Welcome to the Validity Blogs & Guides forum thread.
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Update for 3/16
•How to Put a GIF in an Email: The Smart Marketer’s Guide [February 22, 2023]
Learn how to use animated GIFs in emails on Gmail or Outlook, where to find GIFs, and tips for using GIFs to strengthen your email marketing.
•What are Bounced Emails? And How Can Senders Limit Them? [February 23, 2023]
What are bounced emails? And how can senders limit them? Click above to learn how to keep bounced emails at bay.
•The Dangers of ChatGPT: Great Personalization Tool or Great Phishing Technology? [February 27,2023]
OpenAI’s ChatGPT is taking the world by storm. But it might create new opportunities for fraudsters and phishers.
•Email on the Go: 5 Ways to Optimize Your Emails for Mobile Devices [March 2, 2023]
Check out our list of mobile email optimization tips so you can confidently design a best-in-class mobile campaign.
•Report: The State of SMS Marketing in 2023
Responses from 1,218 consumers reveal how marketers can successfully navigate the opportunities and pitfalls of SMS marketing.
Update for 8/10
Blogs
iOS 17 and Privacy: Essential Insights for Email Marketers [August 7th, 2023]
In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, change is the only constant. The upcoming Apple iOS 17 update is one such change that’s creating major buzz in our community. As we anticipate the arrival of iOS 17, staying informed and adapting to these changes is crucial for email marketers and subscribers. Three key points to know about the new release are covered in this blog:
- Enhanced user privacy with Link Tracking Protection (LTP)
- Which parameters will be stripped?
- Overview of the possible impact on email marketing
How to Use an Embed Form in Email for Maximum Impact [July 31st, 2023]
In today’s competitive marketing landscape, email senders are constantly seeking innovative ways to engage with their audience, learn more about them, and optimize their email strategy to better meet their desired email metrics. One highly effective strategy for collecting crucial customer information is embedding forms directly into marketing emails, a technique that offers several benefits for capturing user data. By seamlessly integrating data collection within the email content, marketers can expect to several benefits outlined in this blog post.
How to Elevate Your Marketing Game with a Clean Email List [July 27th, 2023]
Aside from avoiding spam complaints, the benefits of maintaining good list hygiene include improved email deliverability, a better sender reputation, and higher revenue from the email channel. Learn more about the science of list cleaning in this blog post.
Webinars & Events
Two-Minute Tip: Eliminate Duplicates from Excel and CSV Files [August 4th, 2023] – Ready to Watch!
Looking for a faster way to eliminate duplicates from your Excel and CSV files? Duplicates can completely corrupt the accuracy of your data. According to Validity research, 49% of businesses say duplicate data seriously impairs their ability to use their CRM. In just two minutes, Olivia Hinkle shows us how to use DemandTools File Edition to find and remove dupes and achieve more accurate data analysis.
State of Email Live - Episode 47: LTP: Link Tracking Protection/Less Tracking Personalization AUGUST 16 | 12PM ET • 5PM UK
After “pixelgeddon” two years ago when MPP launched, Apple’s obsession with consumer privacy means email marketers may face another big curveball when link tracking protection (LTP) is released as part of the iOS17 update in September. State of Email attendees will learn:
- Why is Apple introducing LTP?
- How will it work?
- Will there be an impact for email marketers?
- What changes will they need to make?
- Will deliverability be affected?
Dreamforce 2023 [Sept 12-14, 2023]
Join Validity at Dreamforce 2023 in San Francisco, CA! Stop by our booth to chat with the team, grab some great giveaways, and learn how to solve your most common data management challenges. See you there!
Email After Hours: EPISODE 16
Stay out of ‘Haus: How to Avoid Being Listed by Spamhaus
Get the secrets to staying on Spamhaus’ good side from spam slayer extraordinaire Sridhar Chandran.
State of Email – State of Email - LTP: Link Tracking Protection/Less Tracking Personalization
AUGUST 16 | 12PM ET • 5PM UK
After “pixelgeddon” two years ago when MPP launched, Apple’s obsession with consumer privacy means email marketers may face another big curveball when link tracking protection (LTP) is released as part of the iOS17 update in September. State of Email attendees will learn:
- Why is Apple introducing LTP?
- How will it work?
- Will there be an impact for email marketers?
- What changes will they need to make?
- Will deliverability be affected?
