Hello and long time no see! This blog/news section has been woefully neglected over the past year or so and while I’m pretty sure no one reads here anymore, I’m making it my “New Years Resolution in March” to update this thing on a regular basis. When we first started LP, it was just a blog where we threw up work and different things we were up to around SF and we realized this year that we missed doing that. So in an attempt to get back to our roots, we’ll be updating this space more frequently not only with work but thoughts on design/illustration and working together as a couple, as well as some of our adventures in the Bay Area and beyond. We also update our Instagram much more frequently if you’re interested.

Until then, here’s a mini update on what we’ve been up to the past year:





1. We feel incredibly fortunate to have worked on some pretty amazing once-in-a-lifetime projects this past year. Illustrating an in-store campaign for Target has been a dream project of ours ever since we graduated college and moved to Minneapolis, so to work on the 2014 Holiday campaign was really special for us. We also got to work with Tiffany & Co. on their Holiday campaign as well and we’re really proud of the work we did for both of these clients. I can’t speak highly enough of all the creatives involved with these two projects and we feel so lucky to have been a part of both of these campaigns. Also, I don’t think we will ever get sick of creating Christmas artwork-it seriously is the best. And you have an excuse to listen to Christmas music in June! Both of these projects are now on our site here & here and we’ll be updating the rest of the site with new work very soon.




2. Ryan opened up another design studio with the super talented Brian Gunderson called Stout. While we concentrate more on illustrative works, Stout is more branding and design focused. Go check ‘em out here!

3. And last but not least, this little munchkin joined our family last June. She’s pretty cute so I think we’ll keep her. ;)

Wishing you all the best!

-S

Email marketing is one of the most effective and direct ways to reach your audience, offering a remarkable return on investment (ROI) when done correctly by sites like themarketingheaven.com. To build an effective email marketing campaign, it’s essential to create targeted, engaging content that resonates with your subscribers. Here, we’ll go over essential tips to create high-impact campaigns that nurture leads, boost conversions, and foster customer loyalty.
1. Define Your Goals and Audience

Starting with a clear strategy and well-defined objectives is the foundation of any successful email campaign.

Set Clear Goals: Determine what you want to achieve with your campaign, whether it’s increasing sales, building brand awareness, nurturing leads, or providing product updates. Having a clear goal will shape the structure and content of your emails.

Segment Your Audience: Different groups within your audience may respond better to different messages. Segmenting your list based on demographics, purchase behavior, or engagement levels allows you to personalize your messages and boost engagement rates.

2. Build a Quality Email List

An effective email list isn’t just about numbers; it’s about quality. A well-curated list ensures your emails are welcomed by recipients rather than marked as spam.

Use Opt-In Forms: Capture the emails of interested users with strategically placed opt-in forms on your website. Offer value to entice subscriptions, such as a free guide, discount, or exclusive content.

Avoid Buying Lists: Purchased lists often include unengaged or even uninterested contacts, which can hurt your email deliverability. Focus on organic growth for better results and long-term success.

Offer Clear Unsubscribe Options: An easy way to unsubscribe might seem counterintuitive, but it’s vital for compliance with regulations like GDPR and the CAN-SPAM Act. Plus, it keeps your list populated with genuinely interested contacts.

3. Create Compelling Subject Lines

The subject line is the first thing recipients see, so make it count. A strong subject line can increase open rates and set the tone for your email.

Keep It Short and Sweet: Aim for around 6-10 words or 50 characters. Most people scan their inbox, so a concise subject line is more likely to catch their attention.

Use Personalization: Personalized subject lines, such as using the recipient’s first name or mentioning a recent interaction, can make emails feel more relevant and increase open rates.

Avoid Spammy Words: Words like “free,” “limited time,” and “click here” may trigger spam filters. Focus on creating value-driven, curiosity-inducing lines instead, like “Your Exclusive Access Inside” or “A Gift Just for You.”

4. Personalize Your Content

Personalization is about more than just using someone’s name; it’s about tailoring the message to their preferences and behaviors.

Use Dynamic Content: Many email marketing platforms allow you to show different content blocks based on subscriber data. For instance, a fashion retailer might show men’s or women’s items based on the subscriber’s preferences.

Leverage Behavioral Triggers: Send targeted emails based on user actions. For instance, you can set up an abandoned cart email, a welcome series, or a post-purchase follow-up to enhance the user experience.

Include Personalized Recommendations: If your business has an e-commerce component, suggesting related products based on previous purchases can encourage further engagement and sales.

