LSA Bootcamp Denver: Email Marketing Best Practices (Constant Contact)
Constant Contact - Power of Email Marketing
Transcript of Constant Contact - Power of Email Marketing
Copyright © 2011 Constant Contact, Inc.
Leveraging Social Media
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Contact Information
Copyright © 2011 Constant Contact, Inc.
Jason B. SchultzManaging Member | NeoCloud Marketing, LLC
http://www.facebook.com/NeoCloudMarketing
@neocloudmarket
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jbschultz
Visit: www.constantcontact.com/learning-center
Insight Provided by KnowHow
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Introduction
This presentation has three parts…
Copyright © 2011 Constant Contact, Inc.
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2
Connecting to build customer relationships
Informing people who will buy in to your messageand share it with others
3 Growing your businesswith engagement marketing
1 CONNECTSection
Email Marketing Basics
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Connecting with your customers
Engaging in profitablecustomer communications
Using email and social media as components of an engagement marketing strategy
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Why Engage?
Q. Where will the majority of next month’s business come from?
A. Existing customers
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Why Engage?
Q. What is your best source for new business?
A. Existing customers
Engagement Marketing is using technology to make “it” happen
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Email marketing Trusting relationships Early relationships Encourage broader relationships
through SMM
Social media marketing New relationships New prospects Encourage deeper relationships
through EM
3 Steps to Building Relationships
Step 2:Connections that enable
ongoing dialog
Prospects
Customers
Step 1:Great customer
experience
You
Step 3:Content that engages
and spreads
Followers
Friends
Friends
Followers
Marketing Today = Building Relationships
Suspects
Five Types of People
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Customers DisinterestedProspectsRaving Fans
$
Time… Money… Energy… Effort
Takes 7 touches, on average, for a sale to occur
Some buy right away
Others research and try
Some show interest but don’t trust you
Acquiring Customers
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7
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Keep Customers Coming Back
The value of a customer
You’ve already paid for them
It’s 6-7 times more expensive to gain a customer than to retain a customer 1
They spend more
Repeat customers spend 67 percent more 2
They are your referral engine
After 10 purchases, a customer has already referred up to 7 people 2
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Sources:
1. Flowtown, 2010
2. Bain and Company
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Why Email?
Because almost everyone your business needs to reach reads it:
94% of Internet users between the ages of 18 and 64 send or read email
An even higher number of users ages 65 or older do the same
61% Use a social networking site
147 million people across the country use email, most use it every day
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Sources: Pew Internet and American Life Project 2010
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Why Email?
It’s cost-effective: Direct mail vs. email
For the same response, direct mail costs 20 TIMES as much as email 1
Email ROI is the highest when compared to other internet marketing mediums 2
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1 Forrester Research, Inc.
2 Direct Marketing Association
Email Marketing Is Not…
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Junk email
Unsolicited and unwanted email
Email from an unknown sender
Dubious opt-out (if any)
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SPAM
Email Marketing Is…
Delivering professional email communications
To an interested audience
Containing information they find valuable
15Copyright © 2011 Constant Contact, Inc.
Copyright © 2011 Constant Contact, Inc.
Basics of Email Marketing
Setting expectations How many emails sent
When are emails sent
What type of information
Delivering on promises Matching expectations
Providing relevant content
Abiding by CAN SPAM Act
Gaining permission Do they know me?
Do they care?
Utilizing professional services
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Regular Email vs. Email Service Provider
Standard email programs(e.g. Outlook, Hotmail)
Limited # of emails sent at one time
No formatting control
List break up more susceptible to filters
No cohesive branding
No tracking and reporting of email results
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Regular Email vs. Email Service Provider
Email marketing services automate best practices
Provide easy-to-use templates
Reinforce brand identity
Email addressed to recipient only
Manage lists – adding new subscribers, handling bounce-backs, removing unsubscribers
Improve email delivery, track results and obey the law
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Email Basics Checklist
Ask yourself before you begin email marketing…
Do repeat and referral customers help your business?
Do you have a plan for delivering multiple communications?
Is your audience interested in your message?
Is it valuable to them?
Can you make your emails look professional and reflect your brand?
Do you have an Email Service Provider to help manage your strategy?
19Copyright © 2011 Constant Contact, Inc.
