Effective Email

Web Link: Email Benchmarks Study (March 2007) PDF

Web Link: 100+ Free HTML Email Templates

Web Link: Do Forms Work in HTML Email?

Article: Should we create segments of our email list?

Yes. There are a number of reasons to segment. Segmenting allows you to: Send different messages to different audiences: You target donors, online action takers, volunteers, among other subsets, and match messages to interests. Vary frequencies to...

Article: What data should we look at after we blast an email?

Verify the blast is processed by your blasting service: Many tools “queue up” your blast, and push messages out over several minutes or hours, depending on the size of the blast list. Track blasting status until it is marked as “complete”. Check replies...

Article: What needs to be ready before we send an email blast?

Message development:Unless you're responding to fast-breaking events, you should have your message content authored one to three days before you blast so that it can be laid out, reviewed and tested. Template selected and/or designed:Know what...

Article: What should we make sure of before we send an email blast?

Before you do any blast, you should run down several checklists of quality considerations by following these email “pre-send” check lists. Review your message layout for essential links: Does your message have an un-subscribe link? Is there an...

Article: How do we maximize click-through rates in our emails?

Your ultimate goal in sending almost any bulk email message is to get the recipient to take one or more actions by clicking on a link in the message. These “click-throughs” are a primary indicator of how effective your email was. In order to maximize the...

Article: How do we obtain people's consent to email them in a blast?

When taking online email sign-ups, you can choose between two models for adding addresses to your list: In the Opt-In method, when someone submits their address, you immediately add them to your list. In this model, a confirmation email should be sent...

Article: What information do I need to collect when getting email addresses?

All you need to start building a relationship online is an email address.Email sign-up forms that require any additional information will convert fewer submissions.A best practice in this regard is to accept the email address, and then route the user...

Article: Where should we ask for email addresses from our constituents?

First and foremost is your own web site; email sign-up should be available and prominent on every page, visible “above the fold,” meaning that visitors don't have to scroll to see it. Online petitions and online event registration are excellent places to...

Article: What should I ask myself when choosing an email blasting tool?

Anytime you're choosing a nonprofit software tool you should ask yourself "Have I read the Idealware article?" Idealware provides great reviews on software for nonprofits. Here are some more questions to ask yourself when choosing an email...

Article: What ROI Stats are there for Email Blasts?

ROI for email marketing campaigns can give an organization great feedback about not only their constituents’ giving but also the efficacy of their online strategy. ROI, or Return on Investment, statistics allows people to see numbers related to the c...

Article: What is ROI?

ROI stands for Return On Investment and refers to the evaluation of what an organization is getting in return (money, supporters, subscribers, etc.) when investing time and money in a new process or piece of software.

Article: What is a bounce?

A "bounce" is a term used to refer to a notice that the email wasn't delivered to the intended recipient. There are many reasons an email could have been "bounced," the main being the email address that was used is no longer valid...

Article: What is an email blaster?

An email blaster is a service or piece of software that allows you to send an email to a large number of people. An email blaster differs from an email client because email blaster programs have relationships set up with email service providers...

Article: What is an ISP?

ISP stands for Internet Service Provider and is simply the service or company that provides you access to the internet.

Article: What is a listserv?

The word listserv is the name of one of the first automated emailing list applications and the word has since been co-opted to refer generically to any application that provides automated support for mailing lists. Since listserv is copyrighted,...

Article: How do I create an email template in an email client?

Email templates are created differently depending upon what type of email application you are using. The general approach is to draft an email as usual for your application then save it as a template. For instructions on specific applications, see...

Article: Are there ways to integrate Twitter with email?

Yes, there are a number of methods and resources for combining Twitter and email. The solutions are not complicated but they are not direct either. Get Email Notifications In the "Settings" tab in Twitter you can request that Twitter email...