What if you could capture your audience with great content, promote your products and services, showcase your expertise with tips and tricks, all while driving your audience back to your website and social media pages? Better yet, what if you could do this all in one place? Would you?
Of course! But many business owners are not taking advantage of the ONE resource that enables them to promote, showcase, and direct all at once: E-NEWSLETTERS. There is an array of reasons that you could come up with for not taking advantage of this untapped tool; “the cost is too great”, “limited time for maintenance, “topic uncertainty”…However, by providing regular content to your audience, your products/services and business are kept fresh, and relevant in the minds.
Let’s get you started…
Tip #1 Select the right email marketing option for you. The best choice will depend on a few factors such as cost, size of client list, and ease of use. For a no cost option, try Mail Chimp. Other recommendations include Constant Contact and IContact; both of which offer a very reasonable monthly fee. All options mentioned offer easy templates and adequate methods for updating your contact list.
Tip #2 Set a schedule. Determine how often you will send news -Monthly, Bi-weekly, or Weekly. Once you’ve done that, begin developing a content strategy that includes topics you’ll discuss in each issue. Setting topics quarterly is a good place to start.
Tip #3 Decide on your template layout. Your layout should be determined by the amount of content you want to 
place in your newsletter. For smaller content, you’ll want a simple layout. You should consider more complex layouts for newsletters which offer several sections that will include videos, pictures and products.
Tip #4 Develop great content. A good rule of thumb… Newsletters should contain 80% information, and 20% sales. You don’t want to inundate your readers with every product, service or training that you have in your business. Be sure to provide tips in your area of expertise or supply a link to a blog that you’ve written or recommend. Talk about trends and changes in your industry that apply to your reader. It’s been my experience that when you have great content, readers will look forward to hearing from you because they value what you offer.
Tip # 5 Brand yourself! Be sure that the look, style and feel of your newsletter coincide with your own uniqueness or Brand. Utilize colors from your website or create a header that incorporates your logo, picture or both. Highlight your contact information in several areas and be sure to have links to your website and social media sites.
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