Creating Demand With Email Newsletters

You've launched your web site. You've implemented a public relations campaign and spent oodles of money advertising in trade journals, magazines and newspapers. But your site's daily visitors are still in single digits and your sales are...well let's just say that early retirement is no longer an option.

Now what?

Perhaps it's time to try email marketing. Or, to be specific, an email newsletter. After all, they require minimal effort to produce, and are proven to increase sales.

Of course, there are many other reasons why email newsletters make good business sense. Here's just a few of them:

  • You can create a marketing campaign on a shoestring budget.

  • You can measure the results and find out what works and what doesn't.

  • You can build a personal relationship with a large group of people.

  • Your subscribers pick YOU when they opt-in to your list.

  • You can track customer behavior.

  • You can collect user information for specific, targeted campaigns...the list goes on and on.
So what are you waiting for. It's time to take the next step and put the power of email newsletters to work for you.

Starting Your Email Newsletter Campaign

Before you start any type of marketing or advertising campaign, you need a plan. This is equally true for email newsletters. You don't have to put together a 200-plus page document outlining all your goals and objectives, but you do need to define some basics before you begin.

  • Get to know your audience. It's not enough to say, "they're people who like widgets". Take your cue from magazine publishers. They know exactly who their target audience is, how much money they earn, what social group they fit into and what motivates them to buy. Find out who your customers are, then tailor your newsletter around their needs and desires.

  • Check out your competition. Yes, you do have competition. Find out what they're doing by investing some time to research their product or service. What could you do better? Is there a gap in their service you could fill?

  • Identify your newsletter's purpose. What do you hope to achieve with your newsletter. Do you want to give your subscribers information about your product to help them make purchasing decisions? If so, you must first help them find out more about your product by letting them see how it can make them smarter, healthier, wealthier, or more successful. Or do you want to position yourself as an expert in your field? Your goal here is to provide your subscribers with well-written articles that address issues in your industry. Whatever your objectives, your strategy must focus on your goals. Creating Content

    Now you know what you want your campaign to achieve, it's time to start thinking about content. This is usually where the faint hearted run for cover. Fear not. Creating content isn't as difficult as it first appears. Below are different methods you can employ to keep your newsletter content fresh, relevant and on target.

  • Write it yourself. By far the cheapest approach in the long term is to write it yourself. If you enjoy writing and if you have lots of ideas for content, then this may be the best option. Only you can decide.

  • Hire Writers to Write for You. If you're not comfortable writing content yourself, you may want to consider hiring a professional writer to write it for you. There are plenty of freelance writers who specialize in writing newsletter articles. You'll find several at http://www.freelancewriting.com/

  • Get Content from Online Article Directories. A low-cost option is to get content from article directories, such as Ideamarketers.com, Goarticles.com, Articlecity.com and Ezinez.com. Articles posted on these sites are generally free, as long as you include the writer's byline when you publish. Design your template

    Just as a magazine has a certain look that will appeal to their subscribers, so must your email newsletter. Decide on a template design and stick with it so your subscribers know what to expect with each issue. Think about how magazines and newspapers have regular columns in each issue. Split your newsletter into bite sized pieces so the content is easier for readers to digest.

    HTML or Plain Text? It's really a matter of personal preference, and what you think will most appeal to your readers. The jury is still out on whether one sells better than the other, but if in doubt offer two lists: one in plain text and one in HTML. Then let your subscribers decide.

    Ready, Set, GO

    You've defined your objectives, secured your content and designed your newsletter. Now all you need to do is put it together and launch it to your customers. For this you need a mailing list. Begin with your own in-house list-made up of people who have specifically requested to receive information from you. Set up a sign-up form on every page of your web site, advertise your newsletter in online ezine directories or in other newsletters, and announce your newsletter in your signature file--the tagline that is, or should be, attached to every email you send.

    However you choose to build your list, don't ever, ever become a spammer. Never send your newsletter to anyone who hasn't specifically requested to receive it. Remember, Can-spam regulations require every marketing email to include an opt-out provision and a valid physical address. If you ignore these rules, you do so at your own risk.

