Microsoft is making a foolish decision to let Microsoft Word render HTML emails in the soon-to-be-released Microsoft Outlook 2010. The short version is that this screws with email standards, and anyone who wants to send out consistent-looking, well-designed email campaigns will be hindered by these restrictions.

But that’s not the point of this post.

The point is what’s happening in response to this: http://www.fixoutlook.org.

This site simply explains the Outlook problem, and then provides a link so that Twitter users can tweet: “Help tell @msofficeus that using Word to render HTML emails in Outlook is a dumb idea. See http://fixoutlook.org and RT”

Within 24 hours of starting the campaign, there have already been over 17,000 folks who have tweeted this message. And because “@msofficeus” is part of the message, Microsoft’s Twitter admin will see all of them.

This is the first best crowdsourced petition – and it’s prone to change the way a behemoth company makes decisions. You think Microsoft isn’t listening to this? I bet they are – and if they’re not, then they certainly should be.

But there’s another interesting thing. When you go to fixoutlook.org, it shows the avatar icons of the Twitter users who have sent that specific tweet. You’ll notice that a lot of them are shaded green. What’s up with that? It’s a simple idea that started here: http://helpiranelection.com/. It caught on like wildfire.

Folks, word-of-mouth, mutual influence, the sharing of ideas – these are winning. If you don’t have a voice in the ever-expanding conversation, you’re missing out.

Don’t pay for great media space. Pay for great ideas. Pay to figure out how to get ideas out to the people that matter.

The “people that matter” these days? Everyone.

UPDATE: if you can find the Brody Bond or the Wordswell avatar in the mosaic at fixoutlook.org, please send me a screenshot, and you’ll win a prize (prize = any drink you want at Starbucks)!

UPDATE (6/24/09 5:07 pm): Microsoft has already offered a reply in direct response from the fixoutlook.org campaign. As of now, they aren’t budging. But, good for them for the reply! Moreover – wow! – Microsoft just responded to a day-old, viral, grassroots campaign that happened through Twitter.

Spam “Best Practices”

Step 1: Include the 20 Words to Get Your Email Marked as Spam.

Step 2: Blind carbon copy (Bcc:) as many people as possible.

Step 3: Write in all caps. If you want to be a varsity-level spam creator, type some of the 20 Words in all caps.

Step 4: Attach large images and files. Use HTML tags not meant for email.

Step 5: Don’t honor opt-out requests.

Are you interested in good email marketing?

Wordswell can help you send emails that:

• bust through spam filters
• look great
• offer measuring tools such as open rates, click-through rates, and forward rates
• are easy for you to manage

Here are some more short pieces you should read:
•An Intro to Email Marketing
•Features of Our Email System
•What Makes Our Email Services Unique?

If you’d like a free demo of how all this works, please call me at 443-804-0108.

Can spam,
brody

Want to try to get your email into someone’s spam folder?

Blind-carbon-copy as many people as possible and include these words:

1. amazing
2. cancel at any time
3. check or money order
4. click here
5. congratulations
6. dear friend
7. e-mail marketing
8. for only ($)
9. free (including toll-free)
10. great offer
11. guarantee
12. increase sales
13. order now
14. promise you
15. risk free
16. special promotion
17. this is not spam
18. to be removed
19. unsubscribe
20. winner

Thanks to this post by Alexandria Brown at Business Know-How for the research

It’s faux pas to leave a lot of people in the regular “To:” and “Cc:” fields. Lots of “Bcc:” names will send your email to spam filters. So what do you do? Check out the next Wordswell Communique or call us if you’re in a rush for help.

Your BRAND

only matters if it has

INFLUENCE

only matters if it has a

VOICE

only matters if it adds

VALUE

only matters if it offers good

CONTENT

only matters if people can

FIND IT.

Message Creation isn’t just about getting you a website, logo, or brochure.

With Message Creation you bring into focus the value you offer your audience, establish your voice in a crowded world, earn the right to have influence, and deliver on the promise that is your brand.

Wordswell helps our clients do this. And we offer production leadership and creative consulting when it comes time to create your identity, website, email campaign, film, etc.

Need help?
brody