Between celebrating America, throwing barbecues and watching fireworks, there’s much to love about the Fourth of July. Share the summer spirit with your customers with seasonal emails that capture their attention. Be part of their long weekend by celebrating with subject lines full of summer spirit. Check out our favorites for a spark of inspiration:

• Happy Birthday USA | Cohen’s Fashion Optical
• A 3-ingredient trifle you MUST make this weekend | Domino Sugar
• I want to make this fire-work | Tattly
• Go Fourth in Red, White, & Shoes | Sperry
• Oh Say Can You Eat | Tasting Table
• America’s Pastime on the 4th of July | SF Giants
• Flag this: $6 styles + EXTRA 50% off | LOFT
• The Perfect 4th of July Weekend | Travel + Leisure
• 6 Big-Batch Cocktail Recipes for the Fourth of July | Liquor.com
• Grilling Secrets from the Pros – 4th of July party menu | Fine Cooking

And for the grand finale

Before you head to those barbecues, have a look at these 16 examples you can customize for your business:

1. 7 quick recipes that will free up your time this 4th of July
2. We saved our best sales for a free day
3. Be independent: 3 things to do if you’re spending the 4th alone
4. To grill or not to grill? 9 simple recipes to help you host without missing out on the fun
5. Bring on the fireworks: This deal will have you fired up
6. The biggest bang for your buck: 4th of July-inspired outfits, 50% off
7. Create a spark with these new products
8. Enjoy the long weekend without ending up short on cash
9. By the dawn’s early light, these awesome sales are starting!
10. The land of the free and the home of this sale: Don’t miss out
11. Celebrate freedom with products that don’t depend on a large budget
12. Show your pride by shopping all things red, white and blue!
13. 4 deals that save time and money, so that you’re free to spend time with your people
14. Miss Independen[ce Day]: The sale you need
15. Our flaming-hot guide to the 4th of July will compete with your fireworks
16. We salute you … for saving money with these 4th of July sales

No matter what you choose to say in your email campaign, keep it light, fun and relevant. Make your email a pleasant part of Independence Day that your subscribers enjoy reading as much as they enjoy a hot dog fresh off the grill.

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© 2018, Contributing Author. All rights reserved.

The post Fourth of July subject lines to spark your customers’ interest appeared first on VerticalResponse Blog.

A strong call to action (CTA) isn’t just one of the most important elements of your email campaigns — it’s critical to the success of your overall online marketing plan. Whether you want your subscribers to make a purchase, visit your website or RSVP for an event, a compelling CTA can get the job done. While trying to create click-worthy CTA text, you may have experimented with the length of your copy, its tone and your word choice. But have you tried writing CTAs from the reader’s point of view?

Button copy is commonly written in the second person. You often see or write phrases like, “Buy now,” “Get started,” “Learn more” or “Schedule your consultation” in marketing emails. You’ll notice that all of these phrases are directed to the reader but, because they’re in the second person, are written from the perspective of the business sending the message.

A recent study showed CTAs that used the first-person voice had a 90 percent better conversion rate than CTAs written in the second person.

To create a first-person CTA (written from the point of view of the reader), you might consider using “Reserve my table” instead of the more traditional “Reserve your table” or “Make a reservation.” It seems like a minor change, but making the switch from using (or implying) “you” or “your” to using “I” or “my” could pay off big for your business.

Are you ready to change your point of view? Here are three reasons why first-person CTAs work so well.

Give the reader control

Whether you’re asking readers to share personal information, buy a product or learn more about your business, you want your reader to feel like they’re in control of the process. Using first-person language emphasizes that it’s their decision to click or not. This is especially useful when creating opt-in emails, like this example from Founder Mantras:

Increase personalization

According to an Experian study, personalized emails deliver six times higher transaction rates. From adding contacts’ names to subject lines or greetings, to segmenting lists in order to provide subscribers with the most relevant content, you may already be implementing some form of marketing personalization. First-person CTAs are one more way to create a reading experience that feels tailor-made for the individual, like this example from Havenly:

The CTA used in this email is “Book my designer.” Using “my” here creates intimacy and makes the process of finding an interior designer seem like it was designed specifically for the person reading the email. The reader isn’t booking “a” designer, they’re booking their very own designer. In this instance, you could say that the first-person copy creates a more personal connection between the reader and the service.

Add some variety

CTAs should stand out, and writing copy from the readers’ perspective can be attention-grabbing simply because it’s so unexpected. People are accustomed to seeing CTAs that are written in the second person. You can shake things up by inserting “my” where they’re used to seeing “your.”

This example from AARP actually uses CTAs that are in the first person (“Tell me more”) and the second person (“Subscribe today”). In an email with multiple CTAs, varying the language like this makes each individual button stand out.

At first, it might seem a little unnatural writing from the readers’ point of view. But making the jump from the second person to the first person may be just what your business needs to improve clickthrough rates. As with any change you make to your email design, however, you should run a few A/B tests to determine what works best for your subscribers.

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Editor’s note: Founder Mantras and Havenly email screenshots have been provided by Really Good Emails.

© 2018, Amber Humphrey. All rights reserved.

The post 3 reasons why you should write CTAs from the reader’s point of view appeared first on VerticalResponse Blog.

You’ve pulled out all the stops and organized a great event. Now how are you going to make it a sellout? Whether you host an open house, webinar or customer appreciation day, the best way to promote your event and invite guests is through email.

According to Eventbrite, event-related emails generated open and clickthrough rates between 25 and 40 percent. Just follow these tips to create an email invitation that’s click- and crowd-worthy.

1. Use a compelling subject line

You need an engaging and compelling subject line to draw your reader in. It’s especially important with an event email because registration depends on getting the recipient to open your invitation. Here are some compelling examples:

• “You’re invited to Our Summer Party with a Special Guest” | Whole Foods Market
• “Meet us at the LinkedIn Sales and Marketing Roadshow” | LinkedIn Marketing Solutions
• “Reserve your seat at the Spring Student Roundtable!” | St. Thomas Graduate Business Admissions
• “You’re invited to a party!” | DSW Kids

Remember, a good subject line tells the reader what to expect, offers interesting information and has a sense of urgency that propels the reader to act. Keep the subject line around 40-50 characters so it’s not cut off in a subscriber’s inbox.

2. Be trustworthy

People who click on nondescript email invitations could be inviting trouble in the form of a virus. Earn your readers’ trust by including your logo, company name and brand colors in the email. Using a masthead, as you would in a newsletter, also works well.

3. Give them a reason

You’re throwing an event, which is great, but why? Let readers know what’s in it for them. Will they learn something new? Will they get to make and take something home? Will they get to network with 500 people in their industry? Will they get to meet a new director or talk to someone interesting? Will they get a sneak peek at products or services? State your reasoning and people will want to come.

4. Let them know what to expect

You obviously can’t have an event without a date, time and place. Be sure to include all the necessary information in your email. If you’re throwing a physical event, include the full address of the venue, parking information and the like. If you’re inviting people to a demo, webinar or new service, include full login or sign-up details. Also include a link back to your website, and contact info such as a phone number or email address for your business, so someone can call with questions if need be.

5. Tell them what to do

Every email needs a call to action button that gets noticed and drives people to take the next step. Use an email tool like VerticalResponse to easily create buttons, and direct people to either your sign-up form, your site, a landing page, blog post or even a Facebook events page for more details.

6. Engage with images

Use images to engage your audience’s attention — and keep their attention in the days leading up to the event. Are you having a guest speaker? Feature his or her photo in your invite. Is your event connected to a cause? Use its logo in your email. If you’re hosting a grand opening, include a picture of your new building. If you’re giving a demo or webinar, or introducing a new service, include a snapshot. Or, add a video to build interest and anticipation around your event.

Bonus tactics

In addition to sending your event email, you should also use these tactics to boost sign-ups and ticket sales:

Stay on customers’ radar

People get busy, their inboxes fill up, and they forget to RSVP, so send them at least three email reminders in the weeks leading up to the event. With VerticalResponse’s Email Automation, you can create and automatically send a series of reminders based on customers’ interactions with your emails. For example, resend the invite to people who haven’t opened or clicked your email. Or, remind those who have opened your email but haven’t submitted their RSVP to do so before time runs out. Create a sense of urgency with phrases such as, “We’ve only got X spots left!” or “Ticket prices are going up tomorrow!” The day before the event, send one last email to recap important information like what to bring, where to park and a map to the location.

