Three Basic Elements You Should Include In Every Email
1. Personalization – Nothing says, “I don’t care about you” like a generic email. It’s like getting those letters in the mail addressed to “Valued Resident.” Personalization can come in the form of customized salutations, messages sent with a specific initiative based on a recent user activity (taking advantage of list segmentation), or even just the tone of the message itself.
2. Branding – Every message should incorporate your brand in some way. It can range from the complex, like videos and Flash, to the utterly simple, like a custom logo, customized signature or slogan. The point is, you want each email to be immediately associated with the sender.
3. Call To Action – Every message, no matter its content, must guide a user towards a specific action. If you’re sending a product announcement email, provide a link to a pre-populated shopping cart and a FAQ page. If you’re soliciting feedback, provide a link to a form, or other places to connect with the brand like your Twitter account or Facebook page. In all cases, make your call to action prominent. Tell the reader what you want them to do early and often. Once users become accustomed to your email as a portal for interaction and education, they will be much more likely to read it and respond.
