Top 10 Email marketing platforms for 2024

Now that you know how to pick the best email marketing solution platforms, it’s time to tackle the software itself. Keep in mind that this is our subjective list, not an end-all-be-all guide. You should first consider your business’s specific goals, and then choose one of the following: 

1. Mailchimp

Tailored for small to medium-sized businesses, Mailchimp shines with its user-centric design, making email marketing accessible and effective. From crafting engaging newsletters to executing targeted campaigns, its features are diverse. You get everything from automation and A/B testing capabilities to advanced analytic features. 

The pricing is flexible, starting with a free basic plan and scaling up to suit more demanding needs. Its standout quality is the ease with which users can design captivating emails using its rich template collection, making it a favorite for those who value both aesthetics and functionality.

Pros:

• Intuitive and user-friendly
• A rich selection of design templates

Cons:

• Automation features are somewhat limited in cheaper plans

MailChimp tutorial 2024 by SantrelMedia

This video by SantrelMedia serves as a comprehensive MailChimp tutorial tailored for beginners. It covers the creation of email campaigns, development of email lists, crafting landing pages, conducting surveys, and more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h71BKbaWHKI

2. Constant Contact

This platform is a powerhouse for small businesses and nonprofits, offering a seamless blend of email creation tools, robust contact management, and effective social media marketing integration. The starting point is a monthly plan, with a generous 60-day trial but no free tier. 

Constant Contact excels in event management tools, setting it apart for businesses that frequently host events or workshops. It’s a bit pricier, but for those who need its unique features, it’s worth every penny. The platform also boasts exceptional customer support, making it a reliable partner for your email marketing journey.

Pros:

• Excellent for event management
• Strong and responsive customer support

Cons:

• Slightly more expensive than some rivals

ConstantContact email marketing platform tutorial For beginners 2024

insightful Constant Contact Tutorial for Beginners 2024 by ViaaTechno

3. SendinBlue

Versatility is the name of the game with SendinBlue, catering to businesses that want to blend their email marketing with SMS campaigns. Its standout feature is the unique pricing model based on emails sent, not contacts stored, ideal for those with large mailing lists but infrequent sends. 

The platform offers robust automation features, although the free version is somewhat limited in design options. It’s a great choice for businesses looking to scale their email efforts without breaking the bank.

Pros:

• Innovative pay-per-email pricing
• Robust automation features

Cons:

• Limited design options in the free version

SendInBlue Email marketing platform tutorial

SendInBlue Email marketing tutorial 2023 (Full In-Depth Tutorial) by Manizha & Ryan

4. GetResponse

A one-stop shop for marketers, GetResponse brings together email marketing, landing pages, and even webinar hosting under one roof. Catering to various list sizes, its pricing is based on the number of contacts, with a free plan for starters. 

The platform’s shining star is its conversion funnel feature, streamlining the creation of automated sales funnels. It’s a bit complex for beginners but a powerhouse for seasoned marketers looking to integrate various aspects of their digital campaigns.

Pros:

• Integrated webinar hosting
• Handy conversion funnel feature

Cons:

• Complexity can be daunting for new users

5. Campaign Monitor

Campaign Monitor is a dream come true for brands prioritizing sleek, visually appealing emails. This platform offers a delightfully easy-to-use interface and a drag-and-drop email builder that lets you create stunning emails with minimal effort. 

It’s tailored for businesses that desire a blend of simplicity and design excellence. Although there’s no free plan, the results you get from its high-quality design capabilities justify the investment. It’s particularly suited for creative industries or any business looking to elevate their email aesthetics to the next level.

Pros:

• Superior email design quality
• Intuitive and straightforward user interface

Cons:

• No free plan, which might deter small startups

6. AWeber

Emphasizing simplicity and effectiveness, AWeber is a veteran in the email marketing arena, highly favored by small to medium-sized enterprises. It combines automation, segmentation, analytics, and a vast array of integrations with other tools. 

The platform offers both a free and a paid plan, catering to businesses at different growth stages. AWeber’s charm lies in its straightforward approach to email marketing, making it easy to launch campaigns without getting bogged down in complexity.

Pros:

• Wide range of integration options
• Straightforward and no-nonsense approach

Cons:

• The interface and design options can feel a bit dated

7. ActiveCampaign

For businesses that deeply value customer relationships and detailed tracking, ActiveCampaign stands out with its sophisticated automation and CRM capabilities. It’s more than just an email marketing tool; it’s a comprehensive platform for managing customer journeys. 

The pricing reflects the advanced features, scaling based on contact numbers and the depth of features required. ActiveCampaign is particularly adept at creating complex, customized automation workflows, making it a top choice for businesses looking to deeply personalize their customer interactions.

Pros:

• Advanced automation and CRM integration
• Detailed tracking and reporting

Cons:

• The complexity and depth of features can be overwhelming for beginners

8. HubSpot Email Marketing

HubSpot offers a holistic approach to email marketing, seamlessly integrating with its suite of sales, marketing, and service tools. This platform is ideal for businesses looking to centralize their marketing efforts. 

With its easy-to-use drag-and-drop email builder, powerful analytics, and personalization options, HubSpot stands out for businesses that prioritize a cohesive customer experience. The pricing is tiered, catering to different business sizes and needs.

Pros:

• Seamless integration with HubSpot’s CRM
• Comprehensive analytics and personalization

Cons:

• Can be costly, especially for smaller businesses

9. MailerLite

MailerLite is a straightforward yet powerful email marketing solution, perfect for startups and small businesses. It offers a range of features like automation, landing pages, and a built-in photo editor, all within a clean, intuitive interface. 

Furthermore, the platform has a competitive pricing structure, including a generous free plan. Its simplicity doesn’t sacrifice functionality, making it a great choice for those who want an effective, no-frills email marketing platform.

Pros:

• User-friendly and straightforward.
• Offers a generous free plan.

Cons:

• Limited advanced features compared to some competitors

10. Drip

Drip is tailored for e-commerce businesses, focusing on automation and personalization to drive sales. It integrates seamlessly with many e-commerce platforms, providing detailed insights into customer behavior. 

The platform’s strength lies in its ability to create personalized customer journeys, making it a valuable tool for businesses looking to boost their online sales. Drip’s pricing is based on the number of contacts, making it scalable for growing e-commerce businesses.

Pros:

• Strong e-commerce integration
• Advanced personalization and automation

Cons:

• More expensive than some other options, especially for large contact lists

The post Top 10 email marketing platforms (Their Cost and Worth) appeared first on WiseStamp.

The post Electronic direct mail (EDM) Marketing: A comprehensive guide appeared first on WiseStamp.

What is ATL marketing?

Short answer

ATL marketing definition

ATL (Above the Line) marketing refers to a form of marketing communication that uses mass media channels such as television, radio, print, outdoor advertising, and online media to reach a wide audience.

ATL marketing is a type of marketing strategy that targets a large audience through mass media channels such as television, radio, newspapers, and billboards. This approach is often used by companies to create brand awareness and promote their products or services to a wide audience.

ATL marketing typically involves the use of broad-based advertising campaigns that are designed to reach as many people as possible. This can include creating TV commercials, radio ads, or print advertisements that are distributed to a large audience.

Advantages & Disadvantages of ATL Marketing Campaigns

• One of the major advantages of ATL marketing is that it can generate significant exposure for a brand or product. By using mass media channels, companies can reach a large number of people quickly and effectively.

On the other hand:

• This approach can also be expensive, and it can be challenging to measure the effectiveness of the campaign.

Overall

Overall, ATL marketing can be an effective way for companies to create brand awareness and reach a large audience. However, it is important to carefully consider the target audience and the goals of the campaign to determine if this approach is the most effective option.

Top 3 examples of successful ATL marketing campaigns

Following are the Top 3 most famous examples of effective ATL marketing:

1. Coca-Cola’s “Share a Coke” campaign:

Coca-Cola’s “Share a Coke” campaign is a prime example of successful ATL marketing. The campaign involved personalizing Coke bottles and cans with popular names, allowing customers to purchase bottles with their names or their loved ones’ names on them. This campaign was widely successful and resulted in increased sales and brand recognition for Coca-Cola.

Watch this legendary Share a Coke campaign Video by Coca-Cola

2. Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign:

Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign is another classic example of successful ATL marketing. The campaign featured famous athletes, including Michael Jordan and Bo Jackson, in ads that encouraged people to be active and pursue their dreams. The campaign helped Nike become one of the most recognizable and successful sportswear brands in the world.