Email past participants first, and offer them a discount

If this is a recurring event, reward past participants by emailing them first and offering them a discount.

Offer early bird and regular pricing

If your event comes with a cost, offer two pricing options: Early bird and regular. Reward people who jump on the opportunity early.

You’ve invested so much time, effort and money to plan a fantastic event: Can you really afford a low turnout? Aim to fill every seat with attendance-boosting email invitations.

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Editor’s note: This post was originally published in February 2015. It has been revamped and updated for accuracy and relevance.

© 2018, Contributing Author. All rights reserved.

The post You’re invited: 6 tips for creating attendance-boosting event emails appeared first on VerticalResponse Blog.

As a business owner, time is valuable and — unfortunately — often limited. It can be challenging to deliver emails of consistently high quality, let alone find time to test, optimize and segment. Fortunately, making it easier isn’t an insurmountable feat. A few small changes can produce big results in email engagement, social posts and more:

Killer content

Let’s take a minute to touch on killer content. It will guide your email and keep you on target with the message you want to send readers.  If you consistently come to readers with valuable promotions or helpful information, they’ll look forward to hearing what you have to say. Keep in mind that the focus isn’t on what you want to get from them; it’s on the value you can provide. Show early on that you want to help readers, not promote at them. Be timely. Be relevant. Don’t send a Christmas coupon in February. A good idea for building these relationships is giving away useful content for free. It shows people you genuinely want to help, and that you’re not just trying to get a foot in the door to make a sales pitch.

Your first chance: The subject line

You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but people can and do judge an email by its subject line. So be direct. The key isn’t to write something vague to capture a nebulous audience or make them curious about the mystery that is your email. The key is to get people to open, look and take action on your emails. This is your first chance to get people interested, so be specific. Say what your email will do for the recipients. Know who your targeted recipients are.

Your second chance: Preheader text

This is the first line of text in your email. The preheader serves as a secondary subject line and gives your readers more motivation to open your email. It’s powerful because it shows up right after the subject line in the inbox — use it to build momentum by previewing what the rest of the email will contain.

A picture’s worth a thousand alt texts

Almost all email browsers “turn of”” images by default; hence, your pretty pictures probably don’t initially render until the reader clicks the “display images” link. When an image isn’t displayed, alt text is the copy that shows up instead of your image. If you don’t actively change your alt text, it’ll use the name of your image. Instead of your alt text reading something like, dogfood.jpg,  change it to reflect not only what the image is, but the action you want taken, like: “Save 25% on Dog Food.” This is more action-oriented and will get you more clickthroughs.

Sharing is caring

Including social sharing icons in your email lets readers share your content with their networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn. This is a major opportunity to get your content in front of more (and new) people. Beyond the social sharing icons, you can include links in your email that go to your social accounts so that readers can connect with you there. You may find that readers prefer to interact with your business through retweets and pins.

What does it all mean?

What’s the point of the email? What action do you want readers to take? Provide a call to action (CTA) button to make things easy on your reader. Many readers join your mailing list because you promised to provide them with something of value. Besides informative and educational content, people want discounts. Send out coupons, offer special discounts and notify readers of upcoming sales. Give them a good reason to act and an easy way to take the next step.

Test it out

Remember when we briefly brought up testing? Yeah, you need to do that. All of the above are great for getting people to open your email and engage, but it’s important to continuously test out what works well and what could be better. Try creating two subject lines and A/B testing them. Don’t stop with subject lines, though. Test your copy, your CTAs, anything that could affect your customer’s experience.

You have the tools to make big changes to your email game, so get out there and put them to use.

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Editor’s note: This article was originally published in September 2012. It has been updated and revamped for accuracy and relevance.

© 2018, Contributing Author. All rights reserved.

The post The mystery of email engagement: Solved appeared first on VerticalResponse Blog.

Labor Day is Monday, Sept. 3 — only a few weeks away. That means it’s time to prepare for long-weekend sales and events.

It’s never too late (or too early) to line up your campaigns for the unofficial end of summer. Here are some subject lines we’ve seen, divided by trend or theme.

Presales and previews

• Pre-Labor Day Savings Start Now – Save Up To 50% On Select Items
• Labor Day Sale Starts Early – Today!
• Preview Labor Day Savings. Starts Friday, August 31.
• Pre-Labor Day Clearance Event!
• Today Only: Save 20% at our Labor Day Weekend Sale Preview!

Free shipping

• Sports Collectors: Free Shipping through Labor Day
• Free Shipping and 15% Off at Quartermaster’s Labor Day Sale
• Free Shipping This Week – Labor Day Exclusive!

Unbeatable deals

• Free Ribeye Steaks for Labor Day on orders of $129 or more
• Celebrate Labor Day With 10% Off Store Wide
• Lowest SALE Prices of the Year: Labor Day Clearance Event
• 20% Off All Products – Extended thru Labor Day!
• Labor Day King Crab Special Direct From Alaska, 2 Days Only

Labor-free Labor Day

• Before leaving for Labor Day, enjoy 20% off your entire order!
• Take off for Labor Day – Save $5 on orders of $25+
• Gear up for Labor Day Weekend!
• In Honor of Labor Day: Let The Robots Do The Work for You
• Avoid speed traps and drive protected this holiday weekend!
• Labor Day Recipes for a Perfect End-of-Summer Feast

Rewards, promos and coupon codes

• Alert: Shop Our Labor Day Sale + Get 3x Points on Goal Club Kickback
• Labor Day Special! Save up to 45% off with MSRP
• Labor Day Sale with VIP Coupon 2010 Pro V1 $22.78
• Labor Day Blowout Sale! 3-Day Only Special Coupon

Bonus: 12 more Labor Day subject lines

Here are some more subject lines to adapt to your own business:

• Skip the backyard party — we’ll bring barbecue to your door
• Labor Day’s your last chance to visit the botanical garden
• No Labor Day laziness here: We’re open on Monday!
• Shop EARLY to save BIG this Labor Day Weekend
• Spend the 3-day weekend treating yourself
• Labor Day Layabouts: All beach and pool gear on sale, three days only
• Our biggest back-to-school specials are happening Monday
• Sick of burgers and brats? Book a table for Labor Day weekend
• We’ll be closed on Labor Day. See you on Tuesday!
• Labor Day savings just landed in your inbox
• The best Labor Day deals are right here
• Don’t leave town without checking out these deals!

Labor Day is one of the biggest shopping days (and weekends) of the year. Just because it’s a holiday doesn’t mean your email marketing should stop working overtime.

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Editor’s note: This article was originally published in September 2011. It has been updated and rewritten for accuracy and relevance.

© 2018, Contributing Author. All rights reserved.

The post 35 subject line ideas for your Labor Day sale appeared first on VerticalResponse Blog.

Did you know that your customers love newsletters? Recent polls have shown that 90 percent of consumers prefer to receive company updates from email newsletters. But that doesn’t mean that you can phone in your next email. If you want to build a strong relationship with your subscribers and ensure that they look forward to your messages, you have to keep brushing up on email newsletter best practices. Now that summer is drawing to a close, it’s time to take your newsletter back to school. Follow these tips to create compelling newsletters for the fall season and beyond.

Make sure your newsletter is scannable

This newsletter design best practice should be at the top of your mind all year long. But if you’ve slipped up, and have accidentally been creating overly long messages or cramming text and photos together in your emails, now is the time to hit reset on your design process. The holiday season is a major revenue driver — and it’s right around the corner. You don’t want to turn off readers before you even have a chance to launch your promotional campaigns in the winter. So, start creating newsletters that are easy to scan.

• Break up content into small blocks of three or four sentences to make it easier for subscribers to mentally process information. 
• Create bulleted or numbered lists when appropriate (i.e., when listing tips, writing out steps for a how-to or presenting brief company updates).
• Use headlines for each section, so readers can quickly get the gist of the email before they dig in.
• Don’t skimp on the whitespace. Give your readers’ eyes a break by making sure there is plenty of blank space surrounding text, images and graphics.

