CarbonGraffiti - Email and Online Marketing

Silverpop have just announced something pretty monumental for the email marketing industry: they’re the first major ESP to bring the next big thing in today’s marketing environment to the email marketing space – email marketing is going social.

It was only a matter of time that email marketing and social media would collide (I’ve been racking my brains for the last few months trying to find a way to marry the two) and kudos to Silverpop for bringing their version to market first.
(more…)

After a busy month in October, here are the top 10 most popular articles from CarbonGraffiti.com.
(more…)

Using email marketing as more than a 1-way announcement can do wonders for your bottom line.  By enhancing the communication channel with your website visitors and subscribers with better targeted & more relevant emails, you stand to gain a lot more than your basics like how many opens, clicks, and unsubscribes.

Here’s a list of the top 10 ways you as a company (no matter how big or small) can use email to interact, engage, and show your customers or website visitors that you’re human and that you care.  Utilize all, some, or just one of these, but however many you choose to use can make a huge difference to your customer satisfaction, which goes hand-in-hand with your company’s overall success.  Remember: the extra effort you take in crafting the right email can positively affect the way a recipient sees and interacts with your brand, product or company.
(more…)

I’m not saying it’s bad, but if you (or the marketing department you work in) insist on calling your email marketing campaigns something like ‘e-shots’, ‘mail shots’, ‘mail blasts’ or anything else similar to being expelled by force from a cannon or gun, chances are you’re viewing email marketing the wrong way.
(more…)

I think these guys are new kids on the block - and are more than welcome!

SpamMeltdown.com offer sources of inspiration to designers of HTML email.  Instead of just talking about email design, they’re going one better and showing real-life examples of emails from monster retailers and brands.  What’s more, they’re then analyzing and dissecting those campaigns and providing very insightful feedback.  Check them out at www.spammeltdown.com, or check out their highly useful post on Welcome Messages at http://spammeltdown.com/post/Welcome-Messages.aspx

Like it or not, HTML email marketing campaigns are a core requirement for any successful email marketing program. Not only do they offer the first rule for successful online marketing – metrics – but they also offer a host of benefits that you simply can’t get from using text-only email messages. Things like brand loyalty and identity reinforcement, better product placement and promotion, and increased flexibility within the email to name a few! Of course, HTML campaigns will always have its detractors, and this audience have their own valid reasons not to condone HTML email, but in the interest of the advantages listed above, this format of email is unquestionably crucial in today’s multi-channel, multi-brand, and highly competitive marketing environment!

So, here’s a list to help all email marketers design the ultimate email. You’ll find information, inspiration, downloads, tools (free & paid) and further reading. Of course I haven’t selected everything out there or this post would be a mile long, but if you feel I’ve missed any important ones, feel free to leave a comment.

(more…)

Some useful resources and links for helping you in your quest to design the perfect email (and more importantly keep designing the perfect email).

(more…)

Some quick bonus tips on designing the perfect email.

(more…)

The final step in the 10 step series, this quick tip addresses some ‘good ideas’ for your email campaign.

(more…)

Almost there! Steps 8 & 9 of a 10 part series on designing the perfect email. Here are some quick tips on the copy and delivery of your email.

(more…)