10 Things You Should Consider Putting In Your Email Newsletters
Every month, you’re likely to receive a slew of email and snail newsletters; how many do you actually read? There are certainly some that you scan for useful information, some that you simply trash, and then there are those, that you read word for word.
What draws you to the ones you read? What makes them valuable to you? What kind of data are they giving out? Do you pay attention to appealing headlines and photos? Does sophisticated HTML catch your interest in emailed messages, or is it annoying because it takes too long to download or clogs up your inbox? Now, how significant is all of this to your target audience? Don’t make decisions entirely on the basis of what you enjoy or do.
Determine who it will go to (current clients, past clients you want to stay in touch with, friends, associates, other contacts) and what they want to see (possibly by surveying them or at least knowing their hot buttons relating to your business), how many people you have on your list (the more the better for added exposure), and how many people you have on your list (the more the better for added exposure). However, you want to deliver your newsletter in the format that your target audience is most likely to read; if they are homeowners or the elderly, printed may be preferable, but if they are business people and professionals, email may be preferred??
I don’t encourage cold contacting with your newsletter (purchasing email address lists) since I believe they should go to people you already know and/or do business with as a reminder to continue to utilize your services or refer business to you.
The most important aspect of your newsletter is the content; if you’re not telling people something new and exciting, teaching them something they don’t know, educating them about something they’d like to know about, or providing them with free resources or solutions, they’ll likely ignore it or delete it. Don’t worry if you don’t get compensated for the information you provide in your newsletter; just know that it will come back to you.
Now for the Top Ten Things to Include in Your Email Newsletters:
Top Ten Things to Include in Your Email Newsletters
- An enticing subject line to entice your recipients to open your email
- Useful information, an article, or a hint (that your readers will want to know about)
- Instead of big paragraphs, use bullets or links.
- Testimonials from satisfied customers
- A strong call to action – make them take action!
- A lot of photographs, but they’re all proportionately sized to fit.
- Subscribe to an ezine box or share a link
- A valid return address, email address, contact name, and telephone number
- A message with an opt-out option
- A forward button or link so they may readily forward it to others.
You may go to a few websites that will let you construct your own email newsletter, send it out, maintain your list of recipients, and measure your bounce backs and follow-up. Some are significantly more expensive than others, and some are more user-friendly than others; nevertheless, the most of them provide a free trial period, which I recommend taking advantage of first.
Finally, keep in mind that customers buy items and services from companies they know and trust. A single e-mail or mailed campaign won’t be enough to build that kind of relationship with your potential customers, but it can be a start.
You’ll be on the right track if you think of your promos as part of a continuous conversation between you and your potential clients. Which would you want to buy from: a firm looking to make a quick cash or one that takes the time to gain your confidence before attempting to offer you something?
Your newsletters should be recognized for what they are; responsible e-mail/mailed promotions, if you can stay informed.