Archive for the ‘newsletter tips’ Category

Reliability is the Key to Growing Newsletter Readership

Thursday, July 15th, 2010

            The best business newspapers consistently follow the same general layout, with the most important information in the same location every time. The Wall Street Journal is a worthwhile standard to follow because it always places the feature story in an easily accessible location. Subscribers do not have to search through the entire paper to find important information because it is reliably in the same position every time.

            Reliability entails more than just regular monthly delivery; it also requires reliable selection and placement of articles. Inconsistency creates unnecessary work for both the reader and the producer.

            Newspaper formatting should follow the grocery store format. The grocery store is reliable because a customer always knows where to go for his needs and wants. Just as it is inconvenient when the store changes the location of key items, it is also bothersome when a newsletter changes the location of certain articles. Therefore, it is best to maintain the same layout for a newsletter.

            Once the format has been finalized, the content of the newsletter can be selected. All great newsletters include a feature story and other regular features. Newsletters must also have content for the back page and miscellaneous stories of interest. Advertisements and a “letters to the editor” section are also necessary components of successful newspapers.

            In addition to a “letters to the editor” section, there should be a “word from the editor” section.  It only has to be a short composition that can include personal vignettes to give the readers a better picture of the person behind the paper. This section makes the paper more personal, as opposed to being strictly business. Many readers are attracted to the warmth of personality over cold, hard business.

            A successful monthly business newspaper follows the same format but continually changes content to remain up-to-date yet completely reliable.

Learn more newsletter marketing strategies by getting a copy of my book, The Magic of Newsletter Marketing – The Secret to More Profits and Customers for Life and by visiting No Hassle Newsletters.

Your Company Newsletters’ Most Valuable Real Estate!

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

The back cover of your newsletter is not only your mailing panel. It will be the first thing your subscribers see when they receive it in the mail, so use that space and fill it with information to really grab your reader’s attention. This brings man advantages to your newsletter and helps to ensure your potential customers look through it.

Back covers are so important because most newsletters are designed as self-mailers and are folded with the mailing panel on one side and the prime real estate section on the other. It is called the prime real estate because it will be the first thing your customers see and read, besides the mailing panel, so you need to make a good impression by placing an important message to your readers in that section.

As an example of how to use your back page effectively, consider this usage by and HVAC dealer. The owner wanted to introduce a new product- a whole house generator- to increase his profits. An article was written discussing the benefits of investing in such a generator and included a picture of the machine. It was placed on the back page, and within days of sending it back, the owner received thirteen different calls regarding the product. Since each generator sells for about $6,000, the owner earned a substantial amount of money by sharing his new product with his clients.

The back cover is not only for marketing purposes. Many companies use it as a place to make a personal connection with their customers by sharing personal stories about their life and family. By doing this, they come across as people and not just a money-seeking company. Usually these articles are written in the first person and are addressed directly to the customers through words such as “you” and “your.” Your customers will enjoy this personal connection and read the rest of your newsletter, wondering what else is in store.

Learn more about newsletter design and newsletter marketing at http://www.nohasslenewsletter.com or pickup a copy of Jim’s book, The Magic of Newsletter Marketing at http://www.newsletterpublishingmagic.com.

How to Create a Personalized Company Newsletter to Expand Customer Response

Tuesday, July 6th, 2010

The entire purpose of generating a monthly newsletter is to establish effective communication with your customers, clients, patients, and prospects.  Effective communication plays a pivotal role in acquiring positive feedback from your customers.  In order for one to convey their personality through their newsletter, establishing communication with customers is integral.

Your way of thinking and speaking should be conveyed through your writing style.  Charisma and personality are pivotal ingredients readers look for in newsletters.  If you have those two ingredients you can almost guarantee yourself a steady customer base.

Speaking in first person is the most effective way to write conversationally.  It is important to use the word “you” as much as possible, and it is also a good idea to include personal examples rather than ones that are general.  For example, “In this month’s issue we have an included an offer specifically for valued customers like you.”  This type of writing style instills a special connection with your customers.

