| How to effectively use newsletters for your | | | | choose to deliver your e-zine every Wednesday or |
| business. | | | | the 15th of every month, make sure your e-zine |
| Owning a website is only half the battle when it | | | | arrives in your subscribers inbox on time. Regular |
| comes to online marketing and advertising. Visitors | | | | delivery helps people remember you, your company, |
| need to see your services and/or products a | | | | and your services. Besides, infrequent delivery is the |
| minimum of seven times before they’ll even | | | | best way to lose subscribers. |
| consider purchasing your time, services, or products. | | | | - Don’t use your e-zine as a sales letter only. |
| But how do you keep visitors coming back to your | | | | While you may be tempted to fill your e-zine with |
| website? How do you help them remember who you | | | | advertisements for your products and testimonials |
| are when there are literally thousands of companies | | | | from buyers, that’s a sure fire way for your |
| offering similar services and/or products? How do | | | | e-zine to fail. Subscribers only subscribe if there is |
| you get them to contact you instead of continuing | | | | something in it for them. |
| their search for the one website that screams, I | | | | - Offer original material. |
| have what you’re looking for and | | | | You may be tempted to use free content or |
| here’s how I’ll meet all your | | | | private label articles for your e-zine, and for |
| needs? The truth is that not everyone who | | | | the most part, it may work out great. But |
| happens upon your website will need your products | | | | don’t forget to add a little flavor or |
| or services, nowat this very moment. Most are | | | | originality to your e-zine, too. |
| searching for answers, services, or products for a | | | | Give your readers a reason to keep reading. |
| future date; some are simply browsing for the sake | | | | Let’s say your company sells gardening |
| of browsing. | | | | supplies. Your e-zine could feature one gardening |
| Many people spend a lot of time researching before | | | | supply in each issue: describing the benefits and |
| they decide which company to do business with. | | | | features of the supply, offering a step-by-step article |
| They’ll prepare a list of websites that hold | | | | that shows your subscribers how to use the supply |
| their interest or save a website to their favorites list, | | | | in a gardening project, and then finalizing the e-zine |
| but how many actually return to those websites? | | | | with a buy now link. If you’re an author, on |
| And what if they lose that slip of paper or their | | | | the other hand, your e-zine could showcase an |
| computers crash? How will they find you again? Most | | | | excerpt from your latest book, a little background |
| likely they won't. Irritated that all their research was | | | | information on the town featured in that excerpt and |
| lost, they’ll simply go with the first company | | | | a buy now link. |
| they find. | | | | - Offer a freebie from time to time. |
| You can prevent them from forgetting about you. | | | | Freebies are great incentives for getting people on |
| You can get them to return to your website. And | | | | your mailing list, but make sure the item you offer |
| you can market to them in an effortless, inexpensive | | | | for free targets the right audience. If you |
| way. All you need to do is start an e-zinea | | | | don’t, you could end up with a bunch of |
| newsletter that’s emailed to opt-in subscribers. | | | | subscribers who never buy a single thing from your |
| The idea behind your newsletter should be to keep | | | | company. |
| people coming back to your website, to educate | | | | - Reward loyal subscribers. |
| them about your services, your books, and your | | | | Subscribers who actually take the time to read your |
| products, and to offer them incentives to buy your | | | | e-zine are a precious commodity. Show them that |
| services and/or products. | | | | they are special by treating them to subscriber |
| Below are a few tips to help your newsletter | | | | only specials. |
| succeed: | | | | Finally, don’t forget to let others know your |
| - Pick a reliable e-zine delivery service. | | | | e-zine exists by including a sign up link or |
| For a free service, consider or For | | | | button on every web page, advertising it in your |
| a paid service, consider or - Be consistent in your | | | | signature line when visiting forums, blogs, and chat |
| delivery. | | | | rooms, and placing the sign up address on your |
| Deliver your e-zine at the same time every | | | | business cards. |
| monthpick a date and stick with it. Whether you | | | | |