segmentation for your business? What if you have a smaller list and don’t really need to segment quite yet? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Here are 16 ways you can segment subscribers or start prepping your list for when you’re ready.

1. Send different emails to subscribers based on their skill level.

Educational email courses are perfect for teaching others and incentivizing them to subscribe to your email list. To create this experience for people of varying skill levels, you can create beginner, intermediate and expert versions of your course. As subscribers complete them, you can easily tag them and send that subscriber segment emails that invite them to the next course level.

2. Send an email or campaign with an incentive/gift based on birth month.

On your sign up form, ask subscribers to choose their birth month and set up custom fields to apply a tag based on their selection. Each month, send an email with a birthday gift to the corresponding group of tagged subscribers.

3. Send an email or campaign based on your subscribers’ interests.

If you tend to send emails that cover a variety of topics, it may be helpful to learn what your individual subscribers are most interested in. This way, you can send targeted emails to segments who are more likely to engage with that content.

4. Send contextual welcome campaigns based on different incentives and sign up forms.

Offer multiple incentives on different sign up forms? Make sure your subscribers get welcome emails with contextual content that’s relevant to their specific user experience. This makes it easier to deliver the right incentive to the right person, and create a more personalized email campaign.

5. Send webinar emails to subscribers who would be most interested.

Hosting an upcoming webinar on a very specific topic? Send the invite to a segment of subscribers based on their engagement (such as clicks or opens) with your previous email content.

6. Keep up with your list hygiene by segmenting out unengaged subscribers.

People sign up for your list for all sorts of reasons, so it’s natural that some become unengaged over time. But that doesn’t mean they have to hurt your email performance and deliverability as a result. Instead, create a segment of subscribers who haven’t opened an email in over six months and give them a unique tag. Whenever you send future broadcasts or campaigns, exclude the tag of unengaged subscribers to optimize email performance.

7. Send a second email to subscribers who didn’t open it the first time.

Not everyone is going to open your emails – and that’s okay! But there’s still a chance you can get them to take action. To motivate these subscribers who didn’t open your email the first time, try sending them another targeted message. To help boost engagement, try changing your subject line.

8. Send a second email to subscribers who didn’t click a link in the first email.

Noticed a low click-through rate in your previous email? Consider how you might be able to make the message more appealing for this segment of subscribers. This could mean emphasizing the value proposition of the action you want them to take, adding more urgency to your content or even trying new call-to-action copy.

9. Send a second email or trigger a campaign to subscribers who clicked a link in an email.

To send emails to subscribers based on actions they did take, try creating a subscriber segment based on a link they clicked in a previous email. You can send a targeted email to those tagged subscribers for specific products they might be interested in, or you can enter them into a new automated campaign.

10. Send reminder email invites to subscribers who didn’t click a link or open a message the first time.

Did only 20 percent of subscribers open your last email inviting them to a webinar or event? Send a targeted message to those who didn’t open or click the link to sign up and encourage engagement. Try emphasizing urgency or fear of what they’ll miss out on to motivate them to take action.

11. Send an email based on the incentive for which a subscriber signed up.

In addition to sending contextual welcome campaigns to subscribers based on which sign up form they came from, you can also send targeted broadcasts with content that relates to the incentive. Since you already know they’re interested in a specific topic, you can continue sending them targeted content they’ll enjoy.

12. Trigger an educational campaign based on the incentive for which a subscriber signed up.

Just as you can send a broadcast with relevant content to a segment of subscribers, you can also trigger a campaign that’s designed just for them. Instead of sending a sequence of emails with content that’s broad or doesn’t align with their interests, try sending content similar to what they received when they first subscribed to your list.

13. Send emails to subscribers in their native language.

If you have customers from different countries around the world, you might assume that their native language is different from your own. As a result, you can segment these subscribers and send emails in their preferred language.  Whether you segment and tag subscribers based on their geographic location or ask them for their language preference in the sign up form, you can easily deliver content that’s accessible to everyone.

14. Send emails with relevant content based on a segment's geographic location.

Own multiple stores in different locations? Have an ecommerce shop with customers from all around the world? By segmenting subscribers based on their geographic location, you can send contextual emails with content like exclusive discounts for local holidays or seasons. Or, share advice and news that would be more relevant to that particular audience.

15. Launch a win-back campaign for unengaged subscribers.

If you have subscribers who haven’t opened or clicked an email in a long time, try to win them back and get them engaged with a targeted campaign or broadcast. Instead of just excluding them from future emails, explain what they’re missing out on and offer exclusive discounts and incentives to get them to take action.

