Carrying straight on from where we left off at Internet World, our stand in the Online Marketing Show at Olympia was once again a hot spot for small businesses interested in our powerful, entry-level email application and how it can help grow their business.

Thanks to all the visitors to our stand at Online Marketing Show, part of Marketing Week Live. It was great to meet and chat with you all. We hope you enjoyed the demonstrations, information and advice we provided as well as the free email credits, so you can now seriously test drive the power of this application!

For more information on Suite26, please call 0845 313 0912 or email enquiries@26.co.uk.

A few photos of Suite26 at Marketing Week Live, Olympia, 29-30th June:

Take a look at this interesting article on the differences between Email and Email Marketing when it comes to permission based emails.

Email Insider has raised some very useful points when commenting on the hot topic in a LinkedIn group on ‘whether collecting business cards at a networking events, meetings, social functions, etc, gives people/companies the right to add someone’s details to their database and start sending them their e-newsletter?’

The article first clarifies what Email and Email Marketing are, and then defines the differences between them and whether the above form of data capture is permission based or not for the sending of future emails/email campaigns.

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=130082

Following our successful outing at Internet World in April, we are spreading our wings further by deciding to strut our stuff at The Online Marketing Show in 2 weeks.

If you didn’t get to see us before at Internet World (or you want to see us again), you can now come and meet us for a chat and receive:

- One-to-one demonstrations
- Free email marketing advice and support
- Free email credits for visiting.

Plus there’s the chance to put a face to a name and voice.

So if you’re looking for guidance to help you connect and engage with your customers cost effectively, and can’t get to our Harlow offices, The Online Marketing Show at Olympia might be the best place to meet.

If you want to arrange a specific time to meet us just call us on 0845 313 0912 or email sales@26.co.uk with your preferred date and time.

Look forward to seeing you there.

Event details:

Where: Grand Hall, Olympia

Dates: 29th and 30th June 2010

Cost: Free! Register today

The number 1 rule to remember when creating your email campaign: simplicity is the key.

When it comes to the design of your email campaign, keep the content and layout simple.  The design of your email is important, from a readability, usability and branding viewpoint, but in the end the design is not the main element that will get you conversions.  Always remember the basics (your subject line, main heading, the width of the email, how it looks in the preview pane, etc.)  Avoid making the email look 'too busy' by not having too many messages or offers on there.

Be original

There’s a good chance that your recipients receive plenty of emails on a daily basis, so you need to distance yours from other emails by being original and different.  Making your email stand out you will help lead to increased attention.  Of course, this doesn’t mean you should forget the basics.

Gain attention

The initial purpose of your email template design is not to impress your recipients, but to grab their attention. Once you have caught their eye, it is the job of your content to do the rest.  Do not let your email design become too excessive: keep to a simple, effective design and make sure your content is visible and engaging.

Remember it’s the copy that sells, not the design.

Check out the photos of Suite26 at Internet World, Earls Court, 27- 29th April.

Our powerful, entry-level email service application pitted itself against some big players in what is a highly competitive industry, but we managed to hold our own against the main email marketing heavyweights and delivered the goods for companies seeking a new low-cost alternative that is truly easy-to-use.

Thanks to all the visitors to our stand at Internet World. It was great to meet and chat with you all. We hope you enjoyed the demonstrations, support and advice we provided as well as the free email credits, so you can now seriously test drive the power of this application!

For more information on Suite26 or our stand at Internet World, just call 0845 313 0912 or email enquiries@26.co.uk.

Using a custom built template for your email campaigns has many benefits.  For a start, it reduces the creative building time process, and makes it possible for those without HTML knowledge and the necessary design skills to use a professional looking email template without having to know how to write HTML code.  Following on from that, optimal HTML code can mean the difference between inbox delivery success or  junk folder failure.  So why not use a custom built email template that has already been tested for optimal HTML structure?

Consistency is key. Using a custom email template will give your emails a familiar look and feel each time you send, helping your customers instantly recognise your brand. Using a custom built template for your company and brand is a great way to direct traffic straight to your website.  By providing links to key landing pages, you are making your products and services easily accessible to your recipients, as well as directing your customer to exactly where you want them go to.

In short, custom built email template designs at a minimum help improve delivery, promote brand exposure and increase traffic to your specific landing pages.  So, are you using a custom email template for your email marketing campaigns?

For more information on how to order your custom built email template, please visit http://www.26.co.uk/customEmailTemplate

Happy Easter and a BIG thank you to all our 'egg-cellent' customers for their continued support and custom over the weeks, months and years.

As a little treat from Suite26, you can now get a FREE Easter email template for your Easter campaign!

Check out the free Easter email template design we've made specially for you:

If you would like to use this email design for your Easter campaign, please email us today at sales@26.co.uk or call 0845 313 0912, and we'll add it to your account at no extra cost.

From all at Suite26, have a great Easter and enjoy the bank holiday weekend.

Hotmail are experiencing problems with their servers this afternoon which is causing a backlog of emails waiting to be sent to those addresses.    This problem is at the Hotmail end and is affecting many ISPs and mail providers globally.

Please rest assured that any mail to Hotmail addresses will be queued and delivered once the Hotmail servers are again accepting connections.

Update 18/03/10 16:45 GMT - Hotmail servers are now accepting connections once again and the mail backlog is starting to move.   We should expect delivery to be slightly slower than usual as the Hotmail servers try to catch up, but rest assured your mail will be queued and delivered over the coming hours.

Update 19/03/10 08:17 GMT - Hotmail service is now fully back to normal and all of our queues to Hotmail are clear.   You should see no delays in your email being delivered to these addresses.

You can now have Suite26 training at your office. Call 0845 313 0911 to book your session.

From the comfort and convenience of your own office you can now become an expert in the art of email marketing with Suite26.

Master how to:

• Import your contacts with ease

• Create and send targeted and personalised email campaigns in minutes

• Import your own customised template, logos, links and more to personalise your messages

• Track, follow-up and improve on your campaign performance

• Collect email addresses and build your database from your website

• And much more...

We guarantee you'll be able to create and send HTML emails, track responses and measure the effectiveness of your email campaigns to your customers. See firsthand how easy it is to use Suite26 to expand your business.

Call Ricky or Mark on 0845 313 0911 or email enquiries@26.co.uk to book or find out more about your One-2-One training session.

We are now pleased to announce that the problem we were experiencing yesterday afternoon in generating screenshots of your email campaigns has been resolved.