• Envelope Design: matters most to the subscribers. Infographic shares best practices pertaining to the FROM NAME, TO FIELD and SUBJECT LINES. Subscribers decide to read or delete an Email within 3 seconds.
• Pre-Header and Header: Snippet Text should be well aligned with the subject line as few clients show preview text, pulled out from the first few lines of email content.
• Johnson Box top is ideally 400X300 Pixels, with the height of the header set at around 150 Pixel.
• Mobile Optimized Emails has to be restricted to single column template, using techniques like responsive and scalable coding standards as 42% of all email is now opened via mobile and 43% of mobile email users check email 4+ times per day.. Mobile emails should have tappable calls to action of minimum size 44 x 44 pixels and Mobile Email width of 320 to 480 Pixels.
• Images in the email: Images in the email: Images with an Alt text should be used as in case an email does not display correctly, 69.7% will delete it immediately. Try to avoid background images layered with text. Many of the email clients (Outlook, one of them) don’t support background images.
• Guidelines: Avoiding the use of Flash or Ajax functionality.

As you approach yet another year, it’s important to identify a few key items that you’d like to focus on improving at work. Even the best of us can fall behind on efficiency at times – but what’s really crucial is realizing your weaknesses, and working towards making them your strengths.

We’ve compiled a list of 5 things that you can implement immediately to start your year with a bang!

1. Meet with your boss and co-workers

Understanding what your boss and coworkers think about your current performance is of utmost importance. Make sure you have regular meetings to discuss what’s going well, and how you can improve (or make other’s jobs easier). You’ll find when you take the initiative to start these discussions, it sparks a better office morale – and perhaps even some gratitude from your co-workers!

2. Set realistic goals

There’s no point in setting goals that you know you can’t reach. Look towards the future with an open mind, and refer to past data and performance to effectively decipher what you think you can accomplish in the new year. Keep in mind that quantity isn’t always better than quality, and burning yourself out is not something that you or your employer desires.

3. Get organized

Tackle that filing cabinet, organize your computer files, clean up that desk, and clear out that inbox. Although we may not always realize it, a cluttered environment can take real effect on your job performance. Cleaning up and getting organized will help you keep a clear head to focus on your work.

4. Be more accountable

It’s simple really: if you say you’re going to do something, do it. Whether it be a follow up email to a colleague, or a monthly report – you want to make sure you establish yourself as someone who follows through. Not only will the person you’re connecting with appreciate it – but you’ll feel a genuine sense of satisfaction for completing these tasks.

5. Follow the empty inbox rule

At the end of each day, go through your emails and make sure you’ve responded to every one of them. If you can’t provide answers right away, write back and assure the sender that it’s on your list – and you’ll be responding in the coming days. Everyone appreciates reciprocal correspondence, and you’ll be admired for being on top of things.

We hope you can integrate some of these tips into your everyday work life, and wish you only the best in 2013!

Yes, it’s the oldest tactic in the book, but it still works. Think about it: we are alerted by social streams regularly, view banner ads on both desktop and mobile – but we also receive and check email all day (and night) long.

Recently a colleague sent over this INFOGRAPHIC that explains just how effective email marketing still is. Check it out below:

After sending out hundreds of emails, it was dead silence. It took me back to my audition days, when you’d go to the casting directors, they’d see you – and you’d wait by the phone for weeks hoping to get a call back. The difference between this particular scenario and auditions, is that you don’t have to wait for a call back to make your next move. This brings me to the follow up.

There’s a few reasons that it’s important to follow up with new contacts and potential clients:

• They may not have seen your initial email
• They may have seen your email, and have forgotten to respond
• They’re insanely busy (as most business owners are), and sometimes need a quick reminder

Often times, it’s not until you follow up that you get a response – and rightfully so! It doesn’t take much to send out an initial email, but the execution and follow through can show dedication and good business initiative.

Here’s a couple tips to keep in mind when constructing a follow up email

1. Keep it short and sweet – your initial email should’ve had more elaborate messaging, so if the reader is interested, they can look back.
2. Put the pertinent details in bullet points – be sure to summarize your previous message in quick, relevant pieces of information.
3. Concentrate on the benefits – make sure that the recipient knows what you’re offering them or their business.
4. Be personal – make sure to do a little research, and reference something they might identify with. It shows that you’re not afraid to do a little work, even in the beginning stages.
5. Don’t be a pest – always wait a couple days before following up. Remember: people are busy, and don’t like to be hassled. If they want to respond to you, they will.

Following up is an essential way to help ensure your success and show true business professionalism. It’s all about effort, people – the more you put in, the more you’ll get back.

