The 6 most popular email templates for small businesses

You know the feeling. The deadline is coming up and you need to create a beautiful new email marketing campaign. Your computer screen stares at you, waiting for that first click or keystroke. Face it: you have writer’s block. Or, perhaps worse still, a full creative brain freeze. Where to begin? What should your email look like and what should you say?
Have no fear! While we may not be able to tell you exactly what to write, we have an arsenal of creative subject lines suggestions and email templates to help you get started.

Types of email templates

When beginning your email campaign, you likely already have a goal in mind. Whether you’re just getting started with a “we’re open!” announcement, sending a seasonal promotion, or following up with customers, VerticalResponse has email templates customized for every campaign. Let’s take a look at six of the most popular templates on VerticalResponse.

Announcement

Any small business can make an announcement: new hours, new locations, holiday greetings, or seasonal changes, to name a few. Our Announcement template puts your brand (and logo) front and center, and catches attention with a bold placement for your news. Customize colors to match your logo, image, or the occasion.



Announcement Tip: No announcement is too big or too small to celebrate with your customers. They’ll appreciate the outreach.

Coupons

With 65 percent of people opening emails on mobile devices in 2016, cutting coupons is becoming a practice of the past. Instead, send your customers digital coupons via mobile so they can have them handy wherever they go. Customize our Coupon email template with dollars off, discount percentages, expiration dates, or date ranges.



Coupon Tip: Don’t forget to include handy social sharing buttons to help your customers share the deal with their networks – word-of-mouth is still a great way to grow your customer list.

Invite

Are you hosting an event soon? Don’t forget to send an invite! Businesses of all industries and specialties can put on noteworthy events. Whether you’re having a special after-hours cocktail event, hosting a book signing, demoing a new product, or presenting a panel of experts, our Invite template makes it easy to send invitations to your VIP customers or to a larger audience.



Invite Tip: Make sure you include the “when, where, and why” in your invitation, and remind folks to RSVP if space is limited.

Newsletter

Perhaps the most popular type of email to send, a good newsletter template is as versatile as it is classic. You can pick and choose your content blocks in our template editor, adding as many sections as needed. Once you have a layout you love, replicate it for all your future newsletters, plugging in new images and copy as needed.



Newsletter Tip: Because newsletters are typically sent at a regular cadence, be sure to give your newsletter a recognizable name so your customers can look out for it and know to open it.

Products

New product or feature releases aren’t exclusive to technology companies. If you’ve produced a new line of jams, started offering summer landscaping services, or are now selling a special brand of cosmetics, your customers want to know about it. Showcase your new releases with the Product email template, and drum up excitement (and sales) for your business.



Product Tip: If you have your email list segmented into customer types – like VIP and regular, for example – you may consider sending “early access” product emails, or “sneak peek” subject lines to add hype and drive awareness.

Promotion

Promotion emails are so popular Gmail even has a separate tab in your inbox for them. How can you make yours catch your readers’ eyes? Our Promotion template showcases one standout deal. Are you launching a one-time discount, or sending a last-minute free-shipping promo right before a holiday? Grab attention front and center with a big, bold special.




Promotion Tip: Consider changing the color of your call to action (CTA) button so it stands out and encourages customers to click.

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From subject lines to email templates, it’s time to spring clean your email marketing efforts

Spring is officially here, heralded by the spring equinox yesterday. The sun is peeking out and it’s spring cleaning season — time to air out closets, clean house, and switch your wardrobe for warmer weather. It’s also the perfect time to air out your subject lines and freshen up your email campaigns with seasonal flare.
Just as you’re ready to be done with being bundled up in a winter coat, hat, and scarf, the folks on your email list might be getting tired of the same old subject lines. They’re probably also ready for something light and refreshing in their email inboxes after the months of hard selling they endured during the lead-up to the end-of-year holidays. Spring gives you a chance to breathe new life into your email campaigns. You can do this with subject lines that capture attention as well as the spirit of the season, and with compelling campaigns that capitalize on what people are experiencing as the seasons change.

