Cleaning up your e-mail marketing list is a task that needs to be looked after at regular intervals. Taking the time to ensure that is up to date means that you will be communicating with prospects who are interested in hearing from you and are motivated to become buyers instead of browsers.
1. Identify Typos in E-mail Addresses
One thing you will want to avoid in your prospect list is having too many “unknown user” messages bouncing back to you, since this can lead to your account being blacklisted. To avoid this issue, you will want to make sure that obvious spelling errors are corrected in the e-mail addresses you have collected.
2. Find Duplicate E-mails on the Subscriber List
To ensure that your subscribers are not receiving multiple copies of the same message, ensure that you do not have any duplicate e-mail addresses on your list. Sort your list of database by e-mail. If you see more than one e-mail for the same person or company, remove them.
3. Remove Distribution E-mail Addresses
Make a point of removing any e-mail addresses which have the word “spam” in them. You also want to take e-mail addresses listed as “sales@” or “postmaster@” off your list. These distribution e-mail addresses are rarely used by companies and are often given just to grab a freebie or other incentive.
4. Ask List Members to Confirm their Interest
To make sure that your messages are reaching interested prospects, send out a message to everyone on your list asking them to reconfirm they would like to remain on your list. Be sure to thank everyone for their initial interest in participating; everyone likes to feel appreciated.
5. Make it Easy for Subscribers to Opt Out of Your List
When you are cleaning up your list, make sure that your members understand very clearly what they need to do to either confirm their continued interest or to have their names removed from it. Make it easy by offering a simple Yes or No choice, and tell your scribe subscribers exactly what you want them to do.
Use simple phrases like “Click Here to Stay on the List” or “Please Update My Subscription” for list members who want to continue to receive your messages. Clicking on the link should immediately take them to a page where they can see the information which is been uploaded to your list. At that point, all they would need to do is confirm that it is correct or make any necessary changes and then hit the “Submit” button.
Someone who indicates that he or she would like to unsubscribe from the list should also be taken to a page confirming that the request has been received. The message should also indicate when the subscriber can expect his or her name to be removed. If it will take 24-48 hours (or longer), indicating this to the subscriber means you will not be accused of spamming someone who specifically asked to be removed.
By taking these 5 steps to cleaning up your list, you will find that your e-mail marketing efforts are being used more effectively. You will be able to reach subscribers will find your messages interesting and relevant to their needs.
Wednesday 29 February 2012
Friday 17 February 2012
Three Ways to Improve Deliverability with Your Content
Getting your messages through to your list members is just as important as building your list. Deliverability is affected by a number of different factors – from the reputation of your email marketing provider to the quality of the email addresses on your list. Another important piece of the puzzle is the content of your email messages. By paying attention to specific sections of your email marketing messages with regards to content, you can boost your deliverability rates and see better results from email marketing.
Here are the three key content areas that you need to focus on with regards to deliverability:
1. Subject lines
Subject lines are the first exposure that your audience gets to your message and they can significantly improve your deliverability rates. People are busy and no matter how excited they might have been to receive your information when they first signed up, they will resist opening your emails without a compelling subject lines. Subject lines should provide a teaser for the content inside of the email and encourage the recipient to open up the message.
Subject lines are also evaluated significantly in terms of the spam content of a message. Having the right subject line can help you avoid spam filters and be sure that you’re actually reaching your intended audience.
2. Newsletter content
Deliverability rates are affected by your previous open rates. This means that the more that your messages are sent out and opened, the more trustworthy you are seen as a sender and the more likely your messages will be delivered and opened in the future. You can effect this directly with your newsletter content.
Focus on sending your list members helpful, targeted information in pre-set intervals. Your sales messages should be spaced out with helpful content in between. This will help your list members see you as a valuable resource rather just a company that is focused on the sale. By planning out targeted content that answers major questions for your audience, you can see an increase in your open rates and a boost to your overall deliverability rate.
3. List segmentation and targeted content
Besides sending helpful, informative messages and newsletters at regular times, you can go a step further with your targeting and improve your deliverability rates with list segmentation. If you know that certain members of your list are more likely to open and read messages, you can segment these members and send messages to them regularly. You can also segment your list by buying behavior, click-throughs and a number of other factors. Using segmentation you can get ultra-specific with your list and see a better result from your email marketing efforts.
Deliverability rate is an important metric that deserves your attention if you want to excel with email marketing. There are many ways that the quality and nature of your content can affect this metric. Just like with other forms of online marketing, understanding what your customers want to know and delivering it to them in a helpful and targeted way is a key to deliverability and overall email marketing success.
