YP - Email Template Design Challenge

Welcome to the YP - Email Template Design Challenge. In this challenge, we are looking to create two standardized HTML email templates to be used from Salesforce.com by customer facing team members in On Boarding and Success Management roles.  These templates need to communicate clearly and improve the customer experience.

Good luck!  We are looking forward to your designs!

Round 1

First pass designs on one template (See Design Guidelines and Required Sizes)

1) Branding template
A template suitable for “branding” emails associated with YP’s new customer “On Boarding” program. The intent is for YP to possibly modify it to create a “brand” look for the “Success Manager” program. Designers should present versions or ideas for how their design is suited for that purpose and flexibility

Round 2

Final submission of designs on two templates (See Design Guidelines and Required Sizes)

1) Branding template (description in Round 1)
2) Standard template
A “standard” email template for the YP service organization. Designers should show examples of how the template can be leveraged to create email communications that “fit” the YP Service look but can be modified (create some variations) to help YP customers easily distinguish “specific” objective associated with each email. See examples from Email-Templates.docx

 

Purpose of this challenge is to develop email templates in order to execute standardized, consistent and professional looking email communication with advertisers. Individual On Boarding agents or Success Managers will no longer have to create their own “version” of an email. For this use case, we need our customers to “recognize” YP branded emails and to expect a “call-to-action.”  The email templates have four overarching goals:
- Capture the customer’s attention
- Present a professional image
- Facilitate customer “engagement” via links and embedded button(s)
- Centrally maintain up to date information and link.

Design Guidelines:
1. Reinforce the YP Brand:  When customers read emails from On Boarding agents or Success Managers, make it “obvious” that the email is from yp! Incorporate our colors, logo.
2. Convey YP Stature and Marketing Prowess: Make sure the “look” and “feel” of our email template is commensurate with that of a $1B digital powerhouse. Show that yp understands how to bring through the clutter to communicate with customers. Dramatically reduce ad “hack” emails that often lack clear purpose and contain errors.
3. Solicit Customer Engagement: Utilize call-to-action and embedded links to stimulate customer interest in relevant topics, solutions or status.
4. Facilitate Scale and Consistency for Execution: Make it EASY for Success Managers and On Boarding agents to “begin” every outreach to customers with a concise, attractive, personalized call-to-action email that is tracked and managed from SFDC.  

Required Design Sizes:
- Feel free to use the device mockups as required to show your designs. (make sure to comment about the link from where you are using the device mockup)
- As this will ultimately be Responsive HTML emails, please take these dimensions & devices into consideration:
1. 320px (for iPhone and smartphones),
2. 580px (for tablets, web and desktop clients).
More details about responsive email design: https://www.campaignmonitor.com/dev-resources/guides/mobile/

HTML Emails Design References
You can read some of these following references to get familiar with HTML Email Rules before create your design submission:
- Ultimate Guide to HTML Emails Basics, Tips, Tutorials and Resources
- 20 Email Design Best Practices and Resources for Beginners

Downloadable Files
- YP Logos (YP Marketing Solutions Logos.zip)
- YP Style Guide with Color Palette (YP Marketing Solutions Style Guide.pdf)
- Email Templates (Email-Templates.docx)

Email Templates Requirements:
We need below two templates to be designed:

1. Branding (On Boarding / Success Manager program)
(The onboarding call effectively introduces new customers to resources and tools for modifying and managing their advertising)

Purpose
- “Catch a new customer’s eye” so they don’t miss the email regarding an opportunity get help setting up and learning about YP resources for optimizing results

Audience
- New Customers (External)

Benefits
- Plant “On Boarding” in the mind of a new customer so they might recall the term if an onboarding agent calls them
- Increase customer’s awareness of the extra “service” YP provides to help new advertisers get a FAST start

2. Standard (General Communication)

Purpose
- Burnish YP image as advertising and media savvy enterprise
- High impact vehicle for CXO team members to deliver attractive email
- Promote/Highlight YP’s marque partnerships (Logos: Google, Facebook, Yelp, Yahoo)

Audience
- Customers (External)
- Sales Rep (Internal)

Benefits
- Subtly increase focus and awareness on YP Services
- Distinguish YP service related email from “other” YP email communications

Target Audience:
The emails will be read by a variety of user groups:

Customers
- Timely contact (shortly after contract signing) helps “connect” the request with their recent purchase
- Concisely communicates the “benefit” of the requested meeting
- Enables them to “self-schedule” a time that works best for them
- A scheduled OB session provides a more valuable and effective customer experience

Success Managers
- Save time because some advertisers WILL self-schedule without being called
- Efficiently “inform” advertisers of the “benefits” of each touch point
- Soften targets so when SM’s call advertisers who did not schedule, advertiser should be aware of the benefits
- A scheduled touch point call is less stressful and more effective for SM and advertiser

On Boarding Agents
- Save time because some advertisers WILL self-schedule without being called
- Efficiently “inform” advertisers of the “benefits” of the OB call
- Soften targets so when agents call advertisers who did not schedule, advertiser should be aware of the benefits
- A scheduled OB call results in a higher NPS score

Judging Criteria:
We will be judging on:
- How well does your design align with the objectives of the challenge
- How well does your design align with the overall YP branding
- How well do your email templates create a “family” look for YP services
- Creativity of your visualization
- Cleanliness of your graphics and design
- Overall Design and User Experience

Submissions and Source Files:
Preview Image
Please create your preview image as one (1) 1024x1024px JPG or PNG file in RGB color mode at 72dpi and place a screenshot of your submission within it.

Submission File
Submit JPG/PNG for your submission files.

Source Files
All original source files of the submitted design. Files should be created in Adobe Photoshop and saved as layered PSD file, or Adobe Illustrator as a layered AI file.

Final Fixes
As part of the final fixes phase you may be asked to modify your graphics (sizes or colors) or modify overall colors. We may ask you to update your design or graphics based on checkpoint feedback. See more information about Final Fixes.