5. Focus on Quality Content and Value

Great email marketing campaigns provide subscribers with value in every email. This not only boosts engagement but also builds trust.

Craft Valuable Content: Offer actionable advice, industry insights, exclusive discounts, or entertaining content that enriches the reader’s experience. Think of what your audience would find interesting or useful.

Limit the Sales Pitch: People don’t want to feel constantly sold to. Balance sales-focused emails with informational or educational content to keep readers engaged.

Include a Clear Call-to-Action (CTA): Every email should have a purpose, so be sure to include a strong, clear CTA. Keep it action-oriented (e.g., “Shop Now,” “Learn More,” “Join the Webinar”) and make it easy to locate and click.

6. Design for Mobile

With the majority of emails being opened on mobile devices, optimizing for mobile is crucial.

Use Responsive Design: A responsive design adjusts based on the device being used, making emails look great on any screen size. Many email marketing platforms offer templates designed for mobile responsiveness.

Keep It Simple: Avoid cluttered layouts, complex graphics, and large file sizes. A clean, visually appealing design ensures that your message is easy to read and understand on smaller screens.

Use Short, Scannable Text: Mobile users tend to scan rather than read in-depth. Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and clear headings to make your content digestible.

7. Test and Optimize with A/B Testing

Testing your emails helps refine your strategy and ensures your campaigns are as effective as possible.

Test One Element at a Time: Whether it’s the subject line, CTA, images, or email layout, testing one variable at a time allows you to isolate what works best.

Analyze Results and Refine: Use metrics like open rate, click-through rate (CTR), and conversion rate to gauge success. A/B testing data will show which elements resonate most with your audience, allowing you to fine-tune future campaigns.

8. Automate Your Email Campaigns

Automation helps streamline your marketing efforts and ensures consistency without requiring constant manual effort.

Set Up Drip Campaigns: Drip campaigns are automated sequences sent over time to nurture leads. For example, a welcome series for new subscribers or re-engagement emails for inactive users.

Use Triggered Emails: Automate emails based on user actions, such as abandoned cart reminders, birthday greetings, or purchase confirmations. Triggered emails have higher engagement because they’re relevant and timely.

Regularly Update and Optimize: Even automated campaigns benefit from periodic updates. Review the performance of your automated emails to ensure they remain relevant and effective.

9. Pay Attention to Timing and Frequency

Finding the right balance for when and how often you send emails is key to retaining subscribers and keeping them engaged.

Send at Optimal Times: The best time to send emails can vary by industry, but generally, weekdays during mid-morning or early afternoon tend to perform well. Experiment to see what works best for your audience.

Maintain a Consistent Frequency: Determine a frequency that aligns with your goals. While weekly emails might work well for some brands, others may find success with biweekly or monthly newsletters. Avoid overwhelming your audience with excessive emails.

10. Measure Success and Continuously Improve

Email marketing is an ongoing process, and the data from each campaign provides insights that help you improve.

Track Key Performance Metrics: Open rates, CTR, conversions, and unsubscribe rates are essential metrics that show how well your emails are performing.

Collect Subscriber Feedback: Feedback from your audience can be invaluable. Occasionally send out surveys or ask for direct feedback to understand what your subscribers want to see more of.

Stay Updated on Industry Trends: Email marketing trends evolve, so stay updated to ensure your strategies remain effective. Trends like interactive emails, AMP for email, and hyper-personalization may offer new opportunities to engage your audience.

Conclusion

Effective email marketing requires careful planning, thoughtful content creation, and a focus on the subscriber experience. By defining your goals, crafting engaging content, optimizing for mobile, and continuously analyzing your results, you can build campaigns that resonate with your audience and drive measurable results. Remember, the key to email marketing success is consistency, value, and continuous improvement—elements that help build strong customer relationships and boost business growth over time.

Spring is here! And with it, allergies. That’s how it is for me every year. A lot of people I know deal with the same thing, and it’s quite unfortunate. Some of us enjoy the outdoors despite them being borderline unbearable. There’s over the counter allergy medicine of course, but you know what? They all make me sleepy. Some of them say that they specifically do not make one sleepy. Well they sure knock me out anyways, let me tell you. I could just as easily use them as sleeping pills. I guess if I’m sleeping I’m not sneezing uncontrollably, if you want to get technical. So I found an article at this site called anipots. I wasn’t really looking for anything health or allergy related, but I ran into it anyways. Maybe a lot of people are writing about it because of season change, I’m not sure. The article talked about different things one can do to combat allergies, and I found a couple options I might just try out. I’ll let you know how it goes! Stay cold in spring with blast auxiliary.