Email marketing is a big deal these days. And, while traditional direct mail marketing still has a place, the ability to engage with online consumers on an ongoing basis, through permission marketing (when they opt in to receive your email messages) represents great value to your organization. If, that is, you can keep them engaged. (more…)
Posts Tagged ‘email marketing’
Why You’re Losing Email Subscribers
Tuesday, March 17th, 2015The Most Important, and Most Often Overlooked, Element of Your Email Message
Tuesday, January 20th, 2015Despite the surge in mobile phones, tablets and texting, email communication remains a common way to connect with various audiences—internal and external. Yet, because it remains so common, those communicating via email face several challenges: getting their email to their intended user, keeping their email out of the spam/junk folder and, ultimately, having their email opened and read.
One key way to boost the odds that these things will happen is often overlooked or not given the consideration it deserves: (more…)
How Will We Use Email in 2015
Wednesday, December 31st, 2014
As smartphones have become increasingly common and many—particularly the millennial generation—have turned to texting as their go-to method of communication, some have questioned the future of email as a means of communication in both personal and professional settings.
I was asked recently by a reporter what I felt the future of email is and, particularly, how we are likely to use email in 2015. Will email go away? Will it remain relevant? These are very much the same questions that have been asked of other forms of communication: Will email replace “snail mail”? Will online chat replace phone calls? “Yes” and “yes” in some cases.
Generally, though, rather than reflecting a potential replacement, these new methodologies create new options and opportunities. (more…)
Connecting, Via Email, With Powerful People
Tuesday, September 9th, 2014In a recent blog post by Peter Sims in the Harvard Business Review titled “Tips for Cold Emailing Intimidatingly Powerful People,” Sims discusses tips and strategies for “cold-emailing” the big shots and captains of industry we all want to know. When it comes to marketing efforts, defining a list of individuals you want to get your message to and shooting them a personal email is about as targeted as it gets, so knowing how to effectively reach out to leaders, influencers and big spenders in your industry is a great arrow to have in your quiver. (more…)
The Big Benefits of Traditional Direct Mail
Thursday, March 7th, 2013Despite the fact that the United States Postal Service (USPS) is struggling and about to cut back on their delivery, there are some (including me) that believe that traditional direct mail still holds benefits for both marketers and consumers. In an increasingly cluttered email environment, after all, marketers will be challenged to come up with new ways to “capture eyeballs.” Traditional direct mail may hold some opportunities for a number of reasons: (more…)
The Reports of the Death of Direct Mail Are Greatly Exaggerated
Thursday, February 28th, 2013A couple of years ago I proposed a book update to one of my publishers. I had written a book on direct mail marketing back in 1992 and, obviously, things have changed quite a bit since then. Not surprisingly, as I began my research, I discovered that the direct mail landscape had changed quite a big to accommodate–and capitalize on–new media. I found that my personal belief that traditional direct mail might be seeing somewhat of a resurgence was right on. Effective marketers were beginning to seize upon the ability to communicate in a less-cluttered space. For example: (more…)
Ramp Up Your Email Marketing Effectiveness
Monday, August 13th, 2012I did an interview recently with a reporter who was looking for tips on email marketing effectiveness. Whenever I do this type of thing, or write bout email or Internet marketing, or even *think* about email or Internet marketing, I’m always struck with how very much the *same* online marketing is to traditional marketing. The tools may be different. The reach may be different. But the bottom line, by and large, is that the techniques (more…)
Sometimes “Snail Mail” is Still the Best Way to Go
Sunday, October 24th, 2010I’ve recently begun working in earnest on an update to my 1992 book A Small Business Guide to Direct Mail. The update will be significantly revised and will be titled Direct Mail for the Digital Age. A lot has happened in the direct mail industry since 1992–most notably the advent of email marketing which opens up many new opportunities for marketers. Very cost effective opportunities. (more…)