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The Fundamentals of Email Marketing

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the fundamentals of email marketing

There are a multitude of great reasons to figure out an email marketing strategy that works for your business.

Email marketing campaigns are one of the most cost-effective marketing efforts you can make for your brand. Not only do email marketing campaigns help you reach a huge segment of your audience with one simple click. They’re also an essential tool for building brand awareness, converting prospects, staying top of mind with current and potential customers and offering your audience an exceptional digital experience.

Need more convincing? Here are some impressive stats about email marketing that should encourage you to invest — if you haven’t already:

It’s no wonder that marketers around the globe devote so much of their time and resources to email marketing — and why it’s become such a mainstay of effective outreach.

Below, we’ve put together our best insider advice on the email marketing fundamentals you need to know to hit it out of the park with your campaigns. Use these tips to get you started — then put what you learn to work and start seeing the benefits of emails for yourself.

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1. Grow Your Email List

A great email marketing campaign is nothing without a solid list of contacts. For that, you need to have a plan for establishing and growing an organic email list. There are several ways to do this, and we recommend pursuing as many of these avenues as you can — after all, more contacts means more possibilities for conversions.

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Here are some tried-and-true ways to build your email list:

Make it Easy to Subscribe

Create various checkpoints where interested contacts can quickly and easily enter their information to hear more from you. These include website pop-ups, social media outreach, and static sign-up boxes in the header, footer, or sidebar of your website. Keep it simple by including a short CTA (“Sign up for our newsletter!”), a box where users can fill in their email address and a button to submit.

Create Gated Content and Lead Generation Landing Pages

Create gated content behind landing pages — in other words, create content that users can access only after entering their contact information. Just be sure to provide an opt-in box where users can confirm they want to receive your email campaign content in addition to the asset.

Host Webinars

Show off your thought leadership skills and tap into a wider audience by creating and hosting webinars. Like gated assets, these can be a great tool for collecting high-quality contacts who are genuinely interested in your brand. Create added value by partnering with similar (but non-competing) brands and access their audience as well.

Don’t Buy Email Lists

Walk away from anyone who’s offering to sell you a list of contacts. On top of these contacts being low-quality and likely uninterested in what you’re selling, buying email lists could put you in hot water with your email service provider and the law.

2. Understand Your Audience

Not all audiences are created equal. Be sure to target the right group of people with the right type of content. To do this successfully, you need to understand who you’re trying to reach in the first place.

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A target audience refers to the group of people who your email campaign is aimed at. These should be the people that your content is most likely to convert with — not just in terms of interest in your product or service, but in the likelihood of making a purchase.

Targeting the right audience often means segmenting your contacts based on who you think will most connect with any given campaign. That’s because not all of your contacts will find all of your content/campaigns relevant. For example, existing customers have no reason to engage with a new customer promotion.

Some tips for segmenting your audience and targeting the right people:

  • Research demographics like age, gender, and job title.
  • Consider where contacts are in the purchase cycle.
  • Look at past purchasing behavior.
  • Check previous email activity.
  • Leverage surveys to learn more about interests and preferences

Segmentation takes time but is worth it — especially when it comes to your performance outcomes. And fortunately, email marketing automation can help you do it.

3. Use Email Marketing Tools

Many tools exist to ease the workload of managing contacts, content, and analytics. Two of these tools can be absolutely integral to your email marketing success, so let’s take a deeper look into them.

Email Marketing Automation

About 51 percent of companies are already using marketing automation in some form — and they see a ton of benefits, including increased productivity, better analytics, and improvements in marketing outcomes and efficiencies.

Email marketing automation is simply about adding shortcuts that let your team work better, harder, and smarter. For example, an automation platform can segment your contacts with ease and then send out timely automated messages or conversion-driven emails based on behind-the-scenes customer behavior. And it doesn’t even have to cost you anything.

