Is anyone still sticking with the standard text-based email? I mean, does anyone still believe that a flowery prose and pretty graphics on a plain piece of text will make it “sticky” enough to be remembered? Well, I’ll let you in on a little secret: It’s never really been about the prose. Sure, a little bit of fluff here and there will never hurt but the real purpose of an email campaign is to capture a viewer’s attention and compel them to take action. And what better way to do that than with a snappy design that immediately captures the eye? So if you’re looking to revamp your marketing efforts and try a more creative approach, then you’ve come to the right place! Let’s take a look at how you can integrate graphics into your next email marketing campaign.
Attract With Color
Let’s face it: Text is easy. We’re all used to it. It takes less time to write and send an email than it does to draft a typical blog post. And what good is that if you want people to read your content? Fortunately, that’s where graphics come in. If your eyes are already drawn to the pretty colors and shiny buttons on a website, you’ll have no trouble falling asleep on a mail piece written in pretty prose. Of course, the reverse is also true: bland text combined with a stunning design will draw attention too. So it’s always about getting the right mix of texture and substance. When it comes to marketing materials, I like to think of the old adage: you get what you pay for.
The Power Of Animated GIFs
The GIF (Graphics Interchange Format) was originally designed as a ‘space-saving’ alternative to JPEGs (Joint Photographic Experts Group) and the like. Its popularity grew when people realised the little images could easily be created with a few quick clicks of the mouse and incorporated it into their social media platforms and blogs. If you’re unfamiliar, a GIF can stand for Graphics Interchange Format and it’s a really useful tool for web designers. It’s basically a way of inserting small animated images into your text. For example, you might want to use a GIF to show how a product works or to highlight an awesome feature. They’re super easy to use and they work perfectly in combination with email marketing campaigns. Just remember to keep it simple – a series of product images with simple captions should do the trick!
Keep It Memorable
This is really important when it comes to email marketing. After all, you’ll be sending these messages on a regular basis so you want to be sure they’re going to stick in your subscribers’ heads. With that in mind, it’s always a good idea to do a little research into what makes memorable or interesting graphics. For example, you might want to look into the effective use of typography or whether a photo of a pizza could possibly do more harm than good to your cause. It’s important to keep the entire piece original and not get bogged down with stock photography or clipart. The better the originality, the more powerful your message will be. It’s also worth looking into the psychology of colors in relation to memory. Blue is the ultimate calming color and red is the exact opposite. So if you want to keep your emails fresh and interesting, you might want to swap out the common blue for a different accent color.
Use Your Imagination
It’s always great when a piece of design completely draws you in and you find yourself completely forgetting about the purpose of the email campaign. That’s what makes it so worth doing! You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how well a fresh perspective can do. And if that happens to you more than once, then you’ve got a good chance of turning a profit. Design is all about giving life to your dreams and aspirations. If you want to grow your email list and start making money, then you’ve got to be prepared to experiment and play around with different approaches. What you need to keep in mind is that it’s not about making pretty pictures, it’s about getting results.
So if you’re looking for an effective way to integrate graphics into your email marketing strategy, then get inspired by the amazing world of web design and make pretty pictures to dazzle your subscribers.