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Increasing E-mail Deliverability: Do's and Dont's of Email Marketing

I spend hours writing content and finding that perfect image to go in my regular e-mail to clients and prospects. What sucks is that many of my beautifully done e-mails to which I dedicated my precious time go into the virtual circular file - the Spam folder, that is.

Here are some essential tips to increase your e-mail open rates and ensure fewer bouncebacks...

DO's

Analyze your e-mail statistics. This means that you must send your e-mails through an on-line platform, such as Constant Contact or iContact.
Get added to the whitelist. Double opt-ins are a great way to make sure that your e-mail reaches people's inbox.
Be consistent. Use the same template to send your e-mails.
Be descriptive. Use your From line and Subject line with care - accurately name your e-mails so that receivers know what they are opening.
Include required information. Your physical address and website address should be clearly visible on your e-mail. This is required by law.

DONT's

Avoid spam-trigger words and phrases
FREE
HIDDEN
STOP
COMPARE
COLLECT
CASH BONUS
PROMISE YOU
ACT NOW
AMAZING
APPLY ONLINE
BULK EMAIL
CALL NOW
CALL FREE
DO IT TODAY
DON'T DELETE
FANTASTIC DEAL
FREE CONSULTATION
"ADULT CONTENT OR PHRASES"
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
PLEASE READ
ORDER NOW
GREAT OFFER
LIMITED TIME ONLY
NIGERIAN
OFF-SHORE

Avoid Red Text. Red is not-only hard to read, but it also may trip a spam filter.

Avoid SHOUTING. Over-punctuation and use of capital letters makes it hard to read and dramatically increase blacklisting.

Avoid "click here" links. External click-through links should be described in detail. Readers want to know what they are clicking.

Avoid excessive use of symbols, such as multiple dollar signs ($$) in a row. Use just the necessary amount of dollar signs.

As we all know, e-mail marketing is a necessary evil to maintain our sphere of influence and top-of-mind marketing. Let me know how things go! Oh yeah, if I missed anything...post it!

Posted by Mia Orantes on 12/25/2007 11:38 PM

Comments (17)

email, email marketing, spam, bouncebacks, email analytics, spam filters

Post is included in group: Newsletter Marketing

17 Comments on Increasing E-mail Deliverability: Do's and Dont's of Email Marketing

DEC

2007

Thanks for the tips, very helpful

Great tips.

Thank you for taking the time to share with us.

DEC

2007

Thanks for a terrific tip. This is a serious problem.

Have you considered video emailing- co video or Hello World?

Great advice, thank you!

Brooke

Val -

not sure what you mean... but, I have heard great things about video elfs in e-mail. Is that what you are referring to?

Mia - Thanks for the reminders. Getting the message to the intended party is key, such a waste to do a great market piece which never gets delivered.

Mia - QuickEasyContact.com is also another excellent option for sending out mass permission-based email. Your post provides some outstanding suggestions. Deliverability and fighting through spam filtering is a constant battle even for email providers as the battlefield is constantly changing.

Following many of your suggestions will go a long way in ensuring that your mail reaches the intended recipient.

Mia,I totally agree with email marketing....I have done it for 4 years now and although some of the nasty responses I have rec'd from realtors are shocking...I continue to plug along!

Mia - thanks for the added content and information. Look forward to learning more from you!

Very Useful tips. I don't want the spam filter to catch my emails.

MAR

2008

FROM  ELIZABETH DAVID, 12 BP 1046 ABIDJAN COTE D IVOIRE
WEST AFRICA ATTN PRESIDENT/CEO
   Hello dear
l am Miss ELIZABETH, the only daughter of late Chief and Mrs Julius DAVID.My father was a very wealthy cocoa merchant in Abidjan here, the economic capital of Ivory Coast, he was poissoned to death by his business associates on one of their outings for business. My mother died on the 20th october 1992 and my father took me so special because l am motherless. Before the death of my father on 29th november 2006 in a private hospital here in Abidjan, he called me and made some sympathetic comments: (1) he conplained that I am too young to be managing my life, (2)that I have not finished my university education as he planned for me, (3) that no body is to take care of me anymore , but after much , he revealed to me that he has the sum of US$8.000.000.(EIGHT MILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS) left in a security company  here in Abidjan. That he used my name as the only daughter for his next of kin in deposit of the fund.He passed an instruction to me, that l should seek for a GOD fearing foreign partner in a country of my choice where l will transfer this money and use it for proper investment purpose. That I must finish my university education by the help of a business partner abroad. He told me the money was deposited as an atifact to avoid problem or  tamparing by the officers of the company and to make sure I do not begin to make use of the money here so that his enemies will not get at me. I am now ready to do all these since my father my bread winner is no more and more worse the incesant political crisis here. l am honourably seeking your assistance in the following ways: (1) to serve as my gaurdian in your country whereas I will depend on your expert advise .
( 2 ) to make arrangement for me to come over to your country in order to further my university education and to secure a residential permit for me in your country.
Moreover, l am willing to offer you 20% of the total sum as compensation for your effort /input after the successfull transfer of this fund to your account overseas. Furthermore, you can indicate your option towards assisting me as l believed that this project would be concluded within fourteen ( 14 ) days you signify interest to assist me.
Hoping to hear from you soonest. May God bless you as you extend your helping hand to a needy fellow. please contact me in my private Email (elizabeth_david1020@yahoo.com) Best wishes
ELIZABETH   DAVID,

MAR

2008

Mia:

Some very good points. Thanks for taking the time to compose and post this entry.

This is a fine example of the sharing AR is known for.

MAR

2008

Mia, thanks for posting this-- you have given some good tips to remember.

MAR

2008

Good post, but what about opt out links in the body of email. I thought this was required after the spam act.

APR

2008

We have experienced issues with mass email sent from Top Producer 7i. It appears that many of the emails do end up as spam.

Roy

Thanks for the tips. I have been hesitant to do an email newsletter, because of the problem of actually getting it through the spam filters and opened. But it would definately be cheaper than the snail mail variety. Maybe tips like these will actually give me the knowledge to try it.

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