Remember, you could have great content with tons of useful tips and information, but if it’s all buried in a wall of text, it’s likely to be ignored. Check out this email from Tasting Table to see how the company balances whitespace, images and text: 

Create a fall-themed how-to, checklist or guide

The goal of a newsletter — and really all content — should always be to add value to the lives of your readers. If your content isn’t going to entertain, inform or solve a problem, there’s no real reason for anyone to click on your messages. Of course, it isn’t always easy to come up with compelling ideas, but the good news is that you have a built-in theme and jumping off point with seasonal newsletters.

Think about all the ways that your business is uniquely equipped to help subscribers prepare for the season. A clothing retailer could celebrate the return of sweater weather with a fall trend report, a plumber or contractor might provide tips on weatherproofing homes, and a landscaper could offer autumn pruning and gardening advice. Consider what your readers want this time of year and create educational content that will help them satisfy that need.

Have fun with copy

Want to add some flair to your newsletter copy? Get punny. With seasonal content, there are so many opportunities to weave in puns, emojis and fun phrases. Subject lines and headlines are the best places to try out your clever fall wordplay. In this example from Petco, cute, fall-themed headlines are used to present holiday pet tips:

Get started now

The early bird gets the email clicks, so start creating your newsletters well before they need to be sent. Doing so will give you ample time to review messages before they go out, enabling you to check for any typos and perfect your email layout. It will also make life a little less stressful. You have so much to do to keep your business running smoothly, and you shouldn’t have to scramble to get your emails out on time.

Be mindful of upcoming events, promotions and other important dates that you want to mention in your newsletter. For the fall, that might include Veterans Day, Halloween, the beginning of basketball and football seasons, and Thanksgiving. After you’ve created your newsletter, use VerticalResponse’s Email Automation to schedule it.

Newsletters are a great way to keep in touch with your target customers, boost website traffic and highlight the benefits of using your products and services. Make sure your subscribers are enjoying your messages by referring to these newsletter best practices all year long.

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© 2018, Amber Humphrey. All rights reserved.

The post 4 fall email newsletter best practices every business owner should know appeared first on VerticalResponse Blog.

Business-to-business emails can be used to get customers to sign up for a free trial, encourage them to attend a webinar or teach them to use your products or services better. But if your subject lines don’t grab their attention, your messages might never get read. If you could use some help creating subject lines that stand out and inspire clicks, then this post is for you.

Here are 25 examples of some great B2B subject lines that you can test out for your business today.

• How to Leverage [your product] in Your Business
• Save Money and Look Like a Star to Your Boss
• How to Impress Your CFO — Save $1000
• Increase Your ROI by 30%, Guaranteed
• How to make it onto your buyer’s shortlist
• Free Webinar: [insert webinar name]
• Now you can do even more with your [xxxx]
• Should your company outsource [insert thing to outsource here]?
• Breakfast & Secrets for How to [insert the problem you solve or the product you sell]
• Success Tip: 5 Ways to a Better [xxxx]
• Register Today: [insert name of event] Sept. 10!
• Entry deadline fast approaching
• New White Paper: Best Practices for [Insert problem and solution here]
• Success Tip #1: [Insert Tip Headline Here]
• A gift employees and clients will love: [Insert gift name here]
• Extended for a Day: Get Free Shipping Through Friday
• Your Weekly Alert: [insert topic here]
• Hear Exclusive Research Presented on [insert what your event is about] — Register Now!
• Inside: [hot topic in your newsletter you think will get the most opens]
• Save $200: [insert event here] Early Bird Registration Ends [insert date here]
• It’s a pleasure doing business with you, [insert name]
• Busy? Let us take something off your plate.
• Nothing personal, it’s just good business, [insert name]
• The ultimate guide to [your service or product]
• Last day to register for our free webinar!

And here are 10 more B2B subject lines to inspire you.

• EXPIRES AT MIDNIGHT: 50% off certifications that prove you know | Hootsuite
• Quickly collaborate on PDFs with Acrobat | Adobe
• Find Out How the Best Companies Are Using Salesforce | Bluewolf
• Migrate to all flash storage but do it right | HP
• Want to come to Conex? Name your price! | Conex
• The Day After: 11 Things to Do After You Publish a Post | Quicksprout
• Discover why 100,000+ customers are using Zendesk | Zendesk
• If you have a website, you need this tool | Sumo
• Ends Today: 62 Premium WordPress Themes at One Crazy Low Price | CopyBlogger
• We’d loooooove your feedback, [customer name] | Flywheel

Don’t let lackluster subject lines be the reason your important emails are ignored. Feel free to use the examples and inspiration above to create subject lines that get your emails opened and read.

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Editor’s note: This article was originally published in November 2009. It has been rewritten for accuracy and relevance.

© 2018, Contributing Author. All rights reserved.

The post 35 great B2B subject lines appeared first on VerticalResponse Blog.

Writing a strong subject line will get your email noticed and opened, but it won’t ensure that your important message is read. For that, you need an irresistible headline. Every headline is a hook that pulls readers deeper into your content and leads them straight to your call to action, so you’ll want to take the time to write the very best. To help you craft eye-catching headlines that grab readers’ attention and keep them reading, we’ve pulled together these 10 tried-and-true tips:

1. Use the active voice

Keep your prose punchy, direct and engaging to readers by using the active rather than passive voice. In other words, write a sentence that describes the subject doing the action, not being acted upon. Here’s an example:

Active: I threw the ball.

Passive: The ball was thrown by me.

See how an active voice is much stronger than the passive voice?

2. Be crystal clear

If your headline doesn’t tell recipients what your content is about, they won’t take the time to decipher it and they won’t read your email. It’s best to keep your headline straightforward. Nobody wants to be tricked into reading an article that isn’t relevant to them.

3. Stay short and snappy

While there isn’t really an exact character count to follow, a good rule of thumb is that a headline should rarely break onto the second line. Keep your headline succinct and easy to scan. Your busy readers will thank you.

4. Teach people something useful

People want to know how to make pancakes, tie a tie, boil eggs, lose weight — you name it. Why not quench their thirst for knowledge with an informative email and a stellar how-to headline. Here are some examples:

• How to write catchy headlines that attract readers
• How to get bikini-ready in 24 hours
• How to look and feel 20 years younger
• How to jumpstart your productivity

5. Appeal to your audience

Always consider who you’re writing for and what matters to them when you’re coming up with a headline. The following examples appeal to the audience’s pride in their appearance as well as their status:

• Have a smile you can be proud of
• Now you can quit your job and make even more money
• Become the best-dressed guy in the room
• Become the leader you were born to be

6. Speak directly to your reader

Use “you” and “your” in your headlines to make the reader feel like you’re speaking directly to them. It makes your email more personal, and it lets readers know you’re in tune with their needs, desires and emotions.

7. Try trigger words

Use trigger words, such as what, why, how and when, to pique people’s curiosity and prompt them to keep reading your email:

• What you need to do now to list your home in the spring
• Why you need to change your LinkedIn headline … right now
• How to make a perfect quiche
• When is the right time to sell a stock?

8. Use numerals

Numerals work in headlines because they break up the monotony of text and tell readers exactly what to expect. Odd numbers, in particular, stand out to readers because they break the mold. You’ve probably seen a lot of “top 10” lists (including this one!), but how many “top 11” lists have you stumbled across? “Top 11” lists offer readers more tips, fun facts, ideas and value. And who doesn’t want that?

• 300 ways to make $1,000 in 2018
• 7 surefire ways for catching striped bass this winter
• 5 rules for gaining muscles
• 3 things you can do today to get your business found online

9. Make every headline count

One bad headline can be the reason your email is sent to the trash folder, so approach the writing process with care. Spend some time thinking about your headlines. What are you trying to tell your readers? How can you draw them in to read the rest of your content and get them to perform the desired action? The key is to reward people for reading your body copy. With this in mind, you can start writing your headlines.

10. Measure headline effectiveness

Be sure to write several variations so that you can optimize your headlines through A/B testing. Trying out different combinations of headlines, as well as subject lines, calls to action and design elements, is an important part of developing a successful email campaign.

Copyblogger found that 80 percent of your visitors will read your headlines — but only 20 percent will go on to finish the rest. If they don’t like what they see, then they won’t read your email. Why let lackluster headlines keep you from engaging your customers? Follow these tips, and you’ll be writing catchy headlines that attract customers in no time.