For More information on CFL HTML Email services please call 01225 782669 or or log on to www.cflmarketing.co.uk
Here are the three key content areas that you need to focus on with regards to deliverability:
1. Subject lines
Subject lines are the first exposure that your audience gets to your message and they can significantly improve your deliverability rates. People are busy and no matter how excited they might have been to receive your information when they first signed up, they will resist opening your emails without a compelling subject lines. Subject lines should provide a teaser for the content inside of the email and encourage the recipient to open up the message.
Subject lines are also evaluated significantly in terms of the spam content of a message. Having the right subject line can help you avoid spam filters and be sure that you’re actually reaching your intended audience.
2. Newsletter content
Deliverability rates are affected by your previous open rates. This means that the more that your messages are sent out and opened, the more trustworthy you are seen as a sender and the more likely your messages will be delivered and opened in the future. You can effect this directly with your newsletter content.
Focus on sending your list members helpful, targeted information in pre-set intervals. Your sales messages should be spaced out with helpful content in between. This will help your list members see you as a valuable resource rather just a company that is focused on the sale. By planning out targeted content that answers major questions for your audience, you can see an increase in your open rates and a boost to your overall deliverability rate.
3. List segmentation and targeted content
Besides sending helpful, informative messages and newsletters at regular times, you can go a step further with your targeting and improve your deliverability rates with list segmentation. If you know that certain members of your list are more likely to open and read messages, you can segment these members and send messages to them regularly. You can also segment your list by buying behavior, click-throughs and a number of other factors. Using segmentation you can get ultra-specific with your list and see a better result from your email marketing efforts.
Deliverability rate is an important metric that deserves your attention if you want to excel with email marketing. There are many ways that the quality and nature of your content can affect this metric. Just like with other forms of online marketing, understanding what your customers want to know and delivering it to them in a helpful and targeted way is a key to deliverability and overall email marketing success.
For More information on CFL HTML Email services please call 01225 782669 or or log on to www.cflmarketing.co.uk
Thursday 16 February 2012
How to Determine Where to Spend Your Marketing Budget
Establishing a marketing budget is only the first step in making sure your business is marketed effectively. Once you know how much you have to work with, it is important to make wise choices about where that money will be spent.
By considering a few key criteria, focusing on your most pressing marketing needs and evaluating what worked best in the past, you can determine where to best spend your marketing budget.
Marketing is changing and smart companies are keeping up with these changes. With web marketing, it’s become possible to reach more customers than ever before, but you need to keep a few important principles in mind when you are looking for marketing activities.
As you look at the next year of spending, keep the following four criteria in mind:
1) Trust
Which marketing methods and practice will help build trust in your company?
2) Targeting
Do the marketing methods give you the ability to approach a small segment of your audience?
3) Engagement
Are your marketing methods getting you in front of active enthusiasts of your product or service?
4) Social sharing
Do these marketing methods make it easy for your audience to spread and share your content to their social contacts?
With these criteria at the forefront of your decision making process, you need to look at where you are going to get the most bang for your marketing buck. What are your main goals for the next month, the next quarter and the next year? Which practices are going to help you meet those goals? Marketing activities and methods can help you meet a number of different goals but some are better than others for specific goals.
Here are five few possible ideas:
1) Increasing website traffic and conversions:
Web re-design, copywriting, SEO and PPC advertising.
2) Increasing sales:
Targeted email marketing messages, sales pages and web design.
3) Building a community and increasing your reputation with that community:
Email marketing, social media and community management.
4) Increasing exposure:
Trade shows, press releases, white papers, email newsletters and guest blog posting.
5) Boosting credibility:
Regular email newsletters, authority blog posts, press releases and white papers.
Your marketing spending should reflect your goals. Looking at your most immediate goals for your business will help you identify which marketing activities you should invest in. Give priority to those tactics that will help your reach your goals in the next few months.
Finally, you need to look at your past performance before you invest in marketing for the new year. Which marketing activities had the biggest ROI for your company in the past 12 months? Which efforts were disappointing at best or complete failures at worst? Just because a technique or method is an industry standard or works well for another company does not mean it is a good fit for you. Always rely on your company’s experience with a marketing method to make your final decision.
With these criteria, goals and experiences in mind, you can spend your marketing budget wisely and effectively.
