• Hosting
  Most email marketing services are based either on your desktop or in the cloud – meaning either you are downloading actual software to use on your computer or logging into a website. With a desktop service, your lists are kept private and secure on your own computer or your non-profit’s server. That’s not to say your information is not private and secure with online services, though. Primarily, the appeal of this difference is found within reconciling data – each time an email list is updated online, offline lists need updating, too, unless there is only one master list as such would be the case when using a desktop service. The downside? Desktop services tend to come with a higher price tag.
• Features
  Once beyond price points, the thing that truly sets email marketing services apart is the features they offer. The ability to monitor click-throughs, open rates and links, along with the ability to personalise and schedule emails are three features that should be non-negotiable for most non-profit email marketers. Other features worth considering include:

  • Looking for something professional-looking? Choose an email service that allows for you to enter your own custom HTML – these are poised to most accurately represent your brand and visual identity and can often be viewed well by all email accounts and mobile phones. This will however require the design of an initial template to be coded into HTML by a designer or web professional.
  • Hoping to entice engagement? Consider an email service that offers online couponing – coupons that can be placed in an email and printed out for redemption, or digital coupons for use in e-commerce settings. Both couponing options should also come with added tracking features. Another way to encourage engagement is through surveys. Many email services offer survey integration into emails to gauge audience interest. Coupon code redemption can often be improved by offering giveaways like printed t-shirts or cotton shopping bags to those who complete the survey.
  • Want to use a lot of images or logos in your emails? Look for a service that does not cap or charge extra for uploading photos or logos to the service. If you find a service that you like and it allows for unlimited photo uploads but charges extra for image storage, be sure to use a USB drive to devote to your email images.
  • Is your organisation big on social media? Seek a service that lets recipients “like” an email on Facebook®, link on Twitter™ or share via email. Not all email marketing services allow for icon links to your organisation’s social media sites.
  • Short on time? Sign up for an email marketing service that automatically manages email lists for you. Subscribers sign up via a link sent to them through email, posted on your organisation’s social media accounts or placed on your website. When they choose to unsubscribe, they click a link to do so and are automatically removed from your lists. Some services even operate so that once someone has removed themselves from the list, you can’t accidentally add them again. These services will also de-dupe lists and alert you to any incorrect or outdated email addresses, making list management much easier.
  • Have no idea what you’re doing? Select a service that has a plethora of ready-made templates or an easy to follow wizard creator that will allow for email creation and design from even the un-savviest of designers. Furthermore, be sure to find a service that has a reputation for responsive customer service, extensive help pages, user forums or instant messaging to a helpdesk.

Once you’ve decided which email marketing service to use, the next factor that determines success of campaigns is cross-promotion of your emails – especially e-newsletters. Make sure you include a footnote encouraging website visitors to join your mailing list with a link to do so and remember to encourage staff and volunteers to promote the email list in-person, too – hand out printed pens or Post-it Notes with a note to “Subscribe to our e-newsletter online today!”

Email marketing is a great way to reach audiences in a technical world. Make sure the email marketing software you use is the best one for you and your message in order to ensure optimum success.

According to research, there are four distinct areas that drive employee loyalty across most industries:

Helpfulness – employees need to know that they are needed and that their work makes a difference both internally and externally.

Confidence and accomplishment – employees need a confidence boost now and again. When they are told that they are good at what they do or praised for an overall job well done, they are more encouraged to continue to give their all.

Acceptance – there is an innate human need to feel accepted by others and the work place is no exception.

Respect – employees wish to be treated professionally as peers. Meaning that their time is valued, their hard work is rewarded, criticism of their work comes in a confidential and constructive manner, and they are listened to.

Keeping these four key areas in mind, explore fun tactics that your business or organisation can put into place while developing an employee loyalty programme. A few ideas on where to begin:

Recognise employees

Whether an employee went out of his or her way to close a sale or was thanked by a customer for outstanding service, take the time to publicly recognise these employees who clearly love what they do. Thank them for their outstanding efforts in staff meetings or post a note on the company intranet. Take it one step further by offering gifts of recognition like a paperweight or an ever popular Parker Pen.

Boost morale with events

Host events that encourage employee interaction and bonding. Take one day a month to order pizza or doughnuts for the team and enjoy conversation over a lunch break. Take it on the road: sponsor field trips to museums or new businesses to provide inspiration or insight while allowing for employees to interact outside of the work place. Alternatively, some businesses host golf days or a party to celebrate and give recognition to teams or departments as a whole. For these big events promotional items such as printed caps, embroidered fleeces or promotional umbrellas are always appreciated.

Give back to the community

Help your teams or departments to feel helpful beyond their day-to-day work. Set aside a day or two a year to help the local community. Volunteer at special events or organise teams for charity events. Stand out from the crowd with bright printed T-Shirts. If it’s not possible to pull together as a team, encourage employees to volunteer and offer prizes like an MP3 Player or Digital Photo Frame for the most volunteer time clocked or the most money raised throughout the year. And remember to make sure that the company is doing its bit by either matching staff time for time or pound for pound.

Encourage respect through retreats

Teambuilding days are the perfect way to help employees gain knowledge of each other’s roles and respect for their efforts. Find teambuilding activities that showcase the importance of trust and team work in all business efforts. At the end of these events, give away mementos that staff can use in the office to remind them of the day, like a coffee mug or a printed mousemat with inspiring words.

Provide tangible benefits and goals to work towards

Prime parking spots reserved for top performers, flexibility in the hours spent at work or the location of work, and bonuses based on work quality, effort or time spent working at the company are all popular ways many businesses choose to inspire employee loyalty. Work with your HR department and management to make it happen!

Regardless of the tactic your business or organisation explores, take the time to thank your employees for a job well done and for choosing to work with and for you. Loyal employees grow with a business and are key to your success – make sure they know it!