Ever get an email that felt like it was written just for you? That’s the magic I’m chasing in my email marketing. As a content creator, I know the power of connecting on a personal level.
But let’s face it, the old personalization tricks are getting stale. So, I’ve been experimenting with new ways to make my emails truly stand out.
I’m excited to share my insider tips (and my go-to tools) to help you craft campaigns that feel like a warm hug from a friend. Get ready to level up your email game!
7 most creative ways of personalized email campaigns
Automated behavioral trigger emails remain the top performer in personalized campaigns
Possibly the greatest feature of email marketing are automated behavioral trigger emails. They just work and that’s why I love them. I guess all email marketers are in awe of behavior-based email campaigns.
They are, in my opinion, among the best ways to engage your audience and tailor your email campaigns. I’ll explain why.
Behavioral trigger emails are automated emails that you send based on what your subscribers do on your website or in your previous emails.
For example, if someone signs up for your newsletter, you can send them a welcome email to introduce yourself and your brand.
Or if someone adds a product to their cart but doesn’t complete the purchase, what would you do? You simply send them a cart abandonment email to remind them of what they left behind and tempt them to come back and complete the purchase. Sounds interesting! right?
These types of trigger emails are great because they show that you care about your subscribers and their needs.
You are not just sending them generic messages that everyone else gets. You are sending them relevant and timely messages that match their interests and actions.
This way, you can build trust, loyalty and engagement with your email readers.
Icegram Express is an all-in-one affordable email marketing software for WordPress and WooCommerce platforms. You can use this WP plugin to get better with automated email sequences or behavioral trigger emails.
The best thing is that this WordPress plugin comes with a ton of free features (download here) that will help your email marketing be both economical and constructive.
If you already have a big email list, you can directly start with the Pro or Max version.
Let’s explore some popular forms of behavior-based trigger emails. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, find this image below.
It displays an example of a newsletter that was delivered to a consumer who unexpectedly stopped using the service without purchasing a premium subscription.
Cart abandonment emails
Ever added something to your cart only to get distracted and forget about it? Cart abandonment emails are the gentle nudge that brings those customers back. It’s a simple reminder, maybe with a little discount, to complete their purchase. Trust me, it works wonders!
Transactional emails
Think of transactional emails as the backbone of ecommerce. They’re not just order confirmations; they’re opportunities to build trust and even upsell.
Make them clear, informative, and maybe even throw in a personalized recommendation for an extra touch.
Welcome emails
Your welcome email sets the tone for your relationship with new subscribers. Keep it friendly, informative, and give them a taste of what to expect.
Think of it as a warm handshake and a guided tour of your brand.
Special occasion emails
Everyone loves a thoughtful friend who remembers birthdays and anniversaries. Apply that to emails and you have a powerful tool at your disposal.
Birthday emails, anniversary emails – they show you care and might even come with a little surprise!
What I believe is that these automated behavioral trigger emails humanize your brand. They create a connection, a conversation and set long-term prospects safe.
It’s like having a friend who knows when to nudge, when to celebrate and when to say, “Hey, we miss you.”
Key Takeaway: Automated behavioral trigger emails make your brand feel human. They’re like having a thoughtful friend who knows when to reach out and offer support or celebrate a milestone.
Also read: Harnessing the power of behavioral targeting in email marketing
User-generated content (UGC)
UGC has become the best partner for online businesses and entrepreneurs, including CTOs and CMOs.
UGC is any content created by your customers or fans, such as reviews, testimonials, photos, videos or social media posts.
UGC showcases how real people use and enjoy your products or services. UGC can be reused for a purpose. You can display them in your newsletter or website and let other email readers know.
I love using UGC in my email campaign(s) because it makes them more personalized and engaging.
Instead of just telling my subscribers how awesome my products are, I can show them how other customers feel about them.
This way, I can create a sense of community and belonging among my subscribers and encourage them to share their own experiences with my brand.
For example, I recently launched an email campaign for a client. It was about their new line of organic skincare products. The client hired me for email marketing. They want to spread the word about their new products.
Instead of just sending a promotional email with product descriptions and prices, I decided to feature some UGC from the client’s Instagram followers who had tried the products and posted their feedback.
I then created an email campaign that showcased these UGCs, along with a catchy subject line, a clear call-to-action and a discount code for the new products.
The result was amazing!
The email had a high open rate, click-through rate and conversion rate. My client also received a lot of positive responses from their subscribers.
Things that don’t work as per UGC mandate –
- Low-quality or poorly-written or un-edited UGC (always detrimental)
- Outdated UGC (old information never impresses)
- I used UGC without telling the stories behind it. It failed miserably as I forgot that strong contextualization is critical in UGC
Personalized product recommendations are too invaluable to ignore
Have you ever noticed that companies like Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart send you emails with tailored purchase recommendations? They frequently use this tactic.
These emails are terrific and offer more benefits.
According to McKinsey, such a personalization trick can increase sales by 10% or more and yield a return on marketing investment of 5-8 times.
The key is that you need to investigate and examine the user data. Using email marketing software such as Icegram Express, you can segment your email list into many categories.
All you need to do now is use Express (see live demo) to launch an automated, tailored email campaign for product recommendations.
For example, let’s say you run an online bookstore and you have a customer who has bought several books from the fantasy genre. You can use this information to send them an email with personalized recommendations of other fantasy books that they might like.
You can also include some reviews or ratings from other customers who have enjoyed those books.
Want to create a sense of curiosity and trust in your customer? Start sending personalized product recommendations using Express now!