1 CONNECTSection
Building a Quality Email List
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The benefits of permission-based marketing
Building a valuable contact list
Keeping your list current
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Consumers Define Spam
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Build Your List Where You Connect
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Customer & Prospect Database
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2 3
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Incoming or Outgoing Calls
Eventsand Meetings
Place of BusinessGuest Book
Guests
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Online Presence
57% of consumers will fill out a card to receive email alerts when asked to by a clerk at a local small business.Source: Transact Media Group
Email Signature
K Smitheen
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Integrate Email Marketing and Social Media Marketing
Make a Join My Mailing List available on all social media platforms.
Make social media buttons a consistent part of all emails.
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Collecting Information and Permission
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Include your logo and brand identity
Describe your email content and how often you’ll be sending
Ask about your customers’ interests to stay relevant
Ask for additionalcontact informationwhen necessary
C o n s i d e r a s k i n g f o r y o u r a u d i e n c e ’ s p r e f e r r e d s o c i a l n e t w o r k .
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Sending a Welcome Email
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Include your logoand brand identity
Personalize your message
Reinforce permission and ability to change preferences
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Response Necessary to Complete Subscription
Sending a Welcome Email
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Include your logo and brand identity
Ask for explicit confirmation
Include a confirmation link
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Using a Permission Reminder
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Keeping Your List Current
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Include your logo and brand identity
Provide a link so subscribers can update contact info
Ask for feedback
Include links to your social sites
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List Building and Permission Checklist
Ask yourself as you build your list…
Are you collecting contact information at every customertouch point, including social media?
Are you asking for permission as well as contact information?
Are you clearly describing your email frequency and content?
Are you sending a welcome email or a confirmation email, especially to those who have joined your list via social media?
Are you using permission and subscription reminders tostay current?
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2 INFORMSection
Creating Valuable Email Content
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Determining what is valuableto your audience
Choosing an effectiveemail format
Deciding what day andtime to send
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Content Has to Meet Your Objectives
“I want to…”
Promote Motivate purchases
Increase event attendance
Inform Inform potential customers
Differentiate my business
Relate Increase loyalty
Encourage more referrals
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Quality Knowledge
Savings
Content Has to Have Valueto Your Audience
Promotional Email
Discounts, coupons, offers, incentives.
Relational Email
Special privileges, acknowledgement
Informative Email
Advice, research, facts, opinions, tips
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Coming Up With ValuableEmail and Social Content
Share your expertise
Use facts & testimonials
Give guidance & directions
Offer discounts & coupons
Exclusivity & VIP status
Hold contests & giveaways*
Acknowledge your audience
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* Check applicable regulations before deciding to hold a contest or giveaway
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Keeping Email Content Concise
Host large bodies of content… On your website In a PDF document In a longer archived version
Email only essential information Use bullets or summaries Link directly to the information Give instructions if necessary
Repurpose content sound bytes for Social Media Drive social content back to
Email Archive or Website
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Come with Parker Travel Adventure Group and meet fellow travel enthusiasts near you. Join us for our annual rafting trip August 23 _ 26, starting at the base of Glen Canyon. There are still six spaces available for anyone interested in joining the group.
Complete package start $399 with flights from New York and Boston.
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Determine Appropriate Format
Newsletters Frequency: Regular i.e. monthly / weekly Lots of educational content (typically non-promotional) Use bullets, summarize information, be concise
Promotions / Invitations / Surveys Frequency: Depends on your business and sales cycle Focus on promotion / limited content Use content to invite click-through or other action
Announcements Frequency: Event-driven Press releases, holiday greetings, thank you cards… Use content to build deeper relationships
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Branding Emails Consistently
Use different formats and similar designs…
Include your logo
Use consistent colors
Use meaningful graphics
Avoid drastic changes
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Calling Your Audience to Action
Calls to Action include… Links to click on
Information to print out
Phone numbers to call
Instructions for reading the email
Instructions for saving the email
Describe the immediate benefits… What’s in it for your audience?
Why should they do it now?
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Frequency & Delivery Time
How often to send Create a master schedule – be consistent! Include frequency in online sign-up “Monthly Newsletter” Keep content concise and relevant to planned frequency Invest time to repurpose content on social channels
When to send When is your audience most likely to read it?
