Email is Personal... Be Polite! 5 Do's and Don'ts when sending email

I hate marking messages as junk, I really do. As an email marketer there is nothing more brutal than to tell someone their messages are the worst. It's like missing the spectacular vision behind the raindrops on your window pain. Sometimes we are so blinded by our message we miss the opportunity to give someone what they want! I call this self focus.
But what happens when you get on a list from someone who constantly sends you advertisements on viagra, or they market to you in another language? What do you do when you are suddenly receiving messages from someone you don't know, about something you don't care about, so much so you can hardly keep your inbox clear?  YOU take NOTE! That's what you do.  Here are five do's and don'ts when engaging in email marketing!

1. ALWAYS use a SUBSCRIBED LIST!  Under the federal CAN SPAM laws, you can be fined if you email someone with out the explicit permission. Make sure you get the A-OK to proceed.
2. Segment your list ~ Here are some really good questions to ask yourself: Who is this? How do I know them? What do they want from me? What do they do? How can I help them? How do they desire to be helped? What is the purpose of my relationship with them? How can we help each other?
3. Be creative: Don't send the same email to everyone, it's not appropriate.  Get those creative juices flowing and design an email campaign that is target toward the segmented lists you just created.
4. Don't over email! People want to see you, but not everyday! Use your click through rates to determine how often they want to see you.  Send them good info, but don't just send them any info.
5. ALWAYS reply to RESPONSES! Engagement, just like in Social Media, is key. They want to hear back from you. If you can't do this in a timely fashion, set up auto-responders. But make those responders targeted, too.  This creates a comfortable situation for your audience.

Email is personal. People want to feel like each message they receive is specifically for them, and that it addresses their needs and interests. They don't want you to waste their time. They don't want you to waste yours.
If your opt out rates are high, it's time to design a new campaign.  You are more likely to win by counting your losses and revamping your efforts! There's no sure fire way that works, just get in the game. I pays to be personal, and personality pays...

Elevating your CRM Experience with SOCIAL!

As  a CRM advisor and an Inbound Marketing Professional, I see all kinds of cases where companies are striving to get an edge on their marketing by just being able to get a handle on listening.  Listening to their prospects and customers across all platforms in relevant ways, can be the determining factor in success or failure.  Listening is key, and here are some new ways to do it that won't have you running in every direction: #SOCIALCRM

Here are three very important ways Social CRM can enhance your CRM experience:
 ~ A 360 view of all your social platforms in one place can be a time saver, and key benefit to understanding your audience, and a way to help you offer a timely response to inquiries without being superman, or needing ESP! Many of your customers and prospects probably have a preferable mode of communication they prefer to use, and have an insight on this can be a real benefit to great customer service. Being quick to respond, and engaging in Social Circles can also build the kind of rapport you need to close that deal, or keep that client retention.
~ You can see in full what you previously only saw in part!  Let's face it, Social Media can offer us personal insight into places that mean the most to our audience.  Where previously we only saw sides to our customers that were professional and impersonal, SocialCRM allows us to hear their true voice. It allows us to follow what gives them passion, and what fills their values. At the end of the day, understanding what drives a person or a business can ultimately be the difference between helping them succeed, or missing the mark.
~ Reputation is Gold: SocialCRM can help you build it, maintain it, and develop your image among the audiences you are trying to attract.  It gives you sophistication, brand recognition, and credibility among other thought leaders.  It increases your visibility, awareness, and persona before those who need to hear your message, or use your services.  Being engaged is only ever a win.  It is what we all long for when we place every one of those cold calls to the receptionists that never relay our messages.  If you know they are listening, get in front of them!  You cannot close if you don't have an audience.

Traditional CRM's do so many things well for some many sectors, but with emerging new media technologies, it is time to get SOCIAL and lead the charge!  Only the courageous will win!

Want to get started, try NIMBLE risk free today!
http://partners.nimble.com/goldcoastadvisors/