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We speak to countless individual customers each day, each with unique experiences, requests and ideas. Sometimes, the conversation goes on for years, as is the case with David Ditges. Over the last decade, he’s held a variety of roles - one-time missionary in Africa, long-time UX & creative guy and Campaign Monitor customer since 2004. So, on the launch of his new rebrand, we thought it was time to drop by for a chat regarding what got him started with email design, what’s kept him going in both Africa and the US and his aspirations as a newly-minted Campaign Monitor reseller.

Hi David, tell us a bit about what got you into email design and some of the projects you’ve been working on over the last few years.

Wow, 6 years now? Time flies by when you are having fun and doing what you are passionate about.

Call me a tech geek, but I really enjoy designing e-mails. It’s even taken me to far off countries. I first started creating emails for clients when I worked for a web company in 2003. Its always been fun figuring out the best times to send and making email campaigns better value for clients and subscribers alike. However, I don’t think I really grasped the power of email newsletters until I moved to South Africa to work as the creative director for a Christian ministry.

“I had to carry a charged automobile battery up a mountain every week, just so we could have the Internet”

I did this for 5 years working with a ministry organization in South Africa, where Internet and web applications were not always quick and readily available. I had to carry a charged automobile battery up a mountain every week, just so we could have the Internet, but that’s another story. During this time, I was always thinking of better ways to connect with our supporters and saw the potential e-mail marketing had in allowing us to connect with our audience in a clear and specific way, while meeting their needs as well as ours.

Photo courtesy of David Ditges

Through the monthly e-mails we sent out using Campaign Monitor, people were motivated to give and the organization, Thrive Africa, continued to serve and minister to thousands in South Africa. We were able to incorporate pictures, short excerpts, and featured articles that enabled people all over the world to know what was going on in our little town, in our corner of the world thousands of miles away, in South Africa. Gone are the days of mail merges and expensive mass mailings that took days and days to get to people. Technology was at our fingertips and information was shared in seconds, not weeks!

“There is so much potential for companies to connect with their customers and email is a great (and inexpensive) way to do that.”

Not only did I use Campaign Monitor for the ministry, but I also designed my own e-mails to stay in touch with those supporting me. Through monthly e-mails, I was able to raise enough financial support to stay in South Africa for 5 years. Now that I am back in the ‘States, I see the same need for companies here to communicate with their clientele. There is so much potential for companies to connect with their customers and email is a great (and inexpensive) way to do that. My job now is to make organizations more successful. 
 
On a very personal note, I created and designed my own wedding e-mail to keep our guests informed and updated with everything they needed to know before the event. Email isn’t just for business, after all.

Recently, you started your own rebrand, Skyhigh. What makes it different from other email marketing services?

I love technology and how it can help people. It’s my focus at work, at home and now through this business. Skyhigh* was born with my own sweat and blood and that’s what makes it special. I am a designer who loves the pure and simple, the quick and easy, plus getting the most bang for your buck. That’s why I offer two different options through Skyhigh - either you can run with custom or free templates. Different users have different needs and I’ve been on both sides, both ends. 
 

Through Skyhigh, I also get to concentrate on what really drives me: figuring out what customers and subscribers really want to know. Let’s face it, there is a great deal of information that companies want to communicate to their customers, but figuring out what is really relevant and the best way to present it is my expertise. After helping raise thousands of dollars for a non-profit, I’ve come to appreciate the power of creating engaging emails and what this can achieve for clients overall.
 
On that note, getting to know the client, their purpose and goals is a necessity when assisting them in getting the best outcome from their email campaigns. I research new clients and make myself available through e-mail, phone calls and in person. 

Finally, what’s your advice to other designers and developers out there that are aspiring to offer email marketing themselves?

Give it a whirl! I have really enjoyed digging deep into my creative side and seeing what new things I can come up with. You can do the same, so show us what you’ve got! We all can benefit from this.

Really, do your research and try it out - rebranding Campaign Monitor is a quick and easy way to start your own business. I know this will create more competition for myself, however I enjoy the challenge. Watch out though, I’m paving the way!

* It’s important to note that we don’t specially endorse, or refer customers to Skyhigh - its awesomeness speaks for itself!