Surefire Ways to Pack a Punch With Your Ezines & Newsletters
Newsletters, or ezines, can be extremely effective marketing
tools for your business. They put your name in front of your
potential clients, regular clients, and peers while showing your
expertise and professionalism. They are an excellent means to
both market and grow your business and also show your existing
clients your creative abilities.
Now the only drawback is to ensure your newsletter is worthy of
being read. I subscribe to a lot of newsletters, but find I
regularly only read a few upon their arrival. When I decided to
create my own newsletter, one of the first things I did was to
look at those newsletters I regularly read and determine what it
was about them that made me want to read them. What sets them
apart from the rest?
One of the most important things I discovered was that they
provided me with valuable information to help me in my business
and which in turn helped me make a greater profit. They often
provided information I didn't already know. For example, some
newsletters provided tips on search engine optimization, new
affiliate programs, PR resources, or software shortcuts. Since
I'm always looking to grow my business, this information is
valuable to me. You normally have knowledge in a given field
that others don't. When preparing your newsletter, think about
what expert knowledge you have or can obtain that would interest
your targeted market. Now that's what you want to add to your
newsletter.
In writing your newsletter, keep the following points in mind:
Your Readers
*Know your readers and what they want. *Ask your readers for
feedback and how to improve. *Talk to your readers. Don't just
put information in your newsletter, think about that audience
out there reading your newsletter. How do they feel after
reading what you've prepared? Your Writing Style
*Use short, simple sentences; keeping paragraphs short. *Write
clearly and avoid slang or profanity. *Use humor and keep a
refreshing tone to your writing. In keeping your tone friendly,
also keep it professional. *Have white space between the
paragraphs. *Use small graphics whenever applicable. *Include
your logo for business recognition. *Use plain text. (12-14
point)
Headings
*Entice the reader with your heading to ensure they read the
article. Most people decide whether they will even read the
article from the heading. *Headlines should be slightly larger
than the other text. *Use bold or
italics and a good font, but
don't use all caps. *Make sure that the heading and article talk
about the same topic. It's great to have an awesome heading, but
if your article is on something else, you lose the edge you just
gained.
Content of Newsletter
*Content is king! Just like on your website, it's vital to have
your newsletter or ezine packed full of useful information.
*Provide articles written by you and other experts. *Provide any
new services or features you've added to your business. *Provide
links of relevant press releases, articles, other sites, etc.
This gives readers more information that they can review.
*Provide case studies, facts not known, etc. Sign up for Google
News so that you can get information your clients might not have
seen. *Provide a collection of valuable small business tips,
testimonials, etc. *When providing your tips, list them such as
this: The top ten reasons to ... *Provide a personal message
from you. Many enjoy hearing how you are doing and what's new
happening in their life and business. Just don't' go overboard.
*Provide humorous quotations or jokes. *Contests / Polls /
Freebies / Quizzes / Games!! Let the fun begin. Why not include
something that makes the reader look forward to taking a break
from their busy day to read your newsletter? *If you want to
make money with your newsletter - put in ads or Google Adsense.
The Final Step -- Proofing
*Make sure everything is 100% accurate with no typos. *Make sure
you have permission for any copyrighted material. *Make sure if
you have sources, you have credited them correctly. *Make sure
that what is about to go out reflects your business well.
Most ezines are "opt-in," which means that everyone who receives
it has actually registered to receive it--they want it already.
Now the only thing you need to do is provide them great
information that keeps them wanting it every month. And once you
find a winning strategy stick with it. No need to change every
month. Let your readers get used to your style and way of
writing.
About the author:
Diana Ennen, author, publicist, book marketer and mentor. She
has written numerous books on operating a home-based business
including Virtual Assistant: the Series and is president of
Virtual Word Publishing http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com and
http://www.Publicity-VA.com.
Written by: Diana Ennen
|
