A good email marketing campaign design results from several things.  Keeping it simple is the first and foremost, but if it contains a flashy headline and opening with no real content, you are unlikely to get the results you desire.   People avoid the ‘gimmicky’, so if yours is, you should consider a redesign as outlined below.

Begin with a newsletter format.A survey conducted by the Nielson Norman Group has shown that the typical reader of email newsletters will spend 50 seconds on average in review.Unfortunately, a regular email messgae will only hold the average readers attention for 4-5 seconds at best.   So, a newsletter is a better choice because it will likely hold your readers attention for ten times as long. We come now to a bit more about the best principles of design for the newsletter or email.

What is most important is to establish an email marketing design that will strongly attract attention, but also hold it for an extended period of time.   Most consumers only read a small fraction of the emails they get, and most of the ones that are actually opened are only scanned for content.People respond differently to advertising design, so it is critical that you have a good understanding of the audience you are trying to reach and that you design your message to appeal to them specifically.

Because most emails are never opened, it is critical that your subject line stand out from the rest to ever have a chance.  Most email marketers personalize the subject line, as well as the actual body copy.   Your subject line must be presented in a way that clearly promises a unique and exeptional solution to a particular problem or issue.  Alternative, the subject line may challenge a commonly held belief or notion that your email marketing list target audience may hold.  Take a few days to list the subject lines that have compelled you to actually read an incoming email, then analyze them to understand why they worked with you.

Another of the key elements in your email design may involve the use of colors and graphics in ways that  that quickly call  the attention of your readers to key benefit statements and calls for action.  At the same time, be sure that the colors do not impact the flow of the narrative in a negative by integrating them smoothly, and that any graphics employed have a clear purpose other than to simply be pretty or attractive.  Colors and graphics must be a clear element of the message you are trying to convey.

Furthermore, because we know that when an email is actually opened, you only have four seconds or so to really get the readers attention, you have to present the critical elements or challenges of your message appear quickly and clearly.In addition, you need to present in a way that attracts the attention of the reader very quickly, but also teases or convinces them to read on to get even more good information.  

Finally, your email marketing message must convey a clear and compelling call for action from the reader.  Be very specific about what you want them to do and provide them all the information and contact information they will need to get the action accomplished quickly.  For further information on how to successfully employ email marketing, visit Network Online Reviews for a variety of articles and reviews of email marketing products.