Ever wonder how you can send out a bunch of emails and get only a handful of replies? You could be spamming and don’t know it? Spam filters are very good at keeping your email box from being filled with hundreds of spam every day. If your box is protected then readers/customers are too. 90%-95% of all emails are spam and if you want your stuff read, try out these tips.
Your First Words
How you present your title will determine if your customers are actually seeing your email or not. Sure everyone wants to have a catchy title, its what catches peoples attentions and want to click to open. Words like “FREE” and symbols like ** and even a percentage % sign can throw your hard work into spam land. I have seen emails with the “FREE” word using Fre*e* or FR** in my spam folder. Double dose of trouble getting their email to my inbox. Using quotation marks, dollar signs, exclamation points and capital letters in your title will frequently trigger spam filters.
Make your title to fit exactly what you want to get across. Do you want your customers to know you are having this giant sale over the weekend? Send them an email and tell them “Weekend Sale on all Gold Jewelry” or if you want to be a bit more creative you could put “Grab the Gold This Weekend”. When they click to open your email you could then have a header that may read, “This Weekend Only 50% off all Gold Jewelry” or Buy One Get One Free Necklaces This Weekend Only”. Add pictures of a few pieces and the link could read, “Grab The Gold, Click Here”.
Here are some other words that could trigger a spam filter from your subject title:
Give it away, Giving it away, Save up to, Time limited, order now, Offer, One time, one time offer, great offer, While Supplies last, Act Now!.
Talk to Me
Stuck on the letter portion? Email can be tricky when you mean to say one thing and its misinterpreted as another. Something may seem funny to you and offensive to others. Speak out your words when you finish your letter and before you hit send. If you could have someone proof read it for you even better. Editing is a part of success when you will be sending out an email to one or thousands of customers and potential customers.
Lets Get Personal
Focus on your customer and leave out the “I” in your letter. Replace it with “you” or their name. “Your business is appreciated, or “Jamie you are a valued customer and your comments are appreciated. If you are promoting an item or service it should not be about you, it should be about your customer’s interest and trust.
Fonts and Size Does Matter
Ever get an email that is hard to read because the font is small or even in such a script that you have to get closer to your screen, squint your eyes just to read it… this type of email may have hit the inbox, but has the potential for a delete in under 5 seconds. Set your font for easy reading like Ariel and size 12. Speaking about size, try to keep your emails like your title short and to the point. You want to catch attention with the title and move on to the letter with a few lines that will catch their attention and move on to your blog, website or online store. Add your links and be sure they work before hitting send.
Email Common Sense
No one likes to be bombarded with emails. Space your emails out to accommodate your email list. If someone is not interested in what you are selling, bombarding them with emails will only make them want to get off your list or block you. Pacing them will get better results and even may get forwarded to a friend.
Before you send your emails, think about what type of emails you like to receive how often you want to receive them and what you want to go to spam.
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Answering questions and follow up is vital to providing your customers with good service and the potential for that customer returning. Even if you have to send a short note with auto reply to address their question, send it with an inclusion that you will follow up in more detail. You are showing that you care and want to find a solution for their problem whether it be a return, an inquiry of your product or good feedback which is always appreciated.
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