How to Conduct an Effective Email Campaign: 11 Pieces of Real-World Advice

We've all been there.

We have all reluctantly subscribed to an email newsletter list that belonged to someone we know, a company we've done business with or the cashier who asked nicely after we made a purchase. Or like me, got conned into signing up by the 6-foot-tall trade show babe.

Twenty-four hours later when the first email arrived, we thought, "Oh no..."

An hour later when the second email arrived, we smacked our forehead with regret.

And people wonder why "open" rates are so low.

Look, there is a lot of great content out there about how to best conduct an email campaign. And, to be honest, there are different strategies based on your goals and target market.

But here are my top 11 pieces of advice on how to best conduct an email campaign for your organization:

1. Let's assume you understand that spam is bad news. It will, quite literally, ruin your brand and your reputation. Don't send any.

1.5. And yeah, just because I met you at an event and handed over a business card, it does not entitle you to add me to your list.