Breathe fresh air into subject lines

Anyone who’s ever engaged in email marketing — or opened a promotional email, for that matter — knows subject lines make all the difference in getting your message opened and read. An eye-catching, curiosity-piquing subject line convinces recipients to open your email. Dull ones mean the recipient will delete your email before the next one in the queue loads on the preview screen!
Spring clean your email subject lines with these four tips:

1. Lighten up with some humor

The dark days of winter are slipping away and the bright colors, sounds, and scents of spring are here. People are feeling lighter, and they’re ready to enjoy a chuckle — or a belly laugh. Give it to them by infusing humor into your subject lines. You can do this in a number of ways, from connecting together two things that don’t normally relate, to poking fun at current events. For more advice on how to infuse humor into your subject lines, check out our blog 25 Comical Subject Lines + Tips for Funny Writing.

2. Try out some new action words

All marketers have their go-to words that they rely on to create interest and excitement in their subject lines. You probably have some too, but spring is a great time to try out some new action words. Active verbs and vibrant nouns capture the reader’s attention and encourage recipients to open up your email. Need some ideas for fresh word choices? Check out our blog on choosing words that sell.

3. Tug on their heart strings

Sure, Christmas gets the accolades for being the most joyous time of year, and Valentine’s Day is all about love, but spring is also full of some very emotional cultural events. With Easter, Mother’s Day, graduations, and Father’s Day piling up throughout spring, speaking to recipients’ emotions is a great way to freshen up your subject lines during this warm, fuzzy season! (Pro tip: Check back next week for a whole post on springy subject lines!)

4. Move things along faster … or better

Spring is a great time to practice making your subject lines shorter and pithier. A Marketing Sherpa study found that subject lines of 61-70 characters (about 15 words) get read the most. However, the second-highest read rate goes to subject lines of 91-100 characters and 51-60 characters, and the third-highest for shorter ones of 10 characters or less. What do these wildly divergent results tell you? Generally, brevity is better but if you’re going to go long, be brilliant! Just be sure to double check you’re not writing a “subject line sin.”

Spring ahead with seasonal email campaigns

Whatever your product or service, chances are there’s a seasonal element to your business. If you’re in retail, maybe your emails in the last quarter of 2015 were full of special offers and sales pitches. If home repair is your bag, you might have spent the end of last year sending informational emails on common winter maintenance tasks. If you’re an accountant, you probably barely have time to read your email, let alone send any out, between Jan. 1 and April 15; but once tax season dies down, you might turn your attention to financial education.
Spring means it’s time to seasonally adjust your email campaigns to give recipients information that’s relevant to them at this time of year. Here are three ways to spring ahead with seasonal emails:

1. Update the look

Email providers like VerticalResponse offer a variety of templates to choose from when you’re crafting your email campaigns. If you’re still using the same template and colors you chose for winter promotions, why not switch things up by trying something new? A clean, fresh design in brighter or lighter colors will fit well with seasonal content. We took a look at our six most popular email templates if you need inspiration.

2. Offer something relevant to the season

What’s on your customers’ minds this spring? Are they thinking of buying or selling a house? Getting a child ready for graduation? Enjoying some time outdoors on their decks or working in their yards? Finding just the right gift for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day? Tie your email campaigns into what’s going on in their lives this season. For example, an email newsletter with spring cleaning tips or an offer for a Mother’s Day discount on select merchandise will appeal to customers with information that’s relevant to them at this time of year.