Watch the Nike’s “Just Do It” History video by Sportology

Video by: Sportology

3. Apple’s “Think Different” campaign:

Apple’s “Think Different” campaign is a memorable example of successful ATL marketing that focused on brand messaging rather than product features. The campaign featured iconic figures such as Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King Jr., and encouraged people to think differently and be innovative. The campaign helped Apple to reposition itself as a brand that was not just selling computers but was also promoting a way of thinking and living.

Watch this iconic Video of Steve Jobs introducing “Think Different” on 09/23/1997

What is BTL marketing?

Short answer

BTL marketing definition

BTL marketing stands for “Below the Line” marketing, which refers to promotional activities that are targeted to a specific audience, typically using direct or personal channels of communication.

BTL marketing, also known as Below-the-Line marketing, refers to a type of marketing that focuses on targeted and personalized communication with individual customers or small groups.

BTL marketing strategies typically include activities such as direct mail, email marketing, experiential marketing, promotional events, and point-of-sale advertising. These activities are designed to reach specific audiences with customized messages that encourage them to take specific actions, such as making a purchase or engaging with a brand on social media.

Advantages & Disadvantages of BTL Marketing Campaigns

• BTL marketing campaigns offer several advantages that make them an attractive option for businesses. Firstly, BTL campaigns can be designed to fit smaller budgets, making them a cost-effective way to market products or services. Additionally, BTL campaigns can be targeted toward specific audiences, increasing the likelihood of generating leads and conversions.

• BTL campaigns can also be easily tracked and measured, allowing marketers to evaluate their effectiveness and make necessary adjustments. Personalization is another advantage of BTL campaigns, as they offer a more personalized approach to marketing that can help build stronger relationships with customers.

However:

• BTL campaigns also have some disadvantages that businesses need to consider. For instance, BTL campaigns have a limited reach compared to ATL campaigns since they are targeted toward specific audiences. This can limit brand visibility and recognition, which may impact long-term marketing objectives.

• BTL marketing campaigns may also be time-consuming to design and execute, as they often require a more personalized approach to detail.

To sum it all up:

In conclusion, ATL, BTL, and TTL marketing are three distinct but complementary approaches to marketing that companies can use to reach different audiences and achieve different marketing objectives.

ATL marketing involves mass-market advertising techniques, such as television commercials, billboards, and print advertisements, that are designed to create broad brand awareness and reach a large audience. BTL marketing, on the other hand, involves targeted, personalized communication with individual customers or small groups through channels such as email marketing, social media marketing, and event marketing. TTL marketing is a combination of both ATL and BTL marketing techniques that aims to create an integrated marketing campaign that covers all aspects of the customer journey.

Overall, the choice of which marketing approach to use depends on the specific marketing objectives, the target audience, and the available resources.

The post Understanding ATL, BTL, and TTL Marketing Strategies appeared first on WiseStamp.

Effective implementation of personalized marketing

To implement personalized marketing successfully, businesses must follow some essential steps. These steps are:

1. Collect Data: To create a personalized experience, businesses must collect data about their customers. This data can include demographic information, browsing history, purchase history, and preferences. By collecting this data, businesses can create a detailed profile of each customer and tailor their experience accordingly.
2. Analyze Data: Once businesses have collected data, they must analyze it to gain insights into their customers’ behavior and preferences. This analysis can help businesses identify trends and patterns and create a personalized experience that meets customers’ needs.
3. Use Personalization Techniques: There are several personalization techniques that businesses can use to tailor content and products to customers. These techniques include product recommendations, dynamic pricing, personalized emails, and personalized landing pages.
4. Test and Refine: To ensure that personalized marketing is effective, businesses must test and refine their approach continually. This testing can involve A/B testing, user testing, and analytics to determine what works and what does not.

Watch Google Analytics 4 Video Tutorial (2023)

Video by: Analytics mania

Top-paid personalized marketing services

Personalized marketing services are third-party providers that help businesses design, implement, and optimize personalized marketing campaigns. They use advanced data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to analyze customer data and generate insights that can inform targeted messaging, product recommendations, and promotions.

Let’s discuss the top-paid personalized marketing services that can help businesses take their marketing game to the next level.

Optimizely

Optimizely is an experimentation platform that includes tools for personalization. The platform includes features like A/B testing, personalization campaigns, and analytics to help businesses optimize their marketing campaigns and create more personalized experiences for their customers.

Learn how Optimizely will replace google optimize for marketing personalization

Adobe Campaign

Adobe Campaign is a cross-channel marketing automation platform that includes tools for personalization. The platform includes features like customer segmentation, personalized content creation, and multichannel campaign management to help businesses create more engaging and personalized experiences for their customers.

The Basics of adobe campaign classic tutorial

Salesforce

Salesforce is a customer relationship management (CRM) platform that includes tools for personalization. The platform includes features like customer segmentation, personalized email campaigns, and lead scoring to help businesses create more targeted and effective marketing campaigns.

Salesforce CRM Full Training Tutorial for Beginners

Video by: Nick Boardman

Hootsuite

Hootsuite is a social media management platform that includes tools for personalization. The platform includes features like social listening, social media analytics, and personalized content creation to help businesses create more engaging and personalized experiences for their customers on social media.

Watch this Hootsuite Video Tutorial

Real-Life case studies of effective personalized marketing strategies

Now, let’s take a look at some real-life case studies of effective marketing strategies that use personalization to improve the customer experience, increase customer loyalty, and drive sales.

Case Study 1: How Netflix uses personalization to improve customer experience

Netflix is a prime example of a company that uses personalization to improve the customer experience. Netflix’s recommendation algorithm is the backbone of its personalization efforts. The algorithm analyzes each user’s viewing history, search history, and ratings to provide personalized recommendations.

Overall, Netflix’s personalization efforts have resulted in increased engagement and customer satisfaction. According to a survey conducted by research firm Survata, 75% of Netflix users said that they regularly watch content recommended by the platform’s algorithm.

Case Study 2: How Starbucks uses personalization to increase customer loyalty

Starbucks is another company that uses personalization to great effect. Starbucks’ mobile app allows customers to order and pay for their drinks ahead of time, saving them time and hassle. But the app also allows customers to customize their orders, tailoring each drink to their specific preferences.

Starbucks also uses personalized messaging to communicate with its customers. The company sends personalized offers and promotions to customers based on their purchase history and preferences.

These personalization efforts have led to increased customer loyalty. According to a report by App Annie, Starbucks’ mobile app is the most popular restaurant app in the US, with over 20 million users.

Case Study 3: How Amazon uses personalization to drive sales

Amazon is a master of personalization. The company’s recommendation engine is one of the most advanced in the world, analyzing each user’s purchase and browsing history to provide personalized product recommendations.

But Amazon’s personalization efforts go beyond just recommendations. The company also uses personalized pricing, offering different prices to different customers based on their browsing and purchase history.

Overall, Amazon’s personalization efforts have led to increased sales and customer satisfaction. According to a report by McKinsey, personalized recommendations account for 35% of Amazon’s total revenue.

Case Study 4: How Coca-Cola uses personalization to Connect with Customers

Coca-Cola is a great example of a company that uses personalization to connect with its customers on an emotional level. The company’s “Share a Coke” campaign involved printing popular first names on Coke bottles and cans, allowing customers to personalize their drinks.

The campaign was a huge success, generating over 500 million impressions on social media and increasing Coke’s sales volume for the first time in over a decade.

The success of the “Share a Coke” campaign shows the power of personalization in marketing. By allowing customers to personalize their drinks, Coke was able to connect with them on a personal level and create a sense of emotional attachment to the brand.

The post Personalized marketing: Enhancing customer experience appeared first on WiseStamp.

What is an email blast?

How does it Work?

To send an email blast, businesses use an email marketing service provider like MailChimp or Constant Contact. These email marketing service providers allow businesses to create and send email campaigns to a large number of subscribers at once. Email marketing service providers also offer features like email templates, list management, and analytics to help businesses track their campaign’s performance.

Top email marketing software providers

1. Mailchimp: A popular email marketing platform that offers a variety of features, including email automation, landing pages, and audience management.

