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All the Pretty Newsletters - But Do They Work?

by Rikki_Fawkes
4 replies
I send my email broadcasts through AWeber. As a rule, I always send a plain text letter in addition to an HTML one. However, I've never formatted the HTML to look any different than an article.

I've been toying around with using the more visually appealing HTML templates. However, I don't know if they're any more effective than plain-looking emails (like Travis Sago's). I would like to make it look more well laid-out and include sections for permanent affiliate products, but I don't want the template to turn out looking funny in someone's email host.

What I'm wondering is, how many WF'ers are using templates for emails? Do you see your readership increase or decrease? Do you get more clicks/follow-through sales?

Thanks.
#newsletters #pretty #work
  • Profile picture of the author Shaun OReilly
    I used to use AWeber but now use Infusionsoft and in
    both cases I send out Plain Text and HTML versions of
    the newsletter.

    However, the HTML version has minimal formatting and
    I mainly use it to do some tracking and use action words
    for the link anchor text, etc.

    With regards to pretty templated newsletters, they may
    look professional but they also look less personal and
    less like a one-on-one communication.

    The best solution is to run split-tests of your broadcasts
    within AWeber and send half of them your current version
    and the other half the pretty version.

    Then track the click-through-rates and sales and you'll
    find out which one is the best for you and your specific
    list.

    Then you're not going on opinion but tested fact.

    Dedicated to your success,

    Shaun
    Signature

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    • Profile picture of the author Rikki_Fawkes
      Originally Posted by Shaun OReilly View Post

      I used to use AWeber but now use Infusionsoft and in
      both cases I send out Plain Text and HTML versions of
      the newsletter.

      However, the HTML version has minimal formatting and
      I mainly use it to do some tracking and use action words
      for the link anchor text, etc.

      With regards to pretty templated newsletters, they may
      look professional but they also look less personal and
      less like a one-on-one communication.

      The best solution is to run a split-test of your broadcast
      within AWeber and send half of them your current version
      and the other half the pretty version.

      Then track the click-through-rates and sales and you'll
      find out which one is the best for you and your specific
      list.

      Then you're not going on opinion but tested fact.

      Dedicated to your success,

      Shaun
      Great idea, thanks! Now I just wish I had enough readers open it to begin with to make the split-testing garner real results haha. Even with dynamic titles and catchy headlines, people still don't always open it. Guess some have gotten "Email blindness" like me.
      Signature

      Learn how you can get paid writing online with NO startup money! I will help you make part-time or full-time income as a freelance writer at http://getpaidwriting.org. No previous writing experience necessary!


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      • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
        Rikki,

        Like you, I always use plain text. Especially in non IM niches, I suspect that the standard qualifier "if you cannot read this email, please adjust your email settings" would just be a turn-off; but I'll probably test some different lay-outs eventually.

        As a receiver, I think the corporate style is fine when coming from a company like Amazon, but when a solo marketer uses a fancy header, I don't think professionalism - I just see someone sending me a file that's four times larger than it needs to be. :rolleyes:


        Frank
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  • Profile picture of the author ElectricChili
    I get much of my email on my Blackberry and the HTML ones get the images stripped out so they look pretty bad. I can download the pictures if I want to but it's never worth worth the time.

    Rich
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