Here are a few advice for personalized recommendations.
- If you have limited user data and insights, don’t send recommendations
- Avoid sending monotonous and predictable recommendations
- Poor segmentation of the email list isn’t going to work
Interactive polls and surveys are the new trend
Polls and surveys are super simple to create yet they give so much in return.
I use interactive polls and surveys to gather opinions, segment lists efficiently and more. I use tools like Typeform, SurveyMonkey and email marketing software like Icegram Express. Express also allows me to make engaging newsletters to push my polls and surveys.
You can also use SaaS email tools like MailChimp and AWeber but for me, these tools remain a costly affair.
You can also bring in infographic content to experiment alongside polls and surveys.
Consider the following as well – Let’s not mess it up.
- Don’t push old or outdated data in polls
- Avoid raising complex questions in surveys
- Don’t share irrelevant topics or vague matter
Is using user data to gain an advantage ethical?
Integrate your email marketing with a CRM tool to track customer behavior across different channels. This data lets you send hyper-personalized emails based on their interests, browsing history, and more.
For example, instead of offering the same sale to every subscriber, I use data to tailor my discount emails.
I might offer a discount to every person who bought my most popular product in the last few months to encourage them to buy again.
Or I might offer a free trial to every person who visited my pricing page but didn’t sign up.
Find all integrations that works with Icegram Express here.
“What Are the Essential Components of Effective Web Content?
When it comes to email marketing, I focus on providing value for my subscribers. I double-check product links and create targeted landing pages for different subscriber types.
I aim to understand each reader as an individual and keep things concise with a clear call to action in every section.
Can Icegram Express WP email marketing tool help? Yes, it can. Express helps make eye-catching newsletters and organize links.
You might like this – 5 best WordPress newsletter plugins for 2024
Sending product sneak peeks is very rewarding
Want to build instant anticipation and curiosity? Product sneak peeks can be our perfect partner in a personalized email campaign(s).
Top email marketing agencies and digital marketers frequently use product sneak peeks in their email marketing content. It can be in the form of a teaser, preview or hint about what’s coming.
For example, if you are launching a new line of clothing, you can send an email with some photos of the fabrics, colors or patterns you are using, but not the actual designs.
You can also include some catchy headlines, such as
- “You won’t believe what we have in store for you”
- “Something amazing is coming your way”.
This will make your audience eager to see more and keep them hooked until the launch date.
Another example is if you are releasing a new software feature, you can send an email with a screenshot or a video of how it works, but not the full details.
You can also ask your audience to guess what it is or how it will benefit them. This will create a sense of engagement and interaction with your audience and make them feel like they are part of the process.
However, there are some things that you should avoid when sending sneak peeks. Here are some of them:
- Don’t send too many sneak peeks or too often. This will make your audience lose interest or feel overwhelmed. You want to keep them curious, not bored or annoyed.
- Don’t send sneak peeks that are too similar to your existing products or competitors’ products. This will make your audience indifferent or skeptical. You want to show them that you are offering something new, unique and valuable, not something they already have or can get elsewhere.
These are just a few ideas to get you started with a phenomenal, individualized email campaign.
Remember, the key is to
- Put yourself in your reader’s shoes
- Speak their language
- Offer genuine value to readers
Now that you know the creative ways of personalized email marketing, let me share some cool tricks on how to make email campaigns even more personalized and effective.
Tips for creating individualized email campaigns for email readers
Here are four tips I’ve learned that make a big difference in personalized email marketing campaigns.
Tip #1 – Pictures say so much during digital communication. Whether it’s a scenic shot or a product photo, adding visuals gives subscribers a glimpse into my world.
If I know certain customers love hiking, a landscape image could really resonate. Of course, privacy is important too. But taking care to personalize with relevant imagery adds warmth no words alone can match.
Tip #2 – I also try sending one-time special offers tailored just for individuals.
In the past, offering a friend cooking classes at half price for his birthday was a hit. It showed I cared about his interests. Making readers feel seen is so powerful for building relationships over time.
Tip #3 – Lastly, well-timed emails just make all the difference.
Some people I know cruise early, while others prefer evenings. By observing patterns, I can welcome folks at their convenience.
Tip #4 – AI tools help improve email marketing campaigns. At this moment, it is the ultimate reality.
Numerous incredible AI-powered tools have entered the market thanks to advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence and many of these may be applied to email marketing campaigns.
My advice is to make use of as many artificial intelligence (AI) tools as possible to research, add variety and overcome tedious tasks.
These tips have really paid off.
My messages feel more meaningful and subscribers respond more positively as a result. I hope others can find success putting their own personalized stamp on campaigns too.
Wrapping up
So, there you have it – seven ways to create personalized campaigns that truly resonate with your email audience.
I can say this now – meaningful connection requires effort, but it’s worth it when you’re doing email marketing.
My goal in each personalized email campaign is to create a community where we all feel supported and acknowledged.
Remember, in email marketing or email campaigns, personalization is not just a nice to have. It’s a must-have. So, go ahead and give it a shot. And add some magic with AI tools, I promise you won’t regret it.
Use Icegram Express to make personalized email newsletters and grab the readers’ eye during your email campaign. Find out Icegram Express documentation to learn about the technical. The support team is always there to help you.
Finally, if you’re also doing email marketing campaigns, do send your input. Your input is crucial; I want to learn how to better serve through future editions.
Your wisdom fuels my journey as a content generator, publisher and marketer.