About DavidFischerSolutionsForGrowth

Do you ever segment by the customer's clothing size? I think it would be amazing to get an email with all kinds of unique resale clothing currently available in my size.  ... View more

I remember discovering the “12 Days of Cheer Challenge” last year, similar to the “12 Days of Christmas.”   The campaign got followers involved by telling them to do daily tasks like being kind, sharing their favorite recipes, or taking creative holiday-themed photos. It encourages interaction, user-generated content, and spreads positive vibes.   It looked pretty simple to set up as well: Create a graphic or video introducing the challenge. Post daily prompts (e.g., Day 1: Share your favorite holiday tradition; Day 2: Tag someone who inspires you, etc.). Offer a small prize or feature some of the best submissions on your page. Feel free to adapt this to your business. ... View more

I am not in agreement with the "peeking" part. I know for emails I send, (they go out very early) that many are not up and out of bed to be "peeking". So that does not seem like an accurate explanation.  ... View more

David, thank you for such a thorough answer. ... View more

Hi @ChristnaS ,   Our team at Solutions for Growth would like to briefly add onto William_A’s answer provided. Just to confirm and as he mentions, self-authenticating your emails is the biggest step to help prevent your emails from being marked as spam. However, we have a few other best practices to follow that will hopefully reduce the possibility of your email ending up in spam.   Some of these tips include:   Use Short, Clear Subject Lines: Aim for concise subject lines that clearly convey the content of your email, ideally under 7 words. Avoid Special Characters and Emojis: Steer clear of excessive punctuation and special characters in your subject lines, as these can trigger spam filters. Limit Image Use: Balance text and images. Relying too heavily on images can negatively impact deliverability. Aim for a good text-to-image ratio. Maintain a Clean Email List: Regularly clean your email list to remove inactive or invalid addresses. This helps improve engagement rates and reduces bounce rates. Avoid Spammy Language: Refrain from using words and phrases commonly associated with spam (like “free,” “act now,” or “limited time”) in your subject lines and content. Engage Your Audience: Encourage recipients to interact with your emails (e.g., click links or reply). High engagement signals to email providers that your content is valuable.   By following these best practices, you can significantly enhance your email deliverability and ensure your messages reach your audience effectively. If you have any further questions, feel free to get in touch! ... View more

Learning to keep the shiny objects at bay and stay focused is a challenge for me.  Constant Contact helps by having engaging videos and webinars.   ... View more

Hi @user3583086. I took a peek at your account and was very happy to see you're using the updated sign-up landing page! I love how you mention right on the form how your contacts will receive a free download once they join your list. Great incentive! ... View more

Our team at Solutions for Growth can certainly add to VanessaM7330’s very detailed information on ‘Happy Holidays’ themed email templates.    Here are a few ideas and suggestions (and some examples below) on how to design your holiday email template to best stand out from the crowd!    To help your “Happy Holiday” email newsletter shine, consider these top strategies:  1. Personalization Use Names: Address recipients by their first name. Tailored Messages: Reference past interactions or purchases to make the email feel personal. 2. Creative Design Festive Visuals: Use eye-catching graphics, holiday-themed colors, and a clean layout. Custom Branding: Incorporate your brand’s colors and logo to maintain consistency. 3. Engaging Subject Line Intriguing and Festive: Craft a subject line that captures attention, e.g., “Alice, Cheers to You This Holiday Season!” or “David, Unlock Your Exclusive Holiday Gift Inside!” 4. Compelling Content Heartfelt / Gratitude Message: Include a genuine note of gratitude for their support throughout the year. Storytelling: Share a brief, heartwarming story about your brand’s holiday spirit or community involvement. 5. Exclusive Offers Limited-Time Discounts: Provide special promotions or discounts that are exclusive to holiday email recipients. Gift Ideas: Offer curated gift suggestions from your products or services. 6. Call to Action Clear and Engaging: Encourage recipients to visit your website, take advantage of a special offer, or share their holiday experiences with your brand on social media. 7. Mobile Optimization Responsive Design: Ensure your email looks great on all devices, as many recipients will read emails on their phones. 8. Use of Humor or Creativity Lighthearted Tone: A playful or humorous approach can make your email more memorable. Unique Themes: Consider using puns, holiday trivia, or fun facts related to your industry. 9. Incorporate User-Generated Content Customer Highlights: Feature testimonials or stories from your clients about how they use your products during the holidays. 10. Follow-Up Post-Holiday Message: Consider sending a follow-up email thanking customers for their support and highlighting upcoming offers or events.   Below are a few examples of the successful holiday email designs our team at Solutions for Growth have designed for our clients over the years:    https://conta.cc/3tgwgXw https://conta.cc/3uSCPzQ https://conta.cc/48smNuZ https://conta.cc/3TBUpT4   Can I help you by helping design your holiday email template this season?    ... View more