Update for 8/31
Blogs:
What is an ESP? A Guide to Working with Email Service Providers [August 10th, 2023]
A comprehensive email program has many strategic benefits—it increases conversions, raises brand awareness, and fosters customer loyalty. But, without the right infrastructure, that same program can become an unmanageable nightmare. That infrastructure starts with your email service provider (ESP). Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just getting started, understanding the ins and outs of ESPs is essential for maximizing your email marketing efforts.
Google’s Inactive Account Policy Update: What Marketers Should Know [August 14th, 2023]
Starting on December 1st, the new policy aims to delete accounts that have not been used or logged into in the last two years. If you have a Google account that falls under this new policy and you have a recovery email address associated with that account, Google will notify you of their intent to delete the unused account.
Challenging Email Blasts: Better Alternatives Await [August 18th, 2023]
If reading this title made you think, “Wait, what?” then allow us to elaborate. Below, we’ll get into the cons of email blasts, offer alternative solutions, and examine the benefits of taking a more targeted approach to communicating with your subscribers.
A Deep Dive into Apple’s Link Tracking Protection: Should Email Marketers Be Worried? [August 23rd, 2023]
In this post, we set the scene for Apple’s Link Tracking Protection, explaining what it is, why it’s happening, and the likely impact we expect it to have.
Understanding Technical Debt in CRM—and Tools to Combat It [August 24th, 2023]
Technical debt is anything that could affect the speed or health of your org, as well as anything that could affect user adoption. So, let’s look at ways to find it and fix it, including some free tools that can help.
Email Tips to Prepare for a Record-Breaking Peak Sales Season [August 28th, 2023]
Most marketers know Q4 ‘tis the season they’re told to “send more email!” The final months of the year are a critical time for email marketers. Brands rely heavily on the email channel to drive customer engagement and sales revenue during this peak period. But increasing sending volume doesn’t always increase revenue. Marketers need a more effective plan.
CRM Integration Guide: Strategies, Benefits, and Tips for Implementation [August 28th, 2023]
In this post, we’ll be breaking down the benefits, common strategies, and important considerations for integrating CRM platforms with other business tools.
Events:
Dreamforce 2023 September 12th – 14th
Join Validity at Dreamforce 2023 in San Francisco, CA! Stop by Booth #1026 to chat with the team, grab some great giveaways, and learn how to solve your most common data management challenges. See you there!
New Strategies to Pump Up Your Email Personalization
Join Validity Email Strategist Margaret Wolfenden for new personalization and list segmentation strategies guaranteed to win over subscribers, tips to collect consumer data to fuel more personalized campaigns, email design tips to support personalized content and more!
Episode 16: Stay out of ‘Haus: How to Avoid Being Listed by Spamhaus
Get the secrets to staying on Spamhaus’ good side from spam slayer extraordinaire Sridhar Chandran.
As always, thanks for reading along. We hope that you enjoy this helpful content. If there is anything else that you would like to see/read about, please let us know by commenting on this thread.
Update for 9/14
Blogs:
A Guide to CRM Lead Management: Boosting Sales and Customer Retention [August 29th, 2023]
As a sales and marketing professional, the ability to identify, nurture, and convert potential customers into loyal patrons is paramount. Which begs the question––Wouldn’t you want to make that journey as comfortable as possible?
Countdown to Apple LTP: Preparation Tips, Testing Strategies, and Unintended Consequences [August 30th, 2023]
Expert insights around how to prepare for LTP, what testing you should do to gauge potential impact, the results of our own LTP testing, and some unintended consequences LTP may have!
An Update on our Universal Feedback Loop Service [August 30th, 2023]
New update on the changes to our Universal Feedback Loop service. We recognize that our announcement raised some discussion in the market, so we wanted to take a moment to address the discourse.
Understanding Disposable Email Addresses—And What They Mean for Email Deliverability [September 5, 2023]
Breakdown on what Disposable Addresses are and why they are used by subscribers in the first place.
EVENTS:
Email After Hours: EPISODE 17
Oops! We Emailed Again: Turning Email Blunders into Brand Wins
Those embarrassing moments when a hasty typo, forgotten attachment, or premature thought is sent off to colleagues, bosses, or even an entire mailing list. In this hyperconnected age, such slip-ups are always just around the corner.
But fear not: There is a silver lining to these cringe-worthy moments. With the right strategy, brands can navigate these mistakes without losing face with their subscribers.
State of Email: Deliverability Deep Dive
September 20th | 12PM ET • 5PM UK
Every year email deliverability throws up new challenges and 2023 is no exception. Artificial intelligence, Apple privacy, economic headwinds, and from December Gmail starts deleting inactive accounts.