Learn how to create an email blast campaign with MailChimp

Mailchimp Webinars are designed to help you create engaging emails that drive brand growth and sales using Mailchimp’s flexible email marketing templates and user-friendly design. During the webinar, you will be provided with the basics of templates and the process of creating an email campaign using Mailchimp’s drag-and-drop editor. We will also educate you on how to use email campaigns in Mailchimp and share insights on email reports to help you achieve sending success. This webinar offers key takeaways and the next steps to support your email marketing goals.

2. Constant Contact: A user-friendly email marketing tool that offers templates, contact management, and email scheduling.

Watch this great webinar by constant contact and create an email marketing campaign in 15 min

This Constant Contact webinar will equip you with the knowledge to develop an impactful email campaign that renders well on all devices and encourages your subscribers to take action. You’ll discover:

• The seven key elements of email design that stimulate engagement
• An uncomplicated yet persuasive structure for composing email content
• How to save time by using a reusable master template for future emails

As expressed by a webinar attendee: “This webinar provides a great overview of the process mechanics, combined with the best practices for creating your initial email template.” Another participant remarked: “I found this webinar to be highly beneficial in providing me with valuable insights on enhancing the effectiveness of my emails.”

3. Campaign Monitor: A platform that provides email marketing automation, A/B testing, and customer segmentation.

Improve deliverability and beat the email spam folder: webinar by campaign monitor

To ensure that your emails reach the intended recipients and do not end up in the spam folder, it is important to follow up-to-date deliverability tips. Fortunately, this webinar provides reliable and data-supported information to enhance your email deliverability.

Campaign Monitor is trusted by over 250,000 businesses worldwide for effective email marketing that yields tangible business outcomes. With its simple design, personalization, and automation tools, creating and delivering visually appealing emails has never been simpler.

Case Studies: Examples of effective email blast marketing

To illustrate the effectiveness of email blast marketing, let’s take a look at some real-world examples of companies that have used this strategy to drive results.

1. Sephora: Beauty retailer Sephora sends a weekly email blast marketing message to its subscribers that include new product launches, promotions, and beauty tips. By segmenting its audience and personalizing its messages, Sephora has achieved a 40% increase in email open rates and a 20% increase in revenue.
2. J.Crew: Clothing retailer J.Crew uses email blast marketing to promote its new collections and exclusive deals. By including eye-catching images and clear calls to action, J.Crew has achieved a 19% increase in email revenue and a 14% increase in email conversion rates.
3. Airbnb: Vacation rental platform Airbnb uses email blast marketing to communicate with its hosts and guests. By segmenting its audience based on location and behavior, Airbnb has achieved a 30% increase in email open rates and a 20% increase in booking conversion rates.
4. Grammarly: Writing tool Grammarly uses email blast marketing to encourage users to upgrade to its premium service. By offering personalized recommendations and clear benefits, Grammarly has achieved a 10% increase in email conversion rates and a 5% increase in average order value.
5. Starbucks: Coffee chain Starbucks uses email blast marketing to promote its seasonal drinks and loyalty program. By including personalized offers and clear calls to action, Starbucks has achieved a 22% increase in email click-through rates and a 16% increase in app downloads.

Add a professional email signature to your email blast campaign

Are you looking to add a personal touch to your email blast campaign? Look no further than an email signature! An email signature is a great way to add a professional touch to your emails while also providing your recipients with important information about yourself or your business.

To add an email signature to your email blast campaign, simply create your signature using an email signature generator and then follow the instructions provided to add it to your email client. Most email clients, such as Gmail and Outlook, have options to add a signature to all outgoing emails, making it easy to use your custom signature in your email blast campaign.

Create an email signature

The post Email blast marketing: Learn how to effectively promote your brand appeared first on WiseStamp.

With US retail eCommerce sales projected to reach $236 billion in 2023, you don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to take a piece of the pie, and getting a jump on the competition means starting your holiday marketing campaigns early.

What to expect during the 2023 holiday season as far as sales

It is no question that the way people shop has changed. While holiday shopping once meant going to the mall and piling your car with gifts, the pandemic resulted in a dramatic shift to eCommerce. This, however, was not a permanent shift, with only 14% of customers reporting that they would stick to strictly shopping online for the holidays in 2021. 

That being said, things have not returned to the fully in-person model of holiday shopping either. More than 70% of shoppers surveyed in 2021 reported that their holiday shopping experience would involve some form of digital. 

As a result, holiday marketing trends for 2023 cater to the omnichannel shopper with a combination of online and offline strategies.

Social media will still play a major role in shaping buyer decisions, with 58% of consumers reporting that their holiday shopping is inspired and influenced by social media. In 2023, more than half of adults in the US will not only be influenced by social media but will make purchases via social media. 

This means you should be prepared for increased activity on your social channels. Make any necessary changes to ensure that you have a system in place to effectively handle an influx of engagement, including customer service to ensure the customer experience is positive. 

Start a holiday season campaign as soon as possible

You might feel like it is too soon to start you thinking about holiday campaigns, but waiting for the clocks to change is a mistake. As we said, the early bird gets the worm, especially when it comes to holiday marketing campaigns.

It seems that every year people are getting their holiday shopping out of the way earlier and earlier. While holiday shopping might be closely associated with Christmas, nowadays it starts long before. More than 51% of consumers plan to start their holiday shopping before Thanksgiving. 

In the past few years, Black Friday and Cyber Monday have generated a huge amount of revenue. In fact, in 2020 on Cyber Monday businesses raked in a whopping $10.8 billion, making it the biggest eCommerce selling day of all time.

Let’s not forget about Halloween. This year, consumers are expected to spend $10.6 billion on the holiday, with participation rates post-pandemic higher than ever. 

In other words, start cooking up holiday marketing ideas now before you miss the boat!

How to create a holiday content strategy

If this isn’t your first rodeo, you will have data on your side. Before you start building your holiday content strategy, review your past strategies to understand what worked and what didn’t in previous years. 

If your business has undergone any major changes in the past year, make sure to take that into account. Has your customer base changed? If so, you will need to change the messaging of your holiday content strategy to fit the new demographic.

On that same note, understanding your target audience will reveal the best way to get their attention. A younger crowd will respond to social media marketing campaigns while sticking to email marketing is a safer bet for older customers.

Either way, a content-driven approach should focus on creating a personalized shopping experience. Consider holiday gift guides and discount codes that appeal to different segments of your customer base. Customers should have a real incentive to choose you over the competition, so make sure you aren’t luring them in and not delivering. 

This is a chance for you to build lasting relationships with your customers and convert new customers, just remember holiday content strategies are not one-size-fits-all.

Marketing plans for major holidays

Having an arsenal of holiday marketing campaigns will prepare your business in advance, so you can avoid the stress of planning last minute and simply roll out each campaign as the holidays approach. 

Mark your holiday marketing calendars with these major holidays so you can create an organized marketing plan.

1. Halloween marketing 

First up on the holiday docket, we have Halloween. Don’t make the mistake of assuming Halloween is just for kids. 76% of American adults celebrate Halloween in many ways, from passing out candy to trick-or-treaters to dressing up. 

Whether your business is brick-and-mortar or online, don’t be afraid to get spooky. You don’t have to be traditionally terrifying or sell candy to fit the bill. Halloween is a great opportunity to show off your creative side. 

For example, Heinz gave their Ketchup bottles a creepy makeover in 2021. 

They took their regular product and just changed the packaging to fit the Halloween theme. They also hosted a Halloween pop-up store in Los Angeles where they sold limited edition Tomato Blood costume kits, complete with makeup palettes and vampire fangs.

If you are a small business Heinz’s campaign might feel over the top. If so, you’ll probably find our guide to Halloween marketing ideas for small businesses to be helpful.

2. Thanksgiving marketing

Thanksgiving is all about being Thankful – duh. You can show your customers that you are thankful for them by building a marketing campaign around this concept. This is the perfect opportunity to show your appreciation by giving loyal customers a gift, or holiday-themed giveaway. 

Thanksgiving is also a holiday focused on togetherness and an opportunity to appeal to the customers’ emotions. Postmates, a food delivery app, did just that with their “Friendsgiving” campaign.

They created a list of recipes from different moms, including ingredients that could be purchased via the app. 

While it is important to have a Thanksgiving-focused marketing campaign, this is also a good time to start thinking of some creative Christmas marketing strategies. Thanksgiving really gets people in the holiday mood and kicks off the December holiday season.

3. Black Friday marketing 

After Thanksgiving, the next biggest shopping day is Black Friday (and Cyber Monday). Black Friday marketing campaigns target shoppers looking to get a good deal. If done well, Black Friday and Cyber Monday campaigns can add up to 25% of a business’s yearly revenue.

