






Content Specifications.
Format: HTML
/ Text
Size: 5,000 Characters Or Less
HTML content may not contains iframe scripts or javascript. All images used in the creation of the HTML ad must be hosted by the advertiser, unless the advertiser has purchased content creation services from us. HTML images should be optimized to minimize load time.
Targeted Email (HTML / Text) must have related content to the target areas chosen. In the event that the content is not considered targeted to the proper groups (Example: Fitness Ad for Financial Services) then the CTR Guarantee will be void.
Writing Your Ad
When you mail to an opt-in
list, the email message that you send can have a significant effect
on the click through rates achieved. Our network sees a huge variation in
click through rates - anything from 2% to 76%! Not all of this variation is
due to the message of course - some of it is due to the product/service/web
site on offer - but a good proportion IS certainly down to the message.
So how do you make the best use of a
simple text email message to gain the maximum response?
First the basics:
What are you trying to
achieve? Before you write a word, carefully consider what you want
the email to achieve. Normally the aim is to bring visitors to a web site.
Sometimes there are secondary requirements. Sometimes you want to achieve
a sale or sign up as a direct result of the email. Whatever the aim, you should
always keep it in mind at all times when writing your text. Keep focused.
Check Spelling and grammar Poor
spelling and poor grammar are an instant turn off. Compose your message in
a word processor (using plain text of course) - and use the spell check on
the word processor to check the text - then simply cut and paste into your
order.
Line Length Some email software does not provide a line wrapping facility - so if you do not include carriage returns in the text - the recipient simply sees a long line of text. Keep the line length to 80 characters or less and use a 'hard' carriage return (press the return key) at the end of each line rather than allowing the software to wrap the line.
Caps DO NOT USE ALL CAPS - IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE SHOUTING AND IS HARD TO READ. The sentence above should illustrate the point. OCCASIONAL use of caps to emphasize a word - or possibly a header - is ok. Put the whole message in caps, and you come across as a net newbie - not good for sales.
Paragraphs Keep paragraphs short. Long paragraphs of plain text are hard to read and look boring. Short paragraphs get read!
Message length In general, aim to keep your message as short as possible - while getting the necessary message across. AdScholar imposes no maximum on the number of lines that you can include in an email, the maximum is imposed by the readers interest threshold.
There are at least three sets of circumstance where a longer message can be used:
Once your prospect is talking
to you, you can say a bit more!
Message content
"Aye there's the rub" as Shakespeare said. What should
the content of your email be? Well, first lets look at some general rules:
...and was signed off with the CEO's name. This ad pulled over 35% visits. Can you resist visiting to find out what it is? By the way, ending the email with the name of the person sending it, and some form of contact method (email or telephone) always helps to build trust - which boosts response.
So curiosity is a good pull, but only useable in certain circumstances. What other emotions can be used to increase response?
Truth - be totally up front about WHY
your product is low cost - "We bought too much stock - now Christmas
is over we can't sell it - we are offering this once in a lifetime price
to save our cash flow". Opening your heart to your customer can forge
very good relationships through building on trust. DON'T ABUSE THIS. If
you use this line once - and then use it again later, and it is seen by
some of your original customers.....the end.
You can think of other variations on this - but the key is to adopt a
theme that supports your aim - and then use that theme throughout your
email ad.
The final point on content has already been touched on. Add a personal
touch to the email. Give a name that the reader can use. Openly give contact
information. Sometimes writing the whole email from a personal perspective
can work extremely well.
Conclusion
In summary - Keep it as short as possible, No spelling mistakes, write to a theme and write to the person you visualize as your target. Do all of the above, and you will see your response rates increase.
