It's likely that when you meet someone, you want to make a good first impression. Your emails are an extension of your brand, so naturally, you want your emails to make a great first impression, too. Researchers found that the brain makes decisions in just a 20th of a second of viewing a webpage. You could assume the same would hold true for email. If you only have a 20th of a second to get a good opinion, it only makes sense to lead with something visual that can be grasped at a glance.
The truth is, people may not actually be reading your emails. But there's a great chance they are looking at them. That makes it important to convey your message without solely relying on text.
When defining the structure for your campaign, lead with a powerful image. It can also be helpful to add a strong headline and a clear call to action. Your "above the fold" real estate is typically the top 250-400 pixels. That is where you have the opportunity to create a lasting impression. If you need some inspiration to get you going, check out these brands that grab your attention before you read a single thing:
Why we like it: The first thing in the inbox is a powerful image that makes the readers want to scroll without even thinking about it.
Why we like it: It leads with an energetic headline and image to back up the point.
Why we like it: This image creates an emotional connection right away.
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Looking for even more great tips to improve your email's images? Check out our Brainiac Guide.
80% of people opening your emails are scanning, not reading, which means that compelling images in your email are key to grabbing attention.
What's all that mean? It's a good time to brush up on your image smarts, which is why we've just published our Brainiac Guide to Images in Email. You'll find five practical tips for making the most of your images with visuals (of course!) that help make the point.
But wait, there's more: all month long on the blog, we'll be going into more detail about leveraging the power of images in your email newsletters. We'll share real-world examples, expert interviews and videos. Check back often or, hey, just subscribe here or follow us on Twitter for the latest.
Also during the month of March, Emma customers can get 5 stock images on us. It's to celebrate the brand-new Emma integration with Bigstock that makes about 12 million stock images searchable right from your account -- and makes it easy to always add the all-important image to your next email campaign.
Emma CEO Clint Smith declares Nashville a hub of creativity *and* food trucks.
Oh, hey March. What'd you do with our friend February?
This last week has been a busy one at Emma. We officially launched a new partnership with Bigstock by offering five stock images to every customer through March 31, hosted a whole slew of events at our Nashville office and (finally) recovered from all the Oscar hoopla.
If March also caught you by surprise, never fear. We've rounded up some of the best stuff from our social spaces this week.
To read a recap – or I should say, to feast your eyes on the amazing sketchnotes that came out of this presentation – visit the personal blog of Emma senior designer Taylor Schena. You'll be glad you did.
Maybe you were waiting for us to sweeten the deal? Alright, alright.
Yup, that's right. Now through March 31, you can purchase up to five stock images right from your Emma account, and we'll take care of the cost.
How it works
To claim the offer *and* find the perfect images for your next mailing (or the one after that – there's no pressure to use 'em right away), simply follow these steps:
Click create a new mailing in the drag & drop editor. (If you've been with Emma for a while, this is the "Your mailings: beta" editor that's in the second section of the page.)
Click any image placeholder and in the window that appears, navigate to the stock images tab to start searching by keyword or phrase.
When you find an image you like, purchase it, and we'll remove the cost from your next invoice.
Repeat up to four more times by March 31st to take advantage of this stock image giveaway.
How to edit images
Remember that Bigstock has more than just photos in its library; you can also find illustrations and vector sheets to add visual appeal to your emails. That means you may want to crop just the part you want or edit an image before using it in your mailing.
Emma's new image editor, which is powered by Aviary, lets you crop, add filters and more. This video walks you through the steps:
So what are you waiting for? Log in now to get started.
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Want more tips for using Bigstock and Aviary? You'll find 'em in our resource center.
Our customer support team may not be taking home an Oscar, but we did take home a Stevie Award. To misquote Sally Field, "They like us! They really like us!"
The Academy Awards are this Sunday – will you don your fancy ball gown or tux, or just take the excuse to get in your pajamas a little earlier than usual? We support either decision, and we've rounded up some of our own winners from the week.