3. Work on freshening your mailing list

Spring is a great time to freshen up your email list to make sure you’re sending to valid addresses and to ensure you’re reaching the right customers with the right offers. If your website doesn’t already have a page where new and existing customers can sign up to receive your emails, it’s time to add one. If you already have one, review how well it’s doing. Is it compelling? Is it easy to find on the site and does it make enrollment simple? Check your open, read, click-through, and bounce rates. Weed out bouncebacks and send out a ping email asking subscribers if they’re still interested in receiving email from you.
It’s also a good idea to revisit how you segment your list. Are there new ways to crunch customer data and organize customer groupings to reach new groups with fresh information? Consider targeting based on different common demographics, from geographical location to buying habits.

Before you know it, the light, refreshing days of spring will sizzle into summer. Taking steps now to freshen up your email marketing efforts can help ensure you won’t have to sweat to get results come summer!

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20 powerful marketing words & phrases that sell or repel

Words have power; we all know that. But do you know which marketing words encourage subscribers to act, customers to buy, or donors to give? We read through dozens upon dozens of emails and compiled a list of “sales-boosting” marketing words and a list of “sales-deflating” terms. Keep these lists handy the next time you craft an email or social post.

Boost sales with these powerful marketing words:

1. Sale – It’s the Old Faithful of marketing words. While a lot of businesses use the word “sale,” it has the power to motivate customers. Who doesn’t love a good deal?

2. Off – If you can offer your audience an incentive like “50% off,” or “$25 off your next $75 purchase,” you’ll pique interest quickly and give customers added incentive to buy. Take a look at the Coach offer below.



3. Now – This handy word encourages people to act. It creates a sense of urgency. Usually “now” is used as part of a call to action. Examples include: “Shop now” (see above!), “Act now,” and “Subscribe now.”

4. New – Customers are intrigued by the newest gadget, product, or offer. It’s an attention-grabbing word that’s effective in emails.

5. Best sellers – People like knowing what items or services are popular, so creating a list of best-selling products is a great way to capture additional sales. After all, word of mouth is still one of the most trusted influences on consumer buying behavior.

Here’s an example from home goods store, Wayfair. The subject line reads, “Best-selling accent furniture to find that missing piece.” The body of the email also uses the word “best sellers.”



6. Be the first – Customers like exclusive access. Give your audience a sneak peak at new products, upcoming offers, and high-quality content.

7. Your – Words like “your” or “you” show customers that you’re thinking about them. It’s a simple, personalized touch that can go a long way to increase sales. Take a look at the three subject lines below. Each one includes the word “your” or “you.”



8. Thank you – A little goes a long way. Show your customers a little love by showing your appreciation. When you reach a new goal, thank your customers with a new deal, host a customer appreciation event, or send a kind email thanking new subscribers for signing up.

9. Remember – Your customers are busy, so it’s always a good idea to send reminder emails. Maybe you want to remind customers about an event or to use the reward points that they’ve accumulated. An example is, “Remember, you have three hours left to redeem your offer!”

10. Tips – Everyone can use a little help once in a while. Send emails that are full of tips to help your customers use your product or improve their business in some way.

10 Words that can deflate your sales:

1. Hurry – Yes, you want to encourage customers to act fast, but this word is overused and doesn’t pack as much punch as “Act now” or “Limited-time offer.”

2. Look inside – These two words are commonly used in subject lines. It’s stating the obvious. Of course, the recipient has to look inside to read the content or claim the deal. Skip these two words, and just get to the point.

3. Guaranteed – Nothing in life is guaranteed, so it’s best to stay away from this word. You can back your product or service with statistics, testimonials, or your word, but refrain from using this blacklisted term.

4. Groundbreaking – Much like “guaranteed,” “groundbreaking” is a term you want to steer clear of. While it may sound impressive, it’s not as helpful as you might think. Unless you’re selling jackhammers, or have indeed created a brand-new technology or offering, “groundbreaking” is just another buzzword customers have learned to be wary of.

5. Huge – Every sale and event is huge. Think of alternatives to use. For instance, “Our Biggest Sale of the Year,” is more descriptive.

6. Cyberspace – It’s not 1980. If you refer to the Internet in any way, avoid outdated terms like “cyberspace,” or “information superhighway,” unless you’re being ironic.

