On Track With Jack: Test Personalization With a Test List

The sun is shining out here in Dayton, Ohio and next week is the Fourth of July!  Before the fireworks, picnics, and barbecues kickoff make sure your email marketing has a personal touch.  Customers respond better to messages that are tailored specifically to them.

With JangoMail you can easily personalize your messages beyond a first and last name.  You can send personalized:

• Subject Lines
• Messages
• From Email Address
• From Display Name
• Reply-To Address
• CC Address
• BCC Address
• Attachments

Today, my tip is on testing personalization:

Test Personalization With a Test List

In order for a successful test, you must send to a list.  Personalization will not work by just clicking the “Send a Test” button and sending a preview.  When we test our campaigns, I have a special “Jack” test list I’ve created with a few of my own personal email addresses. 

When I’m ready to preview my campaign I send to my “Jack” test list first.  Again, I’m going through the same steps that I normally would when sending a campaign, but just sending to my test list and no others.  Always double check your lists before you hit Send to make sure you’re only sending to your test list.  Once you've received your message and everything looks good, you’re ready to officially send to your active customer lists or database.

To recap: Customers respond better to messages that are personalized. Make sure you test your personalization with a test list in JangoMail.

If you need a refresher on how to create a new list like a “Jack” test list, take a look at the list section in our Quick Stat Guide.  For a step-by-step guide on how to incorporate personalization in your emails, check out our documentation.

Have questions? Ask. Dial 1-888-465-2646 or drop us a line here.

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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Are You Making the Most of Your Custom Opt-in Form?

By: Erica Melzer
Account Executive


If you’re using a JangoMail opt-in form on your web page, then you are one smart cookie! This is a great way to grow your lists and collect lots of useful information about your customers.

Are you making the most of your opt-in form by using a variety of custom field types?

If every question on your form is being answered in a text box, then maybe not. The good news is, unlike most email marketing platforms, JangoMail lets you use any combination of large and small text boxes, check boxes, radio buttons, and pull down lists.

Why is this important?

Using a variety of field types allows you control much of the data you get back from your customers.  This is crucial if you plan to use that data to segment your lists and personalize your messages.  It also makes for a more sophisticated and efficient email marketing program.

For example, if you ask for a birth month and offer customers a text box to provide their answer, you could get back almost anything in that field like:

January, Jan, Janruary, 01, 1, Capricorn

Say you wanted to send a message to anyone on your list with “January.” Your message will only go to those that entered “January,” and not to anyone that misspelled or abbreviated their birth month. The most reliable way to segment your lists, according to field data, is to control the data by using pull down lists, radio buttons, and check boxes whenever possible.

If you’d like to know more about using the different field types supported by JangoMail, segmenting your lists, and personalizing your messages, our Support Reps will be happy to help. You can create a ticket or give us a call between 7 A.M. and 7 P.M. (US/EST) at 888-465-2646.

How A Little Cheese Can Lead To Email Marketing Cake

July Fourth is over. Or ... is it?
Because many companies gave their employees 4 day weekends, you have to expect people are making the most of it. Fortunately in this visible media day and age, you may start to see pictures like these roll into your social news feeds and inbox.

So, what's this have to do with email marketing? 

Simple. It  may be time to light up your email lists with some harmless yet strategic fun. Depending upon your line of business or the purpose of your organization, try sharing another side of yourself. Showing customers or contacts that you have a sense of humor, or pride in your community is more apt to strike a cord with your audience than the stale "Happy 4th!!" .jpg you sent earlier in the week.

Show customers the "real" you. Feature team members and let the world see you in a more relaxed, approachable situation. Prompt customers or followers to say - "hey, I've seen him/her around town" or "he/she looks like a real person". It's all part of making a (first or establishing a new) connection. Photo proof of your humanity and humor is a nice segue into establishing or solidifying a relationship. Not to mention, your group or business' logo will be featured in every communication - enhancing the good vibes associated with your brand.

Get your email recipients to share

Bet you're not the only one with a picture of a baby with a beer on their head. Your customers or followers probably have some rowdy shots to share. Why not make it a contest? When we all go back to work after a long holiday, it can be the longest work week ever. Make light of it by calling out for the funniest, most patriotic or best fireworks pictures of the holiday. It will help your email recipients relive a little of the magic, courtesy of your underlying marketing tactic. 

Hey - we want to see your pictures, too. So, don't forget to include our JangoMail team if you get together a post-July 4 blast. In the meantime, have a great rest of the week, folks. If we don't hear from you first, we'll talk to you soon!