    Email newsletters, are possibly one of the most effective marketing tools available to online businesses. Exploit this opportunity and you're almost guaranteed to pull targeted customers to your site, create demand for your product, gather customer data and secure your company's success.

    About The Author

    Julia is an independent copywriter and consultant specializing in advertising and search engine marketing services. To learn more about how Julia can help boost your company's profits visit her site at www.juliahyde.com. You may also like to sign up for Marketing Works! Julia's monthly ezine. Visit www.juliahyde.com/form.html to sign up or email Julia for details.

    info@juliahyde.com

    In The News:


    Google News
    Updated : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:08:18 GMT

    Gates outacts Seinfeld in Back To The Future - CNET News


    Scientific American
    Gates outacts Seinfeld in Back To The Future
    CNET News - 14 hours ago
    Which is why Crispin Porter Bogusky, the agency responsible for the otherworldly new Microsoft TV spot featuring the clowning Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld, is already happy.
    Microsoft's Renewed Vista Strategy PC World
    Journals week in review: news from One Microsoft Way Ars Technica
    New York Times - InformationWeek - CRN - eFluxMedia
    all 527 news articles

    Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:01:52 GMT

    'True Blood': Something More Than Human - PopMatters


    Canada.com
    'True Blood': Something More Than Human
    PopMatters - 56 minutes ago
    by Cynthia Fuchs Bill Maher thinks vampires may be overstepping by demanding “basic civil rights just like everyone else.” He asks his guest on Real Time, a representative for the American Vampire League, “Doesn’t your race have a sordid history of ...
    'Six Feet Under' creator behind HBO's 'True Blood' Chicago Sun-Times
    'True Blood': Undead On Arrival Washington Post
    eFluxMedia - E! Online - Naperville Sun - Cape Cod Times
    all 228 news articles

    Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:11:56 GMT

    Health Highlights: Sept. 7 2008 - U.S. News & World Report


    Seattle Post Intelligencer
    Health Highlights: Sept. 7 2008
    U.S. News & World Report - 1 hour ago
    On the heels of the huge nationwide salmonella outbreak that caused more than 1400 illnesses from Mexican peppers, a regional Oregon alfalfa sprout distributor has recalled its product in Oregon and Washington state after the sprouts were linked to 13 ...
    Salmonellosis outbreak prompts sprout recall Forbes
    Salmonella outbreak traced to alfalfa sprouts Seattle Post Intelligencer
    TheMedGuru - Seattle Times - eFluxMedia - HeraldNet
    all 78 news articles

    Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:07:54 GMT

    Land Of Big Science - Newsweek


    CBC.ca
    Land Of Big Science
    Newsweek - 20 hours ago
    The Large Hadron Collider is a symptom of America's decline in particle physics and, some fear, in science overall. By Fred Guterl, William Underhill and Sarah Garland | NEWSWEEK Please fill in the following information and we'll email this link.
    The Final Touches For The Large Hadron Collider's Launch eFluxMedia
    When European physicists bring their monstrous supercollider to ... Chicago Tribune
    Telegraph.co.uk - Ars Technica - Register - TG Daily
    all 400 news articles

    Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 17:13:15 GMT

    Ike blasts Turks and Caicos as Category 4 storm - The Associated Press


    Canada.com
    Ike blasts Turks and Caicos as Category 4 storm
    The Associated Press - 47 minutes ago
    PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos (AP) - Hurricane Ike damaged most of the homes on Grand Turk island as it roared onto the Bahamas, raked Haiti's flooded cities with rain and threatened the Florida Keys on its way to Cuba as a ferocious Category 4 ...
    Video: Haiti suffers floods as Hurricane Ike hits Caribbean - 07 Sep 08 AlJazeeraEnglish
    Eyewitness: Waiting for Ike BBC News
    ABC News - International Herald Tribune - United Press International - Bloomberg
    all 3,120 news articles

    Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:20:36 GMT

    Evans KOs Liddell at UFC 88 - FOXSports.com


    Vancouver Sun
    Evans KOs Liddell at UFC 88
    FOXSports.com - 7 hours ago
    by Elias Cepeda, InsideFighting.com Rashad Evans shot himself straight to the top of the long list of challengers in the UFC's light heavyweight division with a devastating knockout win over the sport of MMA's top name and former champion, ...
    Liddell Loses Luster With UFC Defeat To Evans AHN
    Rashad Evans knocks out Chuck Liddell The Associated Press
    USA Today - Yahoo! Sports - Los Angeles Times - Washington Post
    all 245 news articles

    Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:18:30 GMT

    No. 4 Florida Pulls Away From Miami For Win - AHN


    Washington Post
    No. 4 Florida Pulls Away From Miami For Win
    AHN - 29 minutes ago
    Gainesville, FL (AHN) - Tim Tebow threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns, lifting No. 4 Florida to a 26-3 win over in-state rival Miami Saturday.
    Marve's debut gives Miami (Fla.) reason for hope SportingNews.com
    Tim Tebow leads Florida past Miami Los Angeles Times
    ESPN - Seattle Post Intelligencer - Honolulu Advertiser - Orlando Sentinel
    all 684 news articles

    Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:39:03 GMT

    Add RSS Feeds To My Web Pages
    Increased Web Site Traffic


  • PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

    Adsense websites

    4 Effective Ways To Use Autoresponders To Increase Your Sales

    An autoresponder is a very powerful tool for any online... Read More

    Single or Double Opt--In?

    You heard the message before. Your e-mail list is the... Read More

    Email Marketing - How Best To Manage and Distribute Your Messages

    This holiday season 15 percent of consumers in the US... Read More

    Essential Rules For Effective Email Marketing

    If you want an email campaign to succeed, you don`t... Read More

    The Key (Board) to Success: Effective Emailing

    Email is THE medium of communication for business transactions. Unfortunately,... Read More

    Choose The Right Business For You In Less Than 15 Minutes

    3 Characteristics Of "The Right Business" ModelThe business must service... Read More

    Three Steps To Building A 50K Email List In Less Than 90 Days

    One major asset that every internet or affiliate marketer needs... Read More

    Email Deliverability Tips

    Ensuring requested opt-in email is delivered to subscriber inboxes... Read More

    Taking Email Marketing To The Next Level

    How to use the latest e-messaging strategies to increase profits.Many... Read More

    Plain Jane Email Equals Flat Results

    Years ago, when email was just emerging as the incredible... Read More

    Online Marketing Through Newsletters

    So you want to start publishing an online newsletter? Why?... Read More

    7 Great Email Habits for the Beginning Internet Entrepreneur

    If you are just starting out as an Internet entrepreneur... Read More

    Reach Out and Slap Someone

    I got my first email account way... Read More

    Track Customer Response With an Autoresponder Service

    Another powerful reason for making the switch from using the... Read More

    You Must Build A Customer List

    If you run (or plan to run) an online business,... Read More

    Should You Publish a PAID E-zine?

    Many of my clients ask me whether they should publish... Read More

    Email Marketing 2005?Do?s & Don?ts

    Email Marketing 2005?Do's & Don'ts1. Make sure all your email... Read More

    Converting More Free Downloads to Paid Customers

    Do you give web site visitors the opportunity to download... Read More

    Autoresponders for Beginners

    Hi you may or may not know that your Autoresponder... Read More

    The 8 Biggest Newsletter Marketing Mistakes

    Newsletter publishing has always made a lot of sense. It... Read More

    Do Your Autoresponders Drive Your Customers Crazy?

    A chained auto-responder is a sequence of emails that gets... Read More

    Email Marketing - The End Is Nigh!

    Consider if you will the resources, the time and the... Read More

    What Is An Email Signature And What Do I Do With It?

    You hear it all the time... email signature, sig file,... Read More

    20 Ways To Increase Your Traffic And Sales Using Free Follow-Up Autoresponder Courses

    An autoresponder course is a group of articles or information... Read More

    How Autoresponders Boost Sales By Up To 400%

    Imagine going to bed and waking up in the morning... Read More