James Explains: Stay True to Your Subject Line

It’s very simple actually, stick to your subject line.  The purpose of your email should be identified in your subject.  Keep it short and sweet and do not overthink it.  Tell your audience what they are about to open and the rest is gravy.

Your subject should be clear, concise, and true. If your message is a transactional one, meant to confirm that your customer’s order has shipped, make sure your subject line says so. “You’re Order has Shipped!” Enough said.

The body of the message should also be composed in a way that your reader is going to see the promised information first and foremost. Promotional content should be included but should not be taking up prime real estate.

Related products or services are most effective below the fold. Don’t think your customer won’t notice a bait and switch move. They will. The idea is to capitalize on the opportunity to provide valuable marketing information to your customers, should they decide they are ready to see it.

So, stay true to your subject line and don’t veer from it.  Your open rates depend on it!

Special thanks to JangoSMTP Account Executive, Erica Melzer, for helping me with this post!

Cheers,

James The Jangolope
Department of Awesome
JangoSMTP

About James

James the Jangolope is our JangoSMTP mascot. Each month, look for our new “James Explains” emails and blog posts on transactional email advice, trends, and quick tips. James will offer insight on how to improve your SMTP plan and how to use your JangoSMTP account to the fullest  

What is a Jangolope? Find out HERE

We want to hear from you. Have a topic you would like James to cover? Email us at marketing@us.jangomail.com with the subject line: James Explains. Follow James on Facebook

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James Explains: Upsell Through Transactional Email

There’s no better time to upsell than through an email confirmation.

Imagine this, a customer has just completed an order on your ecommerce site. Let’s say they've ordered 250 business cards. You have your automated messages set up in JangoSMTP, like a lot of our users do, so that your customers receive an order confirmation immediately following each transaction.

When would be a better time to offer that customer a discount and free shipping on an additional 250 business cards?...NOW

You could also offer related products like personalized stationary, promotional ink pens, or business card magnets. This customer is in the mood to buy, so take advantage of each opportunity.

They've already placed an order through your website, and entered their payment and shipping information. It would be unusually easy to add items to their order now. That's an opportunity no business can afford to ignore!  Make sure you incorporate upselling into your next campaign.

As always, I’m James, the most interesting animal in email marketing.  Keep it locked here for the latest and greatest!

Special thanks to JangoSMTP Account Executive, Erica Melzer, for helping me with this post!

Cheers,

James The Jangolope
Department of Awesome
JangoSMTP

About James

James the Jangolope is our JangoSMTP mascot. Each month, look for our new “James Explains” emails and blog posts on transactional email advice, trends, and quick tips. James will offer insight on how to improve your SMTP plan and how to use your JangoSMTP account to the fullest  

What is a Jangolope? Find out HERE

We want to hear from you. Have a topic you would like James to cover? Email us at marketing@us.jangomail.com with the subject line: James Explains. Follow James on Facebook

Subscribe to James Explains

James Explains: No No-Reply

Whenever I start thinking about a no-reply from address, in any sort of email message, it gives me severe anxiety. My heart starts pounding and I swear, I can hear the Jaws theme song…Duuun dun duuun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun.

 

So, let me explain: No-Reply from address

Anyone with an inbox has seen this before. In fact, its commonplace. It usually looks something like this: no-reply@thebusinessname.com.

There are several sensible reasons to use a no-reply address when sending commercial messages. Some do it because they do not want to bombard one team member with hundreds of out-of-office replies. Common as this is, the practice is generally disliked by email recipients, myself included.

Why? No-replies feel impersonal and convey a certain arrogance. They also come across as uncaring to customers and limits your engagement with them. After all, you are asking them to take the time to read your messages, and with a no-reply email address, you are blocking any feedback from them

So, what can you do?  Set up a proper from address (click here to learn how) and respond quickly to any inquiries you receive. Good or bad, this is an extension of your customer service. Still, it’s important to use a real email address, if only for the sake of being personable and polite. If there is a better, more reliable way to contact your company, display that information prominently inside your message.

