Gmail Promotions is killing me

13 replies
Anyone know whats the best way to avoid ending up in gmail promotions tab?
#gmail #killing #promotions
  • Profile picture of the author raresmp
    I use aweber and I never get to the promotion tab.

    However after the first emails I saw that I end up in the updates tab which is better than promotions (I guess)

    Now I started to tell people inside my mailing list to add the email address to their contacts to make sure they receive the best of my updates so I think you should try this to.
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  • Profile picture of the author JensSteyaert
    Well having these tabs isn't mandatory for people, they can uncheck the tabs to get all their email in one big tab. Perhaps you can mention in your mails that people should uncheck the promotions tab so they don't miss out on your mails?
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  • Profile picture of the author littledan
    I also use Aweber and rarely end up in the promotion tab either. However I also have a Getresponse account too, and this one often ends up in the spam folder for the same broadcast message. Very odd.
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  • Profile picture of the author Stuart Walker
    Promo tab or whatever tab.

    If people WANT and look forward to your emails they will find them and your open rate will not be that affected.

    I find that people are too quick to blame trivial things like "promotion tab / send time / and to an extend headline".

    It doesn't matter what I send, where it goes or what time it gets sent out at the open rate is consistent. The only thing that makes a bit of difference is the headline. Send time and what tab it's going is not worth worrying about IME.

    But then I've built up a solid relationship with my subscribers BEFORE they opt in and they know to expect quality content from me so they look out for my emails.

    Not a day goes by that I don't get a dozen emails telling me how much I've helped them or how they loved this email / blog post.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Stuart Walker View Post

      If people WANT and look forward to your emails they will find them and your open rate will not be that affected.

      I find that people are too quick to blame trivial things like "promotion tab / send time / and to an extend headline".

      It doesn't matter what I send, where it goes or what time it gets sent out at the open rate is consistent. The only thing that makes a bit of difference is the headline. Send time and what tab it's going is not worth worrying about IME.

      But then I've built up a solid relationship with my subscribers BEFORE they opt in and they know to expect quality content from me so they look out for my emails.
      This.

      Exactly.

      It's about expectation-setting and continuity. If what attracted people to your site in the first place matches what they saw when they got there, and what you sent them for opting in directly fulfils all these purposes, and you maintain continuity throughout, gmail's "promotions" tab should make virtually no difference to your business.

      If it does, something's typically gone wrong at an earlier stage.

      The big, important, significant things that affect people's subscribers' expectations and their attention, and their open-rates, depend on things that happen before and while people opt in - not after. "After" is too late.

      Another thing you can do is direct your traffic, immediately after people click the "submit" button to opt in, to a thank you page which shows them clearly, with both words and pictures, how to avoid that problem (according to whether or not they're gmail users).
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      • Profile picture of the author digitalpimp
        I've found that if you 'sort of' leave them hanging at the end of your emails and tell them when to expect your next email they will find it no matter where it ends up.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gavin Stephenson
    You should be so important to people....

    that they make their own decision to move you into their priority folder... etc

    When you have the power to influence someone to do that via their on admission you're doing something right.

    I get 15 - 53% open rates on freebie lists but that's because I positioned myself to get those results..

    no tricks or loopholes...

    There's massive competition out there

    how are you being different.. ?

    how are you getting people to remember you... ?

    How are you standing out and maintaining a relationship.. ?

    The key for me when building a list is to focus on building a tribe not a list :-)

    I kind of look at it as the whole DATING game... first impression, first base, second base etc all the way to marriage, kids and a happy life.

    The mindset right now is to chase money when list building but it does't last and build a sustainable business.

    if you have the solid relationship where you are important to people in your tribe the money comes easier

    Counter Intuitive but it works for me...
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    • Profile picture of the author rbates
      Originally Posted by Gavin Stephenson View Post


      Counter Intuitive but it works for me...

      Gavin, I do not see this as "Counter Intuitive" in the least.

      One of the major obstacles that IM'ers face is the trust factor.
      With so much scamming, B.S.ing, and out-and-out lies being
      thrown out by many of those marketing online (even some of
      so-called "Heavy Hitters"), it is no wonder that people are
      skeptical about emails (I always am).

      There is no question that you need to let people know who you are,
      what you are about, and that you are as real as they are. Even
      though subscribers are not actually "Friends", the impression is there.
      At least the impression that maybe they could be your friend some day.

      The only problem that I see with the rationale of liking you so much
      that they look for your emails,
      is that unless you have a schedule
      that you send out your emails, people do not know when to expect them.
      Also, if for some reason they end up in a spam folder, many people do
      not always think to look there.

      As far as the gmail tabs, I kind of like them. It save me time. I can
      click on the "Promotions" tab and often get some new ideas.
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  • Profile picture of the author jamescanz
    Originally Posted by Garcysher View Post

    Anyone know whats the best way to avoid ending up in gmail promotions tab?
    Have your subscribers frantically looking for you, even when no email shows up in their inbox

    That of course, is something done over time
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  • Profile picture of the author Garcysher
    Some great advice guys. is there a good email marketing course you guys would recommend which I could study these techniques some more?

    thanks again...
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