Have you ever hit send on an email and within seconds realized you forgot something in the email? It happens more often than you think. We are all human, and mistakes happen, but to help you prevent errors in your next marketing email, here is a checklist that you can use before hitting send:
Spelling and grammar
While this might be an obvious reminder, it is still worth saying to check your spelling and grammar. If spelling and grammar are not your strong points, use an online tool like Grammarly.
Subject line
Did you include a subject line? Will your subject line make people want to open your email?
Social Media Links
Make sure you include your social media links so your readers can follow you. Adding your social media links in an email campaign is another tool to use if you are looking to grow your followers. You can also include sharable social media links, allowing people to share your email on their own social media if relevant.
Appropriate Tags
Make your emails more personable by using tags such as their first name (i.e. [FIRSTNAME].) Double-check that your lists are accurate. If you are using a tag such as the first name, make sure you have everyone’s first name who is receiving the email.
Formatting
Is your email formatted correctly, or does something such as a picture or headline look off?
Links
Double-check that all the outside links you included are working correctly and direct users to the correct sites you want.
Fulfilled CAN-SPAM Requirements
Believe it or not, if you don’t follow specific rules, you could be heavily penalized. The CAN-SPAM Act is a law that outlines rules for emails and commercial messages. Some of the requirements are:
- Including a physical address on the email.
- Including an opt-out link for people who would like to unsubscribe to your emails.
- Using misleading or false information in your email “to” and “from” lines.
You can read the entire act here.
Pictures are Formatted Correctly
Ensure the pictures or graphics you have in your email body are the correct size and don’t look too large or too small.
Contact Information
Always include a way for your readers to contact you through email, phone, or a physical site. Make it easy for them to find this information in the email.
Call to action
If you are sending out a marketing email, you most likely want your readers to do something. Include a call to action in your email and make it easy for them to do what you are looking to have them do (i.e., signup for something, visit a store, etc.).
The best way to avoid forgetting something in a marketing email is to send yourself a test email before sending it out to the masses. This way, you can see exactly what your readers will see.
If you are looking for an email marketing strategy or some help with your email marketing, reach out to Keep It Real Social. Our experts can help!