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Content Management System

A CMS is essential for organizing your content and optimizing content output with your emails. Integrate it with your marketing automation platform to quickly pull the right content for the right people. A CMS can also identify content gaps that need to be filled. In addition to being useful for emails, you’ll also use it to keep your website informational and up to date. While there are a ton of CMS options available, our users overwhelmingly prefer WordPress.

4. Use Content Creatively

We’ve talked about content a lot in this guide, and for good reason. Content is the fuel behind your email marketing campaigns — and the foundational element behind how you engage, nurture, and convert your contacts.

Knowing you need content is one thing — knowing how to use it is another. Here are three great places to start:

Drip campaigns. Send content to your audience over time or based on specific behaviors. Automate campaigns based on segments —  so that new prospects are provided with a stream of content describing what your company does. In contrast, established prospects get content geared toward why they should choose you over your competitors.

Newsletters. Every brand should have an email newsletter. Use them to share various types of content, like recent blog posts, videos, images, and user-generated posts.

Promotions. Compelling content is behind every successful promotion. Whether you’re running a special or hosting an event, use content to drive interest and promote the value of your efforts.

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5. Utilize Analytics

Last but not least, let’s talk about analytics.

It’s crucial that you pay attention to key email marketing metrics. These tell you what’s working and what’s not — and are critical for determining your ROI.

There are numerous ways to utilize analytics to your advantage but focus on these key performance indicators for starters.

Pay closest attention to your:

  • Conversion Rate. The number of times users perform a desired conversion, such as clicking through to your website or signing up for a demo.
  • Click-through Rate: The percentage of emails that received at least one click-through from the opener.
  • Unsubscribe Rate: How many people decided to opt-out of hearing more from you.
  • Un-open Rate: Just as important as paying attention to how many people opened your emails is paying attention to how many people didn’t.

Ultimately, the analytics that matter to your brand will be based on your unique objectives. That means you’ll likely look at more KPIs than just those mentioned above — and you’ll have specific goalposts from which to determine what success looks like.

You know how to target and understand your audience —  and have tools to reach them and metrics to understand their engagement —  you’ve got the basics. Now hit the ground running and put email marketing to work for your business!

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Unveiling the Future of Email Marketing: 4 Trends to Revolutionize Engagement

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Unveiling the Future of Email Marketing: 4 Trends to Revolutionize Engagement

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, the efficacy of email marketing hinges not only on the delivery of messages but also on their ability to resonate with audiences and drive meaningful interactions. Gone are the days of generic blasts; instead, companies are increasingly turning to innovative strategies to captivate their subscribers. Here, we delve into four emerging trends poised to redefine the realm of email marketing, promising to elevate engagement and drive conversions.

1. User-Generated Content (UGC) Takes Center Stage

User-generated content (UGC) emerges as a potent tool in the arsenal of email marketers, facilitating authentic connections with audiences while amplifying brand visibility. From customer reviews to social media posts, UGC offers a dynamic and relatable portrayal of products and services, resonating with consumers in the era of “new sincerity.”

By harnessing UGC within newsletters, brands gain invaluable insights into consumer preferences and behaviors, fostering trust and credibility. Strategies such as incentivized contests or social media challenges empower users to contribute content willingly, fueling a steady stream of authentic engagement.

2. Augmented and Virtual Realities (AR/VR) Transform Experiences

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies emerge as game-changers in the realm of email marketing, offering immersive experiences that captivate and compel audiences. While VR may require substantial investments and specialized equipment, AR presents a more accessible avenue for brands to showcase products and drive engagement.

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From interactive product demonstrations to virtual try-on experiences, AR/VR initiatives promise to revolutionize email campaigns, offering users a glimpse into a digitally enhanced world. While technical constraints may limit current implementations, ongoing advancements herald a future where AR/VR seamlessly integrate into email communication, enriching brand experiences.

