When I think about an organization that does real good for the community, I think about nonprofits. But in order to be most effective, nonprofits need to get the word out about their various initiatives, encourage donations to support their cause, and recruit and manage volunteers. While you may not think that SMS marketing necessarily makes sense within the nonprofit industry, we’re here to tell you that it does, and it can be used to accomplish each of these things.   Spread the word about upcoming initiatives   Around 98% of text messages are opened within the first three minutes. So if you want a quick and easy way to let contacts know about an upcoming event or pledge drive that your organization is hosting, SMS is a great way to do it.   Include a clickable link that points to your event registration page or a page on your website that includes more information.   Encourage donations   It makes me feel good to donate to nonprofit organizations, especially ones that support a cause I believe in. But honestly, it’s not always top of mind for me. That is, unless I get a text message asking for contributions. Then I make donating more of a priority.   So don’t shy away from using SMS to request donations! If relevant, share your fundraising goal so community members feel like they are contributing to something that will have a big impact. Perhaps pair your SMS campaign with an email campaign to increase engagement.   SMS marketing also allows you to send a quick message to the donor to confirm that you’ve received their donation. This is an easy way to show your gratitude, and the donor will be more likely to make donations in the future.   Recruit and manage volunteers   Getting reliable volunteers and managing existing ones is a challenge for any nonprofit. By using SMS, you can more easily recruit volunteers for an upcoming event, confirm schedules with existing volunteers, and communicate any need-to-know information.   SMS Marketing best practices   First off, make sure you stay compliant and understand the guidelines for using SMS marketing through Constant Contact.   When crafting your SMS message:   Keep your messages short, sweet, and easily scannable Let recipients know how to opt-out Providing a clear call to action Engaging readers with relevant links (to your donation page or contact information)   Keep tone in mind, as well. Even in a text message, it’s important to maintain professionalism! Ready to get started?   The first step is to register your account for SMS marketing. Then you’ll want to begin growing your SMS list. Next, create and send SMS messaging content!   Take a look at our Getting Started guide to set yourself up for success with Constant Contact's SMS Marketing.   Once you’re up and running with SMS, check out our Community Nonprofit group to connect with other nonprofit organizations and receive tips and resources! ... View more

A great deal of work goes into planning and hosting a successful event. You envision exactly how you'd like the event to go, and then plan each of the elements that will bring that vision to life. You plan and manage the details for weeks, if not months. And then, during the event itself, you've got eyes and ears everywhere, making sure your attendees are happy and that everything is going according to plan. I know these things all too well - after all, my toddler's "Wheels on the Bus" themed birthday party did NOT plan itself!   Once the event is over, after you've spent time relishing in your success, there's still work to be done. And that's the event follow-up email. It's more than just an obligatory "thank you", and it's important for several reasons:   It can be the start of a relationship with attendees who are just getting to know your business/organization It's a place to share the successes of your event (e.g. how much money was raised, photos of guests mingling, who won the raffle contests) It provides an opportunity to highlight upcoming events and garner excitement   So what key elements should be included in an event follow-up email? Certainly you'll want to express gratitude, but there are other things to include as well:   Personalization   When someone takes the time to attend your event, you want to make sure to thank them on a personal level. And using their name in a personalized greeting is a great way to do that.   "Thanks for attending our event!" isn't as warm as "Grace, we loved having you at our event"   Learn how to add a personalized greeting in your email's subject line and within your email.   Event Recap   Brag about your event! Everyone likes to know they were part of something big and meaningful, so share the event's successes with your guests. Share how many people attended and any other important information. Perhaps include visual elements like photos or videos.   Valuable, engaging content   Provide ways for your event attendees to stay engaged with your business/organization. Link to your website - perhaps to a page that includes important information, blog articles, or products for sale. A call-to-action button is a great way to do this.   Other elements that can be included:   A survey asking for event feedback Exclusive offers Information on upcoming events with registration links Links to your social media pages, encouraging guests to follow   Tell us, what do you include in your event follow-up emails? We'd love to hear ideas that are relevant to your specific industry! ... View more

