How Marketers Can Connect with the 3 Mindsets of Search

A recently released research study by About.com and Latitude identifies three distinct mindsets in search and offers insight into how marketers can offer ads and align them with content that better appeals to each mindset. Three Mindsets of Search examines 59 variables in search behavior and also revealed that the meaning of “expertise” in the eyes of searchers is evolving. Read more

iCloud, iPad, and Seniors

How The Apple iPad and New iCloud Can Connect More Seniors

Research continues to show the positive, life-enhancing effects that the Internet can have on senior adults. Beyond just staying in touch with family and friends, going online provides seniors with an interactive outlet to the world – and studies show that it can also provide a myriad of health benefits. For example, increasing personal communications can decrease feelings of depression and isolation, as well as stimulate the brain and enhance cognitive abilities.
Today, seniors access the Internet via their computer for a variety of things, from researching information and keeping up with modern culture and society, to socializing, watching videos and sharing pictures. Being active online can ultimately enrich their lives by connecting them to their families and the world around them. Read more

Death of Traditional Outlets Has Been Greatly Exaggerated

Mark Twain famously quipped that news of his death was exaggerated when the press mistook his cousin’s serious illness for his own. Today, much the same could be said about traditional media. It seems that its death is foretold by any number of pundits with every new release of data on social media and digital devices. (Facebook’s 500 million members would make it the third-largest country in the world! Ashton Kutcher has more than 7 million Twitter followers! IPad-mania sweeps through coffee shops around the world!)

There is no denying the rapidly growing and truly disruptive impact of new devices and social media. But at the same time, there is also no denying that traditional outlets are thriving in the lives of consumers today, and that they form the core of how most consumers interact with media. This is true for the general population, and it is even true among the affluent Americans that we study, even though they have the discretionary income to indulge in an array of devices, as well as the digital literacy to get the most out of them. Read more

Now I Am Stuck On Band-Aid® 54 Ways

So I have a cut on my finger from yard work and I go to the local drugstore to get my adhesive bandage. Funny, but as I typed that, it doesn’t sound right. We call tissues- Kleenex®, just as we call mayonnaise- Miracle Whip® and even paper towels are Scot Towels®. It is only fitting to call adhesive bandages…Band-Aids®. The common statement from moms all around the country when their son/daughter has a boo-boo is, “lets go get a band-aid”. And my five year old daughter actually thinks it STOPS the pain.

Years and years of marketing has brought these brands into their own categories. But this is not what this blog is about. It’s about what Band-Aid has done with this outstanding brand. As I walked to the isle for my adhesives, I was overwhelmed at how many choices I have regarding the Band-Aid brand. Read more

The Decline of the American Household

An astonishing report from Ad Age, shows that the marketing landscape has changed when it comes to the American Household. Once the target for most marketers, this study shows the decline of households of married couples with children will have many marketers re-evaluating their efforts. Below is an excerpt from the article on adage.com, be sure to click over and check out the data chart that shows the glaring decline over time. Read more

Ray Ban Stays Brand Loyal

I’ve decided I want to a new pair of sunglasses. And not just any old sunglasses – I want Ray Bans! Of course I do. If I haven’t mentioned it before I will now – I am a slave to packaging. I love marketing and I will buy anything that is packaged and marketed well.

Now there are things in my life that I will spend money on, but sunglasses have never been one of them. I don’t take care of them. I leave them in my purse without protection and they get all scratched up. I like different looks so I like to buy lots of different kinds of sunglasses and then toss them around. Read more

The Power of Packaging Doesn’t Stop at the Store

Make Sure Your Product”s Vessel Makes a Brand”s First (and Second) Impression

As marketers focus on using social media to create connected, highly personalized brand experiences, they may easily overlook another critical touchpoint: product packaging.

In today”s fragmented marketing environment, packaging is far more than a product”s vessel; it is the physical manifestation of a brand experience and an important part of a brand promise. As such, packaging should be a critical piece of a brand”s integrated communication strategy.

Read more

Using Video To Build Up Your Brand

More and more research is showing that more and more video is being consumed online. Not only that, but people are watching videos in their entirety, not just watching 30-seconds in and surfing away to other things. This is very encouraging news for marketers looking for an excuse to finally work video into their marketing efforts. Below is an excerpt from a recent article from iMedia Connection, sharing findings from Brightcove, a streaming video service provider. Read more

Stay Top Of Mind By Engaging Prospects With 
Relevant Emails

If you are like most homebuilders, you spend significant dollars to attract home shoppers to your communities or website…now what? Keep them engaged with your brand by developing a solid email program that allows you to deliver relevant messages based on where prospects are in the buying process. They may not open every email you send, but your message will be visible in their inbox when they are in the mindset to make their decisions. Prospects who have provided you with their email addresses are already engaged with your brand. They want to learn more about your company, your homes, your building practices and more. So communicate back to them on a regular schedule.

Read more

Mastering Email Database Hygiene: Enhance Your Marketing Strategy”

Ensuring your email database is pristine is crucial for successful email marketing. Learn how to identify and remove bad email addresses to boost your deliverability and engagement.

 

Content:

In the realm of email marketing, your email database is akin to the foundation of a sturdy building. Just as a strong foundation supports the structure above it, a clean and well-maintained email database is essential for the success of your email campaigns.

However, all too often, email databases become cluttered with bad email addresses, undermining the effectiveness of your marketing efforts. Let’s delve into the four types of bad email addresses that should be promptly removed from your database:

  1. Role Accounts: These email addresses, such as info@example.com or admin@example.com, are typically managed by organizations for specific purposes. Sending emails to these addresses can lead to your messages being ignored or flagged as spam, as they may not be relevant to all account owners. Moreover, role accounts are often easy targets for spammers, further diminishing your email sender reputation.
  2. Syntax Errors and Typos: Mistyped email addresses are a common occurrence, with even a minor typo rendering an address invalid. Despite users’ best intentions, errors can occur during data entry, leading to emails never reaching their intended recipients. Addressing this issue is crucial, as consistently sending emails to invalid addresses can damage your reputation with email services.
  3. Fake Addresses: In an attempt to avoid providing their real email addresses, users may input fake addresses such as nope@gmail.com or null@void.com. These addresses serve as dead ends for your marketing efforts, offering no potential for engagement or conversion. It’s imperative to identify and remove fake addresses from your database to maintain its integrity.
  4. Spam Traps: Spam traps are email addresses specifically created to identify and catch spammers. While some traps are easily recognizable, others remain undisclosed to maintain their efficacy. Falling into a spam trap can have severe consequences for your email deliverability and sender reputation, making it essential to exercise caution when acquiring email addresses.

To optimize your email marketing strategy, prioritize regular database maintenance to weed out bad email addresses. By doing so, you’ll enhance your deliverability, engagement rates, and overall campaign performance.

Links to Own Site:
  1. Learn more about effective email marketing strategies on our blog.
  2. Discover the importance of email segmentation for targeted campaigns.
Link to External Source:
  1. Explore industry best practices for email database management on MarketingLand.
Images:
  1. Illustration depicting a clean email list versus a cluttered one.
  2. Graph showing the correlation between email deliverability and database hygiene.

Tags: Email Marketing, Database Management, Deliverability, Engagement, Best Practices

By: Marketing Sherpa

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