Thursday, November 29, 2018

Atelier Paulin



Atelier Paulin has finally made its way stateside. Originating in Paris, this beautiful customizable jewelry brand opened up shop earlier this week in the quaint West Village neighborhood of NYC.  Having imported their entire team from France, Atelier Paulin offers made-on-the-spot personalized pieces. Whether it be a name, initials or inspirational words, you get to play designer. High quality materials created by the hands of experienced masters, every piece proves to be the most perfect item to gift or keep to for yourself.

To learn more, see more and to shop for Atelier Paulin, click here.
Big Thanks to Laura of The Baddish Group for introducing us to this amazing brand and for making this feature possible!

xx.
M

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

POPtraits





POP to it! Give the gift of Pop Art this holiday season. The POPteam creates customized and personalized Warhol-esque POPtraits, truly the most perfect friend and family gift.

To learn more, see more and to shop/make your own POPtrait, click here.
Big Thanks to Deb over at Juicy Canvas for making this possible.

xx.
M

Sunday, November 25, 2018

Speechless x Holidays 2018


Leave 'em speechless this holiday season. Wear Speechless dresses. Offering a huge variety of styles that are are all "wallet friendly," Speechless is your one-stop-shop no matter the occasion. From cocktail to black-tie-ready gowns, there is no shortage or options at this online boutique.

To learn more, see more and to shop for Speechless dresses, click here.
Big Thanks to Krista over at Anderson PR for making this feature possible!

xx.
M

Monday, November 19, 2018

Hanro of Switzerland Winter Collection 2018


Hanro of Switzerland offers skin-sational pieces no matter the season. Having just launched, this coming cold weather season's must-have lingerie pieces feel just as luxurious as they look. With designs for both men and women, this is the perfect collection to get cozy in during the upcoming frigid winter nights.

To learn more, see more and to shop for Hanro products, click here.
Big Thanks to Kristin over at Hanro of Switzerland for inviting us to this preview and for making this feature possible.

xx.
M

Sunday, November 18, 2018

Mirakle Cream



Think your skin needs a miracle? Nah, it just needs Mirakle Cream.  A creation from The Better Skin Co., Mirakle Cream, this product has been deemed "Genius in a Jar," as it proves to help skin look more youthful and smoother. A cult favorite among both women and men, Mirakle Cream works magic, leaving skin radiating and miraculously beautiful.   

To learn more, see more and to shop for Mirakle Cream at Ulta, click here.
Big Thanks to Robin of Charmed PR for making this feature possible.

xx.
M

Friday, November 16, 2018

Better Angels



Better Angels explores the relationship between the United States and China and takes the stance of enforcing the importance of an amicable relationship between the two. Seemingly worlds apart, the film examines the tumultuous relationship the two countries have endured, yet shows how alike the two countries are and how if and when they work together, the benefits are immense for both parties. Human interest stories are engaging and the points made are interesting. Informative and intense, Better Angles is a propagandistic documentary that will certainly get you thinking. 

To learn more, see more and to see the Better Angels film, click here.
Big Thanks to Javiar at PMG for making this feature possible!

xx.
M

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Sentéales



 

Based on a theory of Pytho-Aromatherapy, Sentéales is a luxury skincare line from Paris that mends science and nature into one. Playing off of scientific evidence, the collection combines plant-based ingredients and essential oils to ensure complete nourishment is delivered to the skin. Every product makes for the ultimate "téa" time for your skin and soul. 

To learn more, see more and to shop for Sentéales products, click here.
Big Thanks to Mary of Fifth and Main PR for making this feature possible!

xx.
M

Monday, November 12, 2018

5 Weddings



Creating a stir around the world, 5 Weddings is a film that explores Indian culture and Indian weddings. When an (half Indian) American journalist is assigned a project that requires traveling to India to review traditional wedding ceremonies, she finds herself intertwined in a world of what most people in  that part of the world deem as non-traditional. She wants to expose such components as Hijras, transgender dancers, but is faced with consequences with the government should she do so. The film, like it's main character, has been repressed and banned in many parts of the world due to the transgender subject. Still, informative, interesting and even with some humor at times, 5 Weddings is a must see love story that has you both thinking and cheering at the same time. 

5 Weddings Deputed in  theaters on October 26, 2018. To lean more, see more and to view the 5 Weddings film, click here.
Big Thanks to Annie over at Cinematic Red for making this feature possible.

xx.
M

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Cecelia New York




Style and comfort collide in the form of Cecelia New York shoes. Founded by Ashely Cole, the daughter of an aviation entrepreneur (the man behind JetBlue and Azul Airways), the brand, which launched in  2013, is named after one of her daughters. With experience at major fashion houses, Ms Cole displays her skills in a full range collection that covers everything from sandals to heels to wedges to boots. Quality and craftsmanship are suburb. Every style reflects on current trends and embodies unparalleled comfort.  

