New Gmail Unsubscribe Implementation

By: Chris Reibold
Senior Email Analyst

Google has started displaying unsubscribe links at the top of messages in its popular web client for Gmail:

Essentially, Gmail looks for the List-Unsubscribe header and pulls the information, displaying the above hyperlink next to the sender address. As a measure of security, DKIM/Domainkeys is verified before the link is displayed in a message.

This is actually a rather good move on Google’s part in helping email marketers and newsletter senders like yourself. By emphasizing the unsubscribe link at the top, the recipient of the message is more likely to simply click that instead of the “spam” button that is above it.

Please keep in mind that this change has come at a time when Gmail’s FBL (Feedback Loop) is being implemented for companies like JangoMail to use. FBLs send a message that goes to the sender whenever a subscriber hits the spam button. Eventually Gmail’s use of the unsubscribe link will be gathered, along with the FBL data, to tell us how well your engagement is with Gmail-using recipients.

There is an obvious shift in the way Google wants Gmail to operate; they have added tabs, turned on images by default, made the unsubscribe link more prominent, and now they are implementing an FBL.

It appears that Google really wants to cleanup the inbox and minimize the amount of spam their users are receiving. This is a double edged sword.  On one hand it can make your message emphasized over others, but on the other it will also make it harder for you to land in the inbox.

Only time can tell how well this new feature works, but Gmail putting an emphasis on unsubscribe over spam is a good thing indeed.

JangoMail Command Center: The Right Tools, The Right Way

By: Sarah Dyer
Customer Service Manager

In 2011, I quit my comfortable desk job to work alongside my husband, Todd, in his renovation business. Shortly after we purchased our first house flip, Todd had to run to another house and I was left in charge. Despite being married to one of the best home renovation experts, I have absolutely no renovation experience.


During demolition, we encountered hardwood flooring that was glued to concrete slab. I was on my hands and knees with a hammer and chisel for an hour only to get through three feet of this stuff! The task was daunting, to say the least.


Todd stopped by for a cold drink, saw what I was doing and handed me a floor scrapper. He showed me how to use it, and I removed more flooring in one minute than I had in the last hour! Frustrating, yes, but now I had the right tool to get the job done much quicker. Having the right tool to fix any problem makes all the difference, and knowing how to use it the right way is equally important – the same goes for email marketing.


JangoMail can be used in so many different ways, and sometimes you don’t realize what tools you have right at your disposal. I have heard the excitement of so many customers when they discover some of our automated features, for example. From setting up birthday messages to reorder reminders, and so much more. If you have data, we have automation that can help you put it to work for you.


So before you go scraping the floors on your hands and knees, spend a few minutes on the phone with a JangoMail expert, also known as a jangolope. You can reach us from 7 A.M. and 7 P.M. (US/EST) at 888-465-2646. We’re here to listen and discuss your business needs. Our team of jangolopes will get you on track to using the right tools, the right way! Look for our monthly support blog straight from the JangoMail Command Center.

On Track With Jack: Mobile Best Practices

I hate to break it to all of my admirers out there, but I’m in a serious relationship with my smartphone. She’s the first thing I see in the morning, and the last thing I see when I go to sleep. Day in and day out, I check my email, catch up on the news, and connect with friends on social media. And, I know I’m not alone.

In a recent survey completed by Acxiom...

91.4% of respondents said they use their smartphone to check personal email. - Acxiom "Email Marketing and Mobile Devices: A Survey of Consumer Habits and Perceptions"(2013).

So, what does that mean for email marketing? It means that more and more people are reading email on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.

Here’s my tip, well question, of the week: Are your emails mobile friendly?

Here are a few pointers to get you started on the mobile track:

1. Clear and concise content is key. While content always needs to be compelling, cut it down so readers can skim and scroll. Space is limited on mobile, so don’t weigh down your message with too much information. Short clear paragraphs and bullet points are ideal.
   
     
2. Scale down your design. The dimensions of the email should also be reduced since mobile screens are a lot smaller. We recommend keeping it between 320-550px wide. Note: Check out our new mobile Smart Templates under the mobile tab.
   
3. Use larger text. Fonts should be larger than those in traditional emails. Keep body text at a minimum of 14px and headlines at 22px.
   
4. Larger images and spacing. Touch screens are here to stay! Instead of clicking, people will touch. Balance your design with well-spaced images and icons to accommodate fat, I mean healthy, finger errors.
   
5. Alt text is a must. Include alt text on your graphics for a responsive design. Note: Image blocking will occur by default, a prompt will display urging users to display messages, similar to desktop. The only mobile OS that does not block images by default is iOs.
   
6. Short and sweet subject lines. Long subject lines get cut off, but shorter ones between 24-31 characters work best. Tell your readers what’s inside!
   
7. Call on your new Call To Action (CTA). What do you want your readers to do after they receive your message? Include a call to action, but do not use ‘Click Here’. Mobile users cannot click, however, they can tap and swipe.
   
8. CTA + Buttons = High CTR (Click-through rate). Make your CTA stand out with a big button. Link out to your website or landing page for more information.  Buttons should be at least 44 pixels and should be centered or left aligned.
   
9. Include links. Unsubscribe, Forward to a Friend, Subscribe, and Social Media links are still a must.  Be sure to also keep any View as Webpage link just in case your readers want to view your message in a browser.
   
10. Preview, preview, preview. Take a look at the different mobile previews in JangoMail to see how your subscribers will view your message on their mobile device or tablet. Select different Mobile Clients to test your message. 

To recap: With the increasing use of smartphones and tablets, make sure your emails are mobile-friendly. Check out our Mobile Templates to get started! 

With those steps in mind, you are on your way to mobile-friendly messages, and for me, my relationship with my smartphone has never been stronger.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact a JangoMail expert today at 1-855-709-4099.

Jack the Jangolope
Department of Awesome
JangoMail

About Jack

Jack the Jangolope is our JangoMail mascot.  Each week, look for Jack's emails for marketing advice, trends, and quick tips on how to grow your email marketing plan to the fullest!  Hop into email marketing each week with Jack's helpful tips!

What is a Jangolope? Find out HERE

We want to hear from you. Remember, at JangoMail it's your email, your way.  Have a topic you would like Jack to cover?  Email us at marketing@jangomemail.com with the subject line: On Track With Jack.  Follow Jack on Facebook

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It's a bird…It's a plane…It's v4!

By: Melonie Mottice
Marketing Specialist

The latest and greatest editor is live!

Like last month, we've been very busy at JangoMail. What a better way to kick off March than with a new editor?!? Our new v4 HTML Editor is our most advanced editor and is available now. It has a brand new look to match our UI, and all the same great features that EditLive has, along with a few extras. NOTE:  Any locked content you created in the other editors will still work.

Here are a few New Features:

1. Image Capabilities – Upload your images and graphics directly in the editor, no need to upload separately in Assets.
2. Source Code Button – This replaces the old HTML button.  Click to edit your HTML.
3. Template Button – Choose a Smart Template directly from the editor.
4. Spell Check Button – Double check the spelling of your copy.
5. Block Quote – Adds a block quote, or indented quotation.
6. Insert Content Button – CAN SPAM Footer and Social share, Unsubscribe, Forward-a-friend, and View-as-web-page links are found here.
7. QR Code Picture Generator – Easily insert a QR code here. Great for any promotions, contests or giveaways.
8. Maximize Button – This replaces the Toggle Full Screen button. The function is the same but the look is new. Use it to open a new window to work with a larger screen.

To see how these and all the other v4 features work, check out our updated documentation.