3. Omnichannel Integration Enhances Connectivity

The advent of omnichannel marketing heralds a new era of seamless connectivity, enabling brands to orchestrate cohesive experiences across diverse touchpoints. By unifying customer interactions across websites, offline stores, and email communications, businesses cultivate deeper insights and deliver personalized content tailored to individual preferences.

Omnichannel integration not only streamlines the customer journey but also fosters brand loyalty by offering consistent and personalized experiences. Whether browsing online, engaging in-store, or interacting via email, customers encounter a unified brand identity, enhancing engagement and driving conversions.

4. Hyper-Segmentation and Personalization Drive Relevance

In an age defined by personalized experiences, hyper-segmentation emerges as a cornerstone of effective email marketing strategies. By dissecting audiences into granular segments based on demographics, behaviors, and preferences, brands can deliver tailored content that resonates on a profound level.

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Utilizing advanced email marketing platforms, businesses can leverage hyper-segmentation to craft personalized campaigns that speak directly to individual interests and needs. From dynamic product recommendations to targeted promotions, personalized emails foster a sense of relevance and exclusivity, driving engagement and fostering long-term customer relationships.

In conclusion, the future of email marketing lies in innovation and adaptation, with brands leveraging cutting-edge technologies and strategic approaches to engage audiences effectively. By embracing trends such as user-generated content, augmented reality, omnichannel integration, and hyper-segmentation, businesses can unlock new realms of engagement, driving meaningful interactions and fostering brand loyalty in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

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Top Email Marketing Strategies To Use For Q4

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As we approach the Q4 period, it’s never too early to start preparing for your Black Friday and Cyber Monday email marketing strategy. Once Black Friday week hits, our inboxes are filled with a hurricane of brands fighting for attention, each with the ‘biggest’ and the ‘best’ offers you won’t get anywhere else. 

To set your brand apart from the competition, it’s crucial to plan ahead. Over 60% of brands send out multiple emails over the course of the Black Friday/ Cyber Monday weekend, and it’s a perfect time to up your brand awareness ahead of the Christmas shopping season. 

If you’re not sure where to start with Q4 planning or need some last-minute tips to enhance your strategy, we’ve outlined some top email marketing strategies to incorporate into your plans!

1. Send Pre-Black Friday Emails

Sending pre-Black Friday emails is great for keeping your brand at the forefront of people’s minds ahead of the big day. Not only will a pre-Black Friday email let your audience know about your upcoming event, but it will also ensure that your audience is regularly checking in on your brand throughout the Q4 period.

Additionally, sending pre-Black Friday emails is beneficial for A/B testing. Sending out different formats of emails with minor tweaks, such as the CTAs or subject lines, can help you determine what your audience is more likely to engage with so you can then tailor your Black Friday strategy accordingly.

2. Run a Lead Gen

It might seem like a given, but ahead of Black Friday, it’s beneficial to give your email list a much-needed boost. A simple but effective way to do this is to run a lead-generation advertising campaign. For example, offering your audience the chance to win a prize in return for submitting details, such as their email address, is a quick and easy way to increase your list size. Similarly, refreshing your pop-up on-site with an irresistible offer will also contribute to gaining new profiles.

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3. Offer Something Unexpected

Email marketers only have 3 seconds to capture the attention of their readers, which isn’t surprising due to the amount of emails the average person will receive daily. If an email isn’t driving you to click on it, it swiftly gets forgotten about and lost within their inbox. Over Black Friday, to avoid this happening, make sure you’re offering something unexpected, whether that’s a mystery discount or a gift with each purchase!

One of the worst things you can do over Black Friday is to overcomplicate your promotions. If you’re offering multiple promotions and codes, things can get a bit too hectic. To make it as simple as possible, consider running a standard “up to” percentage amount. If you want to include a code, it helps to have this auto-applied at checkout to avoid customers dropping off if they input it incorrectly. In the design of your email, make sure the promotion is clearly highlighted within the design so it can’t be missed, and also referenced in the body copy and subject lines too!