While Black Friday used to just be one day of sales, it has now expanded into Cyber Monday and for some, even longer. Walmart offers a week of deals leading up to Black Friday.

Your Black Friday marketing campaign can include a mixture of social media, email, organic, and paid marketing. For a more detailed explanation of how to create irresistible campaigns, read our guide of 10 Black Friday promotion ideas. 

Oh, and while we’re on the subject of a good deal, why not take advantage yourself? Black Friday also offers SaaS sales for businesses. In 2023, you can get up to 50% off on SaaS for B2B and B2C project and marketing management, sales, and support tools. 

4. Christmas marketing

The moment we’ve all been waiting for, the big kahuna, Christmas marketing. With holiday spending set to jump 10.5% this year, people are spending more money than ever on winter holiday shopping. The thing is, this is no secret, and everyone is chasing a major sales boost which is why taking the time to build your Christmas marketing campaign is so important. 

You can start by building anticipation early. Share teasers or clues about your Christmas offering before releasing the full details. Email is a great channel for this. We covered creative Christmas email strategies in our blog.

Besides starting early in order to be successful, another element of a successful Christmas marketing campaign is to go multi-channel. Every channel from email, to social media, to your website, should reflect your campaign to pull in as many customers as possible.

Remember, you want to make sure your Christmas marketing campaigns provide real value to your customers. Nothing will fall flat faster than a campaign you’ve been building up for two months only to offer a tiny discount. 

Valuable doesn’t always mean complicated. Think of Cocacola’s tried and true Christmas packaging. It appeals to the nostalgia and cheer that people love to feel during Christmas.

5. New years’ eve marketing

Christmas may be the climax, but the holiday season isn’t over just yet. You still have a chance to ring in the new year with some New Year’s marketing campaigns. People also tend to spend less in the first few months after the holidays, so the New Year is a good chance to get those final sales to boost and tide you over.

You can start rolling out your New Year’s campaigns right after Christmas and let them run into the first few days of January. 

After the holiday people are looking toward the future and everything it will bring. Many people make New Year’s resolutions with the hopes of achieving their goals and bettering themselves in the coming year.

Marketing ideas that reflect this mindset will appeal to customers who want a fresh start like rolling out new products or launching a campaign specifically for new customers.

Net-A-Porter created a perfect New Years’ marketing campaign that appeals to the idea of the New Years’ resolution and shows the customer exactly how they can help them better themselves. 

12-holiday marketing strategies for 2023

With so much money to be made, and so many businesses launching holiday marketing campaigns at the same time, it can feel overwhelming to know where to begin. We’ve broken down 12 marketing strategies to help relieve the stress.

1. Create user-friendly content to convert buyers into loyal customers

The holiday season will almost certainly lead to spikes in sales, but converting these customers into return buyers can be a challenge. With 25% – 40% of the total revenue of many businesses coming from loyal customers, it is a challenge worth pursuing. 

One way to do this is by creating user-friendly content to increase brand engagement both before and after the holidays. This can be done via follow-up communication with holiday buyers. Utilize email, social media, chat, whatever, as long as you’re communicating. 

Review customer data to understand upselling opportunities amongst holiday shoppers and send them emails throughout the year to try and regenerate interest. You should also send up updates about new products or sales to customers regularly so that they feel included and engaged beyond the holiday season.

2. Send out holiday newsletters

People almost always have their phones on them and they don’t only use them to check social media, which is why email marketing is a great tool for businesses to utilize for holiday marketing campaigns. 

A simple and effective holiday marketing strategy is to send out holiday newsletters via email. A newsletter can be sent to multiple segments of customers and doesn’t need to be overly personal to be effective.

Use your newsletter to announce holiday promotions or share gift guides. Sending your customers a seasonal greeting is another great idea. You can play with the content so long as it is in line with your brand identity and voice. 

3. Use hashtags

Hashtags are your friend, bestie! How else do you expect to gain visibility on social media platforms? Hashtags allow you to reach an audience beyond those that already follow you. 

Hashtags also allow for a great source of user-generated content. For the holidays, host a giveaway in which users upload photos and use a predetermined hashtag. This is one of the best ways to spread the word about holiday promotions while expanding brand visibility on social media.

You can also follow existing hashtags to figure out what your customers are interested in this holiday season. 

Hashtags are an amazing resource, and they’re free!

4. Offer free rewards and discounts 

Freebies and discounts are a tried and true marketing campaign, after all, who doesn’t love a good deal? 

Incentivize customers by offering free shipping or a gift with their purchase. Even if customers are shopping for their loved ones during the holiday season, they will appreciate a little something for themselves. 30% of customers make a purchase just to gain something.

72% of customers look for discounts and sales from brands when making their purchasing decisions. Holiday shopping can break the bank for a lot of customers which is why they appreciate a discounted price. 

You can also show loyal customers that you appreciate them by offering a holiday gift or special discount.

5. Make your holiday campaigns branded and unique

You don’t want your marketing campaigns to blend in with the countless others that customers will see during the holidays. When building your campaigns think about what makes your company unique and use this as a focal point. You want your marketing campaigns to be in line with your brand identity and show consumers that you bring something special to the table.

Try to think of something that will get customers’ attention like catchy subject lines for your email marketing campaigns and use email signatures as part of your branding strategy. This will give a personal yet professional feeling to your holiday email campaigns.

6. Use social media to promote your brand

Once again, rolling out your holiday marketing campaigns on multiple channels is a great way to reach a wide audience. Your target audience might be different on social media than with email marketing, so while your brand’s voice should stay consistent you might want to tweak your content to best appeal to your social media followers.

Also depending on the social media channel your campaign might be more image-focused, like with Instagram, or text-heavy like with Twitter. Social media allows you to not only connect with current customers but also expand your reach to new ones. 

7. Start a video marketing campaign for the holidays

Many companies turn to video marketing campaigns during the holidays, this might be because videos tend to appeal to consumers’ emotions more than an email or regular post on social media. 

While video marketing campaigns might sound complicated, 92% of marketers make videos with assets they already have. There is also a lot of room for creativity when it comes to video marketing campaigns. 

You don’t have to be the next Steven Spielberg! Simply wishing your customers happy holidays with a video marketing campaign will help set you apart from the competition.

8. Offer top customer experience

Customer experience can make or break a relationship between a customer and a business. No matter how good the product is, if the customer experience is negative it could mean the end of the sale and any future sales at that. 

To ensure a top customer experience, make sure you have a strategy in place that guides the customer from first engagement to long after the sale has been completed. The fewer friction points, the better. 

Consider including an FAQ page on your website so customers have information readily available. Responsive and adequate customer service is another important element, especially when there is potential for issues with an influx of holiday sales. 

Follow up with your customers after a sale, ask for feedback, and keep them in the loop about any new products or changes that may be of interest to them. Communication is key!

9. Use retargeting

Retargeting is a marketing strategy that involves utilizing the client information already available to you. By reviewing existing data, you will be better able to understand the motivation of different segments of your customer list and market to them accordingly.

For example, segment your one-time buyers and send them a marketing campaign informing them of new products related to what they purchased in the past, or bringing a discount to their attention with the hopes of re-engaging them.

10. Partner with influencers

Partnering with influencers around the holidays can help expand brand awareness and engagement with new customers. Many younger people look to influencers when deciding what products to purchase and often have large audiences. By working with influencers, their audience will be exposed to your brand.

11. Boost your SEO campaigns

SEO campaigns help to drive organic traffic to your website when customers search via keywords related to your product. To boost your SEO campaigns for the holidays, make sure your content strategy reflects your holiday marketing strategy. This way when customers search for holiday gifts, they will be more likely to find your brand even if they have never shopped with you before. 

12. Boost your PPC campaigns

On a similar note, you want to make sure your PPC (pay-per-click) campaigns reflect your holiday marketing campaigns. People are more likely to engage with ads for a product or brand that represents what they are looking for around the holidays. 

If you already have PPC ads, make sure they are updated to match the holiday spirit. If you don’t usually use PPC campaigns, it might be worth implementing them to drive traffic during the holiday shopping season.

Best B2B holiday marketing examples

B2B holiday marketing campaigns will differ slightly from B2C campaigns. However, the general principles remain the same. Here are 5 successful B2B marketing campaigns to give you an idea of what works.