As for my acting career? Well, lets just say I’m still waiting for my call back.

WHAT TO DO?

Effort is key. Whether you’re looking to make contact/pitch/converse with a new client, prospect or lead: it’s important to build and cultivate relationships. Everyone is saturated with emails/tweets/Facebook messages that lack any form of personality or personalization. It’s become so easy to quickly scan something that comes our way – or even worse, just plain delete the communication because there’s no emotion connection attached to the message.

Let’s all remember that even though we can hide behind the comfort of our screens, there’s more to online communication than simply pushing out messages and content. The way we communicate may have changed, but the way we retain and process information has very much stayed the same.

HOW CAN YOU IMPROVE?

1. Make sure you’re avoiding mass emails at all costs – take the time to personally address your emails, regardless of the content remaining the same. IT MATTERS.

2. Reference a touch point with the person you’re communicating to. A message is always well absorbed when common ground is established first.

3. Be human.  No one likes impersonal emails, messages or content. The computer didn’t generate this, YOU DID – so reflect that in your writing (it will be appreciated).

4. Make sure you’re relevant. Don’t waste people’s time! We’re all busy, so make sure the message is something the reader will be interested in. This will improve your credibility in the long run, making your communications “must-read” material.

5. PROOF READ. You have no excuses for spelling mistakes. On that note, please disregard any spelling errors in this blog. Seriously though: it’s effort, people.

Start to put these tactics into action, and watch your communication skills soar. It may be difficult and a bit taxing at first – but as any good business person knows: ALWAYS GIVE MORE THAN YOU GET.

Check out this inforgraphic that’s meant to guide you through the decision-making process the next time you plan to hit ‘send’.

Do you think we send out too many useless emails? Share in the comments!

Searching for that email just got easier

1. Search Your Entire Inbox

• No more losing any mail while you’re on the go. It’s always the worst when you try to find anything in your Gmail inbox – because your iPhone won’t store more than 50 messages at a time. The app solves this problem effortlessly.

2. Gmail Chat On The Go

• Use your Gmail chat while you’re on your cell. If you use the chat feature as much as I do – you’ll know how useful this is!

3. Attachments

• That’s right, attach photos in composition mode with the Gmail app! Select multiple photos or files directly from your phone, and add them into any email you compose. This is actually a HUGE lifesaver.

I definitely suggest you download this app if you use your smartphone a lot for emailing. It’s easy, user-friendly, and a step ahead of Apple’s native email app (for now).

Click here to download the Gmail App – available on Android and iPhone.

1. Embrace Your Contacts: By now, we’ve all accumulated quite large contact lists from using our Hotmail accounts, Gmail accounts, yahoo accounts, Facebook friends, and twitter followers (you get the idea). Some people forget that all these addresses lay dormant in your hands (both old and current accounts). Take advantage of the resources you have, and compile every and all emails you have together in an excel spreadsheet. Use this list (segment accordingly), and blast out to your contacts. Whether you’re hawking a product, event or yourself – someone’s bound to listen: and what do you have to lose?

2. Embrace Your Shame: BROADCAST yourself in conversations! Alright, it can be hard going up to people and talking about yourself – and many find it to be an impossible task. It’s true, if you enter conversations and simply talk about YOU, the interest will dwindle quickly. The reality is: if you employ strong conversational tactics, and show a genuine interest in who you’re talking to (no matter who they are – aside from sociopaths) – they’ll tend to reciprocate and listen to what you have to say. You never know: your next lead could generate from a bout of mindless chatter.

3. Embrace Your Loved Ones: No one promotes you, or your products better than the people who love you. Generally the rule of ‘ask and you shall receive’ applies with close friends and family. Just be prepared to reciprocate when the time comes.

4. Embrace Facebook Groups: So, if you don’t have access to all your Facebook contact’s emails.. you can create a group! Groups are different from pages, because you select the members yourself. They’re automatically added and receive any messaging you distribute. Writer’s caution: You’re treading a fine line – don’t get annoying on your friends/acquaintances, keep the message short and sweet.

5. Embrace Events: Go out! See and be seen. Often when you live life to the fullest, things start happening. If you’re a homebody, push yourself to make a change – remember that you’re only as strong as your drive. Don’t know where to start? Google events in your area- or pick up local papers and look in the listings (and don’t forget Facebook!). Talk to people, and remember to be an engaging conversationalist. Keep it easy on the cocktails though – nothing good can come out of too many.

And there you have it: 5 easy ways to start spreading the news TODAY! Have you got some other suggestions? Share them in the comments below!