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Actively Share your Newsletter Issues on Social Media
You may already be autoposting your newsletter onto your social media feeds when you send it out. It makes sense to share it more than once , especially if it's the only content you have (i.e. if you're not also blogging). Re-sharing your newsletter issues using the read online link on your social media feeds multiple times will extend your readership beyond your current subscribers... and hopefully encourage new ones. Facebook Page, Google+ and LinkedIn If not autoposted, post a link to the online version of your newsletter as soon as it goes out. Use the sharing buttons within your newsletter to make it easy. For a monthly newsletter, you might consider sharing it again a couple of times before your next issue goes out. Twitter Tweet a link to the online version of your newsletter a couple of times a week until your next issue goes out. Use the tweet button in your newsletter but change up the tweet text each time. Add an image to the tweet for added oomph. If yo...
eNewsletters and Charities in Canada
If you Google " CASL and charities " (in Canada), you'll find lots of reading on the subject. I'm not going to repeat all that here but rather give a quick snapshot of how CASL (Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation) impacts charities. CASL applies to 'commercial electronic messages'. This means that most (but not all) communications sent from charities are completely exempt from the requirements as they wouldn't be considered 'commercial'. Soliciting donations is okey dokey, as long as the charitable donation # is included. Things to be careful about ( may void the exemption): paid advertisements (funders/sponsors might be a grey area) promoting programs/courses "offering services to individuals who may benefit, where there is a cost-recovery element (for materials, for example)" internal job advertisements (because there's a commercial aspect, this may also be a grey area) Even if a message is not exempt, it ...
17 Reasons to eMail Your Contacts Before Your Next Newsletter Goes Out
NOTE! Don't jump directly to the list below. There's a caveat and it's an important one. While these are your reasons for emailing your list, you need to create value or point it out to readers. Frame all your messaging around the thought, "What's in it for my readers?" If you make it valuable to them, you'll feel the love in return. Here are 17 reasons to email your list, independent of your regular newsletter schedule: A new or improved product or service - highlight the benefits, not the features A demonstration of one way to use your product... and the fantastic results! A new article, video or audio file published online A customer success story - and how subscribers can enjoy the same success A customer question and your answer - useful information A cool tool you just tried - how your contacts can benefit Comment on a common myth about your industry - why your subscribers need to know Announce a contest Request information (feed...
Your Brand is more than Your Logo
I’m a visual person yet I find it hard to describe our own branding concisely: lots of white space, clean, bright spots of colour, fun but professional. If you came to me and said that, how would I design a newsletter (or website or blog) for you? Being able to describe your visual branding is important when you’re working with professionals such as designers and other consultants. How can they help you best if they don’t ‘get’ your brand? How do you describe your own visual branding? Write it out right now and be concise. Use lots of descriptive words - make up words if you have to. Can you get what’s in your head onto paper? Looking at examples is very helpful. Look at others’ websites and newsletters. Identify what you like and don’t like and put it into words on paper. Do you like curves or straight lines? Bold or subtle? Professional or whimsical? White space or lots of colour? Simple or busy? Keep going... don't stop here. It’s not easy to do bu...
Content That Saves Time
This is worth getting excited about - the best kind of content possible. That’s because content that saves you time also helps you meet so many other goals . How can taking the time to create content actually save you time? Well, you create content out of all the communication you do on a regular basis. You know, like when you write an email to explain something to a new client that you’ve already explained dozens of times in the past to previous clients. Your message becomes routine, maybe even boring, for you and your client. So why not prepare a succinct, compelling version of it to share with new clients? And, if it’s useful to your clients, I bet it’s useful to others. So turn it into a blog post. Add it to your website FAQs or resource page . Share it on social media. Put it in your newsletter. Not only does this kind of content save you time with your processes, it also provides great content that elevates you as an expert and builds your reputation. Your clients w...
Don't Forget Your Fans
You have 2 types of newsletter subscribers: People who are interested in your content, whether it is informational or promotional: your audience People who are interested in you and helping you succeed: your fans Your ideal clients are the first group. Your 3 F’s - friends, family and fans - are the second group. Both types of subscribers are important. The second group will help get your message to more of the first group. Make it really, really easy to share. Include tweet, like and other social media sharing buttons. Invite people to share it with friends by email and give them a link to do so. Thank your fans. When your fans share your information, make sure you thank them. And, even more important, make sure you reciprocate! Include a subscribe link - similar to the sidebar link for subscribing to this blog by email. Your fans will share your newsletter and their contacts will want to subscribe. Make it easy for them. Don’t make them hunt for your sign up form....
Knowing When to Go
Change is a wonderful thing - it keeps life interesting. It allows our businesses to evolve and do better. When we can plan and drive change successfully, it can be very rewarding. Then there's the change that's forced on us. You know, like when your website hosting company goes belly up. Or your PC dies at an inconvenient time, precipitating an unplanned but long-thought-about change to Mac . Or when the bulk email application you've been using for 10 years keeps dumping functionality that you and your clients need. (OK that last one is me.) Forced change is rarely pleasant and it's hard to get excited about how things will be better when we're buried in the work of making the change. And, of course, it never happens at a convenient time! Managing risks can be complicated. I wish I had acted sooner. I'd like to think I'll learn from this experience and act sooner next time. Procrastination is sometimes convenient, and sometimes worthwhile, b...
Write without Fear, Edit without Mercy
Do you get hung up over finding the perfect word? Distracted by comma placement? Or just stuck looking at a blank screen? I've told many people I'm a wannabe writer. Now, closing on 350 articles, I still feel like a wannabe. That's because I'm a much better editor than writer. I still quibble over words and have to remind myself to move on - but now that happens in 10 seconds instead of 3 minutes. If writing is what's holding you back from publishing a blog or newsletter, here's what you need to know: Write something instead of nothing. Maybe you'll change it later, but it's a start. Write when you're inspired. That might mean making time to get inspired. Don't set goals about the number of words. Write only as much as you need to , as opposed to a 500 word essay. Don't get stuck choosing words. Pick one and move on. Spend twice as much time editing as you do writing. Have a time gap between when you write and wh...
How to Improve Your eNewsletter Results
Would you want me to be nagging you about your newsletter campaign? Making sure you keep to your schedule, aren't stuck for writing ideas, and regularly check your statistics? I've been told nagging can be very helpful . Here are some pieces of advice I dish out to clients on a regular basis - not because I like nagging but because I know these things can make a difference. Plan your content ahead of time. Planning gets you thinking, even if those plans are bound to be broken . Use a 2-step writing process . Draft and write your content; edit and polish it on another day, or later the same day. Finalize your copy before it gets inserted into your newsletter. Last minute changes, while not always avoidable, are most prone to mistakes. Your final check should be proofing, not editing . Try using a Word template to assemble your content. Create one with the appropriate sections and it will operate like a checklist so you won’t forget anything. Take care with you...
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