We all agree that getting more clicks is a good thing, right?

Did that vague, hopefully intriguing headline get you to click on this link? If you are reading this, then it must have. This is exactly what a headline for a blog is supposed to do. It is the sole reason bloggers set out to write their web monologues. They also write to have their opinions read, but they write to get a bigger audience.

The journalist is trying to get the most people to read and react to their articles, which in turn would make the reporter that much more popular and respected. The retailer is aiming for clients to view more emails and then to buy more goods and services.

What they all have in common is a sense of marketing behind them. The blogger is trying to get the most people they can to read their blog everyday, so they may start making a living out of their personal writings.

However, this isn’t my point. There are people of countless other professions who follow very similar patterns in their work. Journalists, always searching for the next big break in the world’s news, will push basically any boundary with their headlines to get people to read, what they believe, to be Pulitzer Prize winning news stories. Business people send out emails with subject lines they hope clients will feel obligated to open.

Recent Research

Recently, research done at the BI Norwegian Business School in Oslo, Norway has been exploring some new, crucial information on which subject lines will work the best.

The subject line focused on by the study was headlines with questions in them. More specific than just a question, was questions with self-referencing cues (like the headline of this blog) or a question without a self-referencing cue. Much of the studies completed show that questions with self-referencing cues worked well for selling products such as iPhones, couches and televisions. These same questions also made readership of articles go up exponentially, when used in the headline.

Perhaps this is why I used such a question to start my blog… hmmm. Some examples of these questions could be:

• "Aren't you curious about our new offers?"
• "Don't you think this is a great deal?"

These questions could lead to more clicks for your email campaign. With all of this being said, the institute claims that much more research has to be completed before any concrete statistics.

Self-Referencing Cues

The self-reference cue, summed up simply, means that the headline or subject line brings the second-person into play. With the use of the words "you" or "we," or something else along those lines, aim to make the person reading feel more integral in the whole operation at hand. This leads to them feeling that they may have to at least read some of the article or email. This tactic, also, makes people feel that they may really need a product. 

It seems to be some marketing with an integrally classic touch to it. It makes people feel a need for a product, but it also makes them feel that they are part of the company selling it to them. This may seem like extremely outdated business, but the research seems to be proving that this marketing is indeed the best move, despite what modern marketers seem to believe.

Conclusion

The question subject line is leading the way in the world of email marketing. You can try it now with the help of JangoMail. Go to jangomail.com now for a free trial into the world of email marketing. 

Sources

• All the data, charts and background for the study can be found a t: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15534510.2013.847859

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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Get The Click: Five Effective Subject Line Strategies

By: Melonie Mottice
Marketing Specialist

It all starts with the email subject line; the first thing people see when they receive an email. The goal of any effective email relationship is to hook the attention of your audience right from the start, delivering your message in full to retain high open rates.  So, how do you get the click?  Follow these five simple, yet effective subject line strategies to keep them coming back for more!

1.  Be Direct And To The Point:  At glance, your subject identifies the content of the email. Whether you are announcing a special offer, event, or news update, be clear about the campaign.  Don’t send mixed signals.  We recommend approximately 50 characters or less, with the exception of highly targeted emails.

2.  Keep The Mystery Alive:  Don’t lay it all out on the line.  We want to intrigue our readers to read on, inviting them to open the email and read our message in full.  Use catchy words to trigger interest, while capturing the purpose of the email.

3.  Stay Fresh: Repetition will lower open rates.  While it's important to establish a brand, each subject line should highlight new content.  If you have a long-term message, work on building your brand to compliment your new material.

4.  Say ‘No’ To Spammy Words:  Remember to always put yourself in the shoes of the recipient.  What emails attract you?  Which ones do you delete right out of the gate?  Avoid excessive use of words like free, help, percent off, and reminder.  Multiple exclamation points, dollar signs, words in all CAPS, and these keywords and phrases will trigger spam filters.

5.  Testing 1, 2, 3:  When in doubt, test!  Worried about a long-term message? Test and see what works best for your audience.

If you have any questions, please contact us for help!