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Editor’s note: This article was originally published in May 2013. It has been updated and revised for accuracy and relevance.

© 2018, Contributing Author. All rights reserved.

The post How to write catchy headlines that grab attention appeared first on VerticalResponse Blog.

Need to jump-start your email marketing creativity? Inspire your own stand-out seasonal emails in minutes with our gorgeous and free holiday email examples.

No need to stare at a blank screen, waiting for email inspiration to strike. Use these themed email examples as a starting point for all your end-of-year holiday campaigns: Halloween, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Small Business Saturday, Giving Tuesday, Hanukkah, Christmas and more.

The examples are categorized by industry — from restaurants and retailers to nonprofits and service businesses — so it’s easy to find the ones that help you most.

Download the examples to see how our imaginary businesses and organizations use email marketing to reach customers. You’ll find examples of emails that:

• Inform and educate
• Say thank you
• Send holiday wishes
• Get customers into the spirit to shop
• Promote a sale
• Show customers you appreciate them
• And much more

Download the free email examples now!

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© 2018, Bella Girardi. All rights reserved.

The post Free holiday email examples to jump-start your campaigns appeared first on VerticalResponse Blog.

Before we dig into our interplanetary advice (no, really, anyone from anywhere can use these tips), let’s take a step back. You can’t even begin to create an effective promotional email if you don’t know what your goal is. Ask yourself:

• What are you offering?
• Whom are you offering it to?
• What do you want readers to do with your email?
• Do you want to convert readers into buyers or spread awareness for a new product?

Answering these questions will help you determine your goal and drive direction during the email creation process. Now, on to some tips and promotional email examples.

How to write a promotional email

1. Subject line

Subject lines are the first thing recipients see, and they can make or break your email open rates. Creating subject line copy that is awesome and attention-grabbing should be a priority as you write a promotional email, so be specific about the promotion you have without sounding too spam-like (e.g., don’t use “FREE, open this email NOW” as a subject line). Additionally, don’t promise something in the subject line that you can’t follow through on. Here’s an open-inducing subject line from online consignment store thredUP:

2. Email body

Whatever you promise in your subject line, make sure you follow through. Show that your emails are of value so recipients look forward to seeing things from you in their inbox. Demonstrating this value will capture, and keep, your potential customers’ attention, while endearing your brand to readers and encouraging them to take action. Here’s a good promotional email example from thredUp that not only shows how the company backs up the promise made in the subject line above, but also gives readers a reason to be excited about the email: 

3. Call to action (CTA)

Your CTA should drive to the action you want readers to take from your email. A good way to get people to act is by not telling them everything about your promotion. Capture their interest and then leave something to the imagination to get them clicking to your site. Keep in mind, though, that you need to be respectful of readers’ time: Don’t create copy or a CTA that misleads your reader. For instance, if your CTA says, “learn more about this promotion,” but sends people to your homepage, your blog or an unrelated product page, you’re betraying the trust they exhibited by clicking your CTA. 

ThredUP effectively uses two CTAs in the email below. The first CTA, “Start saving,” ties in with the subject line and the rest of the email body, while the secondary CTA at the bottom drives a different action.

4. Email format

Make your email easily scannable with things like images, bullets and titles. Break up the information by placing your main message at the top of your email, which broadcasts its importance. (Bonus tip: VerticalResponse has promotional email templates for you to build from.) 

5. Mobile-friendliness

People are glued to their phones. If you want them to be glued to your emails as well, captivate them with the above tips while also ensuring your emails are mobile-friendly. To be mobile-friendly, your emails must have a responsive design, meaning that the visual and copy components of your email will readjust to any screen size it’s being viewed on. Here’s thredUP’s email above as seen on a mobile screen:

Now that you’re in the know, create a promotional email and blast it into space (or readers’ inboxes). We think they’ll be impressed. 

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© 2018, Lindsey Bakken. All rights reserved.

The post Five tips for writing a stellar promotional email appeared first on VerticalResponse Blog.

Fall is officially here. The days are growing shorter, social media feeds are piling up with snaps of apple picking and everyone is starting to brainstorm their Halloween costumes. Before you know it, trick-or-treaters will come knocking. Is your business ready?

More than 175 million Americans plan to celebrate Halloween this year, according to the National Retail Federation. Total spending is expected to reach $9 billion, an all-time high in the history of NRF’s annual survey. Whether your business deals in retail, hospitality or services, there’s plenty of opportunity to dress up your marketing for the season.

Avoid the nightmare and plan ahead

Almost half of consumers tackle their Halloween shopping in the first two weeks of October — which means you need to start sending your Halloween email marketing right away if you haven’t already.

Here are some of our favorite Halloween campaigns already hitting inboxes.

Spooktacular subject lines

Give your customers the equivalent of a good “Boo! I got you!” with a subject line that screams the spirit of the season:

• Park your broom & shop these wicked deals! (PetSmart)
• All Hallows Tees (BoxLunch)
• Treat Yo’ Self — Wheel House Deals to Scream About! (Wheel House)
• Sip or Treat: Drinks for Halloween (Caskers)
• Don’t Catch These Chills…Bundle Up, Babe! (Charlotte Russe)
• Trick or treat, spooky or sweet? (Etsy)
• A Halloween Sale so good it’s SCARY (Urban Outfitters)
• Carve out these savings (eBags)

Bloody good design

Remember that 90 percent of the information transmitted to the brain is visual, so your emails should contain compelling design and visuals to help make a lasting impression on your subscribers.

Old Navy sets a fun tone for their Halloween promotions with a cute, winged pumpkin against a bold background. The copy — “Go batty for 31% off” — not only ties in with the image, but also matches the playful mood set by the quirky design. Delivered on October 31, the email offers a very festive 31 percent discount:

PetSmart lets its customers know that Halloween treats aren’t just for kids — they’re for dogs and cats too. The email’s orange and brown color scheme is perfect for fall, and photos of an orange and black cat and a dog in a jack-o’-lantern costume are sure to hit all the right notes for pet lovers this time of year:

Creepy copywriting

Puns, rhymes and festive wordplay abound this season, so hop on the hayride with witty copy of your own. Whether you’re “slashing prices,” or giving your customers a “sweet treat” or “ghoulishly good ideas,” you’ll scare up some sales with a memorable line or two. Caskers, an online craft spirits retailer, cleverly encourages its customers to “Get into the Halloween spirit.” BoxLunch Gifts offers deals on its horror T-shirt inventory in hopes that its shoppers will “Eat, drink and be scary” this Halloween. San Francisco-based shorts retailer Chubbies uses their playful brand voice to collect user-generated content by writing customers, “To whom it may concern (that’s you, dude), send a good Halloween costume idea to the ol’ tipline.”

Mouth, an artisanal food and beverage company, sprinkles spooky phrases and puns through their “fa-boo-lous” Halloween email. Their “drop-dead gift bags” make the “perfect care package to send to your favorite ghoul away at school.” To top it all off, Mouth’s email CTA is simply “Boo”:

Whether you’re offering customers a “trick or treat” discount or special offer, or simply getting into the spirit of the season with a spooky email, there are plenty of ways to participate in Halloween. Plan ahead today, and as the mummy would say, “That’s a wrap!”

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Editor’s note: This post was originally published in October 2016 and has been updated for accuracy and relevance.

© 2018, Contributing Author. All rights reserved.

The post Avoid a nightmare on email street: Create a haunting Halloween campaign appeared first on VerticalResponse Blog.

The end of the year is stuffed with holidays — such as Black Friday and Small Business Saturday — that you’ll want to prepare for. And the handful of days after Thanksgiving are particularly full of notable occasions that drive customer traffic and generate revenue or donations. Here’s how to take advantage of the busiest weekend of the holiday season: 

Season your subject line for every event

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving weekend sales add spice to the holiday. Give thanks for your customers by giving them the deals they’re looking for. Some subject line ideas: 

1. With a side of gratitude for our pets — PetSmart
2. Live the give — Toms
3. Wines That Go With Turkey (And All The Sides) — expressions of the vine 
4. Happy Thanksgiving. Hot discount one week only. — Book keeping
5. Most Commonly Forgotten Thanksgiving Items — FreshDirect

Looking for even more Thanksgiving subject line ideas?

