Email Newsletter Tips

So you have a website. That's step one.

What's step 2?

How about a blog? Create one at WWW.Blogger.com or WordPress.Org

How about a newsletter?

How about both?

Here's tips on the latter from MarketingProfs.com:

Is Your Newsletter a Must-Read?

In a Web 2.0 world of blogs, podcasts and social networks, the humble newsletter might lack sex appeal. And while the notion of a newsletter might not be overtly enticing, it can still prove an effective channel for communicating with your customers. Trick is: make it a must-read publication. According to Simon Glickman and Julia Rubiner of Editorial Emergency, the best have four common traits:

• A distinctive voice that cements the brand
• Pithy, interesting information
• A lively layout
• Interactivity

Editorial Emergency gives a gold star to The Colorado Wine Company's weekly newsletter. Here's what they get right:

• A playfully irreverent tone accurately reflects a shop where themed evenings include "The White Trash Wine Tasting," with pairings like Pinot Gris and "Le Pig in Blanket."
• There's some rich content here. "Owners John and Jennifer Nugent tell their tales of the grape with self-deprecating humor and genuine passion," say Glickman and Rubiner.
• Their interactive polls are great. Editorial Emergency asks if wine-expert critiques of the Cabernet Franc were "total b.s." or only "partly b.s."

The Po!nt: The Colorado Wine Company's newsletter is both entertaining and worthwhile; do the same with yours to reinforce your brand.

Source: Editorial Emergency. Click to read the post.

Look at Me. Now CLICK.

Hey, the best offer in the world won't get results if no one looks at it. So Bronto's Kimberly Snyder recommends four steps to make your email message an irresistible call to action the moment a customer sees it. Look at these tips:

1. Use a consistent "from" name. As we sift through our email, we scan for names we recognize. So, think of your "from" name as your corporate logo in an inbox: if you constantly change or tweak it, you won't stand out, and you run the risk of losing customers' confidence—or of simply annoying them.

2. Craft a compelling subject line. "The key is to create a short, clear and enticing call to action that speaks to your consumer," says Snyder. A good one intrigues a recipient so much, she wants to know more.

3. Take advantage of a pre-header. Many recipients use preview panes to view their email, so use text links viewable with any ISP to extend the subject line's call to action, or to include a snappy second offer to intrigue them even more.

4. Think smart with your preview pane. Since many ISPs block html images in preview panes, design your message with that in mind. "Grab your customers' attention with an optimal design that seamlessly integrates your company's logo, navigation bar and promotion, whether images are on or off," she advises. Finally, look to make sure the preview pane is rendering them as text only.

The Po!nt: First impressions really matter here. "Consumers want to be moved, motivated and enticed by smart email marketing," says Snyder. "It either begins or ends in the inbox."

Source: MarketingProfs. Click to read the article.

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