Email Forwards - Email Marketing

What are Email Forwards?

Email forwards occur when a recipient of your email chooses to share your content by forwarding the email to others. This can significantly extend the reach of your email marketing campaign beyond your initial email list.

Why are Email Forwards Important?

Email forwards are a form of word-of-mouth marketing. When a recipient forwards your email, they are essentially endorsing your message or offer, which can carry more weight and trust than other forms of marketing. This can lead to increased brand awareness and potentially more conversions.

How to Encourage Email Forwards?

Encouraging email forwards can be achieved through various strategies:

Include a clear "Forward to a Friend" call to action in your email.
Offer incentives for forwarding, such as discounts or access to exclusive content.
Create engaging and valuable content that recipients will want to share.

Tracking Email Forwards

Tracking email forwards can give you insights into how far your email has spread and who is sharing your content. Most email marketing platforms offer some level of tracking for forwards, often through unique forward links or tracking pixels.

Impact on Metrics

Email forwards can positively impact several key metrics:

Open Rate: More forwards can lead to more opens.
Click-Through Rate (CTR): If the content resonates, it can drive more clicks.
Conversion Rate: Trusted recommendations can lead to higher conversion rates.

Best Practices

To maximize the benefits of email forwards, follow these best practices:

Personalize your emails to make them more shareable.
Use compelling subject lines to increase the likelihood of opens and forwards.
Regularly update your content to keep it relevant and engaging.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Ensure that your email forwards comply with email marketing regulations such as the CAN-SPAM Act. Always provide an easy way for recipients to opt-out of future emails.

Conclusion

Email forwards can be a powerful tool in your email marketing strategy. By encouraging forwards and tracking their impact, you can extend your reach, improve your metrics, and ultimately drive more conversions.