1. NeverBounce 

NeverBounce offered a significant price cut for a limited time with their Black Friday campaign. B2B marketing is less about emotional purchasing and more about data-driven purchases.

Their campaign is straight to the point, shows the customer how much money they will save, and creates urgency. The design is clean, yet eye-catching and there is a CTA allowing recipients easy access.

2. Canva

Canva’s Black Friday email campaign also stuck to the basics of B2B marketing, showing the consumer what their business will gain from using your product. 

3. Google My Business

Google My Business also stuck with the no-frills approach to their holiday marketing campaign.

Their email marketing campaign opsimply reminded their customers not to forget to update their business hours to reflect the holiday calendar. 

4. Opensense

Opensense kept things simple by adding a holiday banner to its website. Banner ads are useful for spreading holiday cheer, without getting too complicated. 

5. BullGuard

Another effective B2B marketing campaign for Black Friday is BullGuard. What sets this campaign apart is the countdown timer in the bottom left corner, urging a purchase before time runs out on this 70% off deal. 

Best B2C holiday marketing examples 

B2C holiday marketing campaigns are all about the warm and fuzzy. Unlike B2B, B2C campaigns appeal to the emotions of the customer. Check out these examples of B2C holiday marketing campaigns that never fail to spread holiday cheer.

1. Starbucks

When the red Starbucks cups come out, everyone knows that the holidays are just around the corner. This means the addition of special holiday drinks to the menu, including the beloved Pumpkin Spice Latte. 

These relatively small changes to the Starbucks packaging and menu are extremely effective for marketing, and not too complicated to achieve. 

2. Etsy

Etsy created holiday gift guides to help give their customers different ideas for gifts. This helps narrow down the search. With such a vast inventory, choosing a gift on Etsy can be overwhelming. These guides make it fun and easy to decide on a gift. 

3. HBO

HBO came up with a creative holiday campaign that was sure to boost sales. They allowed their current subscribers the option to gift 12 episodes of any show to non-subscribers. 

Not only does this allow their current customers to get a little something extra out of the platform, but they know that many viewers will be hooked after 12 episodes and subscribe to HBO themselves.

Brand your holiday email campaigns with a festive signature template

To

Subject

Make it yours

The little things also count when it comes to holiday marketing campaigns! Seasonal messaging and email templates have been shown to help build customer relationships and boost sales. 

Think of a festive signature template as the proverbial cherry on top of a perfect holiday email campaign.

Email signatures are the last thing that readers see and taking the time to customize your email signature will leave a lasting impression. 

Wisestamp makes it easy to customize holiday email signatures so you can spread holiday cheer to everyone who reads your emails this holiday season. 

To Conclude

A wise man once said, don’t let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.

This can be applied to almost any scenario, including, believe it or not, holiday marketing campaigns. Sure, there will be a ton of competition, but there is also a huge potential to boost profits during the holiday season.

One of the best ways to ensure successful holiday marketing campaigns is by being prepared. Do your research, get to know your customers, and build campaigns to fit their needs. 

Hopefully, our guide can serve as a beacon of light guiding you along your marketing campaign journey this holiday season.

The post The ultimate guide to effective holiday marketing in 2023 appeared first on WiseStamp.

In order to develop an effective email marketing strategy, you have to understand your audience. This is where B2B marketing differs from B2C. When marketing to an individual your methods will look much different than when marketing to a business. 

This is why we created the ultimate guide for effective B2B email marketing in 2022. 

What is B2B email marketing?

A great place to start is by reviewing exactly what B2B marketing is. B2B email marketing involves sending email campaigns to businesses in which you will tell them about your product and (hopefully) convert them into qualified leads and later, customers.

B2B email marketing vs B2C

Anyone working in marketing should know that understanding your audience is key. Because B2B and B2C marketing cater to different audiences, the way in which you communicate with them will be different. 

With B2B email marketing, while you are still communicating with an individual, they are merely a representative of the business. They are not interested in their individual interests, but in the interests and needs of the business as a whole. 

In other words, your customer is the business itself. 

Some examples of B2B businesses are: 

• IBM, whose products include a variety of things from IT to different systems and software.
• Berlin Packaging provides packaging and containers to different businesses. 
• Monday, a cloud-based work management software for businesses. 

B2C email marketing, on the other hand, focuses on individual customers making purchases for themselves. Customers’ needs in this case are different than those of a business, with the purpose of these purchases often being shorter term and entertainment based. 

Examples of B2C businesses are clothing brands, yoga studios, and restaurants, to name a few.

Logic vs Emotion in email marketing

In order to appeal to an individual customer, B2C email marketing focuses more on capturing the attention of the customer by appealing to their emotions. Purchases made by individuals can also usually be done directly without them needing to clear them with anyone else. 

B2B marketing should appeal to the financial incentive or logic of the buyer (the business). These purchases are informed more by education than emotion. Remember, B2B buyers are usually looking for a long-term solution and not a one-time purchase. 

B2B sales require multiple people to sign off on them, meaning the process is longer than with B2C, but will hopefully result in a lasting relationship between the customer and the provider.

It is important to note that your company may be able to fill the needs of both B2B and B2C customers. In this case, you will need to learn the differences in the challenges and needs of each audience so that you can appeal to the differences and similarities of each. 

Top 7 B2B email marketing examples

81% of B2B marketers use email as their main mode of content marketing, so it’s safe to say there is no shortage of marketing emails in any given employee’s work email inbox. 

One thing that B2B and B2C email marketing campaigns have in common is that you want to stand out from the crowd. You not only want people to open your emails, but you want your content to be engaging enough that they will continue to do so. 

Failure to do so will likely lead readers to reach for the dreaded “unsubscribe” button. 

Here are 7 B2B email marketing examples that get the job done:

1. Welcome/first response email

Many companies offer a free version of their product to new leads and then later focus on turning these users into paying customers. This allows companies to learn exactly what the needs of the potential customer are so that they can best respond to them. 

If a customer or business is already using the free version of your product, they are much more likely to become paying customers later. Rather than switch to a product, they are unfamiliar with, why not upgrade and have their needs met by one they already know and love?

For example, Dropbox’s welcome email invites customers to sign up for free and later follows up with these customers to convert these active leads into customers. 

2. Customer retention/ongoing campaign emails

Once you have converted leads into paying customers, you will need to keep them engaged by making them see the value your product adds to their business. 

In order to do this effectively, you will need to understand the challenges your customers face and offer them a solution, aside from your main product. 

A great example of this is sending email campaigns that offer webinars on different subjects that are related to your brand or company. 

Monday.com offers webinars in multiple languages to their customers on a variety of topics related to making the most out of their products.  And they offer them in different languages! 

3. Upselling/cross-selling email campaigns

Upselling and cross-selling are tried and true examples of email marketing campaigns. 

The goal of these two strategies is to get existing customers to purchase a more profitable product than the one they have purchased in the past (upselling), and/or purchase additional products based on their past purchases (cross-selling). 

Upselling and cross-selling email marketing campaigns can often be automated to be sent out in response to specific customer behavior. 

For example, Adobe sends out this email to customers after they have made a purchase. This is a classic example of cross-selling and offers customers additional products that they might find useful. 

4. Business updates email campaigns

If you offer a product that caters to both B2C and B2B customers, you can use your existing list of email subscribers to try and carry over or convert leads with business update marketing emails. 

For example, Grammarly, which already offered a B2C product, informed its existing email subscribers about a business update involving the rollout of a new B2B product, Grammarly Business. 

By providing existing customers with business updates, Grammarly is likely to convert new B2B leads into customers rather than starting from scratch.

5. Discount email campaigns

Everybody loves a deal, no matter if you’re an individual buyer or a business. Saving money is always an incentive, especially when a discount is only offered for a limited amount of time. 

Discount email campaigns can also be a great follow-up to send to users to have signed up for a free trial or free version of your product. A little discount might just be the encouragement they need to become paying customers. 

6. Personalized email campaigns

Just because B2B email marketing campaigns are speaking to businesses and not individuals, doesn’t mean you can’t get personal with your email campaigns. 

In fact, emails with a personalized subject line are 26% more likely to be opened than those that don’t, so imagine what a personalized body of an email can do!

For example, Microsoft sends customers emails with personalized recommendations based on browsing and purchasing history. This strategy can be used for both individual customers and sales teams at a large company. 

7. Content-sharing emails

Many companies feature blogs on their websites, but how many customers know about them? 

