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Share buttons have become common on Web content, but they’re also easy to integrate into e-mails. If your e-mail consists of multiple articles, make sure each points to a page on the Web, and that your Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn share buttons are setup to share the URL of each respective article (note: you’ll want to stick to images and text links for your e-mail share buttons as opposed to JavaScript).

 

Beyond sharing articles though, make sure all of your e-mails include prominent links to your presence on various social sites. Calls to action in a sidebar or in the header like “Follow Us on Twitter” or “Become a Fan on Facebook” will help people connect with you on social sites and help build your audience on them.

 

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Just like a piece of Web content can “go viral” as people share it across social networks, your e-mail promotions can get a big boost by making it easy to share them.

 

A recent study by Marketing Sherpa concluded that simply including sharing buttons to an e-mail marketing campaign led to a “25% boost in reader interaction, and a surge in inbound traffic from social networking sites.” Moreover, huge gains were reported in traffic via social sites: 2,070% from LinkedIn(), 1,680% from Twitter(), and 1,351% from Facebook().

 

Once you’ve integrated social media into your e-mails, be sure you’re cross promoting. There’s no harm in reminding your Twitter followers, Facebook fans, or LinkedIn contacts that you have an e-mail newsletter. And once they signup, they’re the ones most likely to share content with their own networks on social sites.

Beyond that, create compelling content that people want to share. While a good promotion might not be as viral as a funny YouTube() clip, your business’ fans will be more likely to spread the word if there’s a specific call to action. Moreover, create content that’s not necessarily a direct sell, but provides value to potential customers in the form of information that’s useful to them. Between good content and easy social media sharing options, your e-mail marketing can become a powerful weapon in growing your business.

 

Are you using Social Media and E-mail marketing in a unique way?

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via ADWEEK

 

 

A newly released Datran Media survey of executives at Fortune 500 companies, publishing companies, media agencies and ad agencies finds e-mail and search regarded as the digital channels that worked best last year.

Conducted in December in conjunction with the Direct Marketing Association E-mail Experience Council "and other media partners," the survey asked respondents to identify the digital channels that "performed the strongest for your company in 2009." E-mail got the most mentions (cited by 39 percent), followed by search (24 percent), offline (9 percent), affiliate marketing (9 percent), display (7 percent), direct mail (6 percent), social media (5 percent) and mobile (1 percent).

Another part of the survey inquired into the objectives these executives have for their online efforts. "Reaching a target audience" topped the list (cited by 84 percent), followed by "generating high-quality leads" (74 percent). Smaller majorities said they're using online efforts for "converting leads into sales" (63 percent), "measuring and understanding our audience" (60 percent), "retaining existing customers" (57 percent) and/or "digitally transacting with customers" (54 percent). Consistent with the interest in reaching a target audience, respondents put "targeting" atop the list of online "marketing tactics" they'll be using this year as part of their online strategy.

When it comes to measuring consumer response to their digital efforts, what do the respondents' companies currently look at? "Clicks" got the most mentions (72 percent), trailed by "conversions" (59 percent) and "impressions" (58 percent). Lagging farther behind were "transactions" and "audience" (43 percent apiece).

Elsewhere in the survey, 67 percent of respondents said they'll be "leveraging online video this year." As for social media, opinion was mixed on the question of whether it will "generate quantifiable results in 2010." Fifty percent of respondents said they think it will, but 12 percent said it won't and the rest were unsure.

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Social media, blogging and email marketing made SEO.com's top 10 list for best internet marketing strategies for this year. These same strategies will hold strong through 2010 as well, so be sure to incorporate online into your marketing budget for the upcoming year.

1. Organic Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

2. Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn

3. Keyword Research

4. Video Marketing

5. Online Public Relations

6. Link Building

7. Blogging

8. Conversion Web Design

9. Paid Search Marketing

10. Email Marketing

One of the great things about online strategies is once you start implementing a few you'll find they're interconnected and often support each other.

Via Marketing Charts.

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Gary Vaynerchuck, on and offline business guru, hit a home run for me with this video.

Those of us in the online marketing biz relinquished the thought long ago that social media is just a "condiment" on top of normal business practices. Instead, we know it IS business, end of story. Email marketing and blogging can easily be added to the "IS business" category too.

However, not everyone has come over to our way of thinking yet. But as Gary points out, the companies who let the online media bandwagon roll-on-by will become exposed and transparent whether they like it or not. Consumers have the power to share their experiences, positive and negative, with the world in just a few clicks.

If your customers are out there talking about your company (which undoubtedly they are), it's not simply a conversation you SHOULD be a part of, it's a conversation you NEED to be a part of.

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Email and text message coupons are rapidly gaining popularity among American bargain hunters. Although the Sunday newspaper still holds the title for most coupons clipped, the other mediums may soon be catching up.

According to Scarborough Research, the coupon savvy audience tends to be young, affluent, educated and female.

• Number of U.S. households using mobile or email coupons: 8.9 million (8%)
• Average age group of the email/mobile coupon users: 18-24 years
• Average educational level: 51% likely to be college graduate or post graduate

The portability and convenience of today’s countless mobile devices allows consumers to access a specific coupon at the point of purchase. Also, most digital coupons require consumers to opt-in in order to receive them; this creates more relevant coupons and increases the potential for consumers to take advantage of the offers.

Are you an online or old school bargain hunter?

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There is a ton of coverage about how to build your opt-in list online, but I always encourage our clients to be thinking of offline ways too.  If approached correctly, offline opt-ins can be some of your most loyal and engaged followers.  Here are but just a few ideas for building your opt-in lists offline:

1.  At Events.  I met someone at a networking event one time who, upon exchanging business cards, asked if I'd like to receive her newsletter.  Naturally, I said yes and she proceeded to make a note on my card.  I thought, what an obvious yet great idea to build your list!

2.  Offer an incentive.  Promotions and giveaways are great ways to build your list.

3.  Ask.  You'd be surprised at how many clients we meet with who don't even ask for emails, on or offline.  If your customers fill out a new account form or sign any type of paper, just ask for it.  You'd be surprised at how many people will happily provide it.

Are there other strategies that have proved successful for you? Leave a comment and let us know!

Of course, having a long list of subscribers is pointless if you don't deliver quality content, because they might decide not to open your emails, or worse, unsubscribe altogether.  Whether you have attempted to execute a regular email marketing plan or are looking to implement a plan but need help, please let us know as we can help you through the process.

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Recently Email Data Source has analyzed campaigns sent from January 2007 to June 2009 and found that there has been a "dramatic increase" in email marketing campaigns with links to social networking sites like Facebook, and Twitter.

Twitter links grew by 1081% while links to Facebook increased over 635%. The top brands integrating social links are Nike, and HP.

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Forrester Research study finds that video in email marketing campaigns is 2-3 times more effective that email marketing campaigns without video.

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