How to Design a Quality Email Campaign

2009 September 6

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.

Start with a simple newsletter.  The Nielson Norman Group reports that the average email newsletter reader spends an average of fifty seconds in review.Unfortunately, a regular email messgae will only hold the average readers attention for 4-5 seconds at best.   So, a newsletter is a better choice because it will likely hold your readers attention for ten times as long. This now brings us to the ideal design of the newsletter or email.

The most import thing is to prepare an email marketing design that will not only capture the readers attention immediately, but will also pull in the reader for a much longer 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.It is very good practice to use the readers name in the subject line, as well as in the salutation of the actual email message.Present you subject line in a way that cleary suggests something new and unique as a way of solving a key need or issue.  Alternative, the subject line may challenge a commonly held belief or notion that your email marketing list target audience may hold.  Take a few days to list the subject lines that have compelled you to actually read an incoming email, then analyze them to understand why they worked with you.

The proper use of colors and graphics can also help call your readers attention to key communication elements and messages.In addition, use colors carefully by integrating them smoothly with the narrative, an be sure that the graphics that you use have a clear communication purpose, rather that to simply enhance appearance.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.  

Finally, your email marketing message must convey a clear and compelling call for action from the reader.  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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