Who the hell has time to survey and review all the email marketing companies?
Well, no-one, but I also feel that someone who intends to be helping her clients damn well better know the pros and cons of each before she starts recommending one over the others. So I spent 4 hours today – that's right, four bloody hours that I will never get back, so listen up – scrutinizing the field for you, dear reader.
First stop, Top Ten Reviews, a site that makes it their business to regularly do much of the initial research. Love those guys. Their 2008 review reveals a more accurate view of each contender.
I was surprised to see that Constant Contact was more expensive and had less features than iContact. Constant Contact is easily the best known of them all, so hats off to their marketing department, because they've certainly convinced many that they're the best.
I use iContact.com. Aside from the price and efficiency, I like their interface. It's simple and uncluttered. They offer everything that Constant Contact does, including strict anti-spam policies, but they offer more features at a lower cost.
That said, Constant Contact and iContact are so similar that it doesn't really matter. If you feel more comfortable with Constant Contact, by all means spend a bit more and go with them. Either company will let you download your list of subscribers at any time, so you can always change your mind later.
November 06, 2008 update: still loving iContact and now they are in the #1 spot at Top Ten Reviews. If you want to try it free for 14 days, click here.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Email Marketing: Blessing or Curse?
I hate junk email as much as you. Probably more.
So when clients started asking me to design templates for their email marketing campaigns, I assumed they wanted my help in contributing to this sea of schlock. I flat-out refused to become the Queen of Spam. Nobody opened these annoying emails anyway, so why bother?
And then a funny thing happened.
A client, Carole Murko, of Boulderwood Group fame , challenged my assumptions and ultimately, changed my mind.
A savvy marketer herself, Carole had already tested one of the online services, iContact, and found it to be truly effective. She reminded me that people were so busy that they often forgot to sign up for a seminar, or take advantage of a sale, and a simple email reminder was actually, believe it or not, quite welcomed. Still, I wasn't entirely convinced.
Over dinner, I reluctantly realized that I, Ms.Anti-Spam Herself, was guilty of opening and using certain email offers (JetBlue, Crate and Barrel, if you must know) and in fact, I did appreciate them. Oh crap. Now I'd have to re-think my whole attitude.
After wrestling with this for several hours, I concluded 3 important things:
1) email marketing is simply a tool that can be used or abused, depending on who wields it. Like many people, I had confused email marketing with spam. After some research, I concluded that email marketing is a legitimate, ethical form of email advertising to targeted lists of recipients who have subscribed to receive such offers, and who retain the right to Unsubscribe anytime they want;
2) email marketing offers small businesses (my darlings) a real chance to compete against large corporations because it is an extremely effective, fast and inexpensive method of reaching an audience to generate quick traffic and/or sales;
3) and therefore, this hard-working little tool deserved to be just as beautiful as any website, and who better to do that makeover than Yours Truly?
Thus I have done a 180 degree turn in my attitude to (opt-in/opt-out) email marketing. Now the only question is which service to use? (The answer in my next blog post.)
So when clients started asking me to design templates for their email marketing campaigns, I assumed they wanted my help in contributing to this sea of schlock. I flat-out refused to become the Queen of Spam. Nobody opened these annoying emails anyway, so why bother?
And then a funny thing happened.
A client, Carole Murko, of Boulderwood Group fame , challenged my assumptions and ultimately, changed my mind.
A savvy marketer herself, Carole had already tested one of the online services, iContact, and found it to be truly effective. She reminded me that people were so busy that they often forgot to sign up for a seminar, or take advantage of a sale, and a simple email reminder was actually, believe it or not, quite welcomed. Still, I wasn't entirely convinced.
Over dinner, I reluctantly realized that I, Ms.Anti-Spam Herself, was guilty of opening and using certain email offers (JetBlue, Crate and Barrel, if you must know) and in fact, I did appreciate them. Oh crap. Now I'd have to re-think my whole attitude.
After wrestling with this for several hours, I concluded 3 important things:
1) email marketing is simply a tool that can be used or abused, depending on who wields it. Like many people, I had confused email marketing with spam. After some research, I concluded that email marketing is a legitimate, ethical form of email advertising to targeted lists of recipients who have subscribed to receive such offers, and who retain the right to Unsubscribe anytime they want;
2) email marketing offers small businesses (my darlings) a real chance to compete against large corporations because it is an extremely effective, fast and inexpensive method of reaching an audience to generate quick traffic and/or sales;
3) and therefore, this hard-working little tool deserved to be just as beautiful as any website, and who better to do that makeover than Yours Truly?
Thus I have done a 180 degree turn in my attitude to (opt-in/opt-out) email marketing. Now the only question is which service to use? (The answer in my next blog post.)
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
So you want to sell online...
But you don't have $15 - $30K to spare for a custom site. (Yes, my dears, that is how much it will run you for a decent site that does not look like your Uncle Larry put it together). Surely there's a cheaper solution...