7. Hassle-free – Sure, the phrase seems positive, but you’re still associating the word “hassle” with your business or brand. Not a good idea. Go with “easy” instead.

8. Once in a lifetime – Cliché, and typically untrue phrases like this don’t help your sales. Be original.

9. Final days to save – This phrase is vague. How many days are left in the sale? Give your customers a specific time frame on all deals.

10. SAVE UP TO 25% RIGHT NOW!!! – There are two red flags in this statement. For starters, don’t use all caps; it makes people feel like you’re screaming at them. Keep your punctuation to a minimum, too. The sale isn’t any more enticing with three exclamation points.


Do you have a go-to marketing word that stimulates sales through email? Or do you have a list of marketing words that are pet peeves? Check out our most overused words in PR and Marketing, and the worst email subject lines, ever, to see if they’re included.


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Put a Hashtag on It!

Hashtags, those little yet powerful pound signs (#), are a common way of making a social media marketing campaign more effective. Several social media platforms actively use this small tool, including Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr and even Facebook now has jumped on the hashtag bandwagon. Lisa Kalner Williams recently wrote an article on Business 2 Community, titled, The Art and Science of a Hashtag Campaign, in which she discusses how hashtags are “…not only a great way to spread brand awareness, but they’re easy to search.” The following tips will have you hashtagging successfully in no time:

1. Determine what you want to do with your hashtag campaign:

– Do you want to become more well-known, or is the purpose to share your username (which should remain consistent on hashtag-friendly channels)?
– Do you want to emphasize a specific aspect of your brand/ product?
– Do you want to document an experience?

2. When creating a hashtag for your campaign, keep it simple. The easier it is to remember and write, the more likely people will use it. If it takes up too many characters, it will most likely be excluded from tweets, thereby defeating the purpose. #thisisanexampleofaterriblehashtag

3. Use lowercase letters. Unless your brand or purpose requires capital letters (#YOLO), make it easy for all users to enter your hashtag, #likethis.

4. Make sure your hashtag is available. Using one that’s already taken is like trying to move into an occupied apartment, #awkward. Also, it’s confusing for followers and detrimental to your tracking. Check, double check and triple check. This is a time when social media marketing tools come in handy, and make sure to use them before, during and after your campaign takes place. Make sure to track every aspect of your hashtag, if it already exists, how long it’s been in existence, who has used your hashtag (including social power players), which social channels it’s showing up on more often, and several other features.

5. Spread the word. Williams exclaims, “Encourage use across all your hashtag-friendly platforms. Consider making an investment in Twitter ads that tell new leads about your hashtag-tinged campaign.”

Have any additional hashtag advice of your own? Tell us in the #comments!

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4 Easy Ways to Improve Your Email Marketing

 

Taking a little bit of time to make just a few changes to your email marketing can get you big results in engagement, and it’s all about engagement, right? The best way to understand how engaged your readers are is to take a look at your email marketing reporting stats. They’ll tell you how engaged your readers are: How many people opened an email from you, and what percentage of email openers clicked on links.

Want to dial up your engagement numbers? Here are 4 email marketing tips to help grab your readers’ attention and get them involved:

Pre-header – This is the first line of text or copy in your email and it gets pulled into the subject line in the preview pane. Usually this is text at the top of the email, above the logo. If you don’t have a logo, banner, or header in your email, it’s whatever text is first in the email. Which means it could be ‘View in a Browser‘. Ugh! That’s helpful for a reader seeing a text version of the email, but it’s not an attention grabber to get more opens. The pre-header serves as a secondary subject line and gives your readers more motivation to open your email and essentially turbocharges it. Give it some gusto by making sure you put something attention grabbing there.

