Forum Moderators: DixonJones
Essentially as I understand it he was placing a 1 pixel clear gif image on certain pages and within some of the email messages that he was sending out. There may be more to it then this, but this is the only part that I knew about. Anyway with this gif he was able to use a special tracking page he created where he could track exactly who had received the email, who opened it, who clicked on the link to come to a landing page, and everything they did once they got there.
His technique would allow him some very impressive marketing stats like percentage of people who opened the email vs. percentage of people who actually clicked the link etc.
I would love to know how he created this system. I know there are companies out their that can do this, but most of them charge you a monthly fee for tracking your email campaigns like this and I know this guy never used anything like that.
I realize my request is probably a little vague, but if anyone has heard of this technique and can give me an idea of how he did it or where I can find additional information on what he was doing I would appreciate it. Thanks.
Fortune Hunter
Now most tracking is done by having a URL in the e-mail containing an Id, and that if the users clicks on it, you know which user it was.
Yeah. You'll also see that technique used commonly with log-spamming these days.
Two questions, first how do you get this image file on the other person's system? Second, if it really doesn't work any longer and URL with id in it is problematic is there anyway to do what I am trying to accomplish without paying some email management company a large fee both upfront and monthly to launch and manage campaigns for me?
I would really like to offer these services to my own clients, but it doesn't do me any good if I have to turn around and give all the profit to an email company to manage.
Also where can I find more information on setting up this URL with an id so I can track it. I know I can track hits to the landing page, but I would really like to track who opened the email vs. deleted becasue both pieces of information give you valuable insight into what happened on the campaign.
Fortune Hunter
So instead what you can do is have
<a href="http://www.example.com/getithere.htm?userid=1234">Get it Here</a> in your e-mail. This requires the user to actually click on the link before you know that have received and read the e-mail.
I'm afraid that there is no 100% way of knowing if someone has opened and read your e-mail. So the best that you can do is measure the click through.
I'm afraid that there is no 100% way of knowing if someone has opened and read your e-mail. So the best that you can do is measure the click through.
Bummer! Do you know of an online resource that discusses this type of stuff so I can read what others have done or see what other options might exist?
Fortune Hunter
There is no reason to hide that you are only sending the link.
You can try sending all kinds of other things, that "would work", but as it was posted prior, most will be blocked by smarter mail servers.
You might be able to get a "delivery confirmation", but not a "read receipt".
Here is something you can try - send an HTML message with external CSS file on your site. Track the opening of the CSS. Most mail servers do not consider CSS to be harmful.
Fools.
I concur with all the guys above that the .gif idea USED to work, but now Outlook has pretty well blocked the loop. We use a third party system that uses this "trick" and frankly, it just looks like the delivery rate has plummeted - but I now realize it is more to do with outllok blocking pictures than a loss of relevency in the Newsletter. So - thanks for asking the question! I learn something new every day.
I also concur with Neo that webmasterworld is probably the best place to ask this question.
How about changing the way that newsletters are written. Only put the newsletter headlines in the email, and the user has to click a link to read any story. That means the click-thru rate skyrockets and on the web, tracking works a treat - especially if you have tagged the url in the email as described above. In addition, because the email doesn't have any pictures, many more get through to the intended recipient.
Then again - if the list is not an opt-in one to start with, you are probably breaking the law - at least you are if they are consumers in Europe - not so sure about USA - have a look at the "can the spam" act.
Dixon.
All my lists are opt-in customers and some lists are even double opt-in. My background comes from database and direct marketing and in that field you are taught to track everything. I have been trying to carry these concepts over to email marketing and I am finding it frustrating that it is so hard to track all the components you want to track. I guess I will have to contend myself with click through and conversition rates. Thank you all for the information.
Fortune Hunter
I am finding it frustrating that it is so hard to track all the components you want to track
This is a very common thing in my stats traking, we want to know a wide range of things, but some elements of emails/websites can be impossible to track without a degree or complete redesign.
I guess I will have to contend myself with click through and conversition rates
I guess this is true in the real world though. You know how many letters get in the mail, how many are "returned to sender" (at least you do with UK mail)and you know how many people respond, but not how many people open the envelope.
