Making the Most of E-mail Marketing
January 5, 2008 by OneIMS · Leave a Comment
With the technology boom we’ve experienced in this past decade, marketing is being revolutionized. While traditional direct mail campaigns are still in practice, many businesses have turned to e-mail marketing campaigns. With new gadgets like the iPhone, people constantly check their e-mail vs. mail they get at home, which they may not get to for days. So if you’re targeting the younger, tech-savvy generation of today, here’s a few tips of how to make your e-mail marketing campaign a success.
- Know Your Recipient: this is one-to-one communication between you and your recipient, so it should feel like it came from a human being and not some generic mailing list. Stylize it so it feels exclusive to the recipient. Some ideas: add your recipient’s name to your e-mail, use a tag line that fits the personality of your recipient, remind them of something they’ve done/enjoyed.
- Create Relevant E-mails: there is no worse thing to do then sending pointless e-mails. Eventually that gets you the spam button. So remember to be timely with your messages and make them worthwhile. Make sure your e-mails connect with your recipient. Remember: Don’t overdo it and make it relevant.
- Pay Attention to the “From” Line: think of whom you’ll recipient want to receive mail from. Is it Josh Who or is it a name they trust? Depending on your campaign, it’s also a wise idea to make your e-mail come from a real person, after all, you want to build relationships with your recipients and relationships only exist between people. So sign off your e-mail with your name and contact information. Not only is it personal, but it will also let your recipient know that even though you may be part of a large company, they can get the individualized attention they need.
- Pay Attention to the “Subject” Line: Relevant subjects make a difference. Make sure that your subject line is relevant to your recipient. If you’ve heard the saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” you know that that’s exactly what people do when they get e-mails.The subject line is like the title and cover of the book, if it does not grab your attention it gets deleted. So make sure that your subject line is relevant and attention getting.
Next time you are getting ready to launch your new e-mail campaign, make sure you remember these four basic rules before hitting the send button. A little extra thought can get you the results you want. To learn more about our email marketing solution, email us at: info@oneims.com
What does your website say about your business?
January 3, 2008 by OneIMS · Leave a Comment
While many business owners realize that having a website is a step in the right direction, the quality of that website can be a double-edged sword. In this technological, internet-driven age, having an online presence vital, but having a website simply for the sake of having a website can turn your customers away. Imagine yourself on the worldwide web looking for a specific product or service. You use your preferred search engine and type in your search keywords. Eureka! You’ve found the website that you need.
While your online website may tell the customer that you offer that specific product or service, the way it is presented, or the amount of information they are able to receive goes a long way. A website that lacks aesthetics, functionality and professionalism will most likely turn potential customers away. First impressions are crucial and sometimes definitive.
Your website should be an extension of your business. Even though it is found somewhere out in cyberspace, you should treat it as your front window. What do you put in your front window? Only the best to attract your customers. That is exactly the same thing that your online website should be. By providing a functional, professional and aesthetically pleasing website, your potential online customers will be intrigued and will most likely purchase your product or service or even come in to your store. On the other hand, if you have a poorly constructed website, lacking important information and looking like a high-schooler did it for a tech class assignment, that’s exactly what your customer will think. And why would they take you seriously?
Before launching yourself into the internet marketplace, make sure to seek out professional help. While cost may be a factor, being cheap may hurt you more than you think. Below are some tips to help you prepare once you have decided to join the internet marketplace.
- Seek out professionals in the field who specialize in web design and development
- Ask to see samples of their previous work
- Browse through websites of competitors and carefully study the characteristics of their sites
- Clearly define the goals for your website, including your business philosophy and the message you want to get across to potential customers
- Meet with both copywriters and designers, make sure they both know what you want
- Develop your vision for your website
- Review all content and design ideas
- Stay in close touch with your web design and development team; remember that they are creating a custom product for you, so don’t settle for anything you don’t like
- Make sure your website is tested to remove all bugs and errors
- Keep your website current and up to date
Your website should not thrown together. Remember that this is your business, and it is open 24/7 for everyone to visit, so make sure it’s a true reflection of your business and let professionals handle it. So next time, before you jump at a cheap and quick offer, remember that your first impression can me a difference.
Let our web development experts at OneIMS who have been in the business for years, create the right impression of your business online!
Social Advertising. What is it?
January 2, 2008 by OneIMS · Leave a Comment
Recently, Facebook announced its new advertising program, a bold attempt at creating more relevant and effective web advertising. So what is social advertising? It works something like this. Imagine you are a die-hard fan of Coca-Cola. So you go and add Coca-Cola as one of your “friends” or link to your existing Facebook profile. The next time anyone in your social network views your profile, they will also be seeing Coca-Cola advertisements—and perhaps how you feel about them too. Social advertising attempts to commission the social context of the user. Thus, advertisements are not reliant on the one individual but on the individual’s social network.
So how is social advertising superior to traditional advertising? It adds realism to the advertisement. It plays with factors such as peer-pressure and referrals to gain popularity and exposure. And if it’s between friends it’s gotta be good stuff right? Although a new marketing strategy, social advertising is a cheap and effective way to advertise. Advertisers don’t need to try so hard at convincing consumers that their products are good. It’s your friends who tell you their products are good, leading to the bandwagon effect, and ultimately the goal companies using social advertising hope to reach.