Day of week (Tuesday & Wednesday) Time of day (10am to 3pm)
Test for timing Divide your list into equal parts Send at different times and compare results
Re-stimulate social conversations: repost, retweet
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Get the maximumImpact with
Minimum intrusion.
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Use NutshellMail to Engage,on Your Time
Track your Page Insights
Reply from your Inbox
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Read Fan comments
Sign up for a Free
NutshellMail Account.
www.nutshellmail.com
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Ask yourself as you create content…
Are you trying to promote, inform, or relate?
What is your audience interested in?
Is your email format branded and supportive of your message?
Is your email concise and does it include a strong call to action?
Does your content match your frequency and timing?
Are you consistently repurposing valuable content on social channels and investing time to engage and respond?
Email Content Checklist
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2 INFORMSection
Getting Email Delivered and Read
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Email filters and otherdelivery challenges
Creating email from andsubject lines
Using technology to deliveryour email
Is Your Email Fabulous or Filtered?
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Filtering & Blocking (Avg 81% delivered –
CTCT 97%**)
ESP
Email Authenticated
**Return Path verified
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AOL MSN Yahoo other ISPs
Image blocking Block-listing
Individual filters Friends-listing
Bouncing Reputation
Challenge responses Sender authentication
Blocking
Deliverability issues:
Email Spam
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Matt Long
Joe Hahn
Nancy Feldman
Getting Email Opened
The “From” line – Do I know you?
Use a name your audience recognizes Include your organization
name or brand
Refer to your business in the same way your audience does
Be consistent
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60% of consumers say the "from" line most often determines whether they open an email or delete it. Source: DoubleClick
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Katejohnsonl@verizon,net
Match “From” Line and“From” Email Address
The “From” line – use a familiar email address
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Some email programs display From name + email
Some email programs display only From email
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Matt Long
Joe Hahn
Nancy Feldman
Create a Great Subject Line
The “Subject” line – do I care?
Keep it short and simple
30-40 characters including spaces (5-8 words) Incorporate the immediate benefit
of opening the email Capitalize and punctuate carefully
Avoid copying the techniquesinherent in spam emails
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30% of consumers say the “subject" line most often determines whether they open an email or delete it.Source: DoubleClick
Emails with shorter subject lines significantly outperformed emails with longer subject lines. - MailerMailer
Email messages that mention Facebook in the Subject Line will have a 32% higher open rate than those that don’t.-Worldata, 2011
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Avoiding “Spam-speak”
The words: free, guarantee, spam, credit card etc.
ALL CAPITAL LETTERS
Excessive punctuation !!!, ???
Excessive use of “click here”
$$, and other symbols
No “From:” address
Misleading subject lines
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SPAM
Example: Typical spam “From” and “Subject” lines
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Extend the Reach of Your Email
Make your content shareable
Encourage readers to Like and Share your Email across their social networks
Use a sharebar to gain insights into your contacts’ preferred channels in order to repurpose and broadcast your content
Use a sharebar to collect contacts wherever your email is shared
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Tweet and Share your Email
Tweet a link to your email automatically
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Email Delivery Checklist
Ask yourself before you send your message…
Are your images working together with text to identifyyour email?
Are you avoiding spam-like content in your emails?
Is your Email Service Provider authenticating your email?
Is your From line familiar and are you using a familiaremail address?
Does your Subject line include the immediate benefits ofyour email?
Have you extended the reach of your email by makingit sharable?