To learn more, see more and to shop for Cecelia shoes, click here.
Big Thanks to Evans and Vanessa over at Cecelia shoes for making this feature possible!

xx.
M

Monday, November 5, 2018

Japan's Freshest Art & Design Publisher


PIE International, a leading publisher from Japan, presented three of the most beautiful art-driven books of the season. 
A Victorian Flower album is a gorgeous collection of hand-drawn floral arrangements from the Victorian era. Charming and sophisticated, yet compressible and lovely to look at regardless of your age, the book breathes new life into works that were originally published over 100 years ago. Perfect for the autumn season, while representative of a summer evenings, the tone and autumnal hues throughout each page feel perfect to page through on a crisp November day.
grow: The Art of Koyamori is a vibrant and imaginative book of illustrations from the talented young Canadian artist, Koyamori. While having already established herself as a force across the social media networks, this is her very first official print publication and the artist clearly puts her skills on display. The book is an impressive and incredible collection of watercolor ink pieces are truly eye catching.
Elegance in Japanese Art is a wonderful representation of the historical style of Japanese art. As its title states, the pages are filled with elegant Edo-Period works and serves as an informative introduction to the major Japanese artistic movement known as the Rinpa School. Art and history collide in  this important cultural gem of a publication.

To learn more, see more and to shop for PIE International publications, click here.
Big Thanks to Sarah over at Smith Publicity for making this feature possible!

xx.
M

Sunday, November 4, 2018

Minnie Park


By Minnie Park explores the power of scent in a collection of scented products. Whether it be natural and essential oils or gorgeous candles, Minnie Park's namesake brand is proof that smell can have profound effects. From energizing to calming, Ms Park's beautifully packaged products even come in travel sizes so you can awaken your senses no matter where you're headed.

To learn more, see more and to purchase By Minnie Park products, click here.
Big Thanks to Minnie Park herself for making this feature possible!

xx.
M

Thursday, November 1, 2018

The Top 6 Reasons Your E-mail Goes to Spam

Ever wonder why your e-mails might go to spam? As a business and a business-person trying to send an important e-mail to market your company or reach out to your audience, this can be extremely frustrating. Even if you don't own a business and are trying to send an e-mail but your e-mail can still go to spam. It seems to happen to all of us. Why does this happen? How can you prevent this from happening? MyEmma can help. An excellent resource for business owners, there's a plethora of information at MyEmma.com to help you better market your products, yourselves and your companies. Starting with spam, here are some helpful reasons to help you identify why your e-mails may be going to spam. Entitled "The Top 6 Reasons Your E-mail Goes to Spam," an article like this can help you to recognize and reconfigure your e-mails so that they do not go to spam boxes anymore.
As an email marketer, you probably assume that spam is only sent by shady scammers looking to prey on victims. But, that’s not the case. Even emails sent by legitimate email marketers can end up in the spam folder.
The truth is, there’s more spam than you think. The chart below shows the global spam volume between 2014 and 2018. In April of 2014, spam was at its peak. Seventy-one percent of emails were considered spam. In April of 2018, spam accounted for 48% of emails, which is considerably less than four years ago, but it still means half of all emails won’t land in an inbox.
So, what causes an email to drop into a spam folder rather than the inbox? There are a lot of factors at play, but there are some common reasons for email banishment. Here’s a look at the top six reasons your emails go to spam along with solutions to improve your deliverability:

1. Sending emails without permission

Sending emails to people without their permission is one of the main reasons your emails go to spam. You need express permission, which means the subscriber voluntarily asked for your emails.
That means you can’t send emails to people who hand you their business card at a trade show because they didn’t give you explicit permission to do so. The same goes for buying a list.
Buying a list of contacts might be tempting, especially if you’re just starting out, but it’s a bad idea. Contacts you’ve paid for don’t know you or your business and certainly didn’t give permission to receive your messages.
Plus, sending emails without consent also violates a recently-passed regulation, GDPR, which requires clear and obvious consent.
Bottom line: sending emails without permission is a hot mess.

Solution: Start a double opt-in process

To make sure your emails land safely in a subscriber’s inbox, get permission – twice. By setting up a double opt-in process, subscribers voluntarily join your list and then receive an email asking them to confirm their decision like this email does from Early Bird Books:
Why the two steps? Double opt-in eliminates doubt. 
If a subscriber fills out a form on your website to receive your newsletter and confirms their intent by clicking a link in a follow-up email, it’s clear that he or she wants your emails.
A double opt-in isn’t required. As long as the subscriber has given consent, you’re covered. 
However, adding that extra layer is a wise move. Not only are you 100% sure that customers are interested in your product, but you can also segment your contacts by their opt-in commitment (single or double) and market to each group a little differently.

