This lack of delivery caused a real problem for two of them with ruined plans, missed appointments, and just plain inconvenience.

If you don't use email, this might not sounds like a "big deal."

But this problem of non-delivery has dramatically affected way businesses use email and is now about to reach epidemic proportions for consumers using email.

To put things into perspective, imagine if every time you dialed a friend's phone number you had no idea whether it would ring or not.

Now imagine how frustrated you would feel over time if you kept dialing same number and it never rang for you, but others could get through and your friend's phone number never changed.

That's exactly how you'll feel when your personal emails start getting blocked for seemingly no reason.

The problem of legitimate email messages not getting through stems from uncontrolled and unstoppable onslaught of spam that currently grips Internet with seemingly no end in sight.

The fact that viruses can now "spoof" email addresses and make it look like someone sent a virus to thousands of people doesn't help matters either.

In an effort to cut down on spam, ISP's implement a number of counter-measures, including: text filters, spam databases, and IP blocking.

So, you need to carefully develop your e-mail marketing campaign with great care.

Here are 10 steps you can use to develop a successful e-mail marketing campaign:

Step #1 - Define purpose of your e-mail campaign

Whilst this step may seem pretty obvious, you will be surprised at how many e-mail marketing campaigns are carried out without a clear purpose or goal.

This is especially prevalent with online newsletters or e-zines - many don't provide reader any valuable or useful information.

So, start your e-mail campaign right - by first defining a clear purpose or goal.

Step #2 - Develop a clear call to action

A call to action is a specific set of instruction(s) contained within e-mail with sole purpose of leading reader to take a specific action.

Here's an example of a call to action: "Click here to download your f~ree Special Report"

With introduction of CAN-SPAM act and advancement in SPAM filter technology, it is difficult enough these days to get your e-mail pass SPAM filters, yet alone opened and finally read.

It would be a sheer waste of time for both your reader and yourself if you didn't create a clear call to action in your e-mail.

Step #3 - Personalize your e-mail message

Use your full name in From: field rather than your company's name.

And use your recipient's name in subject line.

This will increase "open rate" of your e-mail (The "open rate" is percentage of e-mails opened against e-mails successfully delivered), because recipients will more likely open and read e-mails from people they recognize.

Personalization will also reduce probability of e-mail being mistaken as SPAM.

Step #4 - Develop an interesting subject line

It's true.

First impressions DO count in e-mail marketing!

If you have an important e-mail you want your reader to open and read, you need to develop an interesting subject line to woo your readers attention.

The reason's really simple.