3 TIPS for HIGH-ROI Calls to Action

What Every Email Marketer Needs to Know...

Every email marketer knows that great calls to action don't just happen on their own. It is obvious that your offer must convey a meaningful message, and it must be timely.

So how do you craft a successful call to action email customers can't resist?

Write subject lines that multitask. Every subject line must accomplish a number of tasks: telling subscribers what they get when they open the message; making the offer sound irresistible; and doing it in a relatable, conversational voice. Do not use symbols of any kind (i.e. ! - ? - $).


Create a sense of urgency. Without a compelling reason to do what you're asking the reader to do—right this second—they'll go back to their inbox and unsubscribe. Urgent, action-oriented words are more successful than words such as 'free' in inspiring your subscribers to take action.

Keep a tight focus on your offer. Stick to just one offer with a clear path to action—unfettered by the distraction of extraneous sidebars, content, links, or discounts. A call to action button should be centered on the page—right in the reader's main area of interest.

In short... It all comes down to a little push. No single factor guarantees a successful call to action—but if you get each element just right, subscribers won't even consider the option of inaction.

Email Marketing: 6 Steps to Success

The information being shared here was gathered from Constant Contact and iContact to help you prepare for the next launch.

Step 1
Set your business up with a proven permission-based email marketing software; Constant Contact or iContact. Learn the importance of managing subscriptions, unsubscribe requests, and bounce reports; viewing reporting statistics like opens and clicks; and leveraging your campaigns with social media.

Step 2
Determine the type and frequency of the email campaign you will send. It is recommended that you send at least one newsletter per month or multiple newsletters if you sell more than one type of service (i.e. auto care services). You can also send promotional messages offering a discount or a coupon.

Step 3
Add a sign-up form to your website, so you can collect new subscribers. Both companies mentioned offer a widget application for your website.

Step 4
Use an attention-grabbing email template from your email marketing software or create an professional message through your in-house design team. Keep the message simple and create action with a hyperlinked button to your website.

Step 5
Develop relevant and high-quality content for your messages. Continue sending your newsletters, announcements, or promotions with consistent frequency. As your list grows, you will notice increased traffic and sales on the day of and the days following an email send.

Step 6
To improve message deliverability, add a line similar to the following to the tops of your emails:
To ensure receipt of our emails, please add something@yourcompany.com to your address book.

Note: Your emails should come from your company email address. Not many people will relate to an email address from peterparking@aol.com.

Email Marketing Tips

There is no doubt that HTML emails are more attractive, more eye catching and more visual than text based ones. Just imagine how much more professional your business would look if you can direct people to your Web site via a well designed HTML email. The fact that many big Internet based companies use them points to how popular and well received they are.

So you need to consider how to design your HTML emails so they receive the best possible response. Some rules regarding email communications will apply to any kind of email format, so you should bear these in mind first and start planning accordingly.

Have A Plan

For example, plan the layout and content of your email before you start constructing it. What is the purpose of sending the email, and how are you going to get that purpose across? You may find it helpful to sketch out some ideas on paper before doing anything else.
Balance Images and Text

The most important thing to remember is that not everyone will be able to see your images. Some email programs are set up to block images, so you need to find a balance between images and text to appeal to those who won’t see any images at all.

Create a Strong Call to Action

The most important part of this is your call to action. If the focus of your email is to get people to visit your Web site, you will want that call to action to be visible to everyone. If it is embedded in an image, it could be lost.

Include Text Link to Online Version

One absolute must is to include a text link in your email telling people they can view it online if they cannot see it as an actual email. The place for this is at the very top of the email. This way if the recipient cannot see any of your HTML email at all, they will at least be able to read your message telling them they can see it elsewhere.

Make Conversions Easy

The question of positioning a call to action button should also be considered. You don't need to place it in a particular spot however. All you have to do is position it where it will easily be seen. Experiment with the colors you use for the button too. Which ones will be eye catching and which ones will simply fade into the background?

If you have several items to share in your email, perhaps you are writing a newsletter for example, make sure you add a short summary at the top. This gives your readers a chance to see what the email can offer them and whether to read through it or not.

Experimenting with your ideas and designs is essential to the success of email marketing. Learn all you can about your successes and failures - your website will thank you for it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mac Cassity is a seasoned internet marketer with more than 13 years of experience in making money online. His Web site www.PerfectNetworker.com has allowed Mac to grow and service a client base in the tens of thousands and reach a presence in more than 40 countries.