Well, here's what's currently available:
1) eBay store. Okay, most of these are really hokey, but if you skip the plaid-and-bows wallpaper, and stick to one font, you might just be okay. Yes, you will have to have the 1001 links to all things eBay, but most eBayers are accustomed to this terrain. Just know that you will have to be VERY prompt and courteous at all times, in order to maintain your critical Seller's reputation.
2) Yahoo store
Much improved but still not ideal if your plans are long-term. All webpages are written in Yahoo's proprietary code (translation: they own your site, you can't host it anywhere else). As sales pick up and you begin to make money, you'll realize that you're paying too much for their hosting, but by then it's too late. You will be forced to rebuild the site from scratch to host it elsewhere, or stay with Yahoo. Oh, and their tech support is a joke. Unless you enjoy speaking to a very polite but hopelessly lost trainee in Bombay.
2) Google Check Out
If you are based in the US or UK, you can set up a Google Merchant account. Then you can either a) add a Google "Buy Now" button to your blog or website. The customer will be transported to the Google site for processing. This works for single items only (i.e. the customer can only buy one item at a time, no "add to cart" extended shopping trips. This is fine if all you have is one book/software solution/one-size-fits-all T-shirt, etc. Or b) you can dive into the do-it-yourself shopping cart set up. If you emerge with your sanity intact (doubtful), you will have a clunky-looking but serviceable shopping cart system in place, that may or may not look anything like your site. Will anyone in their right mind use it? Probably not. Google is best known for sharing information, not safeguarding it.
3) PayPal
Same as option 2 above, only safer and available to a wider global audience. (PayPal is owned by eBay. They've been handling online transactions for awhile. Google just got interested in 2007.) They offer single buttons or do-it-yourself carts, or custom carts. Many developers use PayPal for a custom cart regardless of budget since it's been refined and has widespread support. Just don't expect it to look anything like a big-brand ecommerce site. They have entire departments to run their ecommerce.
In any case, you'll need a website to attach your shoppng cart/button. A blog is fine for a single-item scenario, but otherwise useless, as it's one giant long page.
Basically, there's still no quick-and-easy ecommerce solution for anyone with an ounce of sense or taste.
The good news is that once it's up, a well-built, beautiful site will work 24/7 for you, reaching a global market, with no overhead other than your server's hosting fee (approx $20/month) and your bank transactions. Compared to setting up, furnishing and operating a brick-and-mortar store, it's still a bargain.
But what to do if you still can't afford it? Have a simple, beautiful mini website built, add an 800-number or a Skype (skype.com) international number, and take your orders by fax/phone. You can always process your credit card orders offline, the old-fashioned way. You can still advertise online and attract customers from around the world. You will have more success going that route, than if you settle for a cheesy "build-your-site-in-5-minutes!" offer.
Well, here's what's currently available:
1) eBay store. Okay, most of these are really hokey, but if you skip the plaid-and-bows wallpaper, and stick to one font, you might just be okay. Yes, you will have to have the 1001 links to all things eBay, but most eBayers are accustomed to this terrain. Just know that you will have to be VERY prompt and courteous at all times, in order to maintain your critical Seller's reputation.
2) Yahoo store
Much improved but still not ideal if your plans are long-term. All webpages are written in Yahoo's proprietary code (translation: they own your site, you can't host it anywhere else). As sales pick up and you begin to make money, you'll realize that you're paying too much for their hosting, but by then it's too late. You will be forced to rebuild the site from scratch to host it elsewhere, or stay with Yahoo. Oh, and their tech support is a joke. Unless you enjoy speaking to a very polite but hopelessly lost trainee in Bombay.
2) Google Check Out
If you are based in the US or UK, you can set up a Google Merchant account. Then you can either a) add a Google "Buy Now" button to your blog or website. The customer will be transported to the Google site for processing. This works for single items only (i.e. the customer can only buy one item at a time, no "add to cart" extended shopping trips. This is fine if all you have is one book/software solution/one-size-fits-all T-shirt, etc. Or b) you can dive into the do-it-yourself shopping cart set up. If you emerge with your sanity intact (doubtful), you will have a clunky-looking but serviceable shopping cart system in place, that may or may not look anything like your site. Will anyone in their right mind use it? Probably not. Google is best known for sharing information, not safeguarding it.
3) PayPal
Same as option 2 above, only safer and available to a wider global audience. (PayPal is owned by eBay. They've been handling online transactions for awhile. Google just got interested in 2007.) They offer single buttons or do-it-yourself carts, or custom carts. Many developers use PayPal for a custom cart regardless of budget since it's been refined and has widespread support. Just don't expect it to look anything like a big-brand ecommerce site. They have entire departments to run their ecommerce.
In any case, you'll need a website to attach your shoppng cart/button. A blog is fine for a single-item scenario, but otherwise useless, as it's one giant long page.
Basically, there's still no quick-and-easy ecommerce solution for anyone with an ounce of sense or taste.
