Top 5 Tips for Marketing with Your Own Newsletter

No matter what type of business you have, one of the best – and most effective – marketing solutions you have – is your own newsletter.

Your newsletter can be as simple as something you plug into your autoresponder every week – (if you do it this way, it’s a good idea to use both plain text and html) – to a pdf version that your subscribers can download – to something that’s created on your Website or Blog – to a printed version that’s actually mailed out using snail mail.

But whatever version of a newsletter you use, it’s one of the best ways out there to reach your ideal target market, and make a connection with them.

Here are 5 top tips to make marketing with your own newsletter faster, easier and more profitable:

1. Keep it consistent. Decide on a publishing schedule for sending out your newsletter. According to marketing tests, having a daily newsletter – offering one article, tip sheet or checklist can be the most effective.  But it’s also a lot of work.  To make it work, you might want to find some reprint articles, private label rights articles or look for other people who are willing to have a ‘guest column’.  Another option is to outsource article writing.  The 2nd most effective schedule is weekly, and this might be easier for you, especially if you’re a solo-preneur.  If you don’t have a lot of time, or you’re just getting started, look at a bi-monthly or monthly newsletter – as you build your subscriber list, and get better at doing it, you can always increase the number of times you publish.
2. Create an ‘editorial calendar’. Depending on your business, niche or industry, there are lots of ways you can break your topics down. Having an editorial calendar not only helps you to stay organized, but it will keep you from facing writer’s block and getting off schedule because you don’t know what to write about.  Here are some ideas: Break it down by season… ‘Hot Tips to Keep the Kids Busy While You’re Working This Summer’ could mae a great article for WAHMs, for example. Add in holiday-related articles… “How to Throw Great Stress-Free Holidays Parties”… Look for special days or events that can be tied in to your business… “How to Reconnect with old chums during National Friendship Week”…  And when you’re looking for events – are there local, state, regional or national conferences, workshops, trade shows, etc. that your clients are interested in that you can tie into? And don’t forget your own speaking engagements, teleseminars, workshops or other events that  you’re either hosting or participating in.  You can promote those in advance by writing articles, giving links to videos or podcasts, or presentations.
3. Include updates from time to time about what’s going on in your business, or when it’s relevant, your life. Everyone likes to feel special, included – a part of the ‘inner circle’.  So from time to time, ‘throw back the curtain’ and share a little information about what’s going on behind the scenes of your business, or if it’s appropriate, your personal life.  Don’t go into the big, hairy details, or give TMI (too much information), but let your subscribers feel like they’re ‘in the know’ – and you’ll be rewarded with loyal, happy subscribers who not only like and trust you more, but who will refer you to their friends, family and colleagues.
4. Don’t promote all the time. Everyone likes to buy new things, but no one likes to be ’sold’ to. So the working formula is 3 to 1. Provide three times the content for every one time you promote a product or service.
5. Be authentic. Find your own ‘voice’ and use it. Be honest, open – and totally you.  Your subscribers will know if you’re not – and you’ll lose them.  Keep it real, and have fun with your newsletter.

And there you have it – the top 5 tips for marketing with your own newsletter.

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There’s no doubt about it… sex sells.

On the street, on the big screen, in books and undoubtably on the Internet.  And of course, when it comes to celebrities all around the world, being ’sexy’ is a very important part of the whole ‘package’.

But you may be a little surprised to be reading an article about making your marketing ’sexy’.

Most people don’t think of marketing as being ’sexy’. They usually think of marketing as a ‘necessary evil’.  Or as something that’s deadly dull and boring.  Or as something that makes them uncomfortable.

If that sounds like the way you feel about your marketing, I’d like to invite you to look at it from a different angle.

First of all, why do you market?

If you said ‘To get more work’, or ‘to find new clients’ or ‘to make more money’… imagine Simon just buzzed you off the stage of American Idol.

Marketing isn’t about getting more work, it’s about getting the right kind of work.

It’s about working on the kinds of projects you want to work on, with the people you want to work with.

Marketing isn’t about following cookie cutter tactics.

It’s not about trying to get people to sign up for your e-book, your special report or your autoresponder so that you can keep promoting your products or services from then on.