5. Create An Effective Design 

Creating an effective design is one thing, but how do you know what works? To improve your email campaigns, consider running an A/B test to pinpoint which elements of your design are improving the CTR and which are hindering it.

Highlighting metrics such as colour, font size, and CTAs can instantly impact whether people will click through or discard! If a consumer clicks on your email, you’ll have, on average, 11 seconds to keep their attention, so making sure your design stands out for the wave of other Black Friday content is key! Keep the design of your email reflective of your branding but with stand-out elements specifically for the shopping season.

6. Make Use Of CTAs

CTAs (call-to-action) are one of the most underrated parts of any email campaign, especially over the Black Friday period. They’re one of the driving forces behind making your email recipients turn into passive readers to customers. One key way to make your CTAs stand out is to make use of bright and bold colours that will attract and hold attention. Additionally, it’s important to think about the placement of your CTAs to increase your click-through rate, make sure the copy used is clear and concise (between two and five words) and use actionable language.

7. Focus On Subject Lines

Subject lines are make or break for every email campaign. Over Black Friday, consumers’ inboxes are cluttered with emails, so it’s important to stand out. It’s estimated that on Black Friday, 116.5 million emails from brands were sent out (more than any other day), and Black Friday sees the highest number of emails opened and clicked. To prevent your emails from being lost in the void, having a cracking subject line to stand out from competitors is everything.

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The secret to a great subject line is to keep it short and snappy. On average, subject lines with 50 characters or less tend to get an average of 12% higher open rates and 75% higher click-through rates. Including emojis within subject lines has been seen to increase click-through-rates by as much as 28%!

Additionally, it helps to use language that will really pique your audience’s interest, stay away from any overused cliches and keep them as attention-grabbing as possible.

8. Prep for Cyber Monday

To plan an effective Black Friday, it’s crucial to prepare for Cyber events too. With Cyber following straight after, it’s easy to forget about it or not prioritise it as much as Black Friday, however, it’s still an extremely profitable day! To make the most of it, create dedicated campaigns and tailor your online sales messaging so that it focuses on driving urgency. 

9. Incorporate SMS into Your Strategy

Sometimes the importance of SMS can be overlooked because a lot of brands assume that text messages won’t fit in with their brand. However, it’s a no-brainer for reaching even more customers. On average, 82% of people engage with marketing content on their smartphones, so it’s something to definitely explore, especially over the busy shopping period.

To gain SMS sign-ups, you can effectively tie your SMS campaign in with your lead generation and ask for customers to fill out their phone number as well as their email address. That way, they’ll be opted into your send list. It can also be used to send reminders when sales have launched or when offers are coming to a close.

Despite having only 160 characters to work with, SMS campaigns are longer than recommended email subject lines, so it can be just as, if not more effective than email marketing campaigns.

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Mastering Email A/B Testing for Mobile Apps: The Ultimate Guide

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Welcome to the world of email A/B testing for mobile apps!

Here at Favoured, we’re all about delivering the best results for our clients, and that includes mastering the art of email marketing. In this guide, we’ll take you through the essentials of A/B testing your email campaigns to achieve maximum success for your mobile app.

What Is Email A/B Testing?

Email A/B testing, also known as split testing, is a method used to compare two or more variations of an email campaign to determine which one performs better. The goal is to identify the version that resonates most with your target audience, ultimately leading to higher open rates, click-through rates, and overall engagement.

In the context of mobile apps, email A/B testing can be particularly valuable, as it helps you fine-tune your marketing messages to drive user acquisition, engagement, and retention.