16. Send emails based on their experience with your brand.

By segmenting subscribers based on whether or not they’re a current customer, you can target your promotional messages to include more relevant content. For example, instead of sending an email to an existing customer and asking them to sign up for your product, you can speak more to their loyalty and promote advocacy and ongoing interaction.  

Tagging subscribers now for later

Not sure how you might be able to send targeted emails? You can always start tagging subscribers now in case you want to do so later. Add tags to your sign up form to ensure every subscriber gets it when they sign up. If you have multiple sign up forms on one list, for example, this will allow you to know exactly where your subscribers came from. This way, if you decide you want to send subscribers that signed up for your checklist an invite to a video on the same topic, you can do so with ease.

Segment subscribers, send more relevant emails

Sending targeted emails to subscriber segments is a proven way to improve your email engagement and ROI. So what are you waiting for? This post only listed some of the many ways in which you can segment your list, but if you have other plans to segment subscribers, I’d love to hear about them in the comments below! trialanddemoLEADGENBLOG_trial-v3

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105 ways to build your email list | Tips, tactics, and best practices

One of the first steps in any email marketing campaign is pulling together a list of addresses from people likely to be interested in what you have to say or promote.

That said, building a list from scratch can seem a little overwhelming at first. After all, newbies are in a bit of a catch-22 situation: They can’t start a campaign without addresses, but they’re often so dependent on email that they don’t know how to ask customers to opt in without emailing them. So how do you build an email list without email addresses? Once you have addresses, what do you do with them? How often should your send emails? What can you do to ensure your emails are delivered and not lost in spam or junk filters?

Find the answers to these questions and more in our free eBook, Guide to Email List Management. Download it today to learn the tricks and tools to managing a successful email list.

Still need to gather more email addresses for your contact list? Fear not! With diligence and a little creativity, you can build a solid list of interested addressees through a variety of methods. Here we’ve compiled by category 105 strategies, tips, tools, and ideas to help you find viable, interested consumers to add to your email subscriber list. 

General tips to keep in mind

  1. Only use email addresses you have gathered with permission. Buying a list of consumer names is a bad idea since it heightens the risk of complaints, bounced addresses, unsubscribes, or accusations of spam. 
  2. Experiment with new methods – ranging from pen and paper to online forms – and maximize the most effective ones.
  3. Methods borrowed from others may not work for you, depending on your industry or business.
  4. Once your list grows, segment audiences to increase strategy effectiveness.
  5. Avoid being pushy; if you offer value, loyalty will follow.
  6. Consider automation tools that can handle your busywork.

Fine-tune your opt-in form

  1. Make signups less invasive by initially requesting only addresses.
  2. Offer subscription options addressing content and intervals.
  3. Leverage testimonials from satisfied recipients.
  4. Mention subscriber numbers if they’re substantial.
  5. Promote exclusivity by offering subscribers something only they can get.
  6. Give away something valuable to all subscribers.

Optimize email addresses you already have

  1. Gather your addresses from transactional business communications.
  2. Share email lists with complementary businesses (with permission from your subscribers).
  3. Include a signup link in all your personal emails.
  4. Place forward-to-a-friend links in all emails.

Use your website as a portal

  1. Promote your email by social media, website, and blog. There is no limit to where you can include a signup form for your email list.
  2. Design a separate landing page specifically for signups.
  3. Treat your blog home page like an email capture form.
  4. Use Leadboxes from Leadpages in author bylines used on your site.
  5. Conduct a heat map test to identify best places for opt-in buttons.
  6. Test-drive CTA locations including your 404 page, sidebars, headers, footers, pop-up boxes, slide-ins that appear halfway down a page, or “sticky” forms that move down with scrolling.
  7. Require commenters on your own blog to provide addresses.
  8. Offer opt-ins to anyone “liking” comments on your blog.
  9. Exchange opt-in links with other businesses’ newsletters.
  10. Incorporate opt-ins within online forums your prospects might visit.
  11. Buy paid ads on websites your customers are likely to frequent.
  12. Offer subscribers free downloads of your business app.
  13. Offer subscribers a free eBook or informational guide.
  14. Establish a riveting blog that ends in an opt-in request.
  15. Post limited content on your site; offer upgrades upon subscription.
  16. Launch a viral competition in which subscribers benefit by recruiting others.
  17. The SumoMe List Builder app launches opt-in ads toward visitors about to leave your site.
  18. The SumoMe Scroll Box app launches ads toward visitors who scroll down.
  19. Custom poll creator Qualaroo can ask visitors about subscribing.
  20. Establish a highly visible confirmation page on your site that reiterates subscription benefits.