A great way to maintain a relationship with your clients is by sending out email campaigns that share relevant content from your blog or social media accounts. 

This is also a good way to position your company as an authority figure on the subjects relevant to your product. You want your customers to feel that they are getting continued value out of working with you. 

Here, Trello sent an email marketing campaign featuring a post from their blog. 

Top 10 B2B email marketing templates

Now that we’ve covered some email marketing strategies, let’s look at the top 10 B2B email marketing templates.

1. Webinar template

These emails should have a clear topic, time, and CTA to sign up for the webinar. Some additional information can be put at the bottom of the email but don’t get too complicated.

2. Live event email template

Live event email templates are similar to webinar email templates in that the date, time, and subject should be made clear. In addition to the CTA to sign up, you can add a CTA for customers to RSVP.

3. Survey email template

The truth is that most people don’t want to take surveys, but feedback is important to improving your business. The good news is that B2B customers may be more likely to offer feedback because it is in their best interest in the long run. 

A survey email template can come in all shapes and sizes, but we suggest cutting out the friction by putting the survey directly in the body of the email. Insurify makes their survey email templates short and cute. 

4. Demo request email template

80% of marketers report that live demos with a sales rep are the most effective way to generate quality leads, so not offering them is a huge mistake.

Not only should you offer demos, but you should make it clear to your leads that you offer them via demo request emails. Linkedin’s demo request is a great example. 

5. Gated content email template

Not everything in life is free, which is why gated content exists. Gated content requires a user to either pay a subscription fee or subscribe to a mailing list in order to gain access to content or a product.

The Economist’s gated content email template shows the customer the value in subscribing to their product, and offers a discounted price for the first year. 

6. Product promotion email template

Data speaks louder than design when it comes to B2B marketing campaigns and your product promotion email templates should reflect this.

VWO knows that its audience cares about saving time, so their emails get straight to the point, with no fluff necessary. 

7. Referral email template

Word of mouth may seem like an outdated mode of marketing, but it has merely evolved into what we know as the refer-a-friend email template. 

Asking existing customers to refer a friend is a way to generate new leads by engaging existing customers. Make sure to include a CTA, as Buffer does here.

8. Thank you email template

A great way to engage customers is a thank you email after they have made a purchase by showing them you care about their business. 

Final’s thank you email does a brilliant job of incorporating a CTA to refer a friend by incentivizing the existing customer to receive additional perks. 

9. Case study email template

B2B clients want to know exactly how your product is improving their business. What better way to do so than backing up your claims with a case study? 

Eyequant’s case study email template shows the reader all of the valuable information included in the case study and why it might interest the recipient. 

10. Getting started email template

Last but not least is the getting started email template. Uncomplicated, with a clear CTA to download the app or get started. 

Evernote knows that until people download their app, they are unlikely to become paying customers which is why they stick to a tried and true welcome email template.

Why do B2B emails require B2B strategies?

The purpose of B2B marketing emails is to show recipients how your business can help their business. This means that you should focus on things like saving time and money or providing a specific valuable resource.

B2C marketing focuses on an entirely different set of customers. Those that respond to entertainment over education. 

If you applied B2C strategies to B2B emails, you would be setting up your email marketing campaigns for failure. 

6 key strategies for designing a B2B email campaign 

Before diving into the design of your email campaigns, there are 6 key strategies you should make sure to complete.

1. Brand identity

Understanding how you are viewed by the customer is crucial for effective marketing. You need to determine exactly where your brand stands in terms of who you are, what you are doing, and why. take your time and invest in your brand with a unique web design, showcase your top project, design a catchy logo, and of course take advantage of email branding.

You want to be viewed as trustworthy and valuable to prospective customers and your brand identity should reflect this. 

2. Find your audience

Determine who your audience is. Who is going to buy your product and how do they make their purchasing decisions?

3. Check out your competitors

Learn how you stack up against your competitors so you can understand where you need to improve and what you’re up against. 

4. A/B testing

Try out different email marketing campaigns to learn what works and what doesn’t.

Best practices for B2B emails

1. Plan your campaign in stages

Sending your campaigns around the different stages of the B2B customer journey will help ensure that you are targeting their specific needs at any given time.

The different stages of the marketing funnel are Awareness, consideration, decision-making, and retention.

2. Profile your target customers

Segment your email lists to ensure that your emails feel more personal. Not every email you send will be relevant to every person on your email list.

3. Save time by automating tasks

You can automate email campaigns by using marketing platforms that will save you time and stress. Campaigns can be automatically triggered by a virtually endless number of customer behaviors.

Add a professional email signature

B2B email marketing campaigns can feel impersonal when it feels like two businesses in communication. Adding a professional email signature to your email marketing campaigns can help make things a little more friendly. There are many online websites offering a Free signature generator all you need to do is type, signature generator, or email signature generator on google, and you are all set.

An email signature shows the recipient of your emails exactly who they are coming from. It’s always nice to put a face to a name. 

Email signature example – Click to add your own

To

Subject

Make it yours

It is also good when people have all of your information in one spot so they know your name, position in the company, and how to contact you.

GDPR and email marketing

There is no particular notice of B2B email advertising in the GDPR guidelines. This is mainly due to the fact that “The GDPR protects individuals, NOT businesses“. It sets out rules around the utilization of individual information. B2B marketers often use personal information such as email addresses, work addresses, etc. Therefore B2B marketers need to always keep GDPR guidelines and be aware of updates and regulations.

To conclude

B2B email marketing requires a different set of skills than B2C marketing. Some might find the focus on numbers intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. It can actually be really difficult to appeal to customers’ emotions!

Once you get the hang of B2B email marketing, you’ll see that its bark is definitely worse than its bite.

The post Effective B2B email marketing in 2023 appeared first on WiseStamp.

Tone can be hard to gauge over email, which means sometimes things can get lost in translation leading to unwanted misunderstandings. When sending professional emails especially, you want to give off the right impression and stick to workplace etiquette.

Even if you are diligent about editing the body of your emails, ending an email with the wrong phrase can affect the delivery of your entire message. You don’t want your parting words to inadvertently disregard everything that came before them!

The words you leave your readers with are just as important as the ones you start with, if not more. Your final words will leave a lasting impression, and you want that impression to be a good one. 

If ending your emails is a struggle, we’ve got you covered with tips and phrases for ending all types of emails. 

Why is email closing important?

After spending time crafting a well-thought-out email, it might be tempting to just slap on any ending so you can send it on its way, but this could not be more wrong! 

It might be hard to remember, but when sending emails you are interacting with real people. As with any interaction between two people, the way it ends will likely influence future interactions.

Imagine having a business meeting that ends with the other person saying something weird or out of place and then just walking away. You will probably end up remembering the way the meeting ended more than what took place throughout. 

Will you want to work with this person in the future? Probably not, and you definitely won’t want to work with them on the spot. 

The way you end your emails can mean the difference between positive or negative brand impression, and how or if you will receive a response. 

What to include in the email closing

Depending on who the recipient of the email is, you will want to tweak your email closing to fit the situation. However, there are a few things that you should always include when ending an email.

Call to action

This is your chance to initiate an immediate response or action from the reader. You want to make sure that your email isn’t just read and forgotten. 

It can be something as simple as, “Awaiting your response,” or “Looking forward to hearing from you.” If your reader knows that you are anticipating something in return, they will be more likely to respond.

Email sign off

This part is probably what comes to mind for most people when they think of ending an email. The email sign off is usually one word like “Best,” or “Regards,” depending on the context of the email. 

Grammar can be a killer, so know that you should always put a comma after your sign off.

First and last name

Even if you have already introduced yourself to your recipient, it is always important to end your emails with your full name. This way the information is accessible to the reader, just in case they forgot. 

The more times someone sees your name, the more likely they are to remember it. This will also make it easy for the person to respond without having to go through the trouble of figuring out who they are communicating with.

If relevant, you can also include your job title under your full name to give the recipient some extra context.

Contact information

It is always nice to include additional contact information when ending an email. This way, if someone prefers to speak on the phone rather than write an email response, they will be able to do so.

If you are using an email signature, this part of the closing will be taken care of. Email signatures are good for identifying you with your company or brand, and providing contact information so that you don’t have to add it manually at the end of every email.

Email sign off types

Different people merit different types of email sign-offs. Being super formal doesn’t always fit the situation, like if you are talking to someone that you already have a close relationship with. On the other hand, being too casual with someone in the wrong situation can be seen as unprofessional. 