Black Friday

U.S. retailers earned a record $7.9 billion on Black Friday in 2017. To get in on the action, have a look at these Black Friday email subject lines:

1. Mystery Sale – How Much Will You Save — Forever 21
2. Don’t wait ’til tomorrow! Take up to 50% off our most popular inventions right now. — Quirky
3. FOMOBF: Fear of Missing Black Friday. The time is now. — Lucky Brand
4. Save 40% at our Black Friday Savings Event — Rockport 
5. If You Open One Email This Black Friday… — Steve Madden 

Cyber Monday

As the largest online sales day of the year, Cyber Monday is no time to power down. Instead, try these Cyber Monday email subject lines:

1. Buy One, Get One Free Continues with Cyber Monday — EyeBuyDirect
2. Take a break from Cyber Monday, have some Taco Bell — Taco Bell
3. Hurry, Only Hours Left for Cyber Monday Savings! — Sports Authority
4. Save big for Cyber Monday – give the gift of family — Ancestry.com
5. The $50 we owe you… — Urban Outfitters

Giving Tuesday

#GivingTuesday is an annual celebration focused on generosity and raising money for worthy causes. Get in on the good spirits with these subject lines:

1. $25 provides 100 meals — The St. Louis Area Foodbank
2. Plant 5,000 native trees to help wildlife — The National Wildlife Federation 
3. There’s a sea lion pup who wants you to open this email — Oceana 
4. Why the Cheerleaders Shaved Their Heads — LIVESTRONG Foundation
5. We cannot stop Alzheimer’s without you — UsAgainstAlzheimer’s 

If you’re unsure where to start, focus on a realistic promotion for your business to run. Think about the value you provide and something that would make sense in your target customer’s wish list. For example, a sporting goods store might promote comfortable clothes to wear after the Thanksgiving meal, or perhaps Black Friday sales worth racing toward. Take a look at the below ideas, and consider how you could rework them to work for you.  

Inspiration is served 

Thanksgiving 

1. We’re thankful for you! And these hot sales…
2. Get stuffed from our newest offerings
3. 50% off? Talk about something to be grateful for
4. Serving up a dish of deals
5. A piece of the pie: Get a free bakery item on us

Black Friday

1. FriYay! See What We’re Eyeing This Year
2. Food coma? These sales will wake you up
3. Knock Knock! Open Up For Doorbusters 
4. We waited all year to share these deals with you
5. We Can’t Keep Quiet Any Longer, Check Out Our Sale

Cyber Monday

1. Don’t break the bank, break the internet 
2. Cyber Deals to Get You Psyched 
3. All I want for Christmas is… 50% off the hottest toys
4. What a site! 40% off everything
5. Monday has never looked this good

Giving Tuesday

1. We’re almost there! Give now to help kids in need
2. It’s not too late to get involved in #GivingTuesday
3. Give the gift of impact
4. Your donation is matched to help more animals
5. Have TWICE the impact on Giving TWO-sday

Small Business Saturday

Not to be forgotten, this important day is dedicated to shopping small. Make the most of Small Business Saturday by running events or promotions. Then let people know about them through email. Some powerful subject lines:

1. Special savings coming this Saturday
2. Free cocoa when you Shop Small on Saturday
3. 30% off for supporting your local businesses
4. Celebrate this weekend at our Saturday event & giveaway
5. Save the Date: Small Business Saturday 

This year, give thanks for the ability to communicate with customers. By creating subject lines that keep your customers content and clicking, you can create a season of giving, caring and sharing. So snuggle in with a cup of cider and plan your seasonal subject line menu. 

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© 2018, Lindsey Bakken. All rights reserved.

The post 45 Thanksgiving weekend subject lines worth falling for appeared first on VerticalResponse Blog.

During the holiday season, coming up with an attention-grabbing subject line is almost as challenging as finding the perfect gift for everyone on your shopping list. With Christmas promotions and other holiday messages flooding inboxes, it takes a little more effort to make sure your subject lines shine merry and bright. To help your business pa-rum-pum-pum-pummel that inbox competition, here is the holiday and Christmas subject line inspiration you’re looking for.

Holly jolly subject lines

1. Time to get what you really wanted for Christmas | Poprageous
2. Countdown to Christmas with 12 Days of Deals | Michaels
3. Sale on sale = Christmas comes early | Banana Republic
4. Christmas blues? We have the cure | Brit + Co
5. Ho-ho-hold up. You haven’t started your holiday shopping yet?! | Hot Topic
6. HOWLY SHIP! $5 BarkBoxes by Christmas | BarkBox
7. A last-minute gift for car lovers | AutoZone
8. The Holiday’s Greatest Hits | Nike
9. Who’d ya forget? Get to stores for 40% off | J.Crew
10. Here’s your holiday beauty how-to | Sephora
11. The gift every home will love | Nest
12. Santa’s Helpers: 20% off stocking stuffers | Zazzle Inc.
13. SLEIGH with 30% off holiday faves | Forever21
14. Happy Holidays! Time to open your gift | ASOS
15. Magical season, magical savings…30% off all faux fur! | Pottery Barn
16. 11 gift ideas. Something great for everyone on your list | Crate and Barrel
17. Tomorrow, we’re getting gifty | Everlane
18. It looks a little empty underneath that tree | BoxLunch
19. Glam gifts + perfect prices = match, made | Target
20. Let’s catch up before Santa gets here! | Uniqlo
21. Don’t panic, holiday procrastinators! There’s still time | Threadless
22. Psst, Santa — here’s what they really want | Sur La Table
23. What’s everyone getting this year? | Away
24. Rudolph to Runway: Holiday fashion | Etsy
25. Make that list, check it twice | eBags
26. Holiday steals that won’t land you on the naughty list! | Petco
27. Our shopping event is on | Apple
28. Deck your shoe closet! Get 40% off ALL shoes! | Charlotte Russe

Santa Claus is coming to town — and so are more subject lines

Need to promote your annual holiday sale, event or fundraiser? Tailor these subject lines to suit your business’s needs.

Sales and promotions

1. Tree-mendous savings are waiting for you
2. Unwrap your gift — 50% off ends tonight
3. Happy holidays from our family to yours!
4. A sale yule love — 40% off everything!
5. You made our nice list — enjoy 30% off

Holiday events

1. Celebrate the holidays with us
2. Two words: Christmas. Party.
3. Rock around the Christmas tree with us
4. You’re invited: Stop by our very merry sales event
5. We ho-ho-hope you’ll be at our free workshop

Giving campaigns and fundraising

1. This holiday season, make an impact
2. Help us wrap up the year — give a gift
3. Spread holiday cheer — and hope
4. Give a gift, make a difference
5. We believe in the magic of giving

One more way to sleigh the holiday

As a business owner, you know just how busy this time of year can be. Reduce some of that stress by preparing your emails ahead of time. Once you’ve created a subject line that works for you, consider using an email automation tool such as VerticalResponse’s Autoresponders and Email Series. This will allow you to set up your emails when it’s convenient for you, and then have them sent automatically at the right time. Creating an email series during the holidays keeps your business top-of-mind and builds anticipation for upcoming sales and events.

All it takes is a little preparation and creativity, and you’ll be sending holiday emails that stand out and help you achieve your seasonal marketing goals.

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© 2018, Amber Humphrey. All rights reserved.

The post 40 hot holiday subject lines appeared first on VerticalResponse Blog.

In the midst of holiday celebrations and resolution creation, don’t forget to toast to the emails of years past. While it’s out with the old and in with the new year, the creative subject lines you craft right now can set the stage for a bang-up year of email marketing.

Next to your 2019 goals, jot down ideas from these subject lines we love.