Promote signups on social media

  1. Incorporate opt-in links to your promotional YouTube videos.
  2. On Pinterest, attract subscribers via Pins leading to your signup form.
  3. Add opt-ins to your business and personal social media profile sections.
  4. Email opt-ins to anyone mentioning your business on social media.
  5. Publish opt-ins on your LinkedIn company page and within LinkedIn discussions.
  6. Create compelling images to post on Instagram; include opt-ins.
  7. Stage sweepstakes and require entrants to provide addresses; Rafflecopter runs Facebook giveaways.
  8. Create a contest inviting minute-long videos on why customers like your product. Post results on social media, asking voters to submit addresses in order to vote.
  9. Run paid Facebook ads touting you email newsletter.
  10. Online tool Woobox sets up quizzes related to your brand; participants share results on social media and provide addresses.
  11. Online tool Binkd gathers addresses from participants who tweet about your brand in exchange for entry in a prize drawing.

Capture in-store customers

  1. Print opt-in information on your receipts.
  2. Gather business cards/addresses for a weekly or monthly prize drawing.
  3. Place signs and signup sheets in highly visible places.
  4. Make opt-in by smartphone effortless by displaying your QR code.
  5. Ask all callers if they’ll opt in.
  6. Use a sandwich board to request emails.
  7. Ask for email addresses as customers sign receipts or business agreements.
  8. Add opt-in invitations to shopping bags.
  9. Gather addresses during in-store promotional events.
  10. Offer customers discounts or free products for referrals.
  11. Gather emails from customers responding to your Groupon, LivingSocial, or similar promotions.

Don’t forget snail mail

  1. Mail postcards offering incentives for subscribing.
  2. Include opt-in invitations with invoices.
  3. Include inbox requests inside every shipped package.

Look for other opportunities

  1. Use your smartphone to log addresses at business networking events.
  2. Feature opt-in offers on your business cards.
  3. Bring signup forms to trade shows, chamber of commerce events, and other business gatherings.
  4. Text customers about your pending newsletter and invite them to opt in.
  5. Place ads in local publications that prospects are likely to read.
  6. Solicit addresses when your business appears at fundraisers, festivals, artisan markets, etc.
  7. Tout the benefits of your subscriber birthday or anniversary club.
  8. Pay employees commission for securing viable addresses.
  9. Offer discounts to customers providing others’ addresses.
  10. Stage daily deals at your business, requiring participants to opt in.
  11. Book speaking engagements; offer subscribers free consultations.
  12. Gather addresses of those who mention your business on Foursquare.
  13. Justuno can automatically provide subscribers a relevant coupon code.
  14. Set up a WordPress community for your business, then post opt-ins.
  15. Use BuiltWith.com to discover tools competitors use to build their lists.

Build repeat business through credibility

  1. Create a comprehensive year-long email marketing plan.
  2. Optimize personalization tools to customize your campaign.
  3. Keep subject lines creative, clear, and urgent.   
  4. Develop a voice likely to appeal to your key audience.
  5. Keep messages brief and highly digestible.
  6. Create a not-to-be-missed email newsletter.
  7. Use variety, interspersing promotional messages with helpful information.
  8. Create emails informing customers of your latest and greatest inventory.
  9. Create emails explaining how to get the most from your business or product.
  10. Consider emails that share your company’s successes.
  11. Repurpose popular blog posts, videos, or other marketing messages into email.
  12. Ensure all visuals are crisp, high quality, and engaging.
  13. Use humor when appropriate.
  14. Optimize messaging opportunities centered around holidays and other events.
  15. Create and tout clever special events related to your business.
  16. Incorporate effective calls to action (CTAs) that are easy to respond to via link or button.
  17. Offer visually appealing, easy-to-digest layouts.
  18. Ensure all messages are mobile-friendly and easy to open on any device.
  19. Sign up for and evaluate competitors’ email campaigns and newsletters.
  20. Study industry trends and how they might work for you.
  21. Resist giving away valuable longer-form content without subscriptions.
  22. Use creative videos within emails to grab viewer attention.
  23. Tease recipients with hints about your next email(s).