However you decide to spend your budget, CFL Marketing can advise you and help execute your plans – contact philm@cflmarketing.co.uk for more details or log onto www.cflmarketing.co.uk
By considering a few key criteria, focusing on your most pressing marketing needs and evaluating what worked best in the past, you can determine where to best spend your marketing budget.
Marketing is changing and smart companies are keeping up with these changes. With web marketing, it’s become possible to reach more customers than ever before, but you need to keep a few important principles in mind when you are looking for marketing activities.
As you look at the next year of spending, keep the following four criteria in mind:
1) Trust
Which marketing methods and practice will help build trust in your company?
2) Targeting
Do the marketing methods give you the ability to approach a small segment of your audience?
3) Engagement
Are your marketing methods getting you in front of active enthusiasts of your product or service?
4) Social sharing
Do these marketing methods make it easy for your audience to spread and share your content to their social contacts?
With these criteria at the forefront of your decision making process, you need to look at where you are going to get the most bang for your marketing buck. What are your main goals for the next month, the next quarter and the next year? Which practices are going to help you meet those goals? Marketing activities and methods can help you meet a number of different goals but some are better than others for specific goals.
Here are five few possible ideas:
1) Increasing website traffic and conversions:
Web re-design, copywriting, SEO and PPC advertising.
2) Increasing sales:
Targeted email marketing messages, sales pages and web design.
3) Building a community and increasing your reputation with that community:
Email marketing, social media and community management.
4) Increasing exposure:
Trade shows, press releases, white papers, email newsletters and guest blog posting.
5) Boosting credibility:
Regular email newsletters, authority blog posts, press releases and white papers.
Your marketing spending should reflect your goals. Looking at your most immediate goals for your business will help you identify which marketing activities you should invest in. Give priority to those tactics that will help your reach your goals in the next few months.
Finally, you need to look at your past performance before you invest in marketing for the new year. Which marketing activities had the biggest ROI for your company in the past 12 months? Which efforts were disappointing at best or complete failures at worst? Just because a technique or method is an industry standard or works well for another company does not mean it is a good fit for you. Always rely on your company’s experience with a marketing method to make your final decision.
With these criteria, goals and experiences in mind, you can spend your marketing budget wisely and effectively.
However you decide to spend your budget, CFL Marketing can advise you and help execute your plans – contact philm@cflmarketing.co.uk for more details or log onto www.cflmarketing.co.uk
Wednesday 15 February 2012
3 Best Practice Rules for Email Timing
In a perfect world, your email marketing list members will open up each of your messages immediately, read each line and take action right away. But as you know, your list members are busy, may not recall why they signed up for your list in the first place or may be receiving your email at a time when there are dozens of other messages coming their way.
That is why it is important to time your email messages just right. Timing relates to two different decisions:
-What days and times are best for my email messages?
-How frequently should I send out my email messages
-When you understand the timing and frequency rhythms that are right for your list, you can send out messages that have more impact. Here are three best practices rules to follow to boost your success.
1.) Find a schedule and stick with it.
The most important key to having email marketing success with your own list is being consistent. Find a schedule that works for your company (and gets a good response from your list) and then repeat it week in and week out (or month in and month out). Of course, this does not apply to special discounts or deals, but with your email marketing newsletter you should have a consistent schedule. Weekly or bi-weekly works best for most companies.
2.) Consider your users and their lives.
Your email marketing messages are more likely to be opened when your audience is not overwhelmed with other messages or checking in quickly. If your target market is busy moms, sending them a message at 10 am is not going to work. If you are marketing to small business owners, messages on a Friday afternoon are not going to have an impact. Think through the day to day life of your prospects and then pick a time when they are most likely to have time to open and read your message. Once you have decided on a time and day for your newsletters and messages, then you can look at your open rates, track your effectiveness and make adjustments.
3.) Give list members the power to select their own frequency.
One of the best ways to succeed with email marketing is to make sure your users get exactly what they need when they want it. You can do just this by allowing your subscribers to tell you how often they’d like to be contacted. For example, if you are sending a weekly blog update newsletter and a monthly in depth newsletter, your subscribers can indicate whether they would like to be contacted each week or each month. You can use this information to segment your list and send content at the right times to specific email list members.
Although these are important industry best practices, each email marketing list is unique. Your subscribers will respond best to a specific frequency and timing of content. Once you select what you think will work best, look at your analytics and results and make adjustments as need be.
That is why it is important to time your email messages just right. Timing relates to two different decisions:
-What days and times are best for my email messages?
