At first glance, the email below from security solution provider Symantec seems engaging, attractive, and well-designed. And indeed, it is all those things. From a lead generation perspective, however, the campaign is a hot mess. Here’s why: First and foremost, the offer is devoid of value. Witness the first paragraph:… Read More
Tag Archives: email marketing best practices
Case Study: How One Tech Company Used Humor to Launch a New Brand
In early 2014, Sungard Availability Services (Sungard AS), a leading provider of managed IT, cloud, and recovery services, announced that it was splitting off as a separate company from SunGard Data Systems Inc. Sungard AS asked its demand generation agency, Spear Marketing Group, to help introduce business prospects within the… Read More
In Defense of Unsolicited Email
Over at marketing automation firm Marketo, CEO Phil Fernandez just wrote a full-throated rant against the evils of unsolicited email and purchased email lists used indiscriminately: “How does anyone think that these are sensible emails to send to the CEO of a fast-growing public company? Do they really think that… Read More
Give Your Next Demand Gen Campaign A Reality Check
We’ve all been there. The copy is winding its way through the marketing group and is now on its fourth revision. The CEO didn’t like the photo at the top of the email so it’s back to the drawing board, design-wise. The marcom director wants to change the headline so… Read More
Why I Don’t Care About Spam Rates and Sender Reputation (and Neither Should You)
Like so many things in today’s B2B marketing world, the question of what does or doesn’t cause business emails to be classified as spam constitutes a moving target. For example, in this earlier post, I discussed how whereas in the past spam triggers were largely triggered by content (for example,… Read More
2 Email Campaigns Show How (and How Not) to “Sell” Content
Two email campaigns that arrived in my inbox recently serve as useful illustrations of how best to promote informational content. One, a white paper offer from sales tax automation company Avalara, is a plodding recitation of facts that does little to grab the reader. The other, from email marketing software… Read More
Responsys Look Book Offers Innovative Ideas for Email Marketers
The 2012 Email Design “Look Book” from email marketing solution provider Responsys is a useful resource for email designers, creatives, and marketers alike looking for new ideas and inspiration to keep their campaigns fresh and engaging. It’s also refreshing to see a technology company like Responsys dedicate so much (virtual)… Read More