Marketing shouldn’t be about playing small.

Your marketing should be about who you are, what you stand for and what makes you – uniquely YOU.

And when it is… when you’re willing to step out of the shadows, to talk about the things you’re passionate about, and about why you’re doing what you’re doing… it’s sexy.  And it attracts the kinds of people who resonate with your message, and who are drawn to working with you.

And that’s what your offer should be all about.

Your offer needs to focus on what the ultimate value to your customer or client is.  It should be all about the light at the end of the tunnel. About giving the person buying it the end result they really want. Solving a problem, ending a pain, doing something better, faster, stronger tomorrow than they can do today.

It’s not about lies, or hype or making empty promises.

It’s about how you show up at the end of the day – and how you offer what you offer to the world.

See what I mean?  Sexy.

2010 has started off with a bang -  as my grandfather used to say, “I’m already busier than a one-armed paper hanger with a case of hives…”

If you’re one of the ‘tens of readers’ of  my blog, (as one of my favorite bloggers says), then you’ve probably got a lot of plans and hopes and dreams too for your business in 2010.

But do you have a plan to “Create Success in 2010″?

I’m asking because I’ve gotten 27 emails (among hundreds) in my email box since the first of the year with that particular sentence – or the variation “Creating Success in 2010″ -  in the subject line.

Out of curiosity, I opened each one.

• 3 were the same affiliate link, selling someone else’s products.
• 6 were people promoting their own products – everything from e-books and ‘how-to-do-something’ videos to high level coaching programs.
• 2 contained inspirational thoughts and law-of-attraction type messages.
• 7 were other people selling the same affiliate program in the internetmarketing/how to start a business niche.
• 4 contained some actual ideas for creating and measuring success.
• 5 were from clients with their ideas, questions and suggestions for projects I’ll be working on in the coming year.

So, gramps, it looks like I’m going to be busier than a one-armed paper hanger with the hives this year. (Whoo hoo!)

Luckily, I did my business planning at the end of the year, the way I always try to do. One of the things I like to do is look back over the results I achieved during the year.  I look at sales (of course), but also the individual elements that combine to make a successful internet business.  And then I also look at how much fun I had – because I honestly believe that if you’re not having a good time running your own business,  you might as well be working for someone else, collecting a paycheck, and putting fun into other aspects of your life.  And then I look at my ‘made a difference’ results.  Because, that’s one other area I believe is vital – in business and in life.  Are we making a difference to someone else?  Are we serving others?  Because again, if you’re not, what will people remember – what legacy will you leave behind?

If you’re curious, here’s a snapshot of my plans for 2010:

• Getting rid of two ventures that were not profitable in 2009.
• Adding three new passive income streams that, after initial research look promising.
• Only accepting 2 0r 3 ghostwriting book projects for the entire 2010 year (If you’ve decided 2010 is the year you’re going to write your book, get in touch with me now, and lets see if we’re the right fit!)
• Working with Dan (my business partner to launch two new niche ventures)
• Continuing my regular columns and writing about travel
• Planning for the next series in my radio show
• Working with my copywriting clients
• Doing some ‘pro-bono’ grant writing to help build a school in Africa

My business plan for creating success in 2010 doesn’t leave much time for slacking off this year. I’m committed to creating success in 2010 for my clients, and for my business.

I’d love to hear about your plans for success… What are you going to be doing differently in 2010?  What will you be doing the same? Where do you want to be 12 months from now?

Also, if you’ve got advice for someone just starting out, some words of wisdom to help them make 2010 “their year” – please feel free to add your comments below!

Do you know your ABC’s when it comes to getting the publicity you need for your book, your business or yourself?

First of all, no matter what business you’re in, getting current publicity is vitally necessary… If you’re not entering into the conversation, if you’re not on top of what’s in the news as it relates to your topics of expertise… then you’re going to be left behind.

And this is especially true and important if you’re an author working on your book.

If you’re not staying out in the public’s eye, and talking about what’s going on from your status as an expert, and letting people know how what’s going on is going to impact them, then you’re going to become yesterday’s news – and the