Take a deep breath…
The vacations are winding down, and the yr is coming to an in depth. It’s time to mirror on 2021 to see how far we’ve come.
The previous 12 months have been fairly a whirlwind for the E-mail on Acid model. Whether or not you casually learn our weblog, subscribe to our e-newsletter, or use our electronic mail testing and optimization instruments daily, it’s been nice having you alongside for the experience.
Right here’s a glance again at E-mail on Acid’s story in 2021, together with some information, occasions, and initiatives you’ll have missed.
E-mail within the subsequent/new regular
Whether or not you name it the “subsequent regular” or the “new regular”, it certain looks as if we’re nonetheless ready to seek out out what regular really means.
Whereas 2020 will go down within the historical past books because the yr every little thing modified, 2021 got here with its fair proportion of disruptions as properly. For those who anticipated life and work to return to “regular,” you most likely didn’t count on we’d nonetheless be in the midst of a pandemic at this level.
All through all of it, electronic mail continues to show its relevancy as an important communication channel.
Nonetheless, that doesn’t imply electronic mail stays the identical whereas every little thing adjustments. The occasions of 2020 additionally meant electronic mail entrepreneurs needed to adapt in 2021.
We wrote about lots of these adjustments in an unique e book, E-mail Advertising and marketing and the Subsequent Regular. The particular report features a record of motion gadgets in addition to insights into:
- E-mail’s function in public security and disaster communication throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
- How electronic mail engagement metrics and client habits modified in 2020.
- Why the financial restoration requires completely different electronic mail methods for various industries.
- What ongoing points together with politics, social justice, and local weather change imply for electronic mail entrepreneurs.
Though we’re closing in on two years since COVID-19 entered the scene, a whole lot of the data and recommendation on this report stays helpful for entrepreneurs who perceive that the established order is not the best way to go.
Celebrating electronic mail historical past
2021 marked the fiftieth anniversary of the invention of electronic mail… allegedly.
E-mail on Acid celebrated the event with an interactive timeline of electronic mail historical past. We additionally explored the controversy surrounding who actually invented electronic mail. Because it seems, some electronic mail geeks get fairly keen about whether or not the credit score ought to go to Ray Tomlinson or Shiva Ayyadurai.
(Try the article’s feedback to see what we imply)
Each males have attention-grabbing tales, and it’s simple to see how both of them might obtain the moniker of “inventor of electronic mail.” Historical past is a bizarre factor.
A private spotlight from our exploration of electronic mail historical past was when advertising and marketing pioneer, best-selling creator, and all-around beneficiant dude, Seth Godin, replied to my electronic mail asking for his ideas. Discover out what Seth has to say about electronic mail’s future greater than 20 years after he wrote Permission Advertising and marketing.
The way forward for electronic mail is now
E-mail on Acid hosted a bunch of webinars for electronic mail entrepreneurs within the first half of 2021. Our hottest was a sequence of webinars on the way forward for electronic mail hosted in partnership with emfluence.
We took some fashion ideas from Marty McFly and Doc Brown and acquired some nice suggestions on our electronic mail advertising and marketing trilogy, which you’ll be able to watch on-demand now:
Managing stress and the staff
E-mail advertising and marketing will be hectic. We all know that for sure as a result of we straight up requested electronic mail entrepreneurs. Our E-mail Advertising and marketing and Stress Survey in 2021 discovered that greater than 70% of electronic mail geeks suppose their work is hectic. (Ship button anxiousness, anybody?)
Communication breakdowns could cause stress, which is why a supportive, cohesive staff is a large aid. However how do you accomplish that, particularly if you’re whole staff is working remotely?
Within the midst of updating the record of supported purchasers and preserving our electronic mail preview engine operating, the E-mail on Acid product staff additionally refined and relaunched our electronic mail staff administration instruments in 2021.
These options make it a lot simpler for distant advertising and marketing groups to collaborate and talk on electronic mail design and improvement earlier than launching a brand new marketing campaign. Which means you’ll be extra more likely to keep your state of Zen.
Try these articles to be taught extra about the advantages of E-mail on Acid staff administration instruments:
Extra just lately, we acquired some real-world recommendation on electronic mail staff communication from builders and designers with loads of hands-on expertise. Try How E-mail Builders and Designers can Work Higher Collectively for extra.
