I read this OUTSTANDING post on Email Marketing and thought that it is really valuable and you needed to read it. This was taken from: http://www.aweber.com/blog/email-marketing/what-your-toddler-can-teach-you-about-email-marketing.htm

Great wisdom has been known to come from the mouths of babes. So if you’re seeking the keys to good email marketing, you might look in the same place. And you wouldn’t be wrong.

Small One, the toddler, holds the keys to good email marketing in her grubby little fist. We asked her to share them with you, and since she knows the importance of sharing with friends, she gave us a sticky thumbs up.

Throw Tigger Out of the Tub

It’s bathtime, and Small One is collecting water from the bathtub faucet in her cup. Then her Tigger toy floats into the cup, interrupting her hard work. She’s harvesting less water with each scoop.

Small One knows how to handle the problem. “No, no, no!” she scolds, and Tigger is cast out of the tub.

Instead of water, you’re scooping up a flood of subscriber response. If something in your campaign dams the waters, get rid of it!

Find out what works and what doesn’t by keeping an eye on your reports. Subscribes, opens, clicks, complaints, sales and unsubscribes show you what to keep around and what to throw out with the bathwater.

Clean Up Your Messes

Grapes smash into the carpet as Small One experiments with the effects of stomping. Then she notices the mess. She runs to Mommy, points to the grapes and carefully pronounces, “Uh-oh!”

This is the day Small One learns how to use the “tash an” (trash can).

We all make mistakes. We may send out an email with broken fields or accidentally send to the wrong list. We don’t realize the problem until we see the mess it makes.

If this happens to you, ‘fess up and clean up. Follow these tips from the Email Zoo on apologizing with penance and panache.

If You Mean Banana, Say Banana

Mommy asks, “Want to eat?” Small One says, “NO.”

Mommy asks, “Have some breakfast?” Small One says, “NO.”

Mommy asks, “Time for food?” Small One says, “NO.”

Mommy asks, “Banana?” Small One says, “NANA. Yumm.”

When collecting subscriptions to your newsletter, be very specific. Are you offering a free chapter of an e-book? A 5-lesson series? All of the above, plus a lifetime of promotional emails?

When you spell out exactly what you’re offering, you’ll get subscribers who want exactly that.

Bark at Your Canine Friends

When Small One sees a small friend (or a large friend, or a stranger), she merrily calls, “Hewwo!”

But when Small One sees a dog (or a cat, or a squirrel), she knows better. She greets them with, “Wuf, wuf!”

In the same way, speak your subscribers’ language. Some of your readers may revel in gobbledygook specific to your topic. Others may not even want to deal with the word “gobbledygook.”

So find out what wording works. What do you know about your readers? For inspiration, check out Chris Brogan’s advice on simplifying your language.

Come up with a few options, then split test them in your broadcasts and web forms. Eventually, you’ll get a good feel for what works.

Dance to the Music

When she hears Beyonce or Jason Mraz, Small One can’t help bopping and swaying. She grooves with passion, and it’s infectious.

Think about your business. What about it makes you want to dance? How does it bring you joy?

Take this example from Woot, the “one day, one deal” e-store. They got excited about their recent acquisition by Amazon, so they broke the news with a tongue-in-cheek rap to let customers share the fun.

When you get excited about your brand, readers will feel the thrill, too. So write your emails to the beat, and watch as others join in the dance.

What’s Your Kid-spiration?

What other ways can we learn about marketing from little munchkins?

Share your ideas below!

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