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REPLAY: How the BBC delivered election results via email – as the votes were counted – for 650 constituencies across the UK (with Jay Oram) | Voter Variations


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♻️ This is a replay episode originally aired on March 5, 2025. I’m resurfacing it because – as much as we love fresh content – replaying smart ideas deepens the insights. And a second listen usually surfaces something you missed the first time ‘round. So, earbuds in — pen out. Let’s make this listen actionable. ♻️

When you're sending personalized election results to millions of people across hundreds of constituencies, how do you pull it off —especially since results only start rolling in at 2 AM? If you're Jay Oram, Head of Development at Action Rocket, you build a sophisticated system of automation, live data rendering, fail-safes – and sheer dedication – to deliver real-time results straight to voters' inboxes.

About our guest

I love email development, the challenges, the code, the community. Day to day I look after the code me and my team create at ActionRocket.

Ideas you don’t want to miss

(04:03) The process that gives the Action Rocket team the headspace for such diverse clients

(05:23) Why the BBC email strategy is decidedly unique

(08:17) How the Action Rocket team delivered real-time election results to millions on a six-week deadline

(09:57) The one mistake that almost ruined election night emails – and the matrix of backup systems, manual overrides, and late-night troubleshooting that saved the day

(16:23) Why they didn’t use classic first name personalization – and what they went deep on instead

(23:52) What the team learned from the process – and how they’re using it to go even bigger next election period

(28:55) Jay’s favorite brands for email inspiration—and why he reads eversingle email in his Promotions tab

Links from this episode

Take a look at the email we’re talking about today

Check out the amazing work ActionRocket is doing

Plan more effective campaigns with my Promo and Launches Playbook or with my Campaign Ideation Masterclass

Free consult when you sign up to Kit (formerly ConvertKit) using this affiliate link. Terms and conditions here.

Check out Dr. Squatch’s on-trend emails

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn

Follow Nikki on LinkedIn

Get Nikki's email musings at ⁠nikkielbaz.com/subscribe

Let me know what you thought about the episode by emailing [email protected]

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Email Swipes | Email marketing teardowns for SaaS brandsBy Nikki Elbaz | Email marketing strategist for SaaS brands