20 New Year’s Eve subject lines

1. Party on: dresses + jumpsuits — Nordstrom Rack
2. Don’t wear last year’s styles — Guess
3. New Year’s Eve: Your First Look for [2019] — Rent the Runway
4. New Year’s Resolutions — Fancy
5. Celebrate New Year’s in Neon — Amols’
6. Celebrate the Season – Holiday & New Year’s Eve Looks Are Here! — Glamour In Rose
7. It’s The Deal Of The Year… 22% Off ALL Orders Sitewide — FlashingBlinkyLights
8. Prepare for the End Times — SewVacDirect
9. Time to Celebrate with Champagne (Pop) — becca
10. New Year + New Magazines = An Inspired You — Stampington & Company
11. The end is here! $299 Limited-Run suits are gone when the ball drops — Indochino
12. Only a Few Hours Left Until [2019]! Celebrate with 20% Off — Showtime
13. Just for you: A New Year’s Eve treat (code inside) — Pottery Barn
14. Get your Last Minute New Year’s Eve Party Supplies — Party City
15. On The Eve Of A New Year — White + Warren
16. Glow up in these New Year’s Eve looks — Akira
17. New Year’s Eve Sale! Save 15% The Rest Of The Year — Dunkin’ Donuts Shop
18. 5 cocktails from around the world for New Year’s Eve — G Adventures EU
19. Snacks & gifts delivered by New Year’s Eve—order today! — Hickory Farms
20. The Best Stuff We Read, Did and Ate This Year — The Man Repeller

19 New Year’s Day subject lines

1. Boots & Sneakers: Start the year with the best! — Zappos
2. NEW Catalog. Travel ideas to Kick-off the NEW Year. Shop now. — Magellan’s
3. New Year, New Mac – Up To 70% Off MacBook Pro — TigerDirect
4. A new year brings new reasons to enjoy gourmet goodies. — Harry & David
5. New Year, New Beer 101 — CraftBeer.com
6. Fancy something new? — Wilko
7. Happy new year, happy new you — Marks and Spencer
8. The Secret to a Lasting New Year Glow (for FREE) — L’Occitane
9. Up to 30% off everything — BEST year ever starts now. — Swanson Health Products
10. Your Powerful New Beginning + Are You a Hot Mess? — Yoga Download
11. Keep your pack healthy and happy in the New Year — Petplan Pet Insurance
12. Reset & Refresh With Something New — White House Black Market
13. It’s A New Year And Here’s A Reason To Cheer! — Norwegian Cruise Line
14. Lackluster Hair Is Sooo Last Year — Paul Mitchell
15. The Year Is New (But This Sale Is Ending!) — The Land of Nod
16. Happy New Year! Resolve to Save More — Cole Haan
17. Back to reality tmrw Buy 1, Get 2 Free while you still can! — Urban Planet
18. The Cure for a New Year’s Hangover — Chemical Guys
19. New Year, Same Great Sale — Original Penguin

It’s the final countdown

Keep the party going by putting these subject lines into action right now. No matter your industry, the following ideas can get you pointed in the right direction: to a fruitful new year.

1. Start the year right with the right bites
2. Count your blessings (and your savings) with these last-minute deals
3. Savor the final tastes of 2018
4. Get a head start on your budget resolution with 50% off!
5. Hurry in! These deals won’t be around next year.
6. Ring in 2019 with a hearty toast: 20% off all artisan breads!
7. Say Yes to The Year: Your Final Chance For These 2018 Best Sellers
8. 2018, thanks for the memories. Let’s go out with a bang (and 20% off EVERYTHING).
9. Time flies when you’re shopping these sales. Don’t forget to check out before midnight!
10. It’s the night before the New Year and all through the store… are these hot deals
11. What’s that Clinking? It’s the Extra Change In Your Pocket.
12. These sales won’t last: an ode to 2018
13. Happy New Gear! Shop the Collection.
14. Like 2018, these products are going fast!
15. Final sales worth celebrating
16. The sale to end all sales: $20.18 off your purchase. Today only!
17. Save 50% before the ball drops!
18. Seconds left to end your year right: 60% off everything
19. Happy New Year! See what’s new here.

Whatever subject lines you choose to use, resolve to connect with your customers. And, don’t forget to celebrate your personal and business accomplishments. Cheers to a new year of email marketing possibilities!

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© 2018, Lindsey Bakken. All rights reserved.

The post Start the countdown: 20 New Year’s Eve and 19 New Year’s Day subject lines appeared first on VerticalResponse Blog.

Marketing best practices are always changing. That may seem daunting to business owners who are just starting out, but in actuality, the influx of new trends every year is an opportunity to improve and refine your marketing strategy. Email marketing is consistently one of the most cost-effective and preferred ways to promote a business. Its superpower lies in its ability to constantly adapt to fit the market. This year, we expect to see these five trends:

1. Mobile-responsiveness

Because over 50% of emails are opened on mobile globally, it’s vital to get it right. Make sure your messages are mobile-friendly by checking that your text and call to action buttons are visible, readable and clickable. Think about how the different aspects of an email will layer on a small screen, and how long it will take users to scroll through the message for information. And always remember to test before you send.

2. More text, fewer images

The new year could usher in an image change: Image-heavy emails aren’t being opened at the rates they once used to be. Instead, lots of imagery can make your message look like spam. What that means for your business is that there should be an emphasis on the actual message. However, that does not mean you should create dry, long letters to customers. Keep your voice consistent, conversational and to the point.

Check out three types of emails below to see the difference between image-heavy messages and their cleaner, clearer cousins.

Image-heavy:

Better:

Best:

3. Targeting methods

With an average ROI of 3,800 percent, email marketing is always a smart investment. The only thing smarter? Stronger targeting. With the large amounts of data available, we expect even better strategies for maximizing email’s reach. And with email automation, revenue will continue to grow while time investment shrinks. Your marketing automation solution should allow you to segment contacts based on factors like location or age, so you can send only to relevant recipients.

4. Personalization

To connect with customers, companies are going to have to go the extra mile to stand out and communicate effectively. Personas and customer journeys will likely have extra importance this year, as will having the resources to create smart emails and filter contacts based on behavior. Not only does personalization make email beneficial to customers by giving them the information they want, but it also benefits the sending company’s finances. Ever-better artificial intelligence technology will help make this possible by analyzing what works and continually tailoring emails to fit each consumer individually.

5. Privacy

With laws like the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 and the General Data Protection Regulation implemented in 2018, it is clear that privacy and security are at the forefront of people’s minds. So, when creating emails, it’s important to comply with regulations while ensuring that what you send out is respectful of your customers’ time and privacy. Data should be used to personalize a reader’s experience, not to exploit trust.

Transparency is especially important when it comes to privacy. Make sure you communicate regularly about any changes to security, as Visa did in this email:

With all the potential 2019 holds, it’s going to be a big year for email marketing. Are you taking advantage of all it has to offer?

Build, send and track emails that look great on any device

VerticalResponse gives you the tools to build powerful campaigns in minutes, leaving you more time to spend with customers.

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© 2019, Lindsey Bakken. All rights reserved.

The post Top 5 email trends for 2019 appeared first on VerticalResponse Blog.

When you don’t have the time or resources to have print advertisements professionally made, getting started can be daunting. But it is possible for small businesses to create attention-grabbing ads, even when they’re on a tight budget. If you’ve ever dabbled in print advertising or thought about it, check out these tips, tactics and examples, and start creating ads that resonate with your target customers.

What to include in every advertisement

1. Your logo or business name. If your business’s logo or name doesn’t contain what you do, make sure to clarify that in the ad. For example, saying “Klimisch’s Inc. Collision Repair” instead of just “Klimisch’s Inc.”
2. A CTA (call to action) with supporting contact information. Say exactly why people should contact your business and what you can do for them. For example, “Call us at (415) 000-0000 to save money on home insurance today.”
3. Information about your business. Explain what your business does and how you intend to help your potential customers. Don’t go overboard with the copy because you want to make sure they can read it quickly and easily.
4. Supporting visual elements like a photo or graphics. This can be your logo, a picture of your business or a graphic related to your business.

Design guidelines

Don’t know anything about graphic design? That’s ok — you can make sure your ads are as visually compelling as possible by following these simple guidelines.

1. Create a hierarchy of information. Choose the information from the above list that’s most important and make it the main element of the ad. Every piece of information in your ad should be weighted according to its importance. It’s hard to read an ad in which everything is the same size.
2. Remember, less is more. Don’t overwhelm people with information. Keep it as simple as possible while getting useful information across to the viewer.
3. Use your space wisely. Don’t use every inch of white space because you can. Leave some “breathing room” so people can digest your message.
4. Use contrasting colors. Strike the right balance between fonts and backgrounds to make sure that your copy is readable. The best combo is dark type on a light background because it’s easier to read.
5. Think hard about typography. Use mostly sans-serif fonts, use different font sizes to highlight the importance of the copy. However, don’t use too many font types or too many font colors (think one or two max). The biggest font offenders that tend to thoroughly annoy people include comic sans, curlz and papyrus.
6. Review and edit. Have at least one other person who isn’t working on your ad read it over to make sure there aren’t spelling errors, incorrect information or missing information.

