[Originally posted on eROI] A hybrid approach that balances templates with one-off campaigns leads to sustainable, scalable email programs that work for internal brand and agency teams. Email teams (internal and agency-based, both large and small) tend to share a common approach to their email programs: a one-size-fits all system that selects either templates or one-offs. …

[Previously posted on eROI website] — As an agency working with large consumer-facing brands, eROI is often pushing the creative envelope in our campaigns. To support creative innovation in the inbox we rely on data to make smart choices that help us reach our goals to deliver a message to all subscribers. Internally and for our partners, we use Google Analytics and Litmus Analytics to track, measure and report on our email campaigns. …

By just using PHP, MySQL, JS, AJAX, and a little bit of fun, you can create a Buzzfeed-like quiz without the use of a 3rd party application. — DEMO → DOWNLOAD FROM GITHUB → If you are anything like me, you’ve wasted numerous hours of ‘work time’ taking online quizzes to see Which Character From “The NeverEnding Story” Are You?(spoiler alert, I got Teeny Weeny). After creating a highly successful Pin to Win Holiday Campaign for our partner…

As a developer we tend to want to create from scratch. Part of this reinvention is because of ego and potential praise. The other is just being ignorant about what is already out there. In many respects, there appears to be more prestige for developing something new rather than reusing a sustainable, well-supported system. — When concepting the new eROI.com we searched for a sustainable web solution, one that allowed us the flexibility of adding content seamlessly and efficiently while still providing a cohesive user experience. …

VIEW DEMO → DOWNLOAD FROM GITHUB → While brainstorming ideas for our eROI Welcome Series emails, we wanted to create an experience that felt conversational and fresh. We tried and tested a few different ideas utilizing CSS animation and found that a pure CSS slideshow would be a perfect fit. …