-How frequently should I send out my email messages
-When you understand the timing and frequency rhythms that are right for your list, you can send out messages that have more impact. Here are three best practices rules to follow to boost your success.
1.) Find a schedule and stick with it.
The most important key to having email marketing success with your own list is being consistent. Find a schedule that works for your company (and gets a good response from your list) and then repeat it week in and week out (or month in and month out). Of course, this does not apply to special discounts or deals, but with your email marketing newsletter you should have a consistent schedule. Weekly or bi-weekly works best for most companies.
2.) Consider your users and their lives.
Your email marketing messages are more likely to be opened when your audience is not overwhelmed with other messages or checking in quickly. If your target market is busy moms, sending them a message at 10 am is not going to work. If you are marketing to small business owners, messages on a Friday afternoon are not going to have an impact. Think through the day to day life of your prospects and then pick a time when they are most likely to have time to open and read your message. Once you have decided on a time and day for your newsletters and messages, then you can look at your open rates, track your effectiveness and make adjustments.
3.) Give list members the power to select their own frequency.
One of the best ways to succeed with email marketing is to make sure your users get exactly what they need when they want it. You can do just this by allowing your subscribers to tell you how often they’d like to be contacted. For example, if you are sending a weekly blog update newsletter and a monthly in depth newsletter, your subscribers can indicate whether they would like to be contacted each week or each month. You can use this information to segment your list and send content at the right times to specific email list members.
Although these are important industry best practices, each email marketing list is unique. Your subscribers will respond best to a specific frequency and timing of content. Once you select what you think will work best, look at your analytics and results and make adjustments as need be.
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Leisure visits are up but spending is down
UK consumers are visiting pubs, clubs and restaurants more often - but spending less - as “austerity fatigue” kicks in.
That’s according to a survey of 3,000 consumers, which found that visits to pubs/bars, restaurants and late-night venues increased by 2.2%, 4% and 10.5% respectively compared to a survey one year ago.
Monthly visits to pubs and bars increased from 4.3 in summer 2010 to 4.6. Visits to restaurants increased slightly, from 2.5 to 2.6 per month, and for late-night venues they also crept up from 1.9 to 2.1.
It’s the first time that each sector has seen an increase.
However, the latest report shows that average spend per visit in pubs and bars fell 9.5% to £14.69. For restaurants, the decline is 8% to £15.90, and for late-night bars it’s 12.4% to £24.04.
According to the survey, 48% of consumers said their disposable income has fallen in the last six months, while just 6% said it had increased. Over the past year average national household income fell £640 to £30,584, the survey found.
The survey also highlighted big differences in spending patterns across the country.
For pubs and bars, the biggest spenders are in the north west at £999 per year, compared to £490 in the East Midlands.
Londoners are the highest spenders in restaurants, spending £889 pa, with consumers in the capital spending at least £200 more per year than any other region. Again, spend was the lowest in the East Midlands, at £332.
Even though consumers continue to keep close watch on their spending, this is good news for operators with strong propositions because ultimately no leisure business can survive without customers coming through the door. - Its the perfect opportunity for operators to market to consumers and promote offers on site.
For operators, this more budgeted approach to leisure still presents opportunities to cross-sell and up-sell, and more people coming through the doors shows that operators’ sales initiatives and marketing plans are starting to work.
Need help promoting your venue? www.cflmarketing.co.uk
That’s according to a survey of 3,000 consumers, which found that visits to pubs/bars, restaurants and late-night venues increased by 2.2%, 4% and 10.5% respectively compared to a survey one year ago.
Monthly visits to pubs and bars increased from 4.3 in summer 2010 to 4.6. Visits to restaurants increased slightly, from 2.5 to 2.6 per month, and for late-night venues they also crept up from 1.9 to 2.1.
It’s the first time that each sector has seen an increase.
However, the latest report shows that average spend per visit in pubs and bars fell 9.5% to £14.69. For restaurants, the decline is 8% to £15.90, and for late-night bars it’s 12.4% to £24.04.
According to the survey, 48% of consumers said their disposable income has fallen in the last six months, while just 6% said it had increased. Over the past year average national household income fell £640 to £30,584, the survey found.
The survey also highlighted big differences in spending patterns across the country.
For pubs and bars, the biggest spenders are in the north west at £999 per year, compared to £490 in the East Midlands.