Putting it all together

Here are some examples from a local newspaper featuring small business ads to illustrate how all of the above components come together.

Drake’s Brewing Company — Bold, contrasting colors as well as high-quality photography make this ad stand out. The copy is minimal but still manages to describe what they have to offer (“beer garden, 40 taps, wood-fired pizza”).

AK Badminton & Tennis — A little color and a lot of white space go a long way. This ad is easy to read and the copy and imagery illustrate exactly what customers can expect from the company. You’ll also notice that the business logo is front and center, helping AK Badminton & Tennis build brand awareness.

Stay Gold Delicatessen — Along with its simple, contrasting color scheme, this one has all the information you need (address, hours of operation, website address, phone number and special pricing). There is a clear call to action (“Check out our happy hours at both locations”) and the fonts are varied to emphasize important details.

Pedal Express — The stylized map in this one not only makes the ad more visually appealing, but it also shows the areas where this courier service operates. The ad also includes a quick one-liner to give prospective customers a little background information about the company: “worker-owned and operated since 1994.”

These are all print ads but the same elements apply to online ads. The most important part of advertising is to show who you are as a company, so have a little fun with it! And remember to ask for the “specs” or specifications for each ad. This will tell you what ad size is needed, the resolution, bleed or no bleed, acceptable formats (i.e., jpg, tiff, pdf), unacceptable formats (i.e., Microsoft Word or Microsoft Publisher) and whether it’s full color or black and white.

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Editor’s Note: This blog post was originally published in August 2013 and has been revamped and updated for accuracy and relevance.

© 2019, Contributing Author. All rights reserved.

The post How to create an effective small business advertisement appeared first on VerticalResponse Blog.

Did you know that in 2018, Valentine’s Day spending hit a record-breaking $19.6 billion? It’s no wonder that Valentine’s Day sends business owners’ hearts aflutter.

According to a study by Prosper Insights & Analytics for the National Retail Federation, the average person planned to shell out more than $140 on traditional Valentine’s Day merchandise, with customers aged 25 to 34 being the biggest spenders. Consumers, on the whole, planned to spend a total of:

• $4.7 billion on jewelry
• $2 billion on flowers
• $1.8 billion on candy
• $894 million on greeting cards
• $1.5 billion on gift cards

The objects of their affection included spouses and significant others, children and parents, classmates and teachers, friends and even Fido — with an estimated 20 percent of consumers buying Valentine’s Day gifts for their pets. What’s more, 27 percent of consumers planned to celebrate the holiday by treating themselves or getting together with family and friends.

Valentine’s Day can be lucrative for nearly all businesses

Because it’s not just for sweethearts, Valentine’s Day can be lucrative for almost any business, from restaurants and retailers to auto shops and coffeehouses. So, don’t be shy! Win customers’ hearts and business with swoon-worthy email marketing promotions. Read on for inspiration:

The RealReal: No Partner? No Problem — Shop Valentine’s Gifts to Give Yourself

The RealReal takes a fresh approach to Valentine’s Day by celebrating singlehood. The subject line appeals to people who don’t have partners but still want and deserve gifts. Why not treat yourself?

Keurig: From Keurig, With Love

This Valentine’s Day, Keurig is making it easy for customers to order a coffee maker, plus a variety of tasty beverages. The email is easy to navigate, just like Keurig’s auto-delivery service, so customers won’t have any trouble stocking up on their favorite brews.

HelloFresh: Put Love On The Menu: Your Valentine’s Guide

This email from HelloFresh features clever copy and an irresistible call to action: “Save my Valentines Day.” Nobody wants their romantic dinner spoiled, so if the alternative is to go to an overcrowded restaurant, HelloFresh just might be a viable option. 

Minibar Delivery: Kissed by a rosé

Minibar uses a cute pun in the subject line and a funny and original poem to make this email POP. 

Molekule: A Valentine’s message from Molekule

Molekule takes an extremely unromantic product (an air purifier) and turns it into a perfectly practical Valentine’s Day gift. It’s a great reminder that you don’t have to sell flowers and candy to celebrate the holiday.

Maison Impeccable: MI Intel | Love is Afoot

Aside from the playful subject line, Maison Impeccable has a conversational, click-worthy call to action.

Gymboree: Goodbye, Free Shipping! Goodnight, Valentine!

Gymboree downplays Valentine’s Day but goes bold with a huge, attention-grabbing ad for a 70 percent off, store-wide sale.

Francesca’s Collections: Valentine’s Day Picks For You!

Francesca’s Collections does a great job of showing customers the love with discounts and deals, wardrobe fashions for a romantic night and last-minute gift suggestions.

JR Cigars: Join the Romeo Lovefest & Get 20 Free Cigars!

JR Cigars uses humor to create a catchy subject line that attracts star-crossed Romeos and Juliets. Of course, there’s also a great reason to shop — 20 free cigars!

Modkat: Valentine’s Special – Love at first sight.

Modkat definitely knows its audience and recognizes the fact that cat lovers won’t forget their furry friends on Valentine’s Day.

Lensabl: From Lensable With Love: 25% Off All Lenses!

Lensabl combines a heartfelt Valentine’s Day greeting with a sweet one-day deal. Gift or no gift, why not send your customers a valentine?

SinglesSwag: February Box Reveal 

Everybody loves a surprise, right? SinglesSwag piques customer interest by giving customers a sneak peek of their February box chockfull of goodies. The message contains a sense of urgency to appeal to people’s fear of missing out and get them to act fast.

Get customers to cozy up to your business

Here are some ideas for content and promotions that will get customers to snuggle up to your business:

• Offer a buy-one-get-one treat to share with their valentine
• Invite customers to your anti-Valentine’s celebration
• Appeal to lovelorn folks with a “broken-heart brunch”
• Promote a “Love stinks!” stinky cheese sale
• Send diners a voucher for a free heart-shaped dessert 
• Email a Valentine’s Day gift guide
• Promote early bird specials for cakes, flowers and gifts
• Hold heartwarming events like a cooking class or wine tasting
• Offer an auto detailing special for customers’ sweethearts
• Offer a pest control service special, so customers can enjoy a romantic Valentine’s Day without being bugged

If this Valentine’s Day is anything like last year’s holiday, you definitely don’t want to miss out. Remember, you don’t need to sell flowers, cards or chocolates to celebrate. Focus on showing your customers how much you love and appreciate them. But don’t wait for Cupid to work his magic on potential customers. Make the most of the day with email marketing promotions your customers are sure to love.

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Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2011 and has been rewritten for accuracy and relevance.

© 2019, Bella Girardi. All rights reserved.

The post Capture customers’ hearts and sales this Valentine’s Day with email marketing appeared first on VerticalResponse Blog.

Special occasions are a great opportunity to give your email marketing a boost — especially during the first quarter of the year, when service and retail industries tend to see a slowdown. Luckily, Valentine’s Day ushers in the first of the major consumer holidays. Last year, consumers were expected to spend an average of $19.6 billion on the occasion.

This February, spread love through email

Get your business in on the action. And just in case you need inspiration, we handpicked 16 of our favorite Valentine’s Day subject lines to get you going. Remember, not every Valentine’s email needs to be romance-focused. Valentine’s can be equally shared by friends and families, singles and couples, florists and restaurants, retailers and more!

1. Chocolates for Valentine’s Day? You can do better… — YOOX
2. Those who scare together, stay together — Hot Topic
3. You’ll this! — PhotoBarn
4. Valentine’s Day… and this time it’s personal — Brookstone
5. Our Valentine’s Day Gift Guide — The MET
6. Find a gift that fits for Valentine’s Day | Fitbit
7. Sip. Savor. Love. | Special Valentine’s Day Offer — illy
8. Gift Ideas To Love — Original Penguin
9. Love The One You’re With (Valentine’s Day Gifts For All) | Gilt City
10. We’ve Got You Covered — Gentleman’s Box
11. You’re a Catch! New Valentine’s Cards —  Scribbler
12. Love at first sight — Misha Nonoo
13. Cupid Rhymes With Stupid — SinglesSwag
14. No Partner? No Problem. Shop Valentine’s Gifts To Give Yourself — The RealReal
15. A Gift From Your Secret Admirer. Hint: Free Shipping — Dot & Bo
16. Will you be our Galentine?  — Lauren James Co.

