Email Tactics
Customers Hate
And Why Marketers Continue to Use Them
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
Why marketing
technology is
sucking the life out
of the marketing
profession
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
In my own beloved profession of marketing,
the primary application of technology is to
find increasingly sophisticated ways to
annoy people. Today, marketing is best
known for doing the stuff that people hate.
—Mark Schaefer
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
Mis-use of technology is the central problem.
We’re becoming over-reliant on data and
dashboards to know what to do. ...Decisions
are based on probability analysis versus
common sense and good taste.
—Mark Schaefer
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
We’ll soon see some epic marketing
failures... The problem is just going to get
worse—much worse—as “marketing
technology” becomes synonymous with
“creating consumer hate at scale.”
—Mark Schaefer
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
Ouch!
Is he right?
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
Generally speaking? Yes.
But admitting we may have
a problem isn’t enough.
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
The more important thing is to understand
why brands abuse the email channel and
annoy their customers to their own detriment.
Here are some of the justifications we hear:
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
It’s not illegal.
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
One of our competitors is
doing it.
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
We have three vendors
that are anxious to help us
with this.
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
Look at those amazing
email metrics!
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
Over the next 45 minutes, we’ll discuss the
major reasons brands use email tactics
consumers hate—and why those reasons
may be faulty. Along the way, we’ll share
examples and exclusive research.
Chad S. White
● Research Director
at Litmus
● Author of the book
Email Marketing Rules
● Author of 3,000+ blog posts
and articles on email marketing
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
The US’s
Legal Low Bar
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U.S. email laws have set
the wrong expectations for
email behavior.
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Just because something is
legal doesn’t mean you’re
protected from harm.
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
Some background...
● CAN-SPAM legalized spamming in the
U.S. by enshiring opt-out email marketing.
● Weak U.S. consumer privacy laws
empower data brokers.
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
In reaction to that...
● The U.S. became a haven for spammers.
● Some brands believe it is okay to spam
consumers, and buy and sell their contact
information—even their “permission.”
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
And then in reaction to that...
● Inbox providers became increasingly heavy
handed about deliverability, design, etc.
● Canada, the EU, and others created very
strong anti-spam and privacy laws.
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#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
Despite the clear dangers that these email
acquisition sources pose, 27% of brands are
using at least one of these acquisition
sources—at least in part because it’s not
illegal, others are doing it, and companies
offer the service and software to do it.
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
Essentially, in the name of not restricting
corporate behavior, the U.S. continues to
condone reckless and irresponsible
behaviors that hurt both consumers and the
brands that exercise those behaviors.
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
For an in-depth look at the most
problematic subscriber acquisition sources,
check out What CAN-SPAM Requires & How
that Low Bar Harms U.S. Businesses on the
Litmus blog.
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
Rather than setting the standard for the
world, the U.S.’s lax email and privacy laws
created a power vacuum. Other countries,
most notably Canada and the EU countries,
have filled the void with much stronger laws.
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
CASL went into full effect
in July of 2017.
GDPR goes into effect on
May 25, 2018.
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The most important thing to realize about
these laws is they apply to all brands
emailing consumers in those countries. The
brand’s country of operation doesn’t matter.
Only where the email recipient is matters.
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
Both establish strong standards for getting
expressed consent from subscribers and
both have large penalties for violators.
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
For an in-depth look at these laws, check
out CASL Debunked: Everything You Need
to Know About Canada’s Anti-Spam Law and
GDPR: What Europe’s New Privacy Law
Means for Email Marketers on Litmus’ blog.
❏ Being CAN-SPAM compliant
doesn’t protect your brand’s
emails from being blocked
or blacklisted.
❏ If you send emails to
subscribers in other
countries, you have to
comply with their laws.
RECAP
The US’s
Legal Low Bar
Technology Mis-
use
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
Brands’ email tactics are
company-centric instead of
customer-centric.
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
You can differentiate between the two types
of tactics by asking yourself:
● Who does this primarily benefit? My
company or my customer?
● Where are the benefits? In my subscriber
metrics or just campaign metrics?
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#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
Many email tools & tactics
deliver protections or
benefits to both parties.
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● A/B testing software
● Email preview software
● Spam filter testing
● Email authentication
● Email address verification services
● among others
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However, some great
technologies can abuse
customers, if done poorly.
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Let’s look at a couple of examples...
