How Effective is Your Email? How Can You Tell?

Is your email getting to your list members? If so, how many of them are opening your message? If the email isn't getting through, how many of your messages are "undeliverable" because of a bad email address? And how do you find out what these numbers are?

In order to test the effectiveness of an email campaign, you need to use html email. Although I have fought against it for several years, I consented to use it this one time in order to do the necessary tracking.

First, you need to prepare the email. I use the OnlineSuccessCart.com system, so I created the html email in my web creation program and pasted it into the broadcast window. Then I pressed the send button.

I sent a similiar announcement to each of my major lists. And the numbers started pouring in...

Emails sent: this is the total active on the list

Undeliverable: these email addresses bounced or had not completed the newly implemented AOL double opt-in process

Now I had a percentage of the total emails that were undeliverable. My numbers range in the 4-8% range, but I know a lot of Internet marketers who are fighting 25-30% of their lists who are undelivered. Undeliverables is the first figure you want to check.

Next the numbers started returning on the number of people who opened the email. You see, when you open an html email, the sender is able to track it. That's one of the reasons some people (me!) have fought against html email. Plus, it puts a drain on the system resources all along the line as the email is sent, then the opened message counts are returned.

As I tracked the open rate over the next 24 hours it was interesting.

Within 6 hours, 11% had opened the email.
Within 12 hours, 12% had opened the email.
Within 24 hours, 14% had opened the email.

As a final tracking mechanism, I provided a tracking link within the body of the email. If someone wanted to pick up the gift I offered, they clicked on the link.

Within 6 hours, 32% of the people who had opened the email had clicked on the link.

Within 12 hours, it was up to 36% and that's where it's stayed.

So what can you learn from this lesson?

1. Not everyone on your list is getting your email. A growing number of them are not, as you've been reading in the Internet marketing literature.

2. Not everyone who receives your email opens it. Well, at least they don't open mine right away (grinning). Instead, some wait a day or two - or maybe a week or two. Or they just file it. Or (shudder!) delete it. And remember, when you send out html instead of plain text there are some people who simply cannot open it.

3. Not everyone who opens your email takes action - even if the action involves a complimentary copy of a $20 book.

4. You don't know anything for certain until you track it.

5. You must continue to track results over a period of time in order to see trends and what's working

So stop fooling yourself and get the facts. You'll be amazed, but you'll be informed. And you'll understand your online success rate much better.

For details on how I tracked these results, send an email to tracking@techtamers.com

Dr. Jeanette Cates is an Internet strategist who works with experts who are ready to turn their knowledge and their websites into Gold. Her reputation as a speaker and trainer has earned her the title of The Technology Tamer. Jeanette shares her news and views in OnlineSuccessNews.com

---

How to Make Your Email Smile

Technology has a tendency to be impersonal and unfriendly -... Read More

Why You Need a Newsletter

If you're a small business owner you definitely need promotion.... Read More

Lesson #1: Autoresponders 101

What the heck is an autoresponder?An autoresponder is much like... Read More

An E-mail Promotion Internet Marketing Strategy Works

E-mail promotion Internet marketing can help your home-based business expand... Read More

10 Ways To Quadruple Your Sales with 232%

1. When you make your first sale, you need to... Read More

How To Avoid Having Filters Eat Your Emails

You've probably read 1000 times that "the money's in the... Read More

Grab Those Emails! ? 11 Key Ways to Get Your Visitors to Hand Over Their Email Address

If you are trying to get an opt-in email list... Read More

Your Money Is Still In Your List - Build It!

You are a home business entrepreneur. You have just built... Read More

8 Tips to Increase Response in Email

Opt in email marketing is no different than normal direct... Read More

Viral Marketing Tips: Greeting Cards

When we speak about viral marketing, we are not talking... Read More

Six Easy White-Listing Ways... Stop Losing Important Emails!

Are you dead sure about receiving of all the important... Read More

The Name Squeeze ? Should You? Shouldn?t You?

This is a little "beauty" of an idea if you... Read More

Top 10 Business E-Mail Basics

When it comes to your business e-mail communications, you need... Read More

Is Your Autoresponder Truly Promoting Your Company?

Getting other people to promote your web site is one... Read More

E-Marketing Deliverability Issues

Does it seem to you that when you view "openings"... Read More

Email Marketing - How Best To Manage and Distribute Your Messages

This holiday season 15 percent of consumers in the US... Read More

The Key (Board) to Success: Effective Emailing

Email is THE medium of communication for business transactions. Unfortunately,... Read More

8 Quick, Hot Reasons You Should Offer an E-mail Course Today

1. E-mail courses are generally quick and easy to create.... Read More

You Must Build A Customer List

If you run (or plan to run) an online business,... Read More

Can You Win The Battle By Using A Toothpick?

Every business needs a low cost way to reach targeted... Read More

Email Scam Warnings

Most people online are very familiar with the Nigerian Email... Read More

Hot List-Building Tips

Here are some hot list-building tips for you to grow... Read More

How to Build Your List

Your list is your life. If you do not have... Read More

The Opt-In Secret

Everyone knows that in order to be successful online you... Read More

Building Your Own Goldmine - The Golds In The List

The best way to make money on the Internet is... Read More

Power at your Fingertips

It is just amazing. Power right at your fingertips. It... Read More

The Lazy Mans Way To Building a Massive List In Minimum Time

As you read every word of this article, you'll be... Read More

Spam Check Your Newsletter for FREE

Spam is a bigger and bigger problem nowadays. Recently Ralph... Read More

Email Marketing Kung Fu

Have you ever heard email described as, "the killer Internet... Read More

Summary of Adestras Presentation on Best Practice EZines at the July NEPA Conference

At the recent Online Marketing Show, Adestra ran an email... Read More

Are You Making These Email Mistakes?

Every day, I receive at least 300 emails. I will... Read More

Whats on YOUR Subscriber Thank-You Page?

When I coach my clients on how to... Read More

Learn How to Double and Triple the Size of Your Opt-in List by Helping Others

I think first of all, everybody deserves to have a... Read More