You've got news and you're eager to share it! But how do you create that perfect "drumroll" moment within an email marketing campaign?   If you're announcing something particularly exciting, consider sending a teaser email. Build anticipation by sending the email a few days or weeks before the actual announcement. Let your contacts know that something big will be shared soon and to keep their eyes out.   When you send out the announcement email itself, keep it simple! Make sure to include:   What's new Why it's important for your contacts A call-to-action Check out our blog for announcement email examples with use-case scenarios.   If your announcement is *really* big news, you may want to go above and beyond a single announcement email. Try using our Automation Path Builder to send out a series of automated email and SMS messages. Or, let us do the work for you by using our Campaign Builder. Simply input your goal - you've got a major announcement in store - and we’ll build you a custom, multi-channel marketing campaign.   What is your approach to announcement emails? Share here! ... View more

When designing your email, you want it to be visually pleasing for your readers. Naturally, images play an important role in this. But that doesn't mean you should pepper your email with random images. Choosing the right images and placing them strategically within the text will deliver the most impact.   Here are a few tips:   Use the right number of images - Emails that use too many images can trigger spam filters. Emails with three images or less — not including your logo or social media icons — see much higher click rates. Pair text with the image - Wrap text around the image to create a more unified look or add a caption. Make your images pop - Ensure your images stand out by designing a balanced layout, adding polish to your photos, and using a background that creates contrast. Stay on brand - Whether you use photos you've taken yourself or stock images, make sure to use high-quality images that align with your brand identity. Take a look at more tips on our blog and check out this Knowledge Base article for the "how-to". We want to hear your thoughts on this topic, as well. Drop them below!   Want an extra set of eyes on your campaign before you send it out? Share it to our Campaign Feedback board! ... View more

Crafting an eye-catching subject line for your email can be a cumbersome task, and yet it's vitally important. If you're a retail business, it can be make-or-break when trying to drive sales. Personally, I am not clicking through every email in my Gmail promotions tab. Truly, the ones I do open come down to whether I'm enticed by the subject line. So how do you craft an effective one?   There are several approaches you can take, including:   Create a sense of urgency - Nobody likes to miss out, so use that to your advantage. For example: “Limited Time Only” “Your Gift is About to Expire” Be exclusive - Make your customers feel like VIPs. For example: “You’ve been selected” “Something just for you” Build suspense - There's a reason clickbait headlines work. Curiosity gets the better of all of us! For example: “You’re not going to believe this…” “You’ll never guess what we’re offering…”   If you send out abandoned cart emails, we've got 100 subject lines ideas for you to choose from! And remember, on those days when your creative mind has simply shut down, let us do the work for you by selecting one of our recommended subject lines and preheaders on the email schedule page.   What subject lines do you use for your sales emails? Share them here! ... View more

Fundraising for your nonprofit can be a challenge. With so many organizations fighting for good causes, you know your contacts have a multitude of options for where to make a contribution. Even if they fully support your mission, they may not be willing to open their wallet. That's why it's important to write an effective fundraising email that gets opens and drives donations.   Here are few suggestions: Craft the right subject line - Limit the use of exclamation points and avoid words that could trigger spam filters. Be clear and straightforward. Nobody likes to be "duped" into opening an email, only to find out you're asking for their money. Not sure which subject line will be successful? Try doing an A/B test. Include compelling images/elements that invoke emotion - Nothing makes you want to donate to your local animal shelter more than a photo of the sweetest pup looking back at you, right? Use the power of emotion to sway potential donors. It doesn't need to be a photo - it could be an anecdote from someone your organization has helped. Have a strong call-to-action - Make it easy for your contacts to donate with a one-click method. If they have to jump through hoops, potential donors will give up, and will likely not donate in the future.   Have you run a fundraising email campaign? What worked well? Or, what didn't work well? Share you ideas and advice here!   And don't forget to check out our Nonprofit Group for more content and resources! ... View more

