Design of Email Marketing Campaigns

Written by Filly on October 3, 2009 – 10:35 am -

A good email marketing campaign design results from several things.  Keeping it simple is the first and foremost, but if it contains a flashy headline and opening with no real content, you are unlikely to get the results you desire.   People avoid the ‘gimmicky’, so if yours is, you should consider a redesign as outlined below.

Begin with a newsletter format.  The Nielson Norman Group reports that the average email newsletter reader spends an average of fifty seconds in review.   However, a simple email is likely to hold a readers attention for only about four seconds.   So, a newsletter is a better choice because it will likely hold your readers attention for ten times as long. We come now to a bit more about the best principles of design for the newsletter or email.

What is most important is to establish an email marketing design that will strongly attract attention, but also hold it for an extended period of time.   Most consumers only read a small fraction of the emails they get, and most of the ones that are actually opened are only scanned for content.People respond differently to advertising design, so it is critical that you have a good understanding of the audience you are trying to reach and that you design your message to appeal to them specifically.

Knowing that the majority of emails never get opened, you need to employ a subject line that will attract attention better than the rest to offer you any chance.  Most email marketers personalize the subject line, as well as the actual body copy.   Your subject line must be presented in a way that clearly promises a unique and exeptional solution to a particular problem or issue.  Alternative, the subject line may challenge a commonly held belief or notion that your email marketing list target audience may hold.Spend a period of time writing down the subject lines that have convinced you to open an incoming email. Review them to gain an understanding of why they made you decide to actually open the email.

Another of the key elements in your email design may involve the use of colors and graphics in ways that  that quickly call  the attention of your readers to key benefit statements and calls for action.  At the same time, be sure that the colors do not impact the flow of the narrative in a negative by integrating them smoothly, and that any graphics employed have a clear purpose other than to simply be pretty or attractive.Graphics and colors must be used only in a way that they clearly add to or enhance the message being presented.

Furthermore, because we know that when an email is actually opened, you only have four seconds or so to really get the readers attention, you have to present the critical elements or challenges of your message appear quickly and clearly.   Furthermore, they must be presented in a way that not only grabs attention, but also compels the reader to continue on to get even better information.  

Most importantly, your email must have a clear call to action.  Be very specific about what you want them to do and provide them all the information and contact information they will need to get the action accomplished quickly.  For further information on how to successfully employ email marketing, visit Network Online Reviews for a variety of articles and reviews of email marketing products.

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