And lastly, a favorite find from our own Twitter feed
Our very own @cynthiahprice attended Marketing Sherpa's Email Summit this week. For the record, she loves Madonna and Lady Gaga equally (okay, she loves Madonna just a little bit more).
Awards season is upon us: the glitz, the glamour, the open rates!
If you’re looking to take home “Best Email in an Inbox,” take note of these tips and handy Emma features that'll put you in the running.
Nominated for Best Supporting Role:
Links
While Dorothy got her share of critical acclaim and attention from those red slipper clicks, you’re likely after a click of a different breed. Include links that give your readers a chance to visit your website or social sites – anywhere that gets them to engage further with your brand.
Calls to action
It's your email, so sit in the director's chair. But do more than yell "action!" to get your audience to respond. Craft headlines that get your point across, and give your readers clear places to click. Want people to log in, register or simply reply? Make it easy for them!
Nominated for Best Visual Effects:
Smart sizing images
Think celebrity couples of mismatched heights wish they had a quick fix for the red carpet walk? They may not, but your images do! Our drop & drag editor automatically sizes your images for a professional look.
Video in email
Everyone loves a good flick. Isn't that why we bother watching award shows in the first place? Videos are an increasingly popular form of content in the digital world, and it's a great way to engage email subscribers and increase click rates.
Nominated for Best Short:
Social sharing
It’s the after-party for your email. All of your friends want to bring their friends (and their friends’ friends). Enable social sharing so recipients of your email can share it with their social channels and advocate on your behalf. Who doesn't love free press?
Subject lines
Your subject line frames up what your email is about, and split testing can help you hone in on that encapsulating tagline, a la these cinematic masterpieces: A lively comedy about a guy who isn't. One dream. Four Jamaicans. Twenty below zero. Her life was in their hands. Now her toe is in the mail.
One of the things I love about our seasonal readymade templates is how they inspire our customers to take a break from their regular email programming and try something different. Our Valentine's Day collection is no exception.
Check out how these Emma customers are using free Valentine's Day template in addition to regular branded emails.
Love note #1: Dina Ellen
Beloved Pittsburgh boutique Dina Ellen has simple branding that always lets products shine in email promotions (like the email on the left).
But for Valentine's Day, Dina Ellen designed an email promo (on the right) on our Love is in the Air template. The bright blue background pairs beautifully with a striking image of a bracelet.
Love note #2: Write Life
Write Life is a collaborative publishing company that sends regular newsletters on a custom designed template (like the email on the left), but this week they mailed a sweet note (right) to subscribers on our We {Heart} You template.
The pink hues in the template design play sweetly with the pink accents in Write Life's content images.
Love note #3: Morada Blue Swimwear
Online swimwear shop Morada Blue makes me wish it were swimsuit season all year long. Some emails (like the one on the left) go out on a basic template with their own image as a header, but Morada Blue's February promo (right) was designed on our Valentine's Day Sale template.
The rosy background and photos with overlayed design elements and copy work together to make a beautiful, memorable email.
Love is in the air and in your Emma account, thanks to a new collection of free Valentine-themed email templates.
These are just some of the designs available in your account. Log in to see them all!
Our designers have handcrafted new templates for events, promotions, newsletters, and of course, love notes. I bet these new designs have your heart fluttering and your marketing wheels turning.
Thinking about using a Valentine template for an impromptu email campaign, but don't have a lot of time?
No problem! It's a cinch to whip up a sweet email when you have access to 12 million stock images, right inside your account.
Yep, customers using our new drag & drop editor can search for and purchase stock photos, illustrations and vectors (from our partner Bigstock) to drop right in their email campaigns.
And a big, bold image is the perfect way to capture the attention of your audience and get your message across quickly.
Watch us create our own Valentine email in just 83 seconds, then log in and craft one of your own.
