Marketing Success Presented to Aceware Users Dan Belhassen greatBIGnews.com Modern Earth Inc.

About your presenter Dan Belhassen – Founder and President of Modern Earth Inc., an Internet technology company – Website creators, online software developers, search engine consultants, new media marketing specialists – Developers of “greatBIGnews.com”

You use marketing.. Don’t you?

Why not? Cheapest way of reaching your market Allows you to make rapid changes Allows you to do “just in time” marketing

Interesting Statistics

66% of those surveyed said they had made a purchase because of a marketing message received through . - ExactTarget, "2008 Channel Preference Survey" (2008) Consumers who subscribed to newsletters generated 34.25% more product sales. - MarketingSherpa in association with ConAgra Foods (2007)

Interesting Statistics Wednesday was the best day of the week in the third quarter of 2007 to send in terms of click (3.9%) and open rates (25.4%). - eROI (2007) Average open rates on Tuesdays were 22.6% and clicks were 3.2%; open rates on Thursdays were 23.6% while click rates were 3.7%; open rates on Friday were 23.1% and clicks were 3.1%; and open rates on Sunday were 20.7% while clicks were 2.4%. - eROI (2007)

Interesting Statistics s with shorter subject lines significantly outperformed s with longer subject lines. - MailerMailer (2008) s that had only the subject line personalized (12.4% Open Rate & 1.7% CTR) did worse than those with no personalization at all (13.5% Open Rate & 2.7% CTR). - MailerMailer (2008)

Interesting Statistics Seven in 10 US Internet users said they judged these "from" and "subject" lines when deciding whether to report an as spam. - Sender and Provider Coalition and Ipsos (December 2007) Including the company name in the subject line can increase open rates by up to 32 percent to 60 percent over a subject line without branding. - Jupiter Research (2007)

Interesting Statistics What Kinds of Subject Lines Most Attract Your Attention? – 55.2% - Clearly State the Offer – 49.6% - Discount or free shipping – 48.8% - Brand name or sender – 33.8% - Curious – 30.3% - Promise immediate answers (download or survey) – 18.7% - Short – 15.2% - Promise to solve a specific problem – 14.1% - Funny – 11.0% - Has my name in it -Return Path survey evaluating Holiday Subject Lines (2006)

Interesting Statistics Time of day online users check personal s at work Sporadically47% First thing in morning 25% At lunchtime 18% During afternoon break 8% Right before end of day 2%

Interesting Statistics When online users check their First thing in morning 41% Right after dinner 18% Right after work 14% Right before bed 14% Middle of night 40%

Interesting Statistics Where online users check their In Bed 23% In class 12% In a business meeting 8% Wi-Fi hotspot 6% Beach or pool 6% Bathroom4% While driving 4% Church1%

Study: Moms Recent study by online retailers Goal is to understand how moms respond We can learn from these results… From Lucid Marketing & Labs

Study: Moms Subject lines that will motivate moms to open a retail message Discounted Price 72.5% Free shipping offer 60.1% Special offer mention 37.4% Specific brand mention 26.9% Time-based deadline 21.4% My name 4.3% Family member mentioned 3.3%

Study: Moms How often moms would like to be notified by retail s Daily3.6% Weekly35.3% Bi-Weekly22.6% Monthly32.9% Quarterly2.6% Annually1.5% Other1.5%

Study: Moms Product information in retail s that will motivate moms to click Displaying price 62.7% Photo of product 61.7% Delivery information 43.7% Brand name 42.4% Displaying dollar savings 36.1% Brief description 36.1% Displaying % savings 24.3% Days left in sale 14.9% Ratings & testimonials 13.0%

This presentation assumes.. You are currently marketing You would like to improve your success rate

Top 6 ways to Improve Success

#1 Create Targeted Lists

Don’t just have one large list! Target your best (repeat) customers They are most likely to re-enroll with you

#1 Create Targeted Lists Separate list based on interest area – Attended a course category in last 24 months Computer, photography, gardening, business, health or separate by demographic – Senior, Youth, Family Or both!

#1 Create Targeted Lists

Sample “General” template

Sample “GenX” template

Sample “GenY” template

#2 Maximize Opens The “open decision” will be based on – The From address / Identity – The subject line

#2 Maximize Opens From Address – Composed of a NAME and ADDRESS – Usually only the name will be visible – Clearly identify who you are – Critical for credibility

#2 Maximize Opens Name of Sender

#2 Maximize Opens Assuming credibility is established… – The subject line says what the message is about – Make it clear enough to help the receiver delete it WHAT? Yes! They should be trained that the subject line is directly related to content Overall open rates will improve over time – But what makes a good subject line?

