I am a HUGE believer in drip aka automated email campaigns. They are such a powerful way to introduce your company to new prospects. Or to solidify a new relationship with a client. Or even to re-introduce yourself to a client you haven’t heard from in awhile. Here’s a thorough article explaining the benefits and some how-to’s for a successful campaign.

Woo hoo!!! Did you see the new Schedule Send option Gmail added!! I’m so happy!! You can now schedule your emails to go out at a specific date/time. Working at 2 am? Schedule emails to go out at 8 am. Working on Saturday afternoon? Schedule emails to go out Monday morning. You need to have boundaries for your work day. If you CHOOSE to make an exception, don’t train your recipients to expect it. It’s better if they don’t know you’re working on Saturday. Then they won’t expect you to work on Saturday. Stay in charge of your life by using technology wisely.

This is the best article I’ve ever read explaining the Click Rate and why it is important. Please read this so you’ll have a better understanding of how your emails need to be laid out as well as how to measure your email results.

As part of my “48 Hour Traffic Reports” after every email I send, I include a list of the Unsubscribes. I always tell clients, “Don’t take this personally! There are lots of reasons for someone to unsubscribe.” But it does hurt when someone declines to receive your well-written, beautifully designed emails. This article looks at some reasons for people unsubscribing and looks at what you can do to minimize the unsubscribes. Compare your emails to these examples!

Your Computer Lady was selected by Constant Contact as an All Star recipient for the 12+ year! Only 10% of all of Constant Contact’s referral partners receive this designation. It is based on not just on the number of clients YCL has at CtCt but also on the quality of the email lists, the Open Rates and Click Rates of all YCL client emails. This recognition assures you that YCL does know about email marketing and how to do it successfully. YCL believes that email marketing is the best tool available to the small business person to promote their business and build client relationships. If you aren’t using it, call Pamela TODAY!

This graphic based on data from SalesForce reminds us that changing a prospect into a real lead then into a sale takes multiple actions. There is no silver bullet that will convert that prospect instantaneously. Email marketing is a good tool in that cycle of touches. Not the only one but a really good one. It can be automated. It can re-use content you have already written. It is low cost. You can measure its effectiveness.

Here is a great example of how to waste your email time and money. The From is “service.” Who the heck is that? Looks like spam so I’m not opening it. The Subject line is “dry cleaning coupon.” I don’t need a coupon today and it’s Monday morning. Delete!! The opening line (which I can see in my preview) is “Dear Valued Customer.” Yeah. I’m so valued that I’m anonymous. And let’s go one more. I have never done business with this dry cleaner; I have no clue how they got my email address so I am not happy about that. They probably bought an email list somewhere. But I have no interest in their product so the email is a total waste. They’ve only irritated me. If I should need a dry cleaner soon, do you think I’ll go to them?