Here is how to get the best results for your new client and ensuring that they stay compliant.
Getting started for your new client
Permission
Firstly, you must clearly explain the concept of permission based marketing. Your client must be able to prove that each one of MailCampaign subscribers opted-in to receive the newsletter. Find out more about permissions.
Tailor a subscriber form from your clients website
If your client has a website you can make a contact page from their website, in their look and feel, which captures the subscribers results in MailCampaign. MailCampaign generates the HTML you will require, you will be responsible for the styling.
You additionally get to set the landing page so that the subscriber gets directed straight back to your clients website.
Creating a newsletter
Tell the subscriber who your client is and how your client got their details
It is important that when your subscriber receives a newsletter, they have been informed on why they got the newsletter. This is another reason we let you have multiple subscriber lists so that you can customise this message. Remember to include your clients address and contact details on every newsletter sent.
Allow subscribers to unsubscribe
MailCampaign ensures that every newsletter sent has an unsubscribe link. Ensure that this unsubscribe link is not hidden and that it prominent for the subscriber to see.
Link to web version as a back up
Not all mail clients render messages the same, especially older versions. Subscribers should always be provided with a web-based version from which they can view the newsletter in their browser.
Ask subscriber to add you to their contact list
In your newsletter ask the subscriber to add you to their email client contact list. Many email clients filter and mark as spam emails from unknown email recipients. As an added plus, images are displayed by default if you’re in the address book for many for the popular email clients.
Avoid excess images
Many email clients block images by default. Ensure that important content such as headers, titles and calls to action are text based. If you do use images ensure that you use alt text and include the height and width of the image to ensure the blank placeholder image doesn’t throw your design out.
CSS based templates
CSS elements design based templates are not always supported in may email clients. Find out what is and what is not supported by all the relevant email clients.
Test
Always test your template design with the newsletter content before your client starts sending the newsletter. It is recommended to test in the following:
Web Hotmail, Gmail and Yahoo! Mail
Personal Computer Outlook, Thunderbird and Lotus Notes
Mac Mac Mail, Entourage and Eudora
Use common sense
Set up your own test list
Within each one of your client list, include yourself and your client’s contact details. You want to receive what your client’s subscribers are receiving to see that all is in order.
Measure results
Follow up on bounced email recipients
For each email campaign sent MailCampaign works out the subscribers email address that have bounced. If you client has the contact details (telephone) of the recipient tell your client to follow up to obtain the updated/correct email address.
Change your template
Based on results and look of newsletter you can tweak the design of your current newsletter template.