Benefits Of Email A/B Testing

There are numerous advantages to incorporating A/B testing into your email marketing strategy for mobile apps. Some of the key benefits include:

  • Improved open rates: By testing different subject lines, you can identify which ones capture your audience’s attention and entice them to open your emails.
  • Increased click-through rates: Experimenting with various email elements, such as CTAs and layout, can help you determine the most effective ways to encourage recipients to take action.
  • Enhanced engagement: A/B testing allows you to create more relevant and engaging content for your target audience, resulting in higher conversion rates and stronger user relationships.
  • Data-driven decision making: With A/B testing, you can make informed decisions based on actual user behaviour, rather than relying on assumptions or gut feelings.

Key Metrics To Track

When conducting email A/B tests, it’s essential to track specific metrics to gauge the success of your campaigns. Some of the most critical metrics to monitor include:

  • Open rate: The percentage of recipients who open your email. This metric can help you evaluate the effectiveness of your subject lines.
  • Click-through rate (CTR): The percentage of recipients who click on a link within your email. A high CTR can indicate that your email content is engaging and relevant.
  • Conversion rate: The percentage of recipients who take the desired action after clicking a link in your email, such as downloading your app, making a purchase, or signing up for a newsletter.
  • Unsubscribe rate: The percentage of recipients who opt out of receiving future emails from you. A high unsubscribe rate may suggest that your email content is not resonating with your audience.

Understanding the basics of email A/B testing is the first step towards optimising your mobile app marketing campaigns. By grasping the concept, benefits, and key metrics of A/B testing, you’ll be well-equipped to make data-driven decisions that drive real results for your mobile app.

Setting Up Your Test 

Defining Your Goal

Before you start setting up your A/B test, it’s crucial to determine the primary objective of your test. Having a clear goal will help you focus your efforts and make data-driven decisions based on the results. Your goal should align with your overall mobile app marketing strategy and be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). Examples of goals for email A/B tests include:

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  • Increasing the open rate by 10% within 30 days
  • Boosting the click-through rate by 15% within 60 days
  • Reducing the unsubscribe rate by 5% within 45 days

Selecting Variables To Test

Once you’ve set your goal, it’s time to choose the variables to test in your email campaign. The variables you select should have a direct impact on your goal and be something you can measure. Here are some common email elements to consider testing:

  • Subject lines: Test different wording, phrasing, or personalisation techniques to capture your audience’s attention.
  • Email content: Experiment with different content styles, lengths, or structures to see what resonates with your recipients.
  • Call-to-action (CTA): Try various CTA placements, wording, or button designs to encourage users to take the desired action.
  • Images and visuals: Test different images, colours, or visual layouts to determine which one drives higher engagement.
  • Personalisation: Compare personalised content, such as using the recipient’s name, to generic content to assess its impact on your metrics.

Creating Variations

Now that you’ve chosen your variables, it’s time to create the variations for your email campaigns. Keep the following tips in mind when crafting your variations:

  • Limit the number of variations: While it may be tempting to test multiple variations, it’s best to limit yourself to two or three, so you don’t dilute your results or prolong the testing process.
  • Make distinct changes: Ensure the variations are different enough to provide meaningful insights. For instance, if testing subject lines, one could be a question, while the other could be a statement.
  • Keep other elements consistent: To ensure accurate results, only change the variable you’re testing and keep all other elements the same across variations.
  • Consider your audience: When creating variations, take into account your target audience’s preferences and behaviours to craft relevant and engaging content.

Setting up an A/B test for your mobile app’s email campaigns is an essential step towards optimising your marketing efforts. By defining your goal, selecting the right variables to test, and creating effective variations, you’ll be well on your way to enhancing your app’s performance and building stronger relationships with your users.

Implementing & Analysing Your Test

Test Duration & Sample Size

Determining the optimal test duration and sample size is crucial for obtaining accurate and reliable results. Here are some factors to consider when deciding on these parameters:

  • Test duration: The length of your test should be long enough to gather sufficient data, but not so long that it delays your marketing efforts. Generally, a test duration of 7 to 14 days is recommended for most email A/B tests.
  • Sample size: Your sample size should be large enough to provide statistically significant results. Use an A/B test sample size calculator to determine the appropriate size based on your desired confidence level and the expected difference between variations.

