For those of you who read my blog or have met with me for project consults, you know how much I love Vertical Response. If you want to start sending email blasts (email marketing) you definitely should try them! Their interface is very user friendly and their prices are very affordable.

At the end of last year, I received an email from them announcing they were going to have an email template design contest. The winners would get to have their design become an official Vertical Response template and would also receive a very generous Apple gift card. So, I entered the contest… at the very last minute actually. I had been so busy with BlackStone Studio work, I submitted my design only a few hours before the deadline. I named it “Blue Burst”.

The first round of voting was done by Vertical Response. They chose the best templates and then opened the contest for public voting. The votes were based on Facebook “likes”. I got off to a nice start with the most votes, but then another designer started catching up. It soon became a very close race between his design and mine. We kept changing from first to second place, back and forth, as we both got more votes. At the end, I won with 860 votes!!! And when I say “the end”, I mean we were still getting votes minutes before the cut-off that was at 12:00AM PST (2:00AM my time). I won by 18 votes, so I have to give the other designer credit. Actually, all the winners had awesome designs!

I’m very proud to say that my design is now an official Vertical Response Template!!! You can see their announcement of the winners on the Vertical Response blog.

I have to thank everyone who voted! All my friends, family and clients! Without your support I would not have won. I also want to give a shout out to iFMradio in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, who helped promote my contest entry on their radio show. That was awesome! It is great when your hometown supports you and I am truly grateful.

If you want to use my design template, you can by opening a free account with Vertical Response!