What’s good for SPAM is bad for you
Some say it’s a losing battle. Spam is here to stay, and the enemy is gaining ground. But take heart: Spam filters are becoming more sophisticated, with forceful weapons that can fight off the worst of foes. That’s good news, but where does it leave you – the legitimate email marketer with important information your members want to read? As the fight against spam gains ground with new tools and improved filters, legitimate email marketers are getting caught in the crossfire. In the May 7 issue of creditunions.com, DigitalMailer’s Greg Crandell discusses the growing war on spam and its impact on e-marketers. The article highlights the Department of Labor Federal Credit Union, a DigitalMailer client successfully fighting spam while implementing its eLerts program.
“eLerts are the best way to get in touch with our members – not only for marketing and operational purposes, but also for business continuity/disaster recovery purposes,” said Joan Moran, CEO of DOLFCU. The credit union works closely with DigitalMailer and its new Spam Analysis Tool to improve the deliverability of member eLerts.
The view the creditunions.com article, click here.
Email: the most bang for your marketing buck
Recent studies indicate that most marketing professionals now include email in their marketing efforts. A survey by PROMO magazine reported that online marketing methods are growing in popularity – nearly 73 percent of promotional marketers surveyed use email marketing, with 61 percent using email newsletters and 37 percent using other online promotions. And a survey by Forrester Research found the majority of today’s marketers – 83 percent – incorporate email in their interactive marketing mix.
It makes sense – email marketing can be more cost effective, more measurable and can provide real-time results. But e-marketers beware ... like any distribution list, your email lists are only as effective as you make them.
By using segmented email lists – identified by sex, age, product use history, income level and other characteristics you set – you can improve the effectiveness of your marketing efforts. According to an Internet Retailer survey, 40 percent of respondents reported that only 2 percent or less of their email campaigns resulted in sales conversions – but only 43 percent of these respondents use segmented email lists. Another survey by MarketingSherpa indicated that higher click-through rates were measured among marketers using advanced email tactics, such as segmentation, than those who did not.
An effective, well-planned email marketing strategy can provide positive, bottom-line results to your organization. For ideas on how to increase the effectiveness of your email marketing efforts, request DigitalMailer’s free report, “Electronic Messaging Tips For Email Success,” available at www.digitalmailer.com/offerings.html
Good Web site design equals successful marketing strategy
For today’s e-marketers, increasing traffic to the company Web site is only part of the equation. Once members and potential members are at your site, you have only a few seconds to grab their attention, help them find what they need and show them sufficient value. In the competitive world of online financial services, both a Web site’s navigation and design are critical components of marketing strategy success. Does your site add up?
Learn more about enhancing your Web site’s design, along with tips and lessons learned from other credit unions that have successfully restructured their Web sites, by ordering the webinar recording, Online Experience: Letting Strategy Drive your Website Design. DMI clients can order the recording at the discounted price of $199 (regular price $249). For more information, Click here or contact Paris Ward at Callahan & Associates at (800) 446-7453 extension 160.
Postage rates hiked – again
It seems like only yesterday when the post office raised the cost of mailing letters and packages. And now, just a little more than a year since its last rate hike, prices have increased again. But this time, it’s not just the weight of our mailings that matter – it’s their size, too.
There’s never been a better time to consider enhancing your communications and marketing efforts with email. With more Americans regularly online, with better Internet security measures available, and now, with even more cost benefits over traditional mailing expenses, email communications such as eStatements, eNewsletters, eLerts and eSurveys make good sense.
To learn more about effectively using e-communications to reach your members, contact Ron Daly at (866) 994-4900, or email him at rdaly@digitalmailer.com.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR & COMPANY:
Ron Daly is President/CEO of DigitalMailer, Inc., a digital communication provider that helps clients gain a strategic business advantage through eStatements, e-Lerts, e-newsletters, email and other virtual tools on the Internet. You can email Ron at rdaly@digitalmailer.com if you want more information on any topic found in our newsletters or web site.
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