Once I was skimming through a newsletter for Endless Vacations and found an article about cruises.  I thought, “Wow this is great!  I’ve got to tell my wife about this tonight!”

They wrote the article in Q & A interview format, which was convenient because I was able to pick out the questions and answers I was interested in.

I think it’s important that I cite a few of them because I think it will illustrate my point even further.  This article is about ocean liners.

The conversational tone and writing was very personable and kept my interest.  It was as if someone was talking to me through the article.  One of many questions that caught my attention was about sea sickness.  It said, Question: “I’ve heard that crossings are often rough.  Will I get seasick?”  For the answer the article spoke about giant efficient stabilizers on the ship that reduced rocking up to 85%.  Passengers on board would feel little more than gentle rocking with waves as big as twenty feet.

Another question that caught my attention was “Uh-oh, the waves are actually getting pretty rough out here.  And I’m feeling a little punk.  Now what?”  This type of writing style reflects the personality of the author.  The article is also very informative with over the counter remedies that prevent seasickness.

Here is the last question I will cite.  “I’ve never cruised because I’m afraid I’ll feel trapped.”  The answer was very humorous.  It said, “Excuse me, but have you seen the size of these ships?”

The Q&A style is an excellent example of establishing rapport utilizing conversational tone and knowledgeable information, and the same time entertaining the reader in a more intimate way.

Utilizing the Q&A style for your articles in your newsletter templates is an excellent idea.  You can prompt the answers you want in interviews by creating questions in this format.  You can hone this skill by doing mock interviews with people you know.’’

Readers love writing with charisma and personality.  Your customers will keep subscribing to your newsletter as long as it contains these two important ingredients.

Grow Your Business with a Customer Newsletter

Friday, June 18th, 2010

It’s a proven fact that e-newsletters make businesses succeed. Here are seven sure-fire ways to make a great newsletter and increase your profits:

#1: Newsletters Maintain Customers
When looking to expand your business, your current customers offer the best foundation. The longer they are your customers and enjoy your products, the more likely they are to continue doing business with you. A company e-newsletter sent out every month keeps your business on their mind. When they see your newsletters in their inbox, they start to think of your company more often and each issue creates a stronger bond between yourself and your customers, supplying them with information about your goods and services that may be unknown to them.

#2: Newsletter Get New Customers
Enlightening articles in your newsletters come with a “pass-along value” that makes it easy for your customers to pass on information to their friends and family. Since the main objective of your newsletter is to get new customers, this trait is invaluable. Since newsletters are not marketing ploys but rather publications, they are great for telling possible clients about your business.

#3: Newsletters Bring Credibility
People read company brochures like marketing literature, but read newsletters as real publications. Your newsletters allow you to explain to your audience how well your products work, and sometimes even information about yourself or your business to give them real inside stories. By illustrating the benefits of your products and/or services through true customer stories and statistics, your company will start to gain credibility among your readers.

#4: Newsletters Make You Stand Out
Since everything from the layout to the text of your newsletter is under your control, you can really be creative and make it your own. This allows you to distinguish yourself from your competition, especially larger companies.

#5: Newsletters Improve Your Reputation
Although your customers may not need your services and products right now, your company will be the first they think of when they do. People want to conduct business with professionals they trust, and your newsletter will create the trust that they need.

#6: Newsletters Build Your Brand
Brands make people aware of your company, your products, your services, and what makes you different from your competitors. Your newsletter, delivered at the same time each month, builds up your brand name and helps your business to grow, since it will make people notice that you are around and a viable option for products and services that they need.

#7: Newsletters Last Longer
Newsletters go everywhere. Funny, easy to read, informative newsletters are not usually thrown away, and your customers pass them along to friends and associates, expanding your business and is probably the biggest benefit to creating a newsletter. Learn more by visiting http://www.nohasslenewsletters.com