Gauge your effectiveness

  1. Frequently employ A/B split testing to fine-tune audience preferences.
  2. Use surveys to ask audiences how you’re doing. Free services like SurveyMonkey, KwikSurveys, and SurveyPlanet can help.
  3. Measure your conversion rates, bounce rates, open rates, and unsubscribe rates relative to industry standards.  
  4. Constantly cull your list by deleting subscribers that haven’t interacted with your emails or brand.
  5. Include unsubscribe links allowing users to indicate why they’re unsubscribing.
  6. Listen closely to customer feedback and adjust accordingly.

Want to learn more about the nuts and bolts of using and implementing your email marketing list?

Join 140,000 small business owners

Get expert tips and email inspiration biweekly. Subscribe today and download our FREE Guide to Email List Management eBook.

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© 2017, Tori Tsu. All rights reserved.

The post 105 ways to build your email list | Tips, tactics, and best practices appeared first on Vertical Response Blog.

Monday, March 13, 2017

4 Novel Ways to Get More Out of Your Automated Campaigns

AdvancedEmailAutomation_AWeberBlog

This post is the seventh installment of our new series, The Ultimate Guide to Email Marketing – an eight-week series that covers the fundamentals of email marketing. Want a sneak peek into the content? Check out The Ultimate Guide to Email Marketing. If someone is interacting with your content, you know that you have a hot prospect on your hands. And when you’ve got a hot prospect, the last thing you want is for it to cool down. That’s why automated email campaigns (aka follow ups or autoresponders) can be so beneficial to your business. In fact, you may have already seen how creating campaigns can help ensure that you’re not missing out on key opportunities while you’re busy doing other things. For some, automated emails is the core of their business. "Email automation is the lifeblood to our businesses. Whether we are using a 'Welcome Series' for new subscribers, an invitation series for people requesting access to our products, an ascension series for transitioning a lead to a buyer... we are constantly using automation to create more touchpoints with the prospect/customer." - Justin Rondeau, DigitalMarketer  [bctt tweet="Email automation is the lifeblood to our businesses. - @Jtrondeau"] Whether you’re new to email automation or you’ve already implemented it, let's dive into a few more ways you can rev up your campaigns to maximize your ROI on email marketing. Here are four customer segments you should consider targeting for automated campaigns. Prefer listening to reading? Listen to the podcast adaptation now or watch the YouTube video!

1. The newbie

This might sound obvious, but new customers probably don’t know who you are. And as we all know, today’s buyer is all about engagement. The more people know about you, the more invested they’ll become in your brand. So tell them. Here’s how: When new subscribers sign up for your email list, go ahead and start sending them your regular content… but, also add them to a welcome series. In your welcome series, spell out who you are and what you’re all about. Let your passion for your subject shine through and you’ll go a long way toward building connections with new customers. Finish out your welcome series with a few posts that highlight your most-popular content. Check out this welcome follow up from the survey platform, Typeform: Typeform_WelcomeEmail In this email, Typeform welcomes new customers and shares ready-to-go templates to simplify getting started. I also love how they encouraged social sharing in the P.S. section at the bottom!

2. The vanisher

Show of hands: How many people have signed up for an email course that they never bothered to take? Well sure, it’s fine when you do it, but it’s annoying as all get-out when one of your prospects does it. An unengaged user means your emails are going unopened. That not only means that you’re losing this person’s attention, but it could eventually affect your deliverability. Here’s what to do: Check your stats to find the people who haven’t opened your emails. Then, set up a campaign to contact them with a reminder email in a month. You can give them a gentle nudge about the course they signed up for and give them an opportunity to restart. Who knows? Maybe they were just too busy the first time around. Circling back can give you a better idea of what went wrong. Users who are truly interested in your content will be happy for the reminder. Tip: We often suggest that you mention what you’re going to talk about in your subject line. However, Nathan Latka of Heyo once told us in a webinar that he usually goes for a really short subject line that provokes curiosity. (He claims he has even used knock-knock jokes.) In the right context, something like “Hey …” can be surprisingly effective. The casual and familiar tone coupled with the slight recognition of your email address may be enough to prompt an open.

