It’s the ability to deploy automated email campaigns that reflect consumers’ immediate environment and the way it changes in real-time. Real-time email takes into consideration demographics, email and web behaviors, and purchase history data, but goes even further. It empowers marketers to deploy targeted and relevant emails that incorporate subscribers’ location as well as external factors influencing their environment such as popular sporting, cultural, weather, or other geographically-specific events
The most recent iteration of our Email Marketing Compass report revealed that, while email volume grew by 9% year over year (between Q2 of 2013 to Q2 of 2014), unique click-through rates actually declined by 14%. This is due to a hyper-competitive email marketing environment and increasingly selective consumers. However, studies have shown that personalized content from triggered emails garners at least twice the open and click rates general campaigns do. By taking this approach a step further with real-time triggers, marketers provide an added layer of contextual relevancy to emails (unique to what the customer is experiencing at the moment), thus motivating subscribers to take action and convert.
With an understanding of consumers’ current experiences and environment, marketers can instantly deploy relevant emails in real-time based on triggers like:
Real-time email is a relatively new method of email marketing, so it’s important to incorporate the following 3 fundamentals for success:
Aside from these fundamentals, it’s important to use good judgment when executing realtime email campaigns. An ill-conceived or insensitive offer during something like a tragic natural disaster would be distasteful and turn customers off from your brand. Focus on aligning your content and core products or services, and incorporate punchy subject lines with strong call-to-actions that compel visitors to make a purchase.
Jason Warnock is a seasoned veteran of digital marketing. After creating successful email applications for Canadian bank CIBC (2004), Jason initiated and managed Deliverability Operations for Digital Connexxions (2006) implementing several key strategies for major publishing clients. After a successful acquisition of Digital Connexxions in 2006 by infoUSA, Jason proceeded to become Director of Deliverability for Yes Marketing (2007) followed by VP of Deliverability Services for Yes Marketing (2011). Jason has transformed Yes Marketing's Deliverability into an industry leading solution through enhanced offerings of technology and client services. Jason has designed successful technical and business strategies for several large Fortune 500 companies including: HP, Coke, Kodak, Facebook, eBay, Ancestry.com, and United Airlines.