Is Email Marketing Dying?

A recent report released Monday from by ComScore has alot of email marketers wondering about the future of their businesses. Trust me, I’ve been getting emails from alot of people and some reactions are outright panic.

The report from the ComScore 2010 Digital Year in Review provides a snapshot of usage trends across the digital space. The report basically breaks down usage statistics by age groups and according to the report, total web-based email was down eight percent last year. More alarming is the individual group statistics. There was an large 59% drop among 12 to 17 year olds, an 18% drop among 25 to 34 year olds, and a 12% drop for 45 to 54 year olds. The only age group to increase their use of email was the 55 to 64 year olds, up 22%, which the report attributed to new users among that age group. Here’s the graph from the report.

Email use has plummeted among young people

What’s Happening?

The rise of social networks is what’s happening. Only an idiot would argue against the success of social networks and with the emergence of all these new communication channels, email use has gone down. No mystery there.

But should email marketers worry?

I don’t think so and here’s why. When email was the only game in town, everybody used it for everything. Remember those long chain emails? In fact I think Craigslist was founded this way. But today, technologies like twitter, texting, and social networks (facebook) have supplanted email as the communication medium of choice for certain things. Instant messages to your friends? Text. Broadcast a rant about something? Twitter or facebook.

But none of these technologies can do what email does. Sure, I know facebook is working on a new email service but whatever it may be in the future, it’s a poor email service now. Email is private, email can be filtered and stored, email can be copied, forwarded, and edited. Email is flexible. In my opinion, the usage statistics are just showing that email has stopped being the medium of choice for frivolous communication. Businesses will continue to use email to communicate to customers and it’s not like web-based email is standing still either. Most people don’t even know half of what’s possible with gmail.

So don’t fret and keep building those email lists.

Squeeze Plugin – Now Available

We are thrilled to announce that you can now build squeeze pages on ANY WordPress theme with drag-and-drop ease. Squeeze Plugin makes building squeeze pages incredibly easy and it is available now!

Squeeze Plugin

Why do all the smartest marketers create squeeze pages on their site? Well, let’s think about it together:

1. Squeeze pages are the most effective way to build a list of targeted customers.

2. It’s a great way to provide free or special offers to those who matter most.

3. Squeeze pages are proven to convert as well or better than any other form of info collection.

4. The list that you build is full of people who want to buy what you’re selling.

5. You’ll make more money!

This is great news because everyone knows building an email list is the #1 thing to do for ANY website. The larger your email list, the more money you can make from your list. Squeeze Plugin will allow you to build powerful squeeze pages on any website running WordPress.

Get it Now!

Squeeze Plugin Overview

Installing Squeeze Plug-in

Step 1: Download squeeze plugin from your account page on squeezetheme.com (make sure you keep it in the .zip format)

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Step 2: Login to your WordPress dashboard

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Step 3: Click on the drop down arrow to the right of the "Plugins" link on the left hand side, then select the "Add New" link

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Step 4: Click on the "Upload" link and select the Squeeze Plugin from your computer using the "Browse" button, then click the "Install Now" button

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Step 5: The last step in the process is to activate the plugin by clicking on the "Activate" button

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Squeeze Plugin – Coming August 3rd, 2010! (Sneak Peak)

Our mission is to make squeeze pages easier to build is continuing with our newest product – Squeeze Plugin! Squeeze Plugin will allow you to build drag-and-drop squeeze pages on ANY WordPress theme – and it is coming August 3rd, 2010! Below, you can see a screenshot of the plugin backend that will feature familiar squeeze widgets that can be used to easily create an infinite combination of squeeze pages…

Squeeze Plugin

As we mentioned, this plugin can be used with ANY WordPress theme to make creating squeeze pages easier than ever before. Let us know what you think in the comments!

How To Style Text – Text Widget

Styling your text in the text widget is just like styling a blog post in WordPress.

In fact, you may prefer to just write out your text in a “add new post” or “add new page” window, then copy it over to the text widget.

However, if you’d like to write directly into the text widgets, here are a few html styling tips for you:

Sales Page Widgets – IMPORTANT!

When choosing your widgets in the WP Dashboard, you’ll find a few widgets that aren’t part of Sales Page Theme. Don’t worry! Here is a list of the Sales Page Theme widgets you’ll want to use:

  • Text
  • Testimonial
  • Video
  • Product Feature
  • Five Steps
  • Five Reasons
  • Money Back Guarantee
  • Pricing

These can be stacked and swapped around as you see fit. Good luck!

Step 3: Customizing Your Widgets

Below, you will find a video as well as a written tutorial about how to customize your widgets for Sales Page Theme.




Customizing Widgets

  1. If you would like to change the colors, size, shape, or font of the widgets you are using for your sales page, we have made it easy to do so. Now what you need to do is click on the “Sales Page Theme” link at the bottom of the furthest left column of the WordPress Dashboard.





    You should now see the Main Options panel. You need to click on the tab at the top that says “Sales Page Widgets”




  2. Now, you can go to any of the widgets and click on the “+/-” link to the left of the widget title to display all of the customization options.







  3. When you have made your desired changes, make sure you save your settings by clicking on the “Save Settings” button


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Step 2: Select Your Widgets

Below, you will find a video as well as a written tutorial about how to add widgets to Sales Page Theme.




Selecting Widgets

  1. The sales page layout is an entirely widgetized page. Therefore adding widgets is crucial to have the page look correct. To do this step, you must have already completed step one of the “Sales Page Theme” tutorials. If you have not completed this step already, click HERE to go back and complete it. The first thing you need to do now, is click on the drop down arrow on the “Appearance” button on the left column of the WordPress dashboard. This should display all of the “Appearance” options.


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  2. Now click on the “Widgets” link


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  3. Once you are on the “Widgets” page, you can choose which widgets you would like to display and where. When you decide which one you want, simply click, hold, and drag that widget to the right to the “Sales Page” area and drop the widget in the desired location.


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  4. After you have dropped a widget into the desired location, go ahead and Title it and select the given options that you want and don’t forget to click the “Save” button


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  5. Click Here to go Step 3

Step 1: Create a New Page

Below, you will find a video as well as a written tutorial about how to create a new page for Sales Page Theme.




Creating a New Page

  1. First, login to the WordPress Dashboard and on the left hand side, click on the drop down arrow to the right of the “Pages” link. You should see several selections display. Click on the “Add New” link.


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  2. Now, title the page explaining the point of this page. For example: “Sales Page Theme Sale.”



  3. In the next step, you will need to choose the page layout. So on the right hand side of the screen, under the “Attributes” section:
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    click on the drop-down arrow to the right of “Default Template.” You should choose “Sales”:



  4. At this time you also want to customize your post extras and display/not display things like: header, navigation, and footer.




  5. Now publish this page by clicking on the “Publish” button.


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——–>>>> Click Here for Step 2: Select Your Widgets