2. Subscribers report your email as a spam

Subscribers can report your email as spam. Originally, this reporting mechanism was meant to give consumers the power to report fraudulent emails or scams, but today’s consumer uses it more frequently.
Now, when consumers get an email they don’t want or don’t remember signing up for, they’ll report it as spam. Thirty-four percent of consumers say they’ve reported an email as spam as a way to deal with their increasingly full inbox.
It’s not exactly fair, especially when subscribers could unsubscribe rather than report you, but it happens.
Complaints can hurt your reputation as well. If too many are filed, your emails will bypass the inbox and land in the spam folder every time.

Solution: Segment and personalize

To stop subscribers from deeming your email as spam, segment your contacts into small groups and send personalized emails to each.
How does that help? Subscribers don’t want their inbox flooded with messages, and segmentation means you’ll likely send fewer, more targeted emails. Instantly, subscribers are happier.
Plus, segmented emails cater to specific niches. For example, if you break your audience down by past purchases, you could send emails that suggest similar products. The email is relevant, and subscribers will respond by opening, clicking and converting.
If subscribers are engaged with your email, they won’t think of reporting you.

3. Using deceptive subject lines

Crafting a must-click subject line grabs attention and encourages subscribers to open your emails. But, misleading subject lines are another one of the reasons your emails go to spam.
Considering how many messages consumers see every day, marketers have to step up their game. Creating attention-grabbing subject lines is a necessity, but some marketers take it too far.
Here’s a snapshot of subject lines from an average spam folder. Several of them confirm orders, but the subscriber never made a purchase from the company, while others make impossible promises of money:

Solution: Be honest

You can create appealing subject lines and still be honest. You can use humor, tease a coupon that’s inside, or personalize the subject line to get the attention (and action) you’re looking for.
Remember, your emails are an extension of your company. Dishonest messages discourage customers.

4. High percentage of ‘spam words’

When you send an email, a spam filter reviews it before deciding if it goes to an inbox or the spam folder. Think of a spam filter as a ‘truth bot’ that checks your email for legitimacy. Since the bot can’t really read and understand the email like a human, it’s configured to spot certain words that are traditionally used by spammers.
If a lot of “spammy words” are found – you guessed it – it’s another one of the reasons your emails go to spam.

Solution: Avoid spam words

Which words are considered spammy? Great question. Here’s a list of spam words you can reference. However, the list is always growing to keep pace with the changing tactics of spammers.
Most of the words focus on deals that are too good to be true or impossible promises. For example, the words “Free money,” “Easy investment,” and “Earn extra income,” are all red flags for spam filters.
Just be honest and you shouldn’t have any problems.
Fortunately, if you’re working with an email service provider like Emma, you’ll also have access to aspam checker that looks for things a spam filter will red flag. Emma’s spam checker looks at your content, language, file sizes and the reputation of links that you’ve included in your email.
You can use the spam checker before you send an email to ensure the best chances of delivery.

5. Your message is full of misspellings or grammatical errors

In some cases, spammers aren’t native English speakers so they don’t have a grasp on proper spelling and punctuation. An email that’s riddled with misspelled words, punctuation that’s out of place, or words that aren’t typically used in everyday conversation are red flags to any spam filter.

Solution: Proofread your messages and use tools to check for accuracy

Whether you speak English or not, everyone makes mistakes. It only takes a few hiccups for a spam filter to drop the axe on your email.
Take the time to proofread your email. Read the last sentence first and work your way up. With the sentences out of context, you’ll force your brain to read what’s written.
In addition, there are several tools that can go beyond a basic spell check. Grammarly, for example, can spot misspellings and grammatical errors, while a tool like the Hemingway Editor takes a more in-depth look at your text and highlights run-on sentences and passive voice.
Run your text through these tools before you send any email.

6. There’s no unsubscribe option

Subscribers should always have a way to leave your list. If a subscriber wants to end their email relationship with you, they can – at any time. It’s the law, actually. The CAN-SPAM Act requires every email to include an unsubscribe link. It must be easy to find, and simple to opt out.
A missing unsubscribe option is another one of the reasons your emails go to spam.

Solution: Add an unsubscribe link

The solution here is fairly simple. You have to add an unsubscribe link. Most links are at the bottom of an email, like this:
If you’re using an email service provider like Emma, an unsubscribe link is automatically added for you. If a subscriber chooses to leave, Emma removes him or her from your list for you. It’s simple.

Wrap up

The definition of spam has changed. Spam isn’t defined as fraudulent emails sent by unsavory characters anymore, now spam is any unwanted email. By understanding the reasons your emails go to spam, you can make necessary adjustments like getting consent, sending tailored emails, being honest, and sending error-free messages every time.
Remember, getting your emails to the inbox is the first crucial step to turning subscribers into customers.
Emma can help you improve your delivery rates with a variety of advanced tools. See how byrequesting a free demo.

About the Author

Tyler Sutton
Tyler Sutton is an Email Specialist on the Professional Services team at Emma.