3. The finisher

Did someone finish a course? Awesome. Now take that campaign and link it up with another one that promotes your next course. Since that customer is already familiar with your brand, they may be more likely to sign up for your other offerings. Send a message that says something like “Since you completed our Intro to Banana Growing Course, we thought you might like our Basket Weaving with Banana Leaves Course as well. Our next few emails will tell you more about it.” Linking campaigns can also come in handy if you want to do things like nurture prospects into loyal customers. If you host a contest to raise awareness of your brand and supercharge your list growth, you'll then need to tell them more about yourself. After your welcome series, try leading them into an educational series about your business and product offerings.

4. The attendee

Has someone come to one of your events? Sweet. That means he or she probably got a ton of emails from you beforehand about where to park, where to sign in and special promotions. However, don't let this be the last time they hear from you. Before the event is over, encourage attendees to subscribe to your email list. Use a mobile sign up form app (like our Atom App) so people can subscribe to your list on the spot. This way, you can set up an automated campaign with materials from the event, such as presentation decks or websites of different speakers, and stay connected with them in the future. When our team attended Podcast Movement last summer, we held a giveaway and captured email addresses using the Atom App directly at the event. After someone signed up, they received an automated email with contextual content about the contest and conference: PodcastMovement_AWeberExample This campaign not only encouraged further interaction with our team, it also helped establish a longer-lasting relationship for attendees who otherwise may have forgotten about us. In this way, using automated campaigns to keep your brand top-of-mind may help lead to future purchases.

A smart time investment

Your time is valuable. So just remember that while setting up automated campaigns may take a little time on the front end, having that automation in place can have a serious impact on the back end. Here’s to working smarter, not harder! Want to learn about other tweaks and techniques to up your email game? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Email Marketing for more on things like email content, design and strategy! UG2EM-blogCTA-2

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Thursday, March 9, 2017

Improve your email performance with these 4 A/B tests

With the simplicity and efficiency of today’s online tools, A/B testing has become a no-brainer for many email marketers. Not only can it help you understand the effectiveness of each campaign, but it can save you time, money, and effort by providing insight into customer behavior and preferences for use in future strategizing.  

For the uninitiated, A/B testing involves sending different versions of a given email — varying anything from subject lines to layout to photos to links — to different groups of subscribers, then measuring reactions to determine which is more effective at driving preferred behavior. The results can be used to increase the impact of your campaigns.

While practically any element can be tested, experts generally advise focusing on the aspects most likely have the largest impact on your campaigns. Some suggestions:

Subject line: The length, wording, and tone of your subject line can have a profound effect on your campaign. In fact, research shows 47 percent of email recipients quickly decide to open or ignore your emails based on the subject line alone. Psychology plays a major role in that behavior, and researchers continually try to determine the parameters involved. For example, Experian last year found personalizing subject lines led to a 42 percent lift in unique open rates in the consumer products and services segment, while VerticalResponse achieved better responses by offering something in a subject line rather than requesting action. In fact, VerticalResponse makes it easy for Pro users to A/B test their subject lines.

Frequency: How often is too often? The best way to find out is to ask audiences directly. Some businesses offer subscribers three options for messaging: weekly, monthly, or intermittently/only to promote special events. MarketingSherpa research shows 91 percent of U.S. adults like to receive promotional emails from companies they do business with; 86 percent would like to receive them at least monthly, 61 percent at least weekly and 15 percent daily. That said, Oracle studies show the No. 1 reason people unsubscribe from email campaigns is “too many emails.”

Best day and time: The question of which day to send emails, and at what time, remains the subject of much speculation. The answer tends to be different for each audience. Many experts recommend 50/50 split testing in which half your list is sent one day, half another. “One current theory is that consumers are making more purchases in the evening, when they are engaged with their tablets or mobile devices while watching TV,” says Cara Olson on Marketingland.com.  

Best calls to action: Calls to action are highly subjective and bound to produce different results based on their wording, format, imagery, placement within your email, and so on. “The CTA can significantly increase email engagement and conversion, so it’s important to plan your campaign thoroughly and consider the true power behind effectively mapping to those three elements,” advises Paul Ford on Marketingprofs.com

Once you’ve run a test and received the first set of results, don’t stop there. Incorporate what you’ve learned into your next campaign and keep testing. Remember, a hit with readers today may not work as well down the line. In order to keep your messages fresh and effective, run tests on an ongoing basis and use the results to fine-tune the way you create and send emails. 

If you’re ready to start testing your campaigns, an automated tool like VerticalResponse A/B subject line testing simplifies the process. Sign up for a Pro Plan to use this powerful feature today.

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© 2017, Amber Humphrey. All rights reserved.

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