#2 Maximize Opens But, why guess when you can measure? Take 25% of your list and divide into A/B groups – Send subject 1 to group A – Send subject 2 to group B – Send the “winning” subject line to the remaining group

#2 Maximize Opens But, why guess when you can measure? Take 25% of your list and divide into A/B groups – Send subject 1 to group A – Send subject 2 to group B – Send the “winning” subject line to the remaining group Use your statistics to improve your success

#2 Maximize Opens But, why guess when you can measure? Take 25% of your list and divide into A/B groups – Send subject 1 to group A – Send subject 2 to group B – Send the “winning” subject line to the remaining group Use your statistics to improve your success 17% 23%

#2 Maximize Opens Which are better for your audience? – Specific deadlines – Price (eg: discounts) – Urgency – Don’t miss out on great fall courses! OR – Fall course calender now available

#3 Use “calls to action” Tell your subscriber what to do! Clearly communicate the next action they should take

#3 Use “calls to action”

Classy art Everything on one page

#4 Targeted Follow ups Most marketing systems will provide – Everyone who opens a promo – Everyone who clicks on a link Create a follow up list based on opens and clicks – Send a targeted follow up

Sample initial promo

#4 Targeted Follow ups Sample follow up

#5 Measure Results Most systems will provide a reporting mechanism See which promos have gotten better results Example why that is – Try A/B testing with different content

#6 Track Conversions There are three main conversion steps – Are you tracking each step? Click-through > website Website > registration form Registration form > submission

#6 Track Conversions Ultimate conversion tracking – Tie your marketing to Google Analytics – Use conversion tracking tool – Will show you which links ultimately generated ROI

Sample Marketing Plan

Preparation Promote list through website – Show example of past editions – Ask for as little information as possible – Set expectations on frequency

Preparation Promote newsletter through brochure – “Want to learn about new courses? Sign up online!” – “Learn about hot new courses first with our alerts!” – “Enter to win your course for free at www…”

Preparation Provide an incentive – Draw or contest One “reader” per month wins? One “new subscriber” per month wins? – Free course? Gift certificate?

Preparation Train staff – “Always be asking” for permission – How to handle questions Modify procedures Opportunities to gain permission Phone calls, course evaluations, registration methods

Preparation Record of all promotions – Print outs of promotions – Indication of subject line, open rate, CTR – ROI (number of registrations)

Sample Marketing Plan Community/Recreation Program Assuming you are starting “from scratch”

August First week (6 weeks out) – Mail brochure – Sent first announcing brochure Third week (4 weeks out) – Mail brochure 2 nd time to past participants and inquiries Third to Fourth week (3-4 weeks out) – s spotlighting new courses

September First Week (1 week out) – 3 rd send out – Low enrollment classes ed to best customers – Send about popular classes Second week (0 weeks out) – Classes start Third to Fourth Week – about classes starting in October

October Second Week – about classes starting in November

November-December Fourth Week November (7 weeks out) – Mail brochure First to Second Week December (5-6 weeks out) – Send to full list Third Week (4 weeks out, after Xmas) – Brochure mailed 2 nd time to past participants and inquiries Fourth Week December-First Week Jan – spotlighting new courses … repeat!

How SPAM Filters Work

Thousands of anti-SPAM systems – Scored (ie: SpamAssassin) – Learned (ie: uses Bayesian Algorithm) – Challenge/Response (ie: SpamArrest) – Greylisting (ie: greylisting.org) – Human Rated (ie: Cloudmark)

Avoid being labeled as SPAM Properly setup server – Dedicated IP address – Reverse IP DNS entry – SPF (Sender Policy Framework) DNS entry

Avoid being labeled as SPAM Properly setup server – Dedicated IP address – Reverse IP DNS entry – SPF (Sender Policy Framework) DNS entry

Avoid being labeled as SPAM “Polite” server – Limit total volume upon request – Limit s sent “per connection” Remove invalid addresses – Limit undeliverable s

Avoid being labeled as SPAM Words to Avoid? – Free!50% off!Click Here Call now!SubscribeEarn $ Discount!Eliminate DebtDouble your income You're a Winner!Reverses Aging"Hidden" Information you requested"Stop" or "Stops“Multi level Marketing Million DollarsOpportunityCompare RemovesCollectAmazing Cash BonusPromise YouCredit LoansSatisfaction GuaranteedSerious Cash Search Engine ListingsAct Now!All New All NaturalAvoid BankruptcyAs Seen On… Buy DirectCasinoCash Consolidate Your DebtSpecial PromotionEasy Terms Get PaidGuarantee, GuaranteedGreat offer Give it away, Giving it awayJoin millionsMeet Singles MLMNo cost, No fees OfferOne time Online pharmacyOnline marketingOrder Now Please ReadDon't DeleteSave up to Time limitedUnsecured debt or creditVacation ViagraVisit our web siteWhile Supplies last Why pay more?WinnerWork at home You've been selected

Selecting a system Key features – Deliverability – Tracking (opens, click-throughs) – Import subscribers & prevent duplicates – Capture from website – Send to a friend w/self sign up option – Design matches your branding

Thank you! greatBIGnews.com modernearth.net