Londoners are the highest spenders in restaurants, spending £889 pa, with consumers in the capital spending at least £200 more per year than any other region. Again, spend was the lowest in the East Midlands, at £332.
Even though consumers continue to keep close watch on their spending, this is good news for operators with strong propositions because ultimately no leisure business can survive without customers coming through the door. - Its the perfect opportunity for operators to market to consumers and promote offers on site.
For operators, this more budgeted approach to leisure still presents opportunities to cross-sell and up-sell, and more people coming through the doors shows that operators’ sales initiatives and marketing plans are starting to work.
Need help promoting your venue? www.cflmarketing.co.uk
Monday 13 February 2012
Half of new licensees can't find specialist advice
Half (49%) of new publicans and club owners admit they are struggling because they don’t know where to go for specialist advice and guidance on setting up and running their own business.
That’s according to a survey from People 1st, the sector skills council for hospitality, passenger, transport, travel and tourism.
Its findings also highlighted that having access to expert support – in particular financial, marketing and business planning – would have made a “critical difference” to four out of ten of those interviewed.
The survey questioned 418 pubs, bars and nightclubs, of which 61 had been open for less than three years.
Publicans, in particular, have unique issues and need access to specialist professionals who really understand their business.
CFL Have been helping Pubs, Bars, Clubs, Breweries and Licensed Leisure companies with all their marketing needs for the last 3 decades
Throughout all of this CFL have provided unique, effective and relevant direct marketing solutions to our customers, using a product portfolio covering all aspects of direct marketing - from Direct Mail to Digital Marketing.
Possessing that rare combination of operational experience, marketing flair and industry knowledge, our dedicated client services team will custom build a solution to fit any given brief or requirement. To find out how we could be growing your business, give us a call. - 01225 782669 or email philm@cflmarketing.co.uk
That’s according to a survey from People 1st, the sector skills council for hospitality, passenger, transport, travel and tourism.
Its findings also highlighted that having access to expert support – in particular financial, marketing and business planning – would have made a “critical difference” to four out of ten of those interviewed.
The survey questioned 418 pubs, bars and nightclubs, of which 61 had been open for less than three years.
Publicans, in particular, have unique issues and need access to specialist professionals who really understand their business.
CFL Have been helping Pubs, Bars, Clubs, Breweries and Licensed Leisure companies with all their marketing needs for the last 3 decades
Throughout all of this CFL have provided unique, effective and relevant direct marketing solutions to our customers, using a product portfolio covering all aspects of direct marketing - from Direct Mail to Digital Marketing.
Possessing that rare combination of operational experience, marketing flair and industry knowledge, our dedicated client services team will custom build a solution to fit any given brief or requirement. To find out how we could be growing your business, give us a call. - 01225 782669 or email philm@cflmarketing.co.uk
Tuesday 7 February 2012
Paddy's big party!
Are you aware St. Patrick's day in on a Saturday this year? - What do you have planned for the 17th March?
The January sales are over... Valentines has been and gone so St. Patrick's day in the next big weekend in the calendar.
We all know its tough out there...so its the perfect opportunity to use the luck of the Irish and drive custom to your venue.
Let the Guinness flow and enjoy the craic! - not to mention the Six nations rugby!
So why not contact CFL to build a targeted promotion?
Whether its Design, Posters, Flyers, Mailings, Door Drops, Banners, Emails,Web Sites, Social Media, Data Capture or SMS text messages, we can help!
CFL posses that rare combination of operational experience, marketing flair and industry knowledge, our dedicated client services team will custom build a solution to fit any given brief or requirement.
Take a look at some examples of our work below
Remember – don’t just leave it and hope things will pick up.. drop us a line 01225 782669 - or email philm@cflmarketing.co.uk
The January sales are over... Valentines has been and gone so St. Patrick's day in the next big weekend in the calendar.
We all know its tough out there...so its the perfect opportunity to use the luck of the Irish and drive custom to your venue.
Let the Guinness flow and enjoy the craic! - not to mention the Six nations rugby!
So why not contact CFL to build a targeted promotion?
Whether its Design, Posters, Flyers, Mailings, Door Drops, Banners, Emails,Web Sites, Social Media, Data Capture or SMS text messages, we can help!
CFL posses that rare combination of operational experience, marketing flair and industry knowledge, our dedicated client services team will custom build a solution to fit any given brief or requirement.
Take a look at some examples of our work below
Remember – don’t just leave it and hope things will pick up.. drop us a line 01225 782669 - or email philm@cflmarketing.co.uk
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)