Our team at Solutions for Growth can certainly add to Chris-S’s important insights on innovative strategies for personalizing content in email campaigns.   Below are a few additional thoughts on critical ways to target content for email communication that can enhance engagement and drive conversions.   Lifecycle Email Tailoring: Create targeted email sequences based on where users are in their customer journey, such as onboarding, retention, or re-engagement, ensuring the content is relevant to their current needs. Customized Send Times: Analyze when individual users are most likely to open emails and schedule sends accordingly, increasing the likelihood of engagement by respecting their habits. Predictive Analytics: Implement predictive analytics to anticipate user needs and preferences based on historical data, allowing you to send proactive recommendations or offers before users even express interest. AI-Powered Recommendations: Leverage AI tools to analyze user data and generate personalized product or content recommendations in emails, enhancing the relevance of each campaign and improving conversion rates. Personalized Subject Lines and Preheaders: Craft subject lines and preheader text that reflect the recipient's name, preferences, or recent interactions, making emails feel more relevant and encouraging higher open rates. The Solutions for Growth team brings decades of experience in implementing effective strategies for personalizing content in email campaigns.   Can I help you by discussing a few ideas to get started?   ... View more

@AmyJ985 Yes, certainly send it again to those who did not reply to it. If you'd like to place here the link to the survey, I'm happy to review it and provide feedback. And how many people received it? ... View more

I can mention a few under-the-radar list-growth tools that you'll want to know about if you have a brick-and-mortar location or if you attend trade shows, or other face-to-face events where you're going to network with customers and supporters.   The Constant Contact mobile app lets you scan business cards to add them as a contact. You can choose to add the contact to any list that's already created in your Constant Contact account too. The ListBuilder app for tablets lets you collect names and email addresses while you're offline, and then syncs them to your Constant Contact account when you're back on your reliable wi-fi! You can only add contacts to one list, but you can create one and select it ahead of time, and then manage your contacts later. Text-to-join is also handy when you're "offline" - you just share the instructions on a sign, display it prominently, and your contacts sign themselves up through their own cellphone. It also has the added bonus of collecting SMS opt-in so your contacts can be contacted via email and/or SMS. You also can only designate one list for new contacts to be added to, but you can change the list as needed, and contacts can be moved to different lists from within your Constant Contact account too! ... View more

Our team at Solutions for Growth is pleased to tag on to Aaron’s helpful response in the video for this important conversation. Adding on and agreeing that adapting to mobile-responsive design is not just a trend; it’s a fundamental shift in how audiences consume information. As people increasingly rely on smartphones and tablets for communication, businesses must prioritize mobile optimization to stay competitive.   Creating mobile-responsive email newsletters is crucial in today’s digital landscape for several reasons: Increasing Mobile Usage: With over half of all emails being opened on mobile devices, it’s essential that your email designs cater to these users. A responsive design ensures that your content is easily accessible, regardless of the device being used. User Experience: A mobile-responsive email enhances user experience by providing a seamless interface. Readers can easily navigate, read, and interact with your content without frustration, leading to higher engagement rates. Improved Engagement and Conversion: Emails that are optimized for mobile devices tend to see higher click-through rates and conversions. When users can easily read and respond to emails, they are more likely to take desired actions, such as visiting a website or making a purchase. Brand Perception: A professional-looking, responsive email reflects well on your brand. It shows that you value your audience’s experience, which can enhance brand loyalty and trust. SEO and Deliverability: Mobile-friendly emails are often favored by email clients and can improve deliverability rates. Poorly formatted emails may end up in the spam folder, reducing your reach. Improved Deliverability and Performance Metrics: Responsive emails are less likely to be marked as spam, improving overall deliverability rates and ensuring your messages reach your audience. Better Analytics: Mobile-friendly designs can lead to better engagement metrics, which in turn can inform your marketing strategies and help you refine future campaigns. SEO Benefits: While SEO primarily applies to websites, having mobile-friendly email designs can positively affect your overall digital presence. Higher engagement rates can signal quality to search engines, indirectly boosting your brand’s visibility. Our team at Solutions for Growth have spent years utilizing design resources to create hundreds of customized and highly effective, mobile-responsive images and emails for small businesses - ensuring that our client’s messaging is achieved with exceptional quality.  Can I help you design a mobile-friendly email newsletter design?  ... View more

Hi David,   Thank you for sending that sample newsletter with the list, I really like it! I was looking for something that I can use when listing items in a table of contents. Yes if you can suggest a number of tools that make it easy to create striking visuals like the  example you gave, that would be great.   Thanks for your help ... View more