Special thanks to JangoSMTP Account Executive, Erica Melzer, for helping me with this post!

Cheers,

James The Jangolope
Department of Awesome
JangoSMTP

About James

James the Jangolope is our JangoSMTP mascot. Each month, look for our new “James Explains” emails and blog posts on transactional email advice, trends, and quick tips. James will offer insight on how to improve your SMTP plan and how to use your JangoSMTP account to the fullest  

What is a Jangolope? Find out HERE

We want to hear from you. Have a topic you would like James to cover? Email us at marketing@us.jangomail.com with the subject line: James Explains. Follow James on Facebook

Subscribe to James Explains

James Explains: Transactional Email

Hi Ladies and Gents! Wishing you a Happy Spring from the JangoSMTP headquarters in Dayton, Ohio.

Welcome to the fist James Explains post. As you may have guessed, I'm James, the new JangoSMTP mascot. I'm so excited to be here and help you boost your sales with transactional email tips and best practices. Today we're going to review the basics so everyone new has a little background.

So, let me explain: Transactional Email
The CAN-SPAM act defines a transactional message as one that “facilitates an already agreed-upon transaction or updates a customer about an ongoing transaction.” The list of possible examples is a long one and includes things like order and shipping confirmations, invoices, receipts, appointment reminders, backorder notices, and username/password retrieval messages – all have some of the highest open rates out there!

An emailed appointment reminder is just
one example of a transactional message.

While the primary purpose of a transactional email is not to promote products or services, they are an excellent opportunity to do exactly that. Transactional messages experience open rates that are nearly twice the average open rates for traditional email marketing messages like a newsletter.

Recipients are often anticipating these messages before they even arrive. A customer is inherently interested in opening a transactional message, too, because they know it will contain information pertinent to a purchase they've just made or a password they've just requested. Are you ready to start taking strategic advantage of the unique opportunity to engage a customer who's already waiting for your message to arrive?

There are a few transactional email musts that you should keep in mind along the way. Tune in for my next post when I explain why you should NOT use a no-reply address.

Special thanks to JangoSMTP Account Executive, Erica Melzer, for helping me with this post!

Cheers,

James The Jangolope
Department of Awesome
JangoSMTP

About James

James the Jangolope is our JangoSMTP mascot. Each month, look for our new “James Explains” emails and blog posts on transactional email advice, trends, and quick tips. James will offer insight on how to improve your SMTP plan and how to use your JangoSMTP account to the fullest  

What is a Jangolope? Find out HERE

We want to hear from you. Have a topic you would like James to cover? Email us at marketing@us.jangomail.com with the subject line: James Explains. Follow James on Facebook

Subscribe to James Explains

Our New Mascot and Educational Series, “James Explains”

By: Melonie Mottice
Marketing Specialist

Introducing….James, the most interesting animal in transactional email.

“I don't always have SMTP questions, but when I do, James Explains.”

Meet James, our new JangoSMTP mascot. James the Jangolope is Jack, the JangoMail mascot's, eccentric cousin. Not only is he extremely good looking, but he is also knowledgeable about all things JangoSMTP.

Each month, look for our new “James Explains” emails and blog posts on transactional email advice, trends, and quick tips. James will offer insight on how to improve your SMTP plan and how to use your JangoSMTP account to the fullest.

Subscribe to James Explains.

What is a jangolope?
To start, a jackalope is a mythical creature known as a jackrabbit with antelope horns. Over time the jackalope continued to change into what we, at JangoSMTP and JangoMail, call the jangolope.

Long, long, long ago a curious jackrabbit stumbled upon an old computer. He grew tired of receiving and sending plain, ineffective emails. The jackrabbit thought long and hard. He knew there had to be a way to incorporate tracking capabilities into transactional messages. As his idea grew, so did his antlers.

Through the wild countryside of North America, the jackalope soon became known as the jangolope because of his savvy computer skills. James is a direct descendant of the original jangolope. Half jackrabbit, half antelope, 100% email professional.

We want to hear from you. 
Have a topic you would like James to cover? Email us at marketing@us.jangomail.com with the subject line: James Explains.