Whether you’re sending a promotion, sales reminder or just saying “Hello and Happy Valentine’s,” be sure to keep your subject lines short and, most of all, sweet!

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Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2017 and has been updated for relevance.

© 2019, Contributing Author. All rights reserved.

The post Fall in love: 16 sweet subject lines for Valentine’s Day appeared first on VerticalResponse Blog.

What is a slogan? A slogan is a catchphrase that represents a product or company and communicates the key benefit you want consumers to associate with your business. And if crafted with care, it can keep your brand front and center in the minds of consumers — until they’re ready to buy. Read on for inspiration and tips to help you create a compelling, unforgettable slogan:

Slogans with staying power

If you’re creating a new product or business slogan, you want something that represents your brand and is easy to remember. Some well-known slogan examples are:

• Just Do It. (Nike)
• I’m Lovin’ It (McDonald’s)
• Finger Lickin’ Good (KFC)
• Melts In Your Mouth, Not In Your Hand (M&Ms)

Although the above slogans are likely already at the tip of your tongue, there are many other great ones. Recognize these?

• Because You’re Worth It. (L’Oreal)
• What’s In Your Wallet? (Capital One)
• Shave Time. Shave Money. (Dollar Shave Club)
• They’re G-R-R-REAT! (Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes)
• M’m! M’m! Good! (Campbell’s)
• Get In The Zone (AutoZone)
• The Quicker Picker Upper! (Bounty)
• Save Money. Live Better. (Walmart)
• Maybe She’s Born With It. Maybe It’s Maybelline. (Maybelline)
• Challenge Everything (EA)

To help you create catchy slogans for your business, here are seven tips to get your creative juices flowing:

1. Keep it short and simple

If Las Vegas had tried to use “Whatever you do while you’re in Las Vegas, Stays in Las Vegas” instead of “What Happens Here, Stays Here,” it might never have caught on as one of the most popular slogans of all time. Keep your slogan under 9 or 10 words.

2. Be consistent

Consistent branding is key whether you’re a small business or household name. Make sure your business slogans complement your existing logo, company name and projected image. For example, General Electric’s slogan “Imagination at Work,” draws attention to their brand with a simple, yet powerful logo that celebrates human imagination and innovation. All of their products from lightbulbs to CT scanners, bare this testament to creativity and quality.

3. Focus on what makes you different

Figure out what your unique selling proposition is and use it. Is your delivery business done with a fleet of electric cars? Does your dental practice cater to those with high anxiety? Crossoak Family Dentistry features a big chicken on its website, along with the slogan “We cater to cowards.” Incorporate what makes you special into your slogan if possible.

4. Make it timeless

Verizon had a good run with “Can You Hear Me Now?” but it was only a matter of time before technology made nearly all cell phone calls clear. You have to change with the times, but when you’re working on a slogan you want to think of its longevity. That’s why references to technology and phrases like “the only” are risky. Good slogans use wording that can stand the test of time, like Rolaids and their “How Do You Spell Relief?”

5. Ensure it can stand alone

Your slogan shouldn’t be a mystery! You want a slogan that tells your audience what your business is without needing any additional information. For example, Cartoon Network’s “The Best Place for Cartoons” tells people exactly what they’ll get when they tune in.

6. Consider your target market

You’ll also need to consider if your customers are local, national or international. While some locals get Philadelphia’s new slogan, “PHL: Here For The Making,” it may have left tourists scratching their heads. And if you do business internationally, keep in mind that translating your slogan to another language can significantly change the meaning. When KFC launched in China, their “Finger Lickin’ Good” slogan translated to the less appetizing “Eat Your Fingers Off.”

7. Get input

Being creative is a tough job, but there are ways to avoid going it alone. Use VerticalResponse’s Surveys feature to get opinions from your followers. Take to social media like Facebook or Twitter to host a slogan contest with a designated hashtag to track entries. Or consider some free tagline generators, like Slogan Generator, to get your brain warmed up.

Done right, a memorable slogan will stick around long after consumers interact with your brand. Use these tips, or leverage expert designers, to create a catchy slogan that fits your business.

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Editor’s note: This article was originally published in 2015 and has been revised for accuracy and relevance.

© 2019, Contributing Author. All rights reserved.

The post 7 tips to creating a memorable slogan appeared first on VerticalResponse Blog.

Your unique selling proposition (USP) represents how your products and services are different from and better than the competition’s. That’s why it’s critical to carefully craft a USP that accurately describes your brand, then promote it so your audience understands and remembers exactly why you’re the best choice.

Email marketing is a smart strategy for USP promotion (you should be building a targeted email list, after all), but how can you continually convey the same message without coming across as repetitive or spammy? With the following five tips for reinforcing your USP via email.

1. Include your USP in every email

The most direct way to reinforce your USP within emails is to simply state it at the top of every email. One way to do this without appearing repetitive is to incorporate your USP into your tagline and feature it under your logo or company name.

In the example below, you can see how Boden HQ uses a tagline under its logo to promote its USP in every email.

2. Align your email content with your USP

Reinforcing your USP can be subtler than simply restating it, and strategic email content is one of the best ways to illustrate how you’re different and better than competitors without repeating the same phrase ad nauseum.

Let’s say you own a doughnut shop and your USP is that you have the most delicious doughnuts in town. Your email content might feature awards you’ve won, customer spotlights (everyone raves your doughnuts) or an article about how you source only the best ingredients.

Or, let’s say you operate a style salon and your USP is that you have the region’s most skilled beauticians. Your email content might feature photos of client hairstyles and makeovers. Or, you might offer advice for hairstyles that fit certain face shapes, skin tones and hair types to establish your brand as the expert in hair.

Another example: You run a discount tire shop, and your USP is that you have the lowest prices on high-quality tires. Your email content might feature tips on how to choose the best tires for different seasons, vehicles and uses and then show your price alongside the slashed-out MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price).

In each of these examples, you’re not rehashing your USP verbatim, but you’re still reinforcing your USP through content that aligns with your message.

3. Create offers that match your USP

Perhaps the most obvious way to reinforce your USP via email is to develop incentives, offers and other promotions that clearly illustrate your USP.

For example, our discount tire shop can send emails with big promotions that match its “lowest price in town” USP. Or, our salon might create an email advertising a special makeover package that comes with a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee (which demonstrates confidence that our stylists are the best).

When you develop your USP, you’ll think about what your audience will respond to. Your promotional emails should cater to those same passions, motives, desires and problems for natural alignment with your USP.

4. Choose images that suggest your USP

If you incorporate images into your emails, choose those which visually suggest your USP. For example, a doughnut shop should invest in professional food photography that helps showcase their doughnuts are pure mouthwatering goodness. By the same token, a salon could showcase the quality of their stylists’ work through customer spotlights.

When you select images for your emails, consider how they reinforce your USP. They don’t always need to be product photos or happy customers. For example, a project management software company might feature a graph that illustrates increased productivity when its product is adopted or a chart that compares project efficiency to a popular, underperforming competitor.

5. Don’t forget the subject line

Your USP should be a statement that intrigues customers, creates desire and makes them want to learn more. Sound familiar? Your subject line has the same goals, so it makes sense to craft subject lines that echo your USP.

Again, you shouldn’t repeat your USP verbatim (imagine getting six emails in a row that read “The Best Doughnuts in Durham”). Instead, craft provocative subject lines that imply your USP: “See What Ingredient Makes This Irish Cream Glaze So Scrumptious.”

Collectively, all these tips boil down to telling your story in an engaging way that resonates with your audience. You don’t need to repeat the same phrase time and again. In fact, it’s better to immerse your audience in your brand so they make lasting associations about why you’re the best option. Email is one of the best and most cost-efficient ways to do that, so follow the featured tips to reinforce your USP via email and foster lifelong brand loyalty.

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© 2019, Brian Morris. All rights reserved.

The post 5 tips for reinforcing your USP via email appeared first on VerticalResponse Blog.