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3 GROWSection
Increasing Email Click-Through and Response Rates
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Tracking and improvingemail delivery
Increasing opens, clicks,and forwards
Reducing unsubscribe requests
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Tracking and Reporting
Email Client
Constant Contact Reporting Page
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Measure Increases in Overall Reach
Social Stats shows “Shares” and “Likes” for Shared Email Campaigns
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Deal with Bounced &Blocked Email
Non-existent address Check for obvious misspellings
Try to obtain a new address
Undeliverable/mailbox full/email blocked Try re-sending later
Correct temporary issues
Obtain a new address if arecurring issue is present
Bounce Management
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Analyze “Open” Rates
Use open tracking to spot trendsOpen rates trending down
Fewer subscribers are enabling images
Fewer subscribers are clicking links
Steady open rates Assume email is being received
Check your ESP’s average delivery rate
Reporting Page
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Capitalize on Click-Throughs
Use click tracking to determine: Audience interests
Clicks tell you what topics were interesting
Save clickers in an interest list for targeted follow up
Goal achievement Use links to drive traffic toward conversion
Compare clicks to conversions and improve
Reporting Page
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Encourage and Reward Email Forwards and Online Reviews
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Forwards Use your forward report to:
Thank people who forward your emails
Learn about the value of your email content
Encourage online reviews by those who forward your emails
Help your most passionate customers spread the word Ask them to forward your
email and write online reviews
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Understand Unsubscribe Requests
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An unsubscribe request happens when your subscriber no longer wants to receive your emails
Offer your subscriberspermanent list removal
Best practice is automatic removal with an unsubscribe link
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Reduce Unsubscribe Requests
Why do people unsubscribe?
Over-communication
Irrelevant content
Poor targeting
Enable your audience to leave comments when unsubscribing from your list
Take action on feedback
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Email Tracking and Response Checklist
Ask yourself after you send…
Are there any bounced or blocked emails that require attention?
Is your open rate trending upward or downward?
Are you measuring your increase in overall reach, including social networks?
Did your audience take action on your email by clicking through or forwarding your email? What were they interested in? Are you encouraging online reviews by these customers?
Did anyone unsubscribe from your list? Did they give you actionable feedback?
Did you identify any areas for improvement so your next email is more targeted
and more effective?
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Take the Next Step
Sign up for a free Email Marketing trial.Satisfaction guaranteed.
Arm yourself with the tools, playbook, and coaching to get your first campaign in front of your email subscribers and social networks. Watch your business grow!
Sign up today! Provide your card and we’ll follow up.or
Call toll-free: 866-876-8464
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constantcontact.com/learning-center
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socialquickstarter.com
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Customer Spotlight: The Parks Image Group, Inc.
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List Size: 1016
Open Rate: 42.3%
Location: Atlanta, GA
Customer Since: April 2006
Website: www.TheParksImageGroup.com
Update of current activities.
Tips on current fashion trends.
Etiquette tips & Book suggestions
Tips and articles for Men
Articles on topics related to the current season and related products of interest.
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Customer Spotlight: Bella Web Design, Inc.
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List Size: 207
Open Rate: 50.1%
Location: Marietta, GA
Customer and Business Partner Since: 10/06
Website: www.bellawebdesign.com
Send quarterly emails to announce new clients and services
Uses website sign-up box to increase list size
Includes links to current projects and business tips “Constant Contact has been crucial in communicating
with more than 200 clients. We used to use Outlook but could only send 25 at a time and the graphics were unprofessional. Constant Contact raised our customer awareness of our services and has given us a very professional look which comes through with each email we send. It keeps us at the top of our customer’s thoughts when they need online marketing assistance.”
Desiree C. Scales, CEO
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List Size: 2952
Open Rate: 23.8%
Location: Decatur, GA
Customer Since: Sept 2005
Website: www.dekalbchamber.org
Keeps members & subscribers informed about events with a weekly newsletter
Utilize campaign scheduling to send reminders for seminars and events
Increase their non-dues revenue through paid member advertising opportunities with e-blast sponsorship campaigns and ad space in the weekly newsletter
Offer 3-part series Constant Contact seminars regularly
“Constant Contact is an invaluable marketing resource for our members. Given the slowing economy, this is a key time for them to invest in tools that will allow them to nurture their current customer relationships. Having Pam available to give seminars and answer questions is an important asset to our community and we’re excited to be working with her.”
Janniece Leonard, Marketing & Communications ManagerDeKalb Chamber of Commerce
Chamber of Commerce Partner Spotlight:DeKalb Chamber of Commerce
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Case Study: Jack-Tar American Tavern
List Size: 950
Open Rate: 43%
Location: Marblehead, MA
Customer Since: 2005
Website: www.jacktarmarblehead.com
A classic New England tavern that specializes in creatively-prepared American fare
Relies on email to communicate with customers in a timely, consistent, and personal basis
Sends weekly email announcements and/or promotions
Started a loyalty program and has grown “Admiral Club” membership to 1,000
Copyright © 2011 Constant Contact, Inc.