One-Time:
 
Introductory Questionnaire and Call – Solid Cactus will send client an introductory questionnaire to better understand the client’s business and industry. Solid Cactus will then conduct a thirty (30) minute introductory call with client to review the Email Marketing management and workflows, discuss newsletter ideas, and answer any follow-up questions.
 
Marketing Calendar –After the introductory call, Solid Cactus will compile a monthly marketing calendar for the client’s contract term. The marketing calendar will outline prospective email send dates and promotion ideas.
 
Mailing List Integration – If Client is utilizing the Cactus Connect email marketing platform, Solid Cactus will connect the client’s Yahoo! Store with the Cactus Connect account, and will import the client’s current mailing list into Cactus Connect. If Client is not utilizing Cactus Connect, Client will export list for Solid Cactus, and Solid Cactus will clean the list and import it into the Client’s email service provider.
 
Newsletter Sign-up Code Implementation – Solid Cactus will update the Client’s newsletter sign-up code to capture new mailing list subscribers. If Client utilizes Cactus Connect, Solid Cactus will create the HTML form code, set up the associated triggered email, and install the code into the store.
 
Recurring:
 
Email Blast Strategy – Approximately one week prior to each send, Solid Cactus will work with the client to determine the strategy and date for the expected send. Please allow at least one week lead time prior to send.
 
Email Blast Banner Design – Based on the intended demographic, email strategy, and promotion, Solid Cactus will design a promotional graphic or banner for the email.
 
Email Blast Copywriting – Based on the email strategy and promotion, Solid Cactus will create a compelling subject line for the email. Solid Cactus will also write two to three paragraphs of text for the body of the email, in line with the topic and focus of the email.
 
Email Blast Programming – Solid Cactus will utilize Email Marketing html best practices to compile the email, including inserting the subject line, banner design, copywriting, and featured products into the email template.
 
Email Send – Once the final version of the email is prepared, Solid Cactus will send the email to the client’s subscriber base on the specified date.
 
Email Reporting – Approximately two weeks after each send, Solid Cactus will send client a report detailing the email’s open rate, bounce rate, click through rate, open rate per link, revenue per email, and revenue by link.
 
 
Required:
HTML Template: Prior to sending, client must have an HTML email template that meets Email Marketing best practices or have purchased a professionally designed email template by Solid Cactus.
 
Email Marketing Platform: Prior to sending, client must subscribe to an Email Marketing platform, such as Cactus Connect at CactusConnect.com. The Managed Email Marketing monthly fee does not include the cost of the Email Marketing platform.
 
Monthly Sends: Client acknowledges that s/he must send a minimum of one email per month. Client will be billed $250/mo regardless of whether an email is sent or not, and if an email is not sent, it cannot be rolled over to subsequent months.

• 1 email blast per month
•  Email Blast Strategy
•  Email Blast Banner Design
•  Email Blast Copywriting
•  Email Blast Programming
•  Email Send
•  Email Reporting   VIEW SAMPLE REPORT

What's The Set Up For?

Important: Client must sign up for an email platform to send emails through, such as Cactus Connect (http://www.CactusConnect.com) or Constant Contact (http://www.networksolutions.com/email-marketing-campaigns/index.jsp). An email platform is NOT included in this package.
 
 Double Opt-In: Cactus Connect requires subscribers to "double opt in", where all of the mailing list subscribers receive an automatic email asking them to "opt in" to the mailing list.
 Benefits: "Scrubs" the list, making for a more qualified, leaner subscriber list.
 Cons: Typically reduces the size of the email list.
 *An "opt-in" bypass may be requested, but with the expectation that the Cactus Connect team may say no. To be approved for a bypass, client must adhere to the following, but this does not automatically make them eligible for a bypass:
  - If a client has not emailed in more than a year, they will not be allowed a bypass 99% of the time.
  - If a client has not previously emailed using one of the tier 1 providers listed at http://cactus-internal.com/manual/index.php/ecommerce-store-development/145/446, they will not be allowed a bypass 99% of the time.
 
 If a client will not accept the Cactus Connect double opt-in requirement and does not meet the qualifications for a bypass request (though this does not guarantee a bypass will happen), they should be sold the Constant Contact platform (http://www.networksolutions.com/email-marketing-campaigns/index.jsp) or recommended another email platform.
 

 Q. If a client is not on Yahoo, SCeC or 1SC can they still use Cactus Connect for email distribution?

 A. Yes, they can, but the advanced capabilities of the platform are drastically reduced. Because the system cannot integrate with any other platforms, all new clients would need to be exported and imported into the system on a regular basis. They would then need to receive an opt-in verification email to be successfully added to the database. If the client wants a truly clean list, this is a huge advantage. But if they are looking to automatically add every customer that comes through their virtual door, it does have its limitations. Also, the Auto Responder feature is essentially useless since the accounts aren’t integrated.
 So, can they still use the system – YES! And for price comparison, Cactus Connect is very competitive.
 Web.com also has a partnership with Exact Target, a more robust (more expensive) email platform, as well, should the client be interested in more advanced features: http://emailmarketing.web.com/pricing.html.