Comments on: Carrie Stiller Says: "Are You Smoking Crack?…

By: Who The Hell Is No Reply & Why Is He Writing Me? E-Mail Worst Practices: Mercedes-Benz | QLOG

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:23:47 +0000

[...] are many things that influence the success of your thrusts and triggers. Most of those things happen “outside the envelope.” (In other words, before the [...]

By: DJ Waldow

DJ Waldow — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:48:42 +0000

Amy – Thanks for being a BSF Fan! We love you too…I like your tattoo idea. Want to go in together?

DJ Waldow
Director of Community at Blue Sky Factory

By: @JamesFowlkes

@JamesFowlkes — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:30:25 +0000

The best email marketing messages I receive(i.e. the ones I actually open and read rather than deleting) contain no graphics whatsoever. The steps go similar to what you mention:
1) From – I know this person, I wonder what she has to say today
2) Subject – This is KEY, The subject lines must be good convince me to open the email
3) First 1-2 lines – have to be almost headline worthy, which gets me to continue reading the email body

I could push delete at any one of these steps if I my interest wanes. This what goes through my mind. I imagine this is how most people’s brains work,… or not and I am totally insane. Muahaha! Thanks for sharing your e-mail “Secret Sauce”, Double-A.
Posted at 03:30 pm on August 04, 2009 by @JamesFowlkes

By: Amy

Amy — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:02:10 +0000

Luke — FANTASTIC points! A sincere thanks for making them. I always find it amusing when I get a blank e-mail from one of those super big companies you just know spends $10,000 an e-mail through their agency. E-mails definitely need to work WITHOUT any images.

By: Luke Glasner

Luke Glasner — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:48:03 +0000

Hi Amy,

One thing that many of those people that send time moving things a 1/64th of an inch don’t seem to realize is that how an email looks on their screen is not necessary how it will look on the screen of the subscribers receiving the email. A good email marketer will preview it across platforms and clients either manually (not advisable) or with a tool.

Also they might want to consider that most email clients block images by default, so they should also take into account what the email looks like with images off. Sometimes you should just get it out already and stop nit picking it apart. Timing matters.

Your six items above probably determine about 90% of the success of any given email. As for branding that statement on email marketers, if they’re any good it should already be branded in their heart.

Talk Soon,

Luke Glasner
All the News Fit to Send

By: Amy

Amy — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:25:32 +0000

Thanks for commenting DJ. As you know, I am a big Blue Sky Factory Fan.

Your “how do we get all e-mail marketers to print this baby out?” made me laugh out loud. Since I am a firm believer in e-mails being acted upon, not just read or saved for later, perhaps we can just tattoo it into their right arms or something? I’ll hold ‘em down while you brand ‘em, ok?

By: DJ Waldow

DJ Waldow — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:52:44 +0000

Amy –

I agree 100% that an email does not need to be “perfect” but at the same time, one must be sure to not get nominated for the “Oopsy Hall of Fame” (http://www.retailemailblog.com/2009/01/oopsy-hall-of-fame-2008-inductees.html) as Chad White calls it. As a guy who helps clients think through their email campaigns, I always preach the following: Send timely, targeted, relevant emails to those that have subscribed. Simple phrase, yet not always simple to implement.

Finally, how do we get all email marketers to print this baby out?

“The majority of your e-mail success will come from the To, From, Subject Line, Format, Deliverability and the first 1-2 inches of your e-mail.”

Love it.

DJ Waldow
Director of Community at Blue Sky Factory