We’ve got a huge helping of blogs, features, manuals, updates and deliverability tips coming your way. In this week’s wrap there are references to Justin Bieber, Dr. Seuss, Charles Barkley, Mr. Rogers and a few more random pop culture tidbits. If you’re not curious to figure out how all those connect, you’re a saner blogger than I.

Email Newsletter Awards: Best Use of Video

It’s awards season. Unfortunately, you don’t get a gold statue for winning our email newsletter awards. I have to figure out who I need to talk to and make that happen. Check out the Benchmark Email Newsletter Awards: Best Use of Video.

New Complaints Can Come from Stale Email Campaigns

Think about how awful it is when you’re long overdue for a trip to the grocery store. You reach into the cupboard for that last box of crackers, only to find out they’re stale. A truly deflating experience. You may not be close enough to college to recall this feeling, but it’s terrible. Avoid it with email. Fresh Content Will Prevent Stale Email Campaigns.

How Do You Make Email Marketing Affordable and Lucrative

I read this email and pictured Scrooge McDuck swimming in his vault full of money. Let’s make that dream come true. All you have to do is figure out, How Do You Make Email Marketing Affordable and Lucrative?

Creating an Email Marketing Plan – Design and Content

Jennifer says email marketing is a lot like getting free tickets to a movie. If you don’t want to see your next email campaign winning Razzies (the award show for awful movies), you better pay attention to this important step on Creating an Email Marketing Plan – Design and Content.

Support Update: Link Images to Video

Linking an image to a video is the email marketing version of “beam me up, Scotty.” I just realized I’m making a Star Trek reference now, and a Justin Bieber one next. I’m going to get back to the topic before I wind up in the corner in the fetal position. See how Benchmark Email Lets You Link Images to YouTube, Vimeo, Blip.

Take a Lesson from the Bieb, No Email Campaign Is a Sure Thing

My coworkers may never let me live writing about Justin Bieber down, but I saw an opportunity to discuss email marketing while watching the Grammys and I took it. He’s unavoidable. If he weren’t Canadian, he’d probably wind up as President. I digress, Think Your Email Campaign Is Flawless? Think Again.

Email Marketing Resources from Benchmark Email

Like a Truck Stop in middle America, Benchmark Email is a one-stop-shop. Whether it’s Articles, Blogs, Manuals and Reports or Webinars, we’ve got all the email marketing information you could ever want or need. Check out the wide variety of Email Marketing Resources from Benchmark Email.

Customize an Imaginative Dr. Seuss Template for March 2nd!

I thought long and hard about making this post rhyme. Unfortunately, it’s the end of the day and I just don’t have the time. Boom. Relive your childhood and Customize an Imaginative Dr. Seuss Template for March 2nd!

Is the iPhone Changing Email Open Behavior?

Living in Los Angeles, it’s almost a shock when someone I know doesn’t have an iPhone. It’s not just LA either. Especially now that they are available on Verizon. Email marketers need to be aware of this trend. Find out, Is the iPhone Changing Email Open Behavior?

California Zip Code Privacy Ruling Opens Pandora’s Inbox

One company’s alleged poor email marketing practices may be ruining it for the rest of us. See what’s happening and answer this question: Will This CA Zip Code Privacy Ruling Harm Email Marketing?

Getting Recognized in a Crowded Internet

There was a ton of performances at the Grammys this year. Cee-lo Green knew exactly how to stand out from the crowd. He performed with Gwyneth Paltrow, muppets and rocked the most ridiculous peacock/knight costume you could ever imagine. This isn’t the Grammys, but learn how to Get Recognized in a Crowded Internet with Email Marketing.

Creating an Email Marketing Plan – Go Viral with Social Networking

Don’t be an email marketing wallflower. Be social. Do it right and your email campaigns will be the talk of the town. Learn all about Creating an Email Marketing Plan – Go Viral with Social Networking.

New Features for Our Benchmark Community!

Far less humorous than the TV show and lacking in Chevy Chase, but probably more useful to your business. Check out the New Features for Our Benchmark Email Community!

How Does Email Marketing Compare to Direct Mail?

There are some epic battles out there. New York- vs. Chicago-style pizza, Yankees-Red Sox and of course email marketing vs. direct mail. The correct answers are obviously Chicago style, Bo Sox and email, but I may be a little biased. So, How Does Email Marketing Compare to Direct Mail?

Becoming an Industry Role Model

Charles Barkley once famously said that athletes should not be role models. Parents and teachers should. He left out Benchmark Email Partners. I could have sworn we wrote it on the cue card. Find out about Forging Business Affiliations with the Benchmark Partner Program.

Support Update: New in the Neighborhood?

It’s never easy being the new kid. You may be new to Benchmark Email, but so is our new customer support representative Michelle. She knows what you’re going through, and will be writing blogs to help you ease into the neighborhood. She’s like Mr. Rogers without the cardigan…or magic trolley. Won’t you be our neighbor? Check out our new Support Update on Using FAQs.
Author Bio:

by Andy Shore

Andy Shore found his way to Benchmark when he replied to a job listing promising a job of half blogging, half social media. His parents still don’t believe that people get paid to do that. Since then, he’s spun his addiction to pop culture and passion for music into business and marketing posts that are the spoonful of sugar that helps the lessons go down. As the result of his boss not knowing whether or not to take him seriously, he also created the web series Ask Andy, which stars a cartoon version of himself. Despite being a cartoon, he somehow manages to be taken seriously by many of his readers ... and few of his coworkers.