Here at Solutions for Growth, we are pleased to add to this important conversation. Announcement emails are a crucial resource in your email marketing toolbox - serving as powerful touchpoints to inform, engage, and drive action among your audience, making them essential for launching new products, promotions, or important updates.   Below, please find a few insights on our approach to announcement emails:   Creating the Perfect "Big Reveal" Moment in Email Marketing Engaging Subject Line: Craft a subject line that creates suspense and excitement, such as "Get Ready for Something Big!" Visual Countdown: Use a countdown timer or engaging graphics leading up to the announcement to reinforce excitement and urgency. Strategic Timing: Send the announcement at times when your audience is most engaged, often mid-morning or early afternoon on weekdays. Highlight Key Details: Present the most exciting aspects of the announcement in a clear, attention-grabbing way to maintain interest. Best Approach to Announcement Emails Personalized Greeting: Use the recipient's name and segment your audience to tailor the message to their interests. Focus on Value: Highlight the benefits or unique aspects of the announcement upfront to grab attention. Call to Action: Include a strong, clear CTA that guides recipients on what to do next, whether it’s visiting a webpage, signing up for an event, or making a purchase. Social Proof or Testimonials If relevant, include quotes or testimonials to build credibility and excitement about the announcement. Closing with Gratitude Thank your readers for their continued support and invite them to share their thoughts or feedback. Follow Up Plan a follow-up email to remind recipients about the announcement or provide additional information based on their responses.   At Solutions for Growth, we’ve spent years crafting hundreds of customized and highly effective emails for business announcements - ensuring that our client’s messaging is achieved with exceptional quality.  Can I help you with any other specific questions?  ... View more

@VanessaM7330 and @Elizabeth_K you make excellent points!   When we develop custom-designed templates for our email clients, we typically set up the template with these 3 main sections: Header - fully branded to match the client's website, and includes the website navigation bar to make it easy for readers to reach different parts of the website. Body - several types of blocks to accommodate different content. From text, to images, PDFs, coupons, promotions, videos, galleries, CTA buttons - it's all in there, so depending on the goal of the email and the content used, anything can be included Signature - includes information about the sender, ideally with their picture, so the email feels like it's coming from a real person. Include all their contact information, social media links, call schedule link and anything specific to that client. To give you a sense of the work we do, take a peek at these emails: Hangar leasing Tennis club Measuring equipment Non-Profit   Take a peek at one of our blog articles about email design.   Reach out to Solutions for Growth to discover more. ... View more

At Solutions for Growth, we believe email marketing is one of the best tools for local marketing because it enables personalized and direct communication with a targeted audience, fostering community engagement and driving local sales effectively. Below is a short list of some additional key reasons why email marketing is essential for local businesses: Local email marketing allows you to tailor your messages to specific community interests and demographics. By segmenting your audience based on location, preferences, and past interactions, you can create highly relevant content that resonates with recipients. Local Events and Promotions: Highlighting local events, offers, or news helps build a sense of community and keeps your audience engaged. Lower Costs: Compared to traditional advertising methods, email marketing is significantly more affordable. This is particularly beneficial for local businesses with limited budgets, allowing them to reach a targeted audience without breaking the bank. Trust and Loyalty: Regular communication through email fosters trust and strengthens relationships with your customers. Sharing stories, local initiatives, and customer spotlights can enhance your brand's reputation within the community. Feedback and Engagement: Encouraging local subscribers to provide feedback or share their experiences can foster a sense of belonging and improve customer loyalty. Promotions and Special Offers: Sending out localized offers, discounts, or events can drive immediate traffic to your store or website, especially if you promote time-sensitive deals. Calls to Action: Including clear calls to action in your emails, such as “Visit Us This Weekend” or “Shop Local Today,” can significantly boost in-store visits or online sales. At Solutions for Growth, we’ve spent years crafting hundreds of customized and highly effective emails for local businesses - ensuring that our client’s messaging is achieved with exceptional quality.  See an example of one of our local, small business email promotions.  How else can we help you? ... View more

Hi Judy, yes, a list that has inactive emails that are older than 18 months should be verified. That means using a service that removes invalid emails, as well as those that the system may consider spam traps. Several companies provide that service, and Zero Bounce is a rather well known one. As an agency, when we start working with a client, we nearly always suggest verifying the list, which is part of the data hygiene we require, because you don't want to be in a situation where a big part of your list bounces. That affects overall deliverability and the client is then disappointed (and results are weakened). Hope this helps! ... View more