Add these curveballs to our latest research showing the Black Friday deliverability dip now lasts throughout the holiday season to early January. That’s serious lost revenue if you’re not hitting your subscribers’ inboxes!
Thanks for reading along. We hope that you enjoy this helpful content.
Update for 9/29
Blogs:
6 CRM Workflow Tips for Better Sales [September 14th, 2023]
A whopping 87 percent of businesses today use cloud-based Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software. And, with benefits like improved customer service, higher customer retention, better prospecting, more personalized outreach, and more accurate reporting (backed by customer data, no less!) who can blame them? So, how do you harness the power of AI and CRM to drive sales and customer success (without overworking your team)? Easy! Read this blog to learn about empowering your sales reps with optimized CRM workflows.
RevOps vs SalesOps: A Guide to Boosting Your Bottom Line [September 19th, 2023]
We’ve seen a boom in operational roles as businesses contend with the simple fact that marketing, sales, finance, and customer support teams can no longer work in silos if they want to achieve success. In this blog, we focus on the financial operations of a business and how they impact its bottom line.
Boost Engagement with Buttons in Email Marketing [September 23rd, 2023]
While there are many different ways to approach and structure a call-to-action (CTA) in an email, this blog focuses to focus specifically on buttons––why they work, how to design them, how to use them to boost overall engagement and read rates and even a little bit of the psychology behind buttons.
Surviving the Inbox Scam-pede: How to Navigate the Wacky World of Email Scams [September 26th, 2023]
Especially with the holiday season fast approaching, it’s critical for marketers to ensure their email programs (and subscribers) are safe and secure. Head over to this blog post to learn all about the wacky world of email scams – and how senders maintain legitimacy.
Case Study:
Freshfields has long been considered a leader in the legal space. With more than 6,000 employees serving clients in 150+ countries, Freshfields helps execute cross-border transactions, mitigate operational risks, and simplify regulatory compliance.
However, the legal industry is highly competitive, and the rise of digital marketing made it more important than ever for Freshfields to stay top of mind with clients and prospects. As the industry evolved, the firm realized it was not enough to simply provide top-tier legal advice—they needed to deliver stellar client relationship management as well.
With this goal in mind, Freshfields decided to make a strategic investment in their client experience with Salesforce. To build their new CRM on a foundation of clean data, the company chose to partner with Validity, the leading provider of data management and email deliverability solutions.
Read the Case Study and Download the PDF
Webinars:
Spooky Email Horror Stories—and Tips to Go from Frightful to Delightful
Spooky season is almost upon us—but email marketers aren’t scared of goblins or ghouls. To keep issues like these from haunting your email program, tune in for this episode Inbox Insiders, featuring Senior Email Strategist Danielle Gallant. She’ll share some of the spookiest email horror stories we’ve encountered during our years in the industry and give senders tips to fend off these inbox frights.
We’ll present hot-off-the-press analysis to explain why Sender Certification remains such an essential part of every sender’s deliverability strategy, and Dominic Poyntz, Head of CRM & Trade at Australian retailer Greencross Pet Wellness Company, will join us to talk through the major performance benefits for their email program since becoming Certified.
Ep. 17: Oops! We Emailed Again: Turning Email Blunders into Brand Wins
In this hosts-only episode, we’ll delve deep into the world of oops emails, exploring hilarious stories, handy advice, and the potential impact of these emails on subscriber engagement.
and
Ep. 18: ESP vs Sender: Whose Responsibility Is It, Anyway?
In this episode, we’ll drill down into the intricate dance between marketers and ESPs—mapping out the territory of who takes charge of what, look into unexpected challenges, share insider tips, and unveil the often-overlooked players in the email marketing arena with Tom Corbett, Deliverability Consultant at Iterable.
Update for 10/11
Blogs
Surviving the Inbox Scam-pede: How to Navigate the Wacky World of Email Scams [September 26th, 2023]
- Email scams are becoming more prevalent and more sophisticated by the day—aided in some cases by new technology like Chat GPT. Especially with the holiday season fast approaching, it’s critical for marketers to ensure their email programs (and subscribers) are safe and secure.
Why Mastering the Art of Customer Lifecycle Management Drives Long-Term Success [September 27th, 2023]
- In this post, we’ll delve into the world of customer lifecycle management (CLM) which involves nurturing relationships, delivering exceptional experiences, and understanding the unique needs of your audience at every stage. Read on as we explore the key stages, best practices, and which tools will help you master the art of CLM so you can drive customer success like the seasoned pro you are.