You will need to learn how to read the situation to know what type of response is appropriate. 

Here are some examples of different types of email sign-offs to help you avoid uncomfortable faux pas.

Email closing for formal business

When ending a formal business email, you want to make sure to come across as professional and put together as possible. These types of emails are crucial for building business relationships, so you will want to triple-check your spelling and grammar and stick to the basics. 

You also do not want to be too casual when ending formal business emails. You definitely don’t want to sign off on these types of emails with a, “peace out!” or “XOXO.”

Email closing for friendly business 

When sending a work related email to a close colleague or work friend, you can end things a little more friendly than you would with a traditional formal business email.

Don’t go off the rails here, you are still in a work setting and should stick to professional email etiquette. Also, if you’re on the fence about sending a friendly email or a more formal closing, it is always better to stay on the safe side and go the formal route. 

Semi-professional email closing

Semi-professional email closings are those that can be used in pretty much any context. They are neutral enough to be viewed as professional but are not too casual. 

These can be used for returning clients or ongoing business relationships in which you are acquainted with the recipient but still want to maintain a professional tone. 

Email closing with gratitude

Ending an email with gratitude is common practice and for good reason. You want to thank your recipient for taking valuable time to read what you have sent. This is especially true if you are asking for something specific in the body of the email. 

However, you don’t want to pour on the gratitude too much. Saying thank you five times in one email is overkill, but closing out your email with appreciation is a nice gesture.

Bad sign-off email closings

We’ve covered the good, now let’s review how NOT to end your emails. 

First of all, don’t skip the sign-off. Many people, especially those sending emails from their mobile phones, leave their emails with the automated, “Sent from my iPhone” signature. 

It might take a bit more effort to change this on your phone, but it is worth it. Leaving the automated signature looks lazy and you don’t want to come across that way, especially when writing formal emails. 

It might be tempting to get creative or be funny when ending an email. While this is okay sometimes, it is usually a better idea to stick to the professional way of ending emails. You don’t want to misread a situation and send something that could end up doing more harm than good.

General rules regarding email closings 

Always consider your relationship to the recipient when deciding how to end your email. As we mentioned earlier, it is always better to play it safe if you are unsure of how formal to be. 

You should put in the effort to personalize your sign-offs. You don’t want to send the same thing every time, especially if you are communicating often over email. Make your readers feel seen!

The way you end your email should fit with the rest of the email’s tone. Don’t end an apology email with an overly friendly sign-off, for example.

Don’t be afraid to try out different email closings (within reason). The best way to learn what sign-off people respond the best is by testing. Send out A/B tests until you figure out what works best for you.

Cool sign off phrases

Occasionally you will have a chance to have some fun with your sign off phrases. If you are communicating with someone who knows you well, humor can even be used to deepen the relationship. 

While you want to end your emails on a good note, once you learn the basics, the rest is pretty intuitive. Keep in mind who your audience is and remember that there is a time and place for fun, just not when signing off on every email

The post Ultimate guide on how to end an email appeared first on WiseStamp.

How do I stop emails from going to Promotions in Gmail?

Any marketer will consider it a win when their emails land in the subscriber’s Primary tab and avoid the Promotions tab. That’s because the average Gmail user is more likely to see and engage with an email that appears in their primary inbox.

Why do emails go to Gmail’s Promotions tab?

The reason emails are going into the Promotions tab is that Gmail applies algorithms that flag them as promotional based on things like a large number of emails sent (email blasts), sender IPs of known advertisers, aggressive sales offers in the subject line, a large number of links in the email body, heavy HTML email layouts, too many images, and user feedback. 

How to avoid the Gmail Promotions tab (and get your emails to the Primary tab instead)

You can take some measures which would help keep your emails off the promotions tab to the Primary Inbox. These include:

1) Avoid Spam characteristics

Gmail hates spam. Plain and simple. Whether you do it knowingly or unknowingly, if your email has spam characteristics, it will never reach the primary Inbox. In the best-case scenario, it could land in the promotions tab. However, the majority of the time, it ends up in the spam label.

Most spam emails are normally sent as bulk blasts hoping that a couple of the recipients will open them. Do not fall into that trap because there is a high chance it may never capture the reader’s attention. Additionally, restrict yourself to sending only to the subscribers that have opted in and welcome new subscribers as quickly as possible, lest they mark you as spam.

2) Send a welcome email that asks your recipients to add you as their contact

Asking your subscribers to whitelist you is one of the direct ways to prevent your email from ending up on the promotions tab. It is important to take this brave action because if you do not do anything, the email will still end up on the promotions tab.

Focus on the welcome email when someone signs up to your mailing list as the most appropriate time to ask for whitelisting. That way, any follow-up email that you send will go to the primary Inbox tab.

3) Reduce the number of recipients

Keep your recipients as low as possible. The higher the number of people you are sending emails to at the same time, the more likely Gmail will classify it as Spam. And when you repeatedly send out such bulk emails as blasts, you could get blocked and prevented from using the service.

4) Gradually increase recipient amount and avoid email blasts

If you have a huge mail list that you would like to address at a go, do not get tempted to compose a single email and send it at once. On the contrary, start with a smaller number and increase over time.

For instance, if your mail list has 200 potential users, start with 25 the first time, then increase it to 30, 40, 50, and so on. Just make sure that these people are subscribers of your mailing list and not random emails harvested from the Internet. Doing so gives Gmail the perception that more people are liking your content and subscribing to it.

5) Send the email from a named account rather than a generic company email 

Avoid using generic company email addresses like newsletter@company.com.

Your email address is very important and influences how Gmail interacts with your emails. For instance, how Gmail views email such as info@mycompany.com differs from how chris@mycompany.com is handled.

Terms like “sales@,” “info@,” or “helpdesk@” are generic, and Gmail can determine that it is interacting with a business and not a person. The essence of your email campaign is to give it a human face.

6) Avoid spelling mistakes

Are you aware that robots can send emails? And when we talk of robots, we mean the app-based ones mostly. One of the biggest downsides of emails sent by robots is that they contain spelling mistakes, which does not take Gmail a lot of effort to realize.

Take your time to read through the email after composing it. That adds the human element to it, minimizing the chances of Google thinking it was written by a robot.

7) Avoid heavy use of HTML

Focus on sending emails without heavy HTML code to reduce the chances of it being sent to the Promotions tab or spam label. Whenever possible, use plain text emails as these have a higher chance of landing on the primary Inbox tab. 

These are emails that do not have any enhancements. The email specifically has plain text without extra colors, designs, or fonts. Furthermore, there are no links embedment in the plain text email.

As it sounds, plain text email may not be preferred by those running email campaigns. That’s because it lacks crucial features that could pull attention to your marketing content. However, even if you go about adding HTML code to add glamor to the email, you need to make sure that it is not too heavy.

While it may seem a high price to pay to avoid HTML in your newsletter design it may be a required step to evade the Promotions tab. 

For different automated emails in your email funnel, it could well be an overkill to use HTML for email layout. The only HTML in these situations should be your branded email signature, which does not cause your emails to be diverted to Promotions in 99% of cases.

This brings me to the next action you can take.

8) Use an email signature instead of an email footer

The email header and footer often generate automated phrases like “view in browser” and “Unsubscribe.” These phrases risk sending the email to the Promotions tab. It can be difficult to deal with this situation because, by law, marketers are required to include an unsubscribe link in the campaign.

You could navigate this issue by using an email signature instead of a footer. Doing so gives the email a personal touch while at the same time you remain compliant by adding the unsubscribe at the bottom of the signature.

9) Reduce images and graphics

Marketers have the tendency to fill images and graphics in promotional emails. It makes the email look good and straightforward to follow. However, the Gmail algorithm has learned that and would consider it when determining the tab where an email lands.

As you decide on the images and graphics to use in your email, do it in the way you would send an email to a friend or colleague. In most cases, such emails do not have a lot of images. If you add too many of them in your email, Gmail will mark it as marketing content and send it to the promotions tab.

That is not to say you should eradicate images from your emails. Just be mindful of how you do it.

10) Reduce the number of links

Marketers love links because that is the whole essence of marketing. However, Google knows about this and will try to protect email users from too many promotional messages ending up in the primary Inbox tab.

Including too many links in your email will lead to it getting classified as promotional, hence ending up on the specified tab. Get into the practice of adding two to three links, keeping in mind that “Unsubscribe” also counts as a link.

