Has the Email Marketing Community Capitalized on New Opportunities, Since Apple Released the iPad?

The iPad recently arrived, and some are already calling it a game changer that will have a huge impact on the business of email marketing.  This is not difficult to understand when you consider that Apple’s latest super device is equipped with a built-in email program, a bigger preview pane, video email support, and state of the art rendering.  Realizing the tremendous potential, some of the biggest players in email marketing have kept themselves busy by trying to capitalize on all the hype.  Here is a sneak peak at what the community has been up to:

Implix, the company behind the email marketing service GetResponse, is seizing the moment with a special contest that gives Twitter users the opportunity to win a brand new iPad.  The contest is a special promotion to spread the word about Email-to-Speech, a new feature integrated into the GetResponse system.  Users are simply required to send a specific message, with each tweet making them eligible for the prize.  They must also follow GetResponse on Twitter to find out what lucky person will be the owner of a new iPad.  The contest begins on April 22, 2010, with the final entries being due on April 30. 

Email marketing firm MailChimp, is also looking to take advantage of the iPad frenzy.  According to a post on the company website, it is currently working on an iPad application specifically made for email marketers.  From what we have gathered, the app will be designed to help businesses acquire new subscribers right at the cash register in their brick and mortar store.  This app could turn out to be quite valuable for marketers looking for ways to find new prospects outside of the web.  MailChimp plans to submit the concept to Apple for approval in the very near future. 

The best example of email marketers taking advantage of the iPad hype machine goes to the device’s creator - Apple.  According to Email Data Source (EDS), the campaign Apple launched to let consumers know the iPad would be available on April 3 came in first place for the top campaigns of March, 2010.  EDS reveals that the inbox placement rate for this particular campaign was a whopping 94%, 4 percent higher than all other campaigns measured by the firm.  Apple enjoyed the most success with Gmail users, with an inbox placement rating of 97%.  What is even more amazing is that the campaign reached 100% of users in certain, deeply segmented campaigns in the U.S. 

The launch of the iPad has made for an exciting time in email marketing, and online marketing in general.  It will be interesting to see what players capitalize on Apple’s revolutionary device next.  One thing is for certain - what we are witnessing now is only the beginning.