Odoo is the number one app for small businesses around the world. It’s a marketing solution that allows you to build websites, sell products, and manage your email marketing all in one place. In this article, we’ll highlight the top 10 features that make up the perfect marketing automation tool for any business.
1. Unified Campaigns
One of the more significant improvements in Odoo 15 is the unification of email marketing campaigns. In the past, you would create a dedicated campaign for each one of your products. Now, you can use the same campaign for all your products. To make it even better, you can send the same email to customers with different offers and CTAs (Call to Action) depending on their previous purchases.
This makes it incredibly easy for marketers to get a clear picture of what’s working and what needs to be changed. The key is brand unification across all your marketing materials, including your websites, social media, and email marketing.
2. Dynamic Content
If you’re reading this, I assume you’re already familiar with the content marketing idea. Essentially, content marketing is about providing valuable information, inspiration, or entertainment to your target audience. While there are hundreds of techniques and tactics you can use to create effective content, the concept remains the same- provide value and you’ll drive interest and engagement.
To attract potential customers, you could create content that appeals to their passions and interests. For example, if you’re a dog breeder, you could write a blog post about the different types of puppies and their parents. Or if you own a restaurant, you could share with your audience the different types of dishes you offer and how each one is prepared.
The key is to be relatable. If someone is seeking information about your product or service, you can be sure that they will be engaged with your content. For a more detailed explanation about the value of content marketing, check out this blog post from the team at HubSpot.
3. Interactive Forms
One of the most significant advancements in email marketing over the last few years has been the switch from plain old text to rich media. Now, customers are consuming content via images, videos, and interactive elements that allow them to swipe, scroll, and click as they please. As a marketer, you can take advantage of this by embedding interactive forms in your emails. For example, you can add a poll, a pricing table, or a buying guide that allows customers to easily find what they’re looking for and to make a purchase without leaving the app.
Aside from the obvious advantages of having an interactive form in your email, you can also see improvements in customer experience because customers have to take less effort to make a purchase. If you add a tab or a link to an article that leads to an online store, you can also provide customers with a chance to purchase your products while they’re still reading your email. For a business looking to grow, interactive forms are an excellent choice.
4. Mobile-first
If you’re reading this, I assume you’re also a mobile user. According to Cisco, by 2020 over 80% of the global population will be using mobile devices to connect to the internet. That’s a lot of potential customers for you to ignore.
To better serve your customers, you can tailor your app to work perfectly on mobile. One of the first changes you can make is the way content is displayed on screen. Since customers are already on their phones, you can ensure that all your content is displayed beautifully on smaller screens.
But beyond that, you can also make text smaller and add more images or videos. With each new version of Android and iOS, developers are able to push the boundaries of what is possible in terms of user experience. As a marketer, you can take advantage of this by making your email look as good as new on any device.
5. Attached Files
In the not-so-distant past, customers had to click on a web link in an email to view an attachment. While this isn’t entirely uncommon, the rise of the click-to-open attribute is changing the game. Now, customers expect attached files to be opened automatically when the email is read. In fact, according to HubSpot, customers expect an email to include all the information they need to make a decision. Including files such as images or PDFs helps customers assess your product or service before making a purchase.
If you’re managing a large email marketing list, you can also use the Files section to keep track of all the documents related to your campaigns. For example, if you’re sending out an investor pitch deck, you could add it as an attachment and keep a copy for yourself. This way, you have access to all the information you need without having to sift through a massive pile of emails.
6. Scheduling
If you’re reading this, I assume you’re already aware that sending out mass emails can be a costly process. It usually involves purchasing marketing lists from big email service providers, which can cost you a lot of money. For that reason, you can only afford to send out a few mass emails per day. To avoid potential email fatigue and ensure your messages are engaging and memorable, you should schedule emails.
You don’t need to send out your next email campaign at the same time every day. Instead, you can experiment with various schedules to determine what works best.
You can also try different types of content to see what resonates with your audience. For example, maybe you’ve noticed that product reviews usually do better than sales-related content. To test this out, you could create a product review for your next email campaign.
7. Analytic Tracking & Reporting
If you’re a marketer and you’ve been doing email marketing for a while, you already know the importance of analyzing your results. To ensure you’re reaching the right audience, you can use email analytics to track the success of your campaigns. The great thing about analytics is they provide you with all the information you need, without needing to ask anyone.
When you import your email addresses from a list provider, you’ll be given a unique ID. This ID can then be used to create a personalized dashboard that tracks the progress of your campaigns. On this dashboard, you’ll be able to track the opens, clicks, and purchases of each email you send out. Additionally, you can segment your list based on any criteria you choose, including demographic information, geography, or interest.
Odoo also provides an extensive reporting feature. This feature allows you to download all the data associated with your email marketing campaigns in a variety of formats including Excel, PDF, and HTML. The great thing about this feature is everything you need is already there. No extra work required!
8. Data Import & Export
If you have a large database that you need to work with, you can use the data import function to bring it all into Odoo. This function allows you to bulk import CSV (comma separated values) files into your database.
Once your data is inside, you can use the Data Export function to move it into a variety of formats including Excel, PDF, or HTML. The great thing about this function is it saves you from having to re-enter all your data later on. Once you’ve exported your data, it’s automatically saved inside the app. So, in the event you lose your device or it crashes, your data will be safe.
9. Multiple Email Channels
Since customers can only open and read a limited number of emails before experiencing server errors, it’s critical that you use multiple email channels. This way, you can ensure that your customers get the information they need without being blocked by spam filters.
You can take advantage of this by setting up automated email campaigns that can be sent out via different methods, such as direct messages on social media or in an email newsletter.
10. Unsubscribe & Opt-out
Last but not least, we have unsubscribe and opt-out functions. The opt-out function allows customers to ask you to stop sending emails. Once you’ve received an opt-out request, you can remove the customer from your email list. This way, you can continue to send out automated emails, but customers have the option to refrain from receiving future emails.
On the other hand, the unsubscribe function does the opposite. When a customer unsubscribes, you’ll no longer receive emails from them. This way, you can keep your email list clean and focused on distributing valuable content.