With all the hype about sharing with your network, don't forget to also include a Forward to a Friend (FTAF) link in your emails. Not everyone has a facebook account, but almost everyone has an email address. It's also fewer steps to share an email with a specific person this way. Using the email program's forward functionality can distort your code and your email may not render properly. Having a FTAF button will ensure that your email looks as you intended it to.
In my search for the perfect FTAF experience, here's what I found...
In the FTAF Form:-
Allow the sender to add a personal message (and make sure to include that message in the forwarded email).
- Add a check box allowing the sender to receive a copy of the forwarded email.
-
Include your branding and logo on the FTAF form page.
-
Allow the sender to forward to more than one person, but don't overwhelm the page with boxes. I suggest 3 fields, or 1 taller box allowing the sender to separate email addresses with commas.
-
Include a reassuring note that your friend will not be added to your mailing list.
-
Do not ask for the sender or recipient's name if you don't plan on using it. I suggest not using it to make the forwarding process quick & easy for the sender.
-
Do not ask for the sender's email. You can generate this info yourself, don't require extra work for the sender.
- Subject Line: I suggest doing what Godiva and Guess do. Have "Subject
Line" as one of your form fields. Auto-populate it with the original
email's subject line, but give the sender the option to overwrite it
with their own message. A personalized message can increase open rates
and the auto-populated field will save the sender time/hassle.
In the page following the form submission:-
Give a simple "Thank you, your message has been sent to [email address]" message.
-
Cross promote similar products that the email featured, add/or add a button to shop the website.
In the Forwarded Email:
-
Make the personalized message easy to spot and place it at the top of the email. Separate the message from the forwarded email so it doesn't get lost/overlooked. If you can make it look nice, kudos to you!
-
Include a link to sign up for your emails. BUT, place it below the personalized message or your message may look like spam to the recipient.
Other Thoughts:
Should the "From" line of the email be:
1) the sender's email
2) the sender's name or
3) retailer's name?
...What do you think? (See samples below)
|
Editors' Sale Picks