The good news is that once it's up, a well-built, beautiful site will work 24/7 for you, reaching a global market, with no overhead other than your server's hosting fee (approx $20/month) and your bank transactions. Compared to setting up, furnishing and operating a brick-and-mortar store, it's still a bargain.
But what to do if you still can't afford it? Have a simple, beautiful mini website built, add an 800-number or a Skype (skype.com) international number, and take your orders by fax/phone. You can always process your credit card orders offline, the old-fashioned way. You can still advertise online and attract customers from around the world. You will have more success going that route, than if you settle for a cheesy "build-your-site-in-5-minutes!" offer.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Apple's iPhone: Invention of the Year?
Time Magazine just crowned the Apple iPhone, "The Invention of the Year" (why? read the article - it's quite interesting) and the tech world is in an uproar: "Since when did Apple invent the cellphone?!" "But it only works with AT&T!" blah blah blah.
No, Apple didn't invent all the technology in the iPhone (though the stable Mac OS X is at the heart of it). But Henry Ford didn't invent all the parts in a car, either. Yet he was the first to combine them all in an attractive, accessible, fun package. (Who remembers the steering wheel inventor?) So today, he is the one credited for inventing the car. And his "invention" changed the world.
The iPhone is a testament to the power of great composition and design. Sure, a Blackberry may download your email faster. But there's not one ounce of aesthetic delight or fun in it. It's just another tool. The iPhone is a tool AND a toy AND a fashion accessory. And that's a tough combo to beat.
Beautiful design speaks to the soul. It bypasses your best reasoning functions. You fall for it time and again. Good design pays for itself 100 times over, because it delivers a shot of pure earthly satisfaction. And who can resist that?
No, Apple didn't invent all the technology in the iPhone (though the stable Mac OS X is at the heart of it). But Henry Ford didn't invent all the parts in a car, either. Yet he was the first to combine them all in an attractive, accessible, fun package. (Who remembers the steering wheel inventor?) So today, he is the one credited for inventing the car. And his "invention" changed the world.
The iPhone is a testament to the power of great composition and design. Sure, a Blackberry may download your email faster. But there's not one ounce of aesthetic delight or fun in it. It's just another tool. The iPhone is a tool AND a toy AND a fashion accessory. And that's a tough combo to beat.
Beautiful design speaks to the soul. It bypasses your best reasoning functions. You fall for it time and again. Good design pays for itself 100 times over, because it delivers a shot of pure earthly satisfaction. And who can resist that?
Monday, October 29, 2007
Design in the Montreal metro
I bet New Yorkers can't believe their eyes (or ears) when they first encounter the Montreal Metro...
AESTHETICS
Every station is designed by a different architect, and each one is home to giant works of art, from walls of stained glass to exquisite modern tile patterns. (View a quick photo line-up of the many different interiors.) But that's just the beginning. The next thing you notice is the general cleanliness and lack of graffiti. There are no signs of neglect (no broken railings, no torn seating, no leaking roofs, or vermin). The temperature in the stations and on the trains is air-conditioned in summer, heated in winter. The cars look new, but in fact are 40 years old; they were refurbished in 1999. Not only are there clean trash cans, there are recycle bins at every turn. A single one-way ticket is $2.50, but the public certainly gets its money's worth, and there are substantial discounts for commuter passes.
SAFETY
The absence of aggression is palpable. I've traveled several times via metro at 1am on a Saturday by myself and never felt concerned for my safety, either in the station or on the platform. I haven't figured that part out yet. Maybe it's the clear sight lines and good lighting. Maybe it's just a general satisfaction with the high quality of life in Quebec.
EFFICIENCY
On the platforms, giant electronic LCD screens display useful information: time, weather, news updates and... the estimated time of arrival of the next train. Transportation and city maps are where you need them and... they're current! Trains generally run on time (every 3 - 5 minutes at peak times, every 12 minutes off peak). Each train is monitored electronically to optimize performance.
THOUGHTFUL DESIGN
Overhead walkways allow you to see arriving and departing trains, when you're still close enough to sprint to catch one or slow down if you see you've just missed a train. Platforms are intelligently designed. Lighting is focused where you need it at the edge of the platform, and dimmed in the seating area so you can relax more easily while waiting.
Seating is set in to the walls. When no-one is seated, the platform is completely clear of obstruction. If the seats are occupied, only ones knees protrude, so others can see you (for safety's sake) yet you're not blocking the flow of traffic. Brilliant.
Even the typography makes sense: letters are wide-kerned (spaced out) so that the station name can more easily be read from the window of a moving car.And of course, the crowning glory is the French-inspired color-coded metro system, with each line logically named after its 2 end stations (none of this vague "A train" or "# 2 line", which is utterly useless for visitors). If the sign above the platform station is orange and says "Cote-Vertu", then you are on the orange line, headed in the direction of Cote-Vertu. So simple to use. So well-conceived.
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