Given the number of people who spend their time scrolling on YouTube and TikTok, it's no surprise that video marketing can be highly effective in attracting, engaging, and converting new customers. But if you've never created video content, creating a video marketing strategy can be daunting. We're here to help! Check out our 5 easy steps to get started.    For those with an ecommerce store, videos can help you sell more! Try the following: Make a product video that provides detail, compares to other products, and demonstrates the product's real-world application Create a testimonial video that helps build your credibility Publish a Q&A style video that answers your customers' common questions Promoting your videos once published is important, so remember to insert your video into an email campaign in order to get more eyes on it!   What kinds of videos does your organization produce? And what are key elements of your video marketing strategy? ... View more

The closest I’ve come to feeling like a true VIP was when my husband and I arrived at our honeymoon resort in Aruba. We were greeted with a warm welcome and a glass of champagne, given undivided attention and a tour of the property. Surely, with my Target sunglasses, they hadn’t mistaken us for a famous celebrity couple, right? No, they certainly had not. It was simply how they treated every new guest: like VIPs. And it was memorable and appreciated.   When you create an email series to welcome new subscribers, that’s exactly how you want your contacts to feel. As if their business is of the utmost importance to you.    There are many ways you can roll out the metaphorical red carpet. For example, you could:   First, send out your initial greeting. Thank the subscriber for joining your email list and welcome them to your brand or business. Offer a special gift or discount! Second, invite them to connect with you on social media, so they can easily stay in the loop and interact with your organization. Third, get to know your new subscriber by inviting them to take a survey or to provide information such as their birthday. Show that you have an interest in who they are!   Learn more about building out an effective automated welcome series here.   Tell us, what do you incorporate into your welcome emails that makes new subscribers feel appreciated? What works well for your particular industry? ... View more

Landing pages are a crucial part of any marketing strategy. They can be used to collect sign-ups, share specific information about goods and services, and promote an event. Therefore, it's important to utilize a platform that makes it easy to build and customize eye-catching landing pages. That's where Constant Contact delivers.   Our Sign-Up Landing Pages allow you to grow your email and SMS lists. You have the flexibility to add whichever standard and custom fields you like, allowing you to capture the necessary information from your contacts. With plenty of design tools, you can easily add your branding. You also have the ability to customize a thank you page. Maybe even off your contacts a discount for signing up! Want to build a landing page to highlight something about your business or drive your contacts to a specific call-to-action? That's where our Custom Landing Pages come in. With several templates to choose from and design options, you can easily create a landing pages that meets your needs. And let's not forget about events! Use our Event Landing Page builder to highlight your event details and entice people to attend. By utilizing blocks that are synced to an existing event, you can quickly build a landing page with the necessary event details.   Of course, landing pages aren't useful if you can't share them, and Constant Contact allow you to share a landing page in an email, on your social media pages, in a Facebook and Instagram Ad, or anywhere else you can think of to share the link.   If you use Constant Contact to build your landing pages, tell us what you personally find useful!   ... View more

There are certain tasks that I do solely on a desktop, and others that I use my smart phone for. Booking airline tickets? That's a job for a desktop. Browsing my emails? I often pull out my phone for that. And I know I'm not the only one. Therefore, when designing your emails, it's important to ensure they will look just as good on a mobile device as they do on a desktop.   Rest assured that every Constant Contact email template is mobile-responsive, which means your email will automatically adapt to the size of the screen it's being displayed on. Still, there are things to keep in mind while designing your email. To learn more, take a look at our best practices. Once you've designed your email, you can preview it to see how it will render on a mobile device.   Need some encouragement or advice before you send? Visit our Campaign Feedback board to share your email template and get feedback and tips from other members of the community.   ... View more

Perhaps you've looked at your email engagement levels recently, and - unlike temperatures across much of the Eastern United States right now - they're not so hot. And you're wondering, what can I do to improve?   There are several ways you can personalize your emails and utilize tools in order to boost your open and click rates, including: Creating and sending to contact segments Personalizing your subject line Adding a greeting tag that will automatically populate with your contact's name Customizing your email by inserting dynamic content to show contacts only what’s relevant to them based on their city, state, or other custom field A/B testing subject lines in order to determine which performs best Including a handwritten signature   What other ways can an email be designed in order to improve your customer engagement? We'd love to hear your suggestions! ... View more