Top Salesforce Automation Tools for Streamlining Sales Processes [October 3rd, 2023]
- You know what they say: Work smarter, not harder. If you lead a sales team, you’re likely on the constant lookout for tools and processes that support them and make them more efficient. Luckily, we live in an era full of AI-powered technology, that, when implemented correctly, helps sales teams manage and automate daily tasks, sales activities, and interactions with customers and prospects.
Email Authentication Failures: How to Understand and Prevent Email Security Risks [October 6th, 2023]
- Email authentication is an essential but often misunderstood aspect of email security—and the consequences of neglecting it can be severe. Since your email program is a representation of your brand and reputation, we’re going to review the importance of authentication, the most commonly used protocols, how those protocols can fail, and what to do to prevent failure.
Webinars
Inbox X-Files: A Detective’s Guide to Solving Email Mysteries
Ever feel like being an email marketer is like diving into a detective novel?
One where every click, open rate, or sudden drop in engagement feels like a mysterious plot twist? We’re with you.Just like any savvy detective must navigate a maze of clues, email marketers need to be armed with the right tools to decode every email mystery that unfolds.
Enter Alice Cornell, deliverability consultant and email sleuth extraordinaire. In this episode, we’ll delve into captivating email cases, bewitching red herrings, and the basics that often trip up even the most experienced email pros.
State of Email: Hacks to Engage, Convert and Monetize Your Customers
October 18th | 12PM ET • 5PM UK
Many email programs face two conflicting challenges. Consumers have reined in discretionary spending, making them less responsive to email promotions. Senders are under increased C-level pressure to send more emails to older/less engaged subscribers to generate more short-term revenue.
Caught in a vicious circle of declining engagement and deliverability, how do responsible email marketers square this circle?
Update for 10/27
Blogs
- Data Uploads Into Salesforce—and How to Manage Them [October 11th, 2023]
Whether you’ve been around Salesforce for a while or are new to the Salesforce ecosystem, you’ve had to deal with some collection of data that someone wanted loaded into Salesforce. Here are tools and processes that you can use to make things easier.
- Email Deliverability in 2023: Are You Headed for a Successful Black Friday…or a Black Hole? [October 16th, 2023]
What should email senders expect this holiday season? Global email volumes doubled pre-vs-post pandemic as traditionally offline businesses moved online. Let’s review 2023’s key trends, and how senders can adapt.
- Salesforce Data Loaders: What They Are and How to Choose the Best Tool [October 19th, 2023]
How to manage that Salesforce data. More specifically, we’ll discuss the importance of properly importing data from disparate sources into Salesforce, what tools are available, and how to choose the right one for your business.
Case Study
Pizza Hut Restaurants is one of the United Kingdom’s most recognizable casual dining options. However, the market has changed significantly since the organization first set up shop in 1973.
Consumers now have virtually unlimited restaurant options, and new competitors enter the scene constantly. In this difficult economic environment, Pizza Hut Restaurants uses the email channel to stay top of mind with consumers and (most importantly) to drive foot traffic to their restaurants.
To circumvent deliverability challenges and ensure their messages made it to subscribers’ inboxes, Chilvers and the Pizza Hut Restaurants team partner with Validity, the leading provider of email deliverability and CRM data management solutions.
Download the Validity Case Study
Webinars
For expert guidance on introducing SMS to your marketing mix (or optimizing your existing strategy!) join us for this expert-led webinar, featuring Validity’s in-house Email Strategist Veronica Kyle. Tune in for details on:
- Exclusive research revealing what consumers really want from SMS marketing messages
- Tips to navigate the opportunities and pitfalls of SMS marketing
- Examples of winning SMS strategies from leading brands
The State of Email: LIVE, is Validity’s recurring webinar series dedicated to empowering marketers with real-time data, best practices, and email program recommendations. Join us–and our special guests–as we dig into the real-word data and topics that matter for email marketers.
Check out the State of Email Live Webinar Series!
Ep. 20: The Loyalty Loop: Turning Automated Emails into Customer Loyalty Gold
Can automated emails really win customer loyalty? Enter Lauren Pestana, Director of Brand Marketing at Drip, a rare company that prioritizes relationships over sales in the ecommerce world. In this episode, we’ll delve into the power and secrets of marketing automation in building customer connections.
Thanks to all of you who may have subscribed to this thread, and have read it on a regular basis. I am closing this thread down (locking it), as we have begun publishing this material within the Email Solution Newsletter.
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