|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
If you want an email campaign to succeed, you don`t want to offend anyone when sending your messages. Turn off a consumer with your email and you can be sure they`ll tune out your message. Don`t let this happen to you!
A message that earns respect makes sales. That`s why our first topic for discussion is email etiquette. (Later in the course, we`ll talk more about how to write an email sales letter.)
Train yourself to always -- and I mean ALWAYS -- stick to the rules below when crafting your email message.
=> RULE #1 - ALWAYS WRAP YOUR LINES AT 65 CHARACTERS OR LESS
Whenever you write an email, always format the lines so that they`re 65 characters, or less, across. To do this, you may need to do a "hard return" by hitting "Enter" at the end of the line.
Wondering why to limit your lines to just 65 characters? (Good question! It shows you`re thinking.) There are two reasons that "less is more":
-- The first thing to remember is that looking at a computer screen for a long time causes EYE FATIGUE for many readers. The shorter span of characters across the screen makes reading easier and more appealing to the recipient of your email message.
-- The other reason to go short instead of long is this: some email clients AUTOMATICALLY ENFORCE LINE-WRAPPING at 60-65 characters on received messages. If your email is wrapped at 70, the content will arrive all "chopped up." This makes it unattractive...and worse -- unappealing.
-- Tip within a Rule #1: Email clients such as Outlook Express allow you to SET THE LINE-WRAP to any character-width you choose. That means you won`t have to hit Enter each time after typing 65 characters. Makes life easier!
-- Tip within a Rule #2 - You can type 65 asterisks or dashes in a Notepad file to create a template. Then paste your email below it to see if any lines extend too far to the right.
=> RULE # 2 - BE CAREFUL USING ALL CAPS
How many times have you changed the TV channel to avoid listening to a screaming car salesperson? No one likes a screaming salesperson...and no one likes a "screaming" email message, either. Odds are, when someone has over-amped the volume of their message by using too many capital letters (not to mention too many exclamation points and other punctuation) - you`re going to be turned off.
On the Internet, email messages written in all caps are considered yelling. It`s okay to write some sentences and some words in all caps, but don`t go overboard. (As you can see in this message, I`ve tried to use capital letters to help break up sections of the content from time to time)
-- Tip within a Rule: Consumers buy from a source they trust. Emails in all caps are perceived as "shady" or uneducated, and have an appearance that damages the credibility of an offer.
=> RULE #3 - WATCH YOUR Ps & Qs (Spelling and Grammar)
Would you be influenced by an email selling you something that had noticeable spelling and grammar mistakes? Sure you would...and the influence would be negative, not positive! When a consumer reads a sales message that`s filled with errors, they think to themselves, "Good grief, this person doesn`t even take the time to get his emails right. His product is probably the same quality as his emails."
When you`re in business, YOUR IMAGE IS YOUR REPUTATION and your reputation is the reason people buy from you or the guy down the block. It`s essential that you create an image of INTEGRITY, CREDIBILITY, and HONESTY in the mind of your prospects. Sending emails filled with errors doesn`t hurt your professional image...it destroys it. (Ouch!)
Sincerely,
Steven Ackerman
If you would like to subscribe to my entire series of helpful articles just go to my website, http://www.Ackerman55.com, fill in your name and email in the form and hit the "Free Signup!" button
The saying "Quality, not Quantity" is applicable even to the... Read More
Developing and executing a successful e-mail marketing campaign is becoming... Read More
Marketing your business with email is an art.It's very easy... Read More
Another powerful reason for making the switch from using the... Read More
Tis the season to leverage customer interest data for successful... Read More
If you've been getting caught up in all this talk... Read More
These days email is taken for granted and used perhaps... Read More
Do you publish an e-zine or newsletter? If you answer... Read More
What if I told you that with each passing day,... Read More
Does it seem to you that when you view "openings"... Read More
Following up with your past customers is a proven way... Read More
Congratulations, you just made a sale!Congratulations, you just made a... Read More
You are a home business entrepreneur. You have just built... Read More
Let's start at the beginning - why do you need... Read More
As I logged into my e-mail account, I clicked on... Read More
1. When you make your first sale, you need to... Read More
Website promotion is certainly a main focus of all business... Read More
Let me ask you a question, "What is the most... Read More
When using an email marketing tool such as Adestra's Message... Read More
If you are trying to get an opt-in email list... Read More
A Review on Email Go Getter System (EGGS) by Martin... Read More
White space in newsletters is like pausing in conversation. Take... Read More
1. Pick 4 or more articles you've written that have... Read More
Owning your own online business is a lot of work.... Read More
Over 40% of all emails within your marketing campaign are... Read More
Do you give web site visitors the opportunity to download... Read More
Happy New Year! New attitude? New habits? How about 10... Read More
One of the greatest challenges facing business owners and managers... Read More
For those of you who aren't familiar with the term,... Read More
Let's recap what you've learned so far...In the first lesson,... Read More
What does the flu have to do with building your... Read More
I have always been an avid reader of Stephen King's... Read More
Many companies begin their online sales ventures with the wrong... Read More
Offer a newsletter in a time frame that will be... Read More
Targeted, cheap, fast, trackable and with more reporting than traditional... Read More
Owning your own online business is a lot of work.... Read More
This little parody, and the comments that follow, were... Read More
The war on sp^am has so far been waged on... Read More
It's been said before, but important to re-emphasize, e-mail is... Read More
Email Marketing 2005?Do's & Don'ts1. Make sure all your email... Read More
Following up with your past customers is a proven way... Read More
Free email accounts are great if you want to hide... Read More
Website promotion is certainly a main focus of all business... Read More
Keeping your email lists fresh is critical to the success... Read More
An autoresponder is a very powerful tool for any online... Read More
It is an accepted fact among the experts now that... Read More
1. Make the effort to learn about the etiquette (these... Read More
? Are you tired of searching for e-mail messages you... Read More
If you're in business on the Internet to make a... Read More
Do you publish an e-zine or newsletter? If you answer... Read More
Email Marketing Email Marketing |