The Splat Fest digital occasion
The e-mail geek neighborhood is filled with sensible folks with concepts to share. That’s why E-mail on Acid launched the digital occasion, Splat Fest in June of 2021.
Whether or not you concentrate on electronic mail technique, electronic mail design, or electronic mail improvement, there was somewhat one thing for everybody. Splat Fest included matters like:
- BIMI logos
- Experimenting with AMP emails
- E-mail accessibility and inclusion
- Advertising and marketing automation
- Interactive emails with dynamic content material
- And way more!
All Splat Fest digital periods at the moment are dwell and out there for viewing.
The acquisition double-whammy
By far the most important information for E-mail on Acid in 2021 was a change in possession and management for the primary time in firm historical past.
In June, we mentioned so lengthy to co-founder and CEO John Thies because the model was acquired by Pathwire — the father or mother firm of Mailgun and its highly effective electronic mail API in addition to the intuitive electronic mail builder, Mailjet. CEO Will Conway took over the reins, and now our three mixed manufacturers will help companies construct, ship, check, and ship all their electronic mail communications.
However it didn’t finish there!
In late September, we introduced that world communications firm, Sinch, had plans to amass Pathwire together with all three electronic mail manufacturers. The acquisition turned official in December. We’re simply attending to know our counterparts in Sweden (which is the place Sinch’s HQs are situated) and around the globe.
Sinch makes a speciality of cell and voice messaging, and the Pathwire acquisition means clients have a whole set of communication options.
“For those who’re serious about including new channels to your communications technique, we predict you’ll be excited to listen to in regards to the prospects this new chapter will present…
“Including cell messaging, voice, and video providers to your electronic mail expertise means you’re not simply specializing in the current of buyer communications – you’re additionally on the point of present the expertise the following technology calls for.”
~ Will Conway, Pathwire CEO
Oh, and did we point out we’re actually wanting ahead to taking our first fika break?
Darkish Mode: Half Deux
Darkish mode electronic mail was an enormous deal for E-mail on Acid in 2020, and we returned to go to the subject with Pathwire in 2021.
First, we performed a survey in partnership with Ascend2 and revealed the most important darkish mode electronic mail challenges. Topping the record was coping with darkish mode emblem issues in emails.
Make sure you take a look at all of the survey ends in our darkish mode electronic mail infographic.
E-mail on Acid Sr. Developer, Megan Boshuyzen, additionally talked darkish mode and coding throughout Pathwire’s Nightmare at E-mail Camp in October of 2021. Hear from Megan if you take a look at all the e-mail developer periods from Day 2 of the digital occasion. It additionally consists of coding ideas from Jay Oram of ActionRocket and electronic mail accessibility insights from Paul Ethereal.
What’s new in 2022?
So what’s forward within the New Yr? An excessive amount of to speak about on this weblog submit, my good friend. And the reality is… who is aware of!
If the final couple of years taught us something, it’s to be prepared for absolutely anything. There’s one factor, nonetheless, that gained’t change …
E-mail on Acid will proceed offering entrepreneurs with a dependable solution to check, preview, and optimize their emails earlier than hitting that ship button.
As a part of a a lot larger group with a holistic view of digital communications, we’re extraordinarily excited to seek out out the place issues are headed subsequent. So, keep tuned!
Creator: Kasey Steinbrinck
Kasey Steinbrinck is a Sr. Content material Advertising and marketing Supervisor for Sinch E-mail, which incorporates the manufacturers E-mail on Acid, InboxReady, Mailgun, and Mailjet. He understands how electronic mail and content material work hand-in-hand to create a powerful technique. Kasey has additionally hung out working in conventional media, e-commerce advertising and marketing, and for a digital company.
Creator: Kasey Steinbrinck
Kasey Steinbrinck is a Sr. Content material Advertising and marketing Supervisor for Sinch E-mail, which incorporates the manufacturers E-mail on Acid, InboxReady, Mailgun, and Mailjet. He understands how electronic mail and content material work hand-in-hand to create a powerful technique. Kasey has additionally hung out working in conventional media, e-commerce advertising and marketing, and for a digital company.
