Karen DiClemente

As many of you know, yesterday Twitter released the Lead Generation Card, a new type of card which allows marketers to collect leads directly within a tweet.

This could be a game changer because users do not need to fill out any lengthy forms.  Their information (Name, email, and username) is already pulled into the card. They literally just have to hit “Submit” on the Card’s call-to-action.  Currently, this is only available as a feature in Promoted Tweets — a paid feature of Twitter Ads.

As email marketers, we’re always looking for new ways to boost our acquisition.  The launch of this new Twitter feature is exceptionally timely as Listrak recently published a whitepaper focused solely on the importance of acquisition.

This is a great tool to get more bang for your buck from your social media spend.  With Twitter Ads, you pay for the Cost Per Engagement on retweets, replies to, clicks, or favorites your Promoted Tweet — and clicks count both on the URL in the tweet and anywhere in the tweet itself, so this is something you definitely want to test.

It’s important to treat this acquisition source as you would any others (website signup, modal/lightbox signup, etc.) and send new subscribers a welcome email/series. 

There are many reasons that a welcome series is highly recommended. To begin, it validates the email address, which protects your sender reputation. It also reminds subscribers about their opt-in and confirms what they may expect as a result of signing up. In addition, welcome emails may be used to request more profile information while reinforcing your brand. And finally, a welcome series immediately engages new subscribers and keeps them engaged beginning at the moment they have shown interest in your brand.

Will you be testing the new Twitter Lead Generation cards?  Would love to know your thoughts!

Listrak Demonstrates Global Commitment to Consumer Privacy Protection and joins more than 5,000 Enterprise Companies in TRUSTe certification

On April 25, the email marketing solutions provider Listrak announced its participation in the TRUSTe® U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Program and its certification to display the TRUSTe Certified Privacy seal. This development demonstrates Listrak’s global commitment to transparency, accountability and consumer choice, the foundations of online privacy. Listrak joins thousands of TRUSTe-certified Web sites in recognizing privacy’s ability to accelerate online commerce and information exchange.

Participation in the TRUSTe U.S.-EU Safe Harbor program signifies Listrak’s commitment to follow the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor Framework, a legal safe harbor established by the Department of Commerce that allows U.S. companies to satisfy EU privacy directives protecting the personal information of European citizens. TRUSTe awards its privacy seal only to companies that complete TRUSTe certification, submit to ongoing site monitoring, and participate in TRUSTe’s consumer privacy dispute resolution program.

“Given increasing privacy concerns it’s no surprise that many consumers look for trustmarks before doing business online,” said Chris Babel, CEO of TRUSTe. “With the TRUSTe Certified Privacy Seal, Listrak sends a clear signal to its customers that it respects their personal information.”

Consumers prefer organizations that demonstrate responsiveness to privacy concerns, set clear expectations for the processing of personal information and offer timely choice should those expectations change. With its privacy programs TRUSTe helps companies address this consumer preference for transparency, accountability and choice and effectively advertise their privacy commitment with TRUSTe’s well-recognized privacy seal.

“With the TRUSTe EU Safe Harbor and TRUSTed Cloud certifications, Listrak sends a clear signal to our customers that we are committed to the highest standards of consumer privacy and security, and we will continue to work with TRUSTe to maintain these standards” said James Koons, Chief Privacy Officer at Listrak. “We are pleased to join TRUSTe in increasing consumer trust and following industry best privacy practices. Our TRUSTe certifications serve as a benchmark in our ongoing commitment to building a comprehensive privacy program at Listrak. The TRUSTe privacy seal enhances our credibility by immediately showing that we clearly communicate our data handling and privacy practices that are in alignment with recognized national and international privacy policy standards and frameworks.”

Listrak attained the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor status through self-certification and prepared for it by participating in the privacy program for TRUSTed Cloud through TRUSTe. TRUSTe provides professional services for privacy certification and third party dispute resolution. Clients displaying the TRUSTe Certified Privacy Seal can take advantage of TRUSTe’s multi-lingual support for this dispute resolution service. Each year TRUSTe resolves nearly 9,000 complaints filed by sealholders’ customers and TRUSTe privacy seals generate more than 20 million click-throughs by consumers seeking to verify their authenticity.

About TRUSTe

TRUSTe is the leading global privacy management solutions provider and offers a broad suite of solutions that enable multinational companies to safely and efficiently handle the customer data powering their online businesses - including advertising, cloud services, mobile applications, and websites. Over 5,000 web properties from top companies like Apple, Disney, eBay, Forbes, HP, and Microsoft rely on TRUSTe to ensure compliance with evolving and complex international privacy requirements. TRUSTe’s mission, based on a “Truth in Privacy” framework, is built on a solid foundation of transparency, choice and accountability regarding the collection and use of personal information. TRUSTe’s privacy seal is recognized and trusted by millions of consumers worldwide as a sign of responsible privacy practices. For additional information on TRUSTe and its offerings, please visit http://www.truste.com.

About Listrak

Listrak is an email marketing solutions provider that works with online retailers to drive revenue growth, profitability and increase the lifetime value of customers. Founded in 1999, the company’s solution suite boasts analytics technology that enhances campaign performance, shopping cart abandonment solutions that help recoup lost revenue, post purchase solutions to increase lifetime value, seamless integration across multiple platforms, as well as email, mobile, sweepstakes and more. Listrak has more than a decade of email marketing experience and works with leading U.S. online retailers, including Deb Shops, Waterford, Ten Thousand Villages, Swell, Vintage Tub and La-Z-boy. For more information, visit http://www.listrak.com.

In this just-released article from DMNews, Allison Schiff interviews client Mike Nelson of SkinCareRx.com and Ross about how the online skincare retailer increased revenue by sending fewer emails. It’s a great story on the power of list hygiene, modal popup, shopping cart abandonment and more! 

The related  topics of privacy and deliverability are hot. Here are three pieces we came across yesterday:

- From EcommerceBytes, Etsy Inadvertently Breaches Privacy in Marketing Emails

- From PCMAG.com, Living Social Hacked, 50M Accounts Affected 

- And a blog post from Act On, HIdden Deliverability Dangers in Your Email Marketing Messages. 

To learn more about deliverability, check out our latest whitepaper, Don’t Be Left Out of the Inbox: Email Deliverability Tips for Every Stage of the Customer Lifecycle and check back often for blog posts from Listrak Chief Privacy Officer James Koons. 

Listrak is preparing for two shows in May: 

On May 15, we will be joining Magento and an impressive list of co-sponsors at Fashion Digital Los Angeles. We’re excited to be at “the intersection of commerce and couture”! 

Also on May 15 and the 16th, we will be taking part in Interactivity Digital in Miami Beach. On the 16th, Ross will be co-presenting “The Dawning of a New Email Era: The Trends You Need to Know.”

Tickets are limited, but you can still get $300 off registration using the discount code ListrakVIP2013. 

Stay tuned for June updates, including IRCE info!

James Koons

While cruising the latest posts over at deliverability.com, I came across THIS ARTICLE by Stephen Wheeler of Dyn.  Stephen is Dyn’s Director of Deliverability and a highly respected industry expert.  I have learned a lot about email deliverablity from reading Stephen’s posts and this latest work is great example of the things that Deliverablity Professionals hear every day.  His perspective on these 5 very common misconceptions is spot on and well worth the read.