I used to build flying model aircraft. One rather hurtful criticism of my abilities in controlling them was made at the club annual dinner when I received a special award for the way I landed my planes. The comment was that: 'they didn't so much land as arrive.' This is an apt description of many … READ MORE »
Designing a marketing email is a creative exercise and one that can be very fulfilling. With the quality of current email marketing templates there is not even the daunting prospect of the blank white screen at the start. Whilst the templates are simplicity itself to complete, there are some things to bear in mind. 1/ … READ MORE »
Any top ten list of what should be in a direct marketing email will include a call to action, that is a click through to the offer. It will be on any top two list as well. It is the whole reason for the email. But don’t just call: demand. No matter how cool people … READ MORE »
We have all been used to negative forecasts for SMEs but they haven’t been as dire for some time. Every economist, political reporter, marketing researcher and their dogs are suggesting that whatever business we are in, we are going to struggle over the coming months, email marketing included. History, though, tells us otherwise. In any, … READ MORE »
It is all too easy to assume that the big firms in email marketing and data collecting would have, if not legions, then at least sufficient sources of legal advice. You might think it would be perfectly fine to copy their methods without going to the bother of checking the law yourself. I am reliably … READ MORE »
When KPIs were introduced to a company I worked for, it was a requirement to support them enthusiastically and, having a certain ambition to go further at that time, I supported them enthusiastically. I’ve seen the flip charts. I’ve seen the PowerPoint presentations. I’ve seen successes. I’ve seen failures. One thing that I have seen … READ MORE »
Those of us who search for email marketing advice online are often harangued by commentators who think they know eternal truths that can be encapsulated in a single phrase. Recently, I’ve seen articles on Calls to Action (CTA) where I’m told they should be ‘Unforgettable’ or, practically identically, ‘Easy to Remember’. This is not what … READ MORE »
I attended – those were the days – a two-day seminar which was headlined as ways to avoid the habitual problems of SMEs. The various mistakes made by other companies were covered. It had particular relevance to email marketing as it focused on data security. Let me put you out of your misery with regards … READ MORE »
We’ve recently discussed the first three matters that need to be settled when you are planning an email marketing campaign: what the purpose is, who would be interested and the specifics of that group of subscribers. These are the basics. Everything you do now should be built on this foundation. While those on your segmented email … READ MORE »
Consumers are displaying higher confidence levels than anticipated, probably because of a feeling we are entering the final stages of post-Covid in this country. Whether the confidence is misplaced is open to argument. What is clear is that we should be taking advantage of the situation. We will have to make decisions based on little … READ MORE »