Looking to improve your revenue? Connect your online store to Constant Contact and utilize features that will increase sales from existing customers and entice new ones.   Connect your store 🔄 First up, connect your store to Constant Contact. Our available ecommerce integrations are:    Shopify WooCommerce BigCommerce eBay Squarespace Wix Magento     Take advantage of segmented lists and send targeted communications 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Once connected, your customers will be synced into segmented lists based on their purchase activity. Syncs will occur daily to import new customers, and your segmented lists will refresh appropriately. Use these lists to send targeted emails to your customers. Encourage lapsed customers to purchase again by highlighting new products. Reward repeat customers with a special discount. Want to create a unique segment based on the attributes that matter most to you? Use the “All customers” list and segment it in any way you’d like.   If you’re using Shopify, you have even more options when creating custom segments!   Send automated email and SMS communications 📨📱   If you’re using Shopify, Squarespace, Wix, or WooCommerce, you can build an automation path using specific ecommerce templates.  Request a review from customers whose orders have been fulfilled Send a thank-you series to customers who have placed an order with you Send a welcome series to new imported customers Re-engage customers who have previously purchased but haven't purchased in awhile with a win-back series Close the sale with an abandoned cart message to remind your customers that they have items in their shopping cart and entice them to complete their purchase (excluding Squarespace, which does not support this feature) If you’re not using one of the ecommerce platforms listed above, you can still use our Automation Path Builder to send automated email and SMS messages that are triggered to reach the right customers at the right time! Review sales reporting 📈   When you promote your goods through Constant Contact, you can easily track the total sales and orders generated from your email campaigns and abandoned cart emails.  When a contact opens one of your emails and makes a purchase within 72 hours, we attribute the sale to that campaign, even if the email doesn’t include an ecommerce action block. Easily view your: Total Sales - The total revenue generated from your email efforts. Total Orders - The total number of customer orders that resulted from your email efforts. Total Opens - The total number of opens for your emails that generated orders.  Conversion Rate - The percentage of email opens that resulted in orders.     By utilizing these features, you can sell more in less time and improve your return on investment. When it comes to ecommerce marketing, Constant Contact has you covered.   ... View more

Now that buying and selling online has become immensely popular, many of our customers are interested in starting an ecommerce business. Luckily, it has never been easier, and you can follow this guide to get started.   If you're running a successful ecommerce business, what advice would you give to someone just starting out?   And don't forget, Constant Contact is here to help you meet your goals and succeed! Specifically, you can use our product to do the following:   Integrate your ecommerce platform with Constant Contact and sync your customers, products, and ecommerce activity Promote your goods in an email with the ecommerce product block Easily connect with ecommerce customers using the Automation Path Builder and thank them for a purchase, request a review, or encourage them to purchase again ... View more

Trust is a building block of any solid relationship. And when it comes to being a small business owner, the relationships you nurture with your customers are incredibly important. Therefore, it’s beneficial to put effort into earning your customers’ trust.   In my personal experience, when I see a business engaging with customers online and responding to reviews - both positive and negative - it does a great deal in earning my trust. I know I can leave a review, and the business will take the time to read and respond. It acknowledges my worth as a customer, it creates a dialogue, and there’s a good chance I’ll be a repeat customer.   What initiatives do you take in order to build trust with your customers, and what seems to work well? ... View more

I saw a meme on social media recently that joked the hardest part of being an adult is figuring out what to make for dinner every single night. Who can relate?! I know I can. My plan of becoming rich enough to hire a personal chef hasn't panned out yet. So I frequently rely on a handful of meals that come together in a flash, especially when I'm tired from a long work day.   One of my favorites is a Mediterranean-style grilled cheese sandwich. I fill it with shredded mozzarella, crumbled feta, chopped tomato, diced black olives, diced red onion, and some spinach that I've sauteed with olive oil, garlic and fresh basil. It's delicious and satisfying, and can easily be customized with whatever tidbits I have hanging out in the fridge.   Tell me, what's your go-to weeknight meal that is quick to prepare but delivers on flavor? ... View more