Keep in mind that these recommendations may vary depending on your specific circumstances, such as the size of your email list or the frequency of your email campaigns.

Launching Your Test

Once you’ve determined the test duration and sample size, it’s time to launch your A/B test. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth test launch:

  • Segment your email list: Divide your email list into random, equal-sized groups to ensure a fair comparison between variations.
  • Send your variations: Schedule your email campaign to send the different variations to the corresponding segments of your email list.
  • Monitor the progress: Keep an eye on the key metrics, such as open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates, throughout the test duration to ensure everything is running smoothly.

Analysing Results & Drawing Conclusions

After your test has concluded, it’s essential to analyse the data, draw conclusions, and apply your findings to future email campaigns. Here’s how to go about it:

  • Review the data: Examine the key metrics for each variation and compare them to determine which one performed better.
  • Check for statistical significance: Use an A/B test calculator to ensure the differences between the variations are statistically significant, indicating that the results are not due to random chance.
  • Draw conclusions: Based on the data, determine what you’ve learned from the test and how it can inform your future email marketing efforts. For instance, if a specific subject line format led to higher open rates, consider using a similar approach in future campaigns.
  • Apply your findings: Incorporate your learnings into your email marketing strategy to continually optimise your campaigns and drive better results for your mobile app.

Implementing and analysing your email A/B tests is a critical step towards optimising your mobile app marketing campaigns. By determining the appropriate test duration and sample size, launching your test, and analysing the results, you’ll be able to make data-driven decisions that enhance your app’s performance and foster stronger relationships with your users.

Best Practices

Consistent Testing

To achieve long-term success in email marketing for mobile apps, it’s crucial to make A/B testing a consistent part of your strategy. Regular testing allows you to:

  • Continuously optimise your campaigns: Stay ahead of the curve by continually refining your email campaigns based on data-driven insights.
  • Adapt to changing trends: Keep your email marketing efforts relevant and up-to-date by adapting to evolving user preferences, industry trends, and market dynamics.
  • Validate new ideas: Use A/B testing to validate new marketing concepts or tactics before fully implementing them in your campaigns.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

As with any marketing endeavour, there are potential pitfalls to watch out for when conducting email A/B tests. Here are some common mistakes and how to avoid them:

  • Testing too many variables at once: Focus on testing one variable at a time to ensure accurate results and avoid confusion when analysing the data.
  • Ignoring statistical significance: Make sure your test results are statistically significant to avoid drawing conclusions based on random chance or insufficient data.
  • Focusing solely on short-term gains: While it’s essential to optimise for immediate results, also consider the long-term impact of your email marketing strategy on user retention and lifetime value.

Utilising Automation & Growth Hacking Strategies

Leveraging automation and growth hacking techniques can help streamline your email A/B testing efforts and drive even better results for your mobile app. Consider the following strategies:

  • Email automation: Use email marketing automation tools to schedule and send your A/B tests, track key metrics, and segment your email list efficiently.
  • Dynamic content: Implement dynamic content in your email campaigns to personalise messages based on user behaviour, preferences, or demographics, and A/B test the effectiveness of various personalisation techniques.
  • Multivariate testing: Once you’re comfortable with A/B testing, consider using multivariate testing to assess the impact of multiple variables simultaneously and identify the best combination of elements for your campaigns.

Mastering email A/B testing for your mobile app is an ongoing process that requires consistent effort, learning, and adaptation. By following best practices, avoiding common pitfalls, and utilising automation and growth hacking strategies, you’ll be well on your way to achieving long-term success in your email marketing campaigns.

As a data-driven full-funnel marketing agency, Favoured believes in the power of optimising every aspect of the customer journey, and that includes email marketing.

We’re dedicated to helping businesses drive real results, and A/B testing plays a crucial role in this process. Reach out if you want to supercharge your email campaigns with us. Happy testing!

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