Amazing suggestions, @DavidFischerSolutionsForGrowth!  ... View more

I am delighted to contribute to this meaningful exchange. As discussed, email subject lines are crucial as they play a key role in determining whether your emails are opened or ignored. To put it bluntly - subject lines for sales emails should pack a wallop. Most recipients: Decide to open or delete emails based on subject lines.  Choose to open emails because of catchy subject lines.There are some excellent suggestions provided above. Adding to this conversation with our in-depth expertise at Solutions for Growth, I would also recommend the following tips:  Test Different Formats: Experiment with various formats, such as including emojis, personalization, using colons or dashes, or trying question marks versus statements to see what performs best. Run an A/B test with 2 different subject lines. Incorporate Emotional Triggers: Tap into emotions by using words that evoke feelings of excitement, urgency, or relief.” Avoid Overusing Capitals and Exclamation Marks: Use capitals and exclamation marks sparingly to avoid coming across as too aggressive or spammy.  Make It Timely: Reference current events, seasons, or holidays to make the email more relevant.  Leverage Social Proof: Include elements of social proof, such as “Join 10,000+ Satisfied Customers” Use Questions to Spark Curiosity: Pose a question that addresses a common concern or interest of your audience to pique curiosity and drive opens. Offer Solutions to Pain Points: Address specific problems or pain points your audience faces. For instance, “Struggling with …” Keep Your Subject Lines Short: People have short attention spans, and lengthy sales subject lines beg to be skimmed over. Thank the recipient: Everyone appreciates being appreciated. Saying “I wanted to say thank you . . .” or “Thank you for . . .” shows gratitude, which helps with open rates. Click here to read more about one of our most popular articles: “Tips for Best Email Marketing Subject Lines”   There are many different ways to optimize a sales email subject line. The best method is to experiment with multiple approaches and find out what works best. At Solutions for Growth, we’ve spent years crafting thousands of customized and highly effective email subject lines, ensuring that our client’s messaging is achieved with exceptional quality.    Can I help you with any other specific questions? Please schedule a call with me today.    ... View more

Thank you @Caitlin_M ! @ArhondaS9 so sorry to hear about your stroke, I'm sure that was and is a challenge! As specialists in online sales, we can certainly explore the best way for you to sell your items online to get the most exposure possible and drive sales. Please share with us what you are currently doing. or planning to sell your items. Based on that, we can better focus the conversation. Thanks! ... View more

Great list Abigail!  I totally agree that knowing your audience is one of the most critical components of a robust marketing strategy. When we have a grasp of their pain points, and how our product or service solves their problem, along with where they're spending time online, we can then build out a strategic online marketing campaign that aligns with them.   My top strategies: Know your audience.  Create content on the platforms they're spending time on. Focus on the assets you own: email list, website and blog. You never know when the playground owner will kick you out. Create some lead magnets! Always Be Growing Your List! Leverage your Google Business Profile. So many reasons, but here's 3: (1)Google is the #1 search engine in the world, and Google loves Google  (2)People turn to  a search engine when they have an intent to make a purchase (3)Google Business Profiles are FREE   For more than 15 years, we've worked with hundreds of small business owners, helping them create and launch effective digital marketing campaigns, and these strategies have never failed us.       ... View more

Hello @CassieL32 ,   You have a good question – and very helpful answer from William A on the technical aspect of custom templates within the “house building” structure of Constant Contact.    We understand that perfecting your email template may require some back-and-forth, but the results are well worth the effort. Different blocks add certain features. It sounds like you may need to change the “feature article” to a different block - in order to have that section fill the width of the email. At Solutions for Growth, we’ve spent years crafting hundreds of customized and highly effective email templates, ensuring that our client’s messaging is achieved with exceptional quality.  Can I help you with any other specific questions? Please schedule a call with me today. ... View more

Hey, happy to chat about this! Publicly campaigning a digital marketing strategy isn't just about showing off your tactics; it's about building trust, engagement, and creating a buzz around your brand. ... View more

Hi @ChrisB80179! Aaron and David already gave you some super helpful tips, so I will just add a few thoughts about the images. Some folks will not be able to see the images in your emails unless they download them, so any information that is important to the content of your email should be in actual text. So, the Toyota ad and that great review might not be visible to some of your readers unless they take the extra step to download the images. Here is some extra info about using images in your emails.    Keep up the great work! My favorite flavor is Mint Chocolate Chip! ... View more

Hi Lillian, I encourage you to reach out to us to explore the best way Solutions for Growth can support you to develop an effective email program. Check us out!  David Fischer 888-840-2595 x701 ... View more

Great suggestions, @DavidFischerSolutionsForGrowth ! I love the idea of following up with clients to let them know their feedback is important and they are being listened to if changes are made to a website or processes based on what they've said. ... View more

I love the idea of testing out subject lines, @Nick_S ! What a great idea!    If anyone tries this, I would love to know which subject lines worked best for you. Share below!  ... View more

To piggyback on David's comment, when you work with a Certified Partner like those of us tagged by Chris, we access your account through our partner portal. So we don't know or use your login credentials, and you can boot us from your account anytime you want! Any of us would be happy to create a reusable template for your email campaigns.  ... View more