Email marketing is one of the best ways to remain top-of-mind with your audience. According to Campaign Monitor, email is capable of driving a 4400% ROI and $44 for every $1 spent. The opportunity email presents is endless, but creating a successful strategy right off the bat isn’t so simple. While no one expects their campaigns to fail, the truth of the matter is it’s not as easy as just sending an email out to a massive email list. There are specific steps to take in order to reach success. With that in mind, here are 8 do’s and don’ts to keep in mind when creating your email marketing campaign. 

Do: 

Put together a targeted email list 

No matter how great your email is, if it’s not reaching the right people, you won’t be generating any leads. Which is why it’s essential to take the time to create a well-thought-out email list. It’s best to choose those who have already interacted with you in some way. It’s much more effective to send emails to a smaller group of people that are actually interested in your business, rather than a large group of users who likely have no need for what you’re offering. The best way to go about building this list is by asking users to subscribe when they land on your website. There are many ways to go about this. The most effective ways are either using a subscribe button throughout your site or with an exit-intent popup that will give them the option prior to leaving a webpage.

Use an eye-catching subject line 

One of the most essential components of a successful email is the subject line. Without an engaging subject line, users won’t be compelled to open the email. Here are some tips for creating a solid subject line: 

• Keep it short and sweet. Studies have shown that the best performing subject lines are 40-50 characters long, so be sure to use your characters and spaces wisely. 
• Make the point clear. You don’t want to be vague or misleading, this can result in getting flagged as spam, which completely defeats the purpose of sending emails in the first place. Tell your readers what to expect when they open your message. 
• Personalize them. Adding a reader’s name to the subject line can help draw in their attention and increase engagement. 

Make the body of your email short and sweet 

The same goes for the body of your email. Nobody wants or is going to read a multi-paragraph long email. Your email copy should be just long enough to get your complete message across. Here are some additional tips for writing an email body that will keep your reader’s attention and lead them to convert: 

• Include a strong lead. 
• Don’t come on too strong, make your reader comfortable. 
• Personalization is key. 
• Find additional ways to make readers engage such as including surveys, polls, videos, images, etc. 

A/B test 

A/B testing is essential for any marketing tactic. This is when you create two or more versions of a digital marketing asset, change one variable and test them against each other to see which performs best. Try out different subject lines, messaging, fonts, colors, images, CTA’s, etc. 

Don’t: 

Purchase an email list 

This is one of the biggest mistakes you can make in an email marketing campaign. This can seem like a quick and easy way to grow your list and prospects, but in the end, it’s usually just a waste of money. Generally, people don’t appreciate getting unsolicited emails from companies. These users are much less likely to open or engage with your emails since they’ve had no prior connection with your business. This can lower the reputation of your company and decreases your chances of connecting with qualified buyers. 

Use a one-size-fits-all approach 

Everyone is different, you don’t want to use the same type of messaging for everyone. Which is why you should always segment your lists into different groups of people. At minimum, you should have two: those that are existing customers and those that are not. You can get as detailed with your lists as you want, such as a list for those that have subscribed to you but have never purchased, those that have subscribed but haven’t made a purchase in a few months, etc. The most important part is that you change up the messaging in your emails to cater towards the segment you’re sending it to. 

Bombard your recipients 

While following up on your initial email is important, sending out constant emails only turns off your recipients and will result in them unsubscribing or flagging your messages as spam. Experts usually suggest to wait at least three days to follow up from an initial email to send a follow up. Following the second email, you should wait around three weeks before sending another unless your reader answers with specific questions, in which case, respond immediately.

Leave your email address unbranded, generic or anonymous

With people getting hundreds of emails a day, you don’t want to let yours get lost in the spam folder. People like to know there’s a real person behind an email they’re engaging with. Avoid making use of email addresses like marketing@yourcompanyhere or customerservice@yourcompanyhere. These look fishy, and email filters are increasingly registering them as spam. Using your company name or your actual name shows your recipients your legitimate and personable. 

More from Onimod Global

If you’re needing assistance with your email marketing strategy, or in any area of digital marketing, Onimod Global can help. As experts in SEM, SEO, webdev, email marketing, social media and more, we’re sure to help find the solutions your company needs.  To find out more about who we are and what we do, click here. To catch up on the top digital marketing news and trends, click here.