Email Engagement Email Engagement From Inbox to Open to Click From Inbox to Open to Click Presented by UMGD Bridget Ferris Social Marketing Coordinator Bridget.Ferris@umusic .com Eric Roe Manager of CRM [email protected]om Jeff Wood Coordinator of CRM [email protected]m With Special Guest: Christine Cheas Account Manager [email protected]
A guide with actionable tips on how to best ensure that your emails (1) make it to your subscriber's inbox, (2) are compelling enough to open, and (3) have the most effective design and content possible. Recorded on 10/24/12 by UMGD.
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Transcript
Email EngagementEmail EngagementFrom Inbox to Open to ClickFrom Inbox to Open to Click
What good is your email if your What good is your email if your subscribers never see it?subscribers never see it?
No Inbox. No Click.No ROI.
In fact 20% of email goes here, NOT In fact 20% of email goes here, NOT the inbox!the inbox!
That’s good money down
the drain.
Why do my good emails get blocked?
Reputation is the Reputation is the leading factor leading factor impacting impacting inbox placement. inbox placement.
But there are a few hurdles to cross…
Each ISP has their own rules for using Each ISP has their own rules for using reputation to determine inbox placement.reputation to determine inbox placement.
Yahoo! AOL Hotmail Gmail Comcast
Reputation is a set of metrics based on Reputation is a set of metrics based on your sending behavior.your sending behavior.
Keep complaints to a minimum.
Can complaints be reduced?Can complaints be reduced?
• Manage the registration process so that it meets your subscribers expectations
• Always respect unsubscribe requests
• Recognition
• Understand that content/program relevancy impacts behavior
• Conduct complaint analysis
Keep your subscriber list healthy!Keep your subscriber list healthy!
Unknown Users
Spam Traps
Message QualityMessage Quality
So What’s the Challenge?•17% of filtering is due to message content•Most email readers block images, so don’t rely on images to communicate message•The huge variety of email readers means you MUST test before sending
What Can You Do?•Test, and test again before sending new campaigns...make sure you’re testing your email with the Return Path Seed List•Update your email templates to comply with new rendering treatments in Outlook 2007, Hotmail, etc.•Ask subscribers to add you to their personal safe list
How can Return Path help with How can Return Path help with message quality?message quality?
Subscriber EngagementSubscriber Engagement
• AOL has publically stated that they are including trusted reporter data in their filtering algorithms
• Yahoo is measuring "activity" engagement: open, clicks, adding to address book and TINS data.
• Hotmail looks at panel data and TINS data• Comcast TINS data• Gmail has not published how they’re measuring and using engagement data.
What can you do about subscriber engagement? 1. Ensure you are mailing to the most active users and purging
aged/inactive subscribers 2. Be relevant! Ensure your messages are striking a chord with your
subscribers and peak their interest3. Remind your users to add you to their address book
TIP! Several of the top ISPs are using engagement metrics as a gauge for filtering.
Take Charge of Your Sender Reputation!
II. Subject LinesII. Subject Lines• From Name gives people an idea of who’s emailing
– 73% of subscribers click “Spam” or “Junk” based on this
• Subject Lines that are relevant and interesting invites opens– 69% of subscribers click “Spam” or “Junk” based on this
OpenOpen
Subject Line TipsSubject Line Tips
• No more than 60 characters
• Avoid spam triggers like “Free” and exclamation marks
• Utilize personalization to make messages feel targeted
• Call out featured content - subscribers don’t like to feel misled
• Be creative!
Which subject lines drive the most opens?Which subject lines drive the most opens?
III. Content & DesignIII. Content & Design• Preview Pane gives fans a quick
glimpse
• Images Off– Is your key message visible enough
for people to keep reading?
• Content Above the Fold– Are you persuading people to scroll
further?
• Test in Return Path
ClickClick
Complete Email & Click ThroughComplete Email & Click Through
• Food For Thought– Subscribers spend seconds reading your email– How will you catch their eye?– Average of 11% subscribers scroll below the fold
• The Click Through– Subscriber experience doesn’t end with the inbox– Make sure click through doesn’t require your fan to search – Send fans to the specific location they need to sign up, purchase, view, etc.