If you compose your email properly, all that you will need to add is a single link – the call to action. Google may not like phrases such as “Buy Now” or “Click Here” compared to terms such as “Resources” or “Find Out More.”

11) Make your CTAs a text link rather than a button

No matter how many “Calls to Action” you add to your email, the reader will not do anything unless they are ready for the action. That’s one thing most email marketers do not realize. They assume that adding CTAs all over the content and creating them as a button will get more clicks.

The more buttons you add, the heavier the code, which changes how the Gmail algorithm classifies your email. Only create one CTA and keep it as visible plain text as opposed to a button. 

My recommendation is that unless you’re sending a 100% promotional email, do not use buttons in your email body. The only exception for this would be adding a CTA in your email signature. That is because the signature is perceived as a stand-alone section, beyond the email content.

12) Personalize your emails

How you greet your users at the start of the email matters. If the mailing list includes the names of recipients, you could engage a technical person to pull each person’s name in the email that they receive.

For instance, it feels more personal for an email that starts with the greetings “Dear Purity” rather than “Dear Reader.” Such an approach sends a salient message to the reader such that they pay attention. 

On the other hand, Gmail takes it that you know the recipient at a personal level since you have addressed them by their name. Thus, the marketing message will not go to the promotions tab.

How to take advantage of the promotions tab instead of fighting it

As much as you want to avoid the promotions tab, it may be pretty much unavoidable, and it’s actually not that bad. The promotions tab is not a marketing dead zone. Statistics indicate that 45% of Gmail users normally check the Promotions tab each day.

This is a considerable number of users, considering the massive usage of Gmail. The email service now has 1.5 billion active users globally, so you can still use your lemons to make lemonade.

1) Use the promotional context to use aggressive sales offers

The good thing about having your emails in the Promotions tab is that people will expect your mail to be, well… promotional. So if they’re looking at this tab you can assume they are hunting for offers. leverage this fact to offer sales, discounts, trials, events with clear and direct promotional subject lines. This may ironically improve your open rate.

2) Front-load your emails with your sales offer

Open your promotional emails with a unique sales proposition (USP) and a highly visible CTA to go along with it. Don’t beat around the bush. Instead, show people your wares and provide them with an attractive sales offer. Get straight to business and don’t waste their time with “on my mind” style content, and marketing fluff.

3) Make your promotional emails stand out with email markup

Gmails realize that all us marketers live off the Promotions tab, and they realize that promotions are not the same as Spam. The Gmail team knows that some people actively read promotional emails, so they gave us the tools to provide these people with high value in the context of advertisement emails. That’s where email markup annotations come in.

WIth Promotions annotations, you can make your sales offer supper apparent directly in the inbox. And because very few email marketers actually use email structured data that gives you the advantage of added visibility and clarity.

The post How to avoid Gmail Promotions tab (is it worth it?) appeared first on WiseStamp.

Finding potential partners for email collaboration is easier than one might think. In this guide, we will share the top tips that will help you boost email conversions and sales with the help of email partnerships. So, let’s get started! 

Partnership marketing resources 

There are many good reasons why you may want to collaborate with other brands to run an email marketing campaign. Email partnerships can help you grow brand awareness, broaden your reach, engage new audiences, and ultimately increase conversions.

But before entering a partnership, you should consider different partnership marketing resources. Hence, you can find the most productive way to collaborate with other brands with the end goal of converting more email recipients into paying customers. 

Best partnership marketing resources

To help you get started, here is a list of the best partnership marketing resources. 

1. Publishing websites 

Partnering with online publishers is a great way to boost sales and conversions, especially if your company offers informational and digital products. When collaborating with publishing websites, you must keep up with the high demand for original and high-quality content. 

The quality of the content you produce is as important as the content type and topics. That is why it is important that you choose a publisher that matches your niche well. 

2. Pinterest 

Pinterest Business offers a great feature that sends emails to users when products they have pinned go on sale. These emails are pretty simple, but they do deliver the right kind of marketing message. When it comes to sales and conversions, this co-marketing method proves to be very effective. In fact, studies show that 83% of US Pinners have made a purchase based on Pins from brands. 

3. Non-profits 

Nonprofits are another great partnership marketing resource. Partnering with charities and other non-profit organizations is a great way to expand your reach and increase brand awareness. Besides, by collaborating with nonprofits, you can fulfill your corporate social responsibility and enable positive change.

4. Educational organizations 

If your brand offers products or services appealing to students, college faculty, or students’ parents, educational organizations are your go-to partnership category. Choose an educational organization that offers majors in the field that matches your product line for a better product-market fit.

Non-competitive businesses 

Even though it is important to choose a partner that operates in the same industry, you should not collaborate with a competitive business. Instead, partner with brands that offer complementary products and services. For example, if you offer digital services, like web hosting, it makes sense to partner with companies, like Smartproxy, that offer similar but not identical products. This way, you can get the most out of co-marketing without risking losing potential clients to competitors. 

Choosing the right brand to partner with 

The key to increasing sales and conversions often lies in choosing the right brand to partner with. The general rule of thumb is finding a company with audience demographics that match your target audience demographics criteria. So, when choosing a brand to collaborate with, make sure to pick the one that shares a similar audience but is not a direct competitor. 

Besides similar target markets, you and your email marketing partner must share the same marketing goals. If you aim to increase email conversions and sales, it makes sense to choose a brand with similar marketing goals for email collaboration. 

How to start your email co-marketing campaign? 

Once you have defined clear co-marketing goals and objectives, and have found potential partners, it is time to pitch your collaboration idea. When you start sending out emails with partnership offers, you will notice that they all share a similar email funnel structure.

Advised email funnel structure for email partnership campaigns:

1. Introduction – explains who you are and reasons why the company you are emailing should be paying attention to your offer. 
2. Recognition –  explains your choice of a potential partner and compliments their work. 
3. Request – pitches the idea for collaboration and answers the question “What do you want another brand to do?”
4. Offer – covers what you will do if they agree to fulfill your request. 
5. Call-to-action – gives an instruction on what they should do to discuss the partnership furtner. 

Even though the email structure and content will differ from company to company, you can use this structure format as a reference when designing your partnership pitching emails.

Choosing suitable collaborative marketing form 

Collaborative marketing can take different forms. It can be something as simple as mentioning another brand in your email newsletter or sending out a promotional email offering a collaboration discount. 

To help you choose a suitable form of collaborative marketing for your email campaign, below is a list of email co-marketing ideas.

Email co-marketing ideas:

• Send out news emails introducing another brand
• Inviting subscribers to check out relevant content from another brand’s blog. 
• Subscribers to attend a collaborative event or shared webinar. 
• Emails sharing another brand’s important dates (e.g. another company’s birthday).
• Emails inviting subscribers to participate in a collaborative giveaway or contest. 

Partnering with another brand to run a giveaway 

By partnering with other brands to run contests and giveaways, you can expand your reach and ultimately increase your sales and conversions. And email is the perfect medium to invite subscribers to participate in your collaborative giveaway. All you need to do is send out an email highlighting the prize and explaining to subscribers what they need to do in order to enter. 

A few content types you can run to increase conversion:

• Sweepstakes
• Giveaways
• Enter-to-win contests
• Quizzes
• Surveys

To create some of these, a tool like Typeform can come in handy, where you can create no-code forms, surveys, or quizzes and share them in your email. Surveys also let you collect feedback and other relevant data that can help you enhance your marketing campaigns.

Besides increasing conversions, you can use email partnerships to run contests for gathering user-generated content (UGC). Here is how it works. 

Let us say you have partnered with another brand to launch a contest or giveaway. Then, you can use email to promote your contest and get more prospects to join the competition. When designing the rules for your contest, you can ask contest participants to create and share pieces of content.

For example, you can ask your email recipients to share a picture of your and your partner’s product on social media via hashtag. Later, you can use these user-generated content pieces as a form of social proof to build trust with other prospective customers.

Final Thoughts 

Email co-marketing is a great way to increase sales and email conversions. A clear co-marketing campaign structure is key if you want your collaboration to bear fruit. That is why before launching your email co-marketing campaign, make sure to clearly define your goals and objectives, and know what you have to offer. 

The best advice is to start small and build from successful experiences. This way, you can ultimately increase email conversions and sales and choose the best-suited partnership marketing resources. 

The post Email marketing partnerships: how to help others help you appeared first on WiseStamp.