Launching an Email Blast

These days, there is a huge assortment of possible choices for bulk email software. It can leave a person at a loss for what he or she truly needs. One should understand what is essential to the organization’s needs when choosing between easy or complicated software. When using the software for basic bulk emails, such as press releases, events, letters from the Executive Director, action emails, and updates, here are some of the attributes to look for in the software:

• Design Attributes
o Editing: Be sure that staff with limited technical know-how will be able to change or update the emails’ content. See if the software offers a format for modifying content that is similar to that of a typical Microsoft Word document.

o Website integration: Check that the software lets a link back to the company’s website be incorporated in the email. This is so the email recipients can view the emails, or any other related content, on the website. Also check to be sure that the email’s details can be made to appear the same on the website.

o Design templates: The chosen software should supply a large choice of templates that are easy to save and customize; this will aid in keeping uniformity in looks of all emails. The templates offered should include updates, eNewsletters, action emails, and event announcements.

• Administration Attributes

o Anti-Spam components: Make sure the software has way out of deliverability issues; a need for anti-spam features will grow as your list size increases.

o Data Integration: Find out if all the assorted software in the office will link together smoothly or if supplementary software will be necessary to integrate the systems.

o Website Integration: Discover the subscribe/unsubscribe abilities between the email database and the website.

o Reports: The software should have capabilities that will create a report on how many emails were effectively sent and read. It should also have an ability to trace unsubscribe lists and the areas of success and failure using different variables.

o List management: Look for an easy way to import, merge, and eliminate duplicates from your email listserv. Be sure to also check what the software does with bad or bounced email address. Also look into whether or not the software can manage several databases and lists. Another integral feature is one that allows for segmentation of the contact list into subgroups based on answers and/or history.

o Response based emails: Discern that the software allows for various forms of email sorting and receiver definition. This permits for sending response emails to people who may have responded in a specific way to an earlier email.

When picking a software package, these are some of the things to keep in mind. This list can be used for making sure of basic needs or also to set into motion ideas about possible other components and extra necessities for the organization.

When everything is designed, written, and targeted and ready to be blasted, there are a few more pieces of advice to maximize the probability of an open and a response.

• Compose Headlines Thoughtfully
Excellent email headings necessitate succinctness, attentiveness, acumen, and evading spam words that may put your email blast in a spam folder. The header is just as important as the content—it is what creates the possibility of an open and a response

• Check Sender Information
Include a contact title and organization or a contact name and organization in order to increase the recipient’s chance of opening the email. When targeted properly, the email receiver will stop long enough on the organization and name to have interest aroused.

• Test, improve, and re-test
Keeping track of what works and what does not is essential in working with email blasts. Think about the details. Were the recipients proper? Was the wording precise? Was the time of day, week, month, or year good? Were there other variables? Pay attention! As you notice what works, the email blasts will become improved and your emails will become more effective.

This post was written by Nonprofit Software, a group that advises nonprofits on the most effective use of time and financial resources to promote their organizations. From donation management software to non profit membership management software, Nonprofit Software helps people make educated decisions on the tools needed to succeed.