Email Marketing, A call to action is a Call

Successful email marketing campaigns are a result of "calls to action" that get results. What results are expected from an email marketing campaign? Usually they are either a click to a web site or a phone call to a 1-800 or 800 number.

In today's spam controlled environment, many emails just do not get through, even those that are desired, double opt-in and legitimate. Estimates are as high as 20% rejection. The frustration is that the email marketeers do not even know. These email are not bounced, just caught in nondelivery spam traps.

Of those that do get through, often only 50 percent get opened. Things start to get frustrating at this point, and this is even before a call to action is viewed.

Let's assume that your email is now open on the viewer's screen. It better be quick and to the point. The call to action needs to be urgent and relevant.

One call to action is to direct the reader to a web site, where you hope that another call to action will result in the desired reader behaviour. This is usually to buy something as you already have their email address so this is not your goal.

Your email may also have a call to action that seeks a phone call. This can be better in that there is not a two-step process between you and the reader. The downside is many readers will put off making the call until later. (This often happens with a click to a web site call to action as well). Additionally, more and more we are becoming reluctant to call, as we never know when a machine will answer us. We do not have the time or desire to press 1, 2 or 3. We don't want to be placed in a queue and told our call maybe recorded for training purposes. We want to talk to a live human being.

For the email marketeer the best outcome is a sale. This can be easily achieved if the company supporting the emails is willing and prepared to provide real customer service and transform "lookers into bookers". All that is required is a proactive technology that makes out bound calls and a compelling call to action.

If you saw a banner or button that said. "We will call you right now. No charge to you. No waiting in a queue. Talk to a real person. Click here for ?. (what ever your value proposition is), do think this would work?

Well it does. Research has shown that closure rates in shopping carts and on booking engines can go from low single digits i.e. 1.4% - 3.8% to as high at 29.7%

Its not that we won't use a web site for a transaction or pick up the phone and make a call. It's just that often there is one small unanswered question in our self-serve process. For a hotel booking, it may be if a cot is available if we have small children. For an airfare, it may be about wheel chair access. A quick call will seal the sale if it is answered by a human and dealt with quickly, personally and efficiently.

For the email-marketing program, the option to add push to talk technology is now a non-decision. The service can be set up for free. There are no recurring fees or minimum usage charges. The only cost in the call costs. Which email marketing campaign would not try this technology when no risk exists? Worse case is too many buyers!

We found out long ago that the paperless office was a myth and never occurred. We are now finding out that the people-less sale is just as elusive. To make sales, especially big ones, we need personal and immediate contact. It is your phone manner not your email marketing program that determine your success when you use push to talk technology.