Alt Text – Almost all email browsers “turn off” images by default, and so your slick images may not initially render until the reader clicks the “display images” link. When an image isn’t displayed, alt text is the text that shows up instead of your image. If you’re not careful, you can end up with alt text that reads something like “v2logo,” which isn’t going to motivate anyone to do anything. Your email will be much more impact if you change your alt text to something that relates to the action you want your readers to take. For example, “Save 25% on our new spring room fresheners when you purchase by 5/1/13.” This kind of text will drive a higher email open rate and more clicks.

Social Media – Yep, we like to talk about social media. But we do it because it can be such a boon to a small business, driving interest, traffic and sales. Your email is no different and it can really benefit from tapping into the power of social media. There are two things you can do to social up your email. First, allow your readers to share it on their own social networks, getting your awesome content in front a whole new audience. Second, include links to your own social networks so your readers can connect with your business. Both of these are easy to include in your emails and a fast way to ramp up engagement.

Include an Incentive– Your readers joined your mailing list because you promised to provide them something of value. Of course the informative and educational content you send is great and the primary value of your email, but people also want discounts. Send out coupons, offer special discounts and notify readers of upcoming sales. You don’t have to give away the farm, but offer occasional deals and you could see your click rate go up, and in turn, your sales. Ka-ching!

That wasn’t too tough was it? With just a few small changes to your email marketing you could see a big difference in your results. If you want to test which of these suggestions makes the biggest difference, try adding them to your email one at a time and keeping an eye your stats.

Which tip will you try first? Share your own tips or successes in the comments. We’d love to hear ’em!

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4 Must-Send Emails to Keep Your Business Top of Mind

 

Sending out marketing emails regularly is a great way to keep your customers thinking about your business.

“Emails are a cost-effective way to stay top of mind with customers,” says Meredith Liepelt, branding strategist for Rich Life Marketing. “Email allows you to communicate with people who have self-selected into your list. These are people who have raised their hand to say, ‘I want to hear more about what you have to offer.’  When you nurture your list respectfully, it can help build your business, keep you top of mind and increase your sales.”

The question is, what kind of emails should you send to help this effort? Good question. We’ve got the answers. Here are four emails you should send to stay relevant to your customers.

1. A  newsletter

Offer your readers educating, entertaining and valuable content in a newsletter. And, send it out on a regular basis so customers come to expect it.

Your email newsletter can have a variety of information in it including anything from company news to upcoming events, but make sure its overall look is well-organized. Offer bite-sized pieces of information in a quick, easy-to-digest format.

Videos are also a good addition to a newsletter, Liepelt says. This newsletter from Skin Perfect has a three-minute video of a business owner speaking at an event with information about another opportunity to meet the owner.

Jordan Vineyard & Winery also includes a video in their monthly newsletters. The topics change every month, it could be an interview with wine maker, a talk about the harvest or their new wine app.

2. A holiday email

When a holiday rolls around, send some e-love to your customers. From Thanksgiving to the first day of summer, you can use any holiday to send your customers some virtual cheer. Here’s an example.

If you want, you can include a discount to entice your customers to do a little shopping on your site. Either way, the point of the holiday email is just to let your customers know that you’re thinking about them.

3. An anniversary email

When a customer signs up for your email list, keep track of the signup date and send an anniversary email a few months later. True Citrus, a company that sells flavored packets for water, has a good example. Three months into a customer’s subscription, the company sends an anniversary email along with a discount.

4. Ask for feedback via email

Asking for feedback is an interactive way to stay top of mind with your customers. After a customer makes a purchase, send a thank you email and ask for feedback with an easy link. By knowing as much as possible about your customers, you can offer valuable content to help your customers. Here’s an example of an email asking for feedback from a local dentist.

These four emails serve as a reminder to your customers that you’re ready to be of service. Through strategic emails, your business will remain top of mind, which will encourage your customers to keep coming back.

Are you sending these four emails? Have any others you think are valuable?

This post contributed by guest author, Lisa Furgison. Furgison is a media maven with ten years of journalism experience and a passion for creating top-notch content.

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