Though a catch phrase favored by the erstwhile Charlie Sheen, “winning” is actually a fantastic way to create an email campaign.

But, what is a winning email campaign?

The best way to look at it is that winning is akin to achieving. So, to create winning email campaigns is to focus on what your goals are. Meaning, what do you want to get out of your email campaign in the first place?

If you think about creating an email campaign from the standpoint of achieving goals, then you have a pretty awesome template to start from.

Here are some simple techniques to help you create winning email campaigns from the top two goals of email marketing.

1. Generating Sales

Easily the most basic of all marketing goals: generate sales. So, if this is where your focus is, then you must have “can’t-miss” promotions that cover all of your customers. Also, consider segmenting your subscriber list so that you can better target your promotions by what your customers purchase individually.

Don’t forget to design your email so that it is mobile-friendly, easy to forward to friends and that has something “extra” to sweeten the pot. Think additional promotional codes for shipping.

2. Generating Action

Not all marketing emails are about making money. Some aim to inspire action, like signing an online petition, visiting a certain website or encouraging subscribers to follow the company on Twitter.

Action is quantifiable, meaning, that if your goal is to get 100 Facebook Likes on your page through your email campaign, then you have something to strive for.

Also, to truly “inspire” action, you must offer something in return, like a coupon or gift.

Everyone who receives your email is looking for value and what is in it for them. You need to make the action of opening up your email worthwhile, or chances are, they will stop opening your message all together.