● Email automation
● Pop-up email signup forms
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Email Automation
Successful email marketing programs are
109% more likely than less successful ones
to generate at least half their email marketing
revenue from automated emails (17.1% vs.
8.2%), according to Litmus research.
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
Avoid annoying customers by:
1.Doing withhold tests
2.Not interrupting natural behaviors
3.Establishing hierarchies and conditions
4.Adopting a customer service mentality
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Pop-ups
Successful email marketing programs are
42% more likely than less successful
programs to use a lightbox, exit intent pop-
up, or similar forms (38.0% vs. 26.7%),
according to Litmus research.
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
Avoid annoying customers by:
1.Thoroughly testing the effect of timing,
messaging, frequency, etc. of pop-ups
2.Testing alternatives, such as more
prominent static placement of email
signup forms on your website
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
For an in-depth look at some manipulative
email tactics, check out 6 Manipulative Email
Tactics that Disrespect Subscribers—And
Hurt Marketers on Litmus’ blog.
❏ Use tools in the right
situations.
❏ Set up smart logic and
conditions to reduce
annoyance.
RECAP
Technology
Mis-Use
Beware Lauded
Examples
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
Some tactics are wrongly
praised by the media and
experts for “cleverness.”
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#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
That email was similar to this one from U.S.
home goods retailer West Elm:
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This April Fool’s joke
sparked identity theft
concerns among some
subscribers. They didn’t
find it funny and said so...
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
❏ Sometimes emails attract
praise for the wrong
reasons.
❏ Look at what consumers are
saying.
❏ Just because one company
does it, doesn’t mean you
should, too.
RECAP
Beware Lauded
Examples
Data-Driven
Failure
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
Use of the wrong metrics
can lead brands confidently
to the wrong conclusions.
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It’s not enough to simply have metrics.
Brands need to understand what their
metrics mean—and what they don’t mean.
Case in point: Subject lines and open rates.
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Which subject line performed better?
A: 20% open rate
B: 25% open rate
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Which subject line performed better?
A: 20% open rate
B: 25% open rate
Unclear! There’s not enough data to tell.
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The goal of a subject line isn’t to
generate opens. It’s to generate
openers who are likely to convert.
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Which subject line performed better?
A: 20% open rate, 10% click rate
B: 25% open rate, 9% click rate
Better. Leaning toward A. Any more data?
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Which subject line performed better?
A: 20% open rate, 10% click rate,
5% conversion rate
B: 25% open rate, 9% click rate
3% conversion rate
A is the clear winner.
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
Which email campaign performed better?
A: 20% open rate, 0.3% opt-out rate
B: 25% open rate, 0.8% opt-out rate
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
Which email campaign performed better?
A: 20% open rate, 0.3% opt-out rate;
Next email: 22% open rate
B: 30% open rate, 0.8% opt-out rate;
Next email: 17% open rate
A caused much less churn and fatigue.
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
Focus on maximizing the value of a
subscriber, not on maximizing the
results of a campaign.
❏ Focus on deep metrics, not
surface metrics.
❏ Don’t get trapped in
campaign thinking. You’re
building relationships over
time.
RECAP
Data-Driven
Failure
Data-Driven
Failure
Holistic Email
Performance
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
Brands use email tactics
consumers hate because
they’re not measuring it’s
full effect.
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
Every email you send has…
● Internal stakeholders with channel,
sales, and business goals
● External stakeholders in the form of
inbox providers and subscribers
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
Inbox
Provider
Impact
Email
Campaign
Success
Subscriber
Reaction
Email
Campaign’s
Omnichannel
Influence
Email
Campaign
Engagement
CAMPAIGN
EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
And every email you send is just one part
of an ongoing...
● Email program with growth goals over
time
● Relationship with inbox providers and
subscribers
#LitmusLive @LitmusApp @ChadSWhite
Inbox
Provider
Relationships
Inbox
Provider
Impact
Email
Campaign
Success
Email
Program
Success
Subscriber
Relationships
Subscriber
Reaction
Email
Campaign’s
Omnichannel
Influence
Email
Program’s
Omnichannel
Influence
Email
Campaign
Engagement
CAMPAIGNPROGRAM
EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS
Thank You!
Check out the Litmus Blog
for the recording and slides
for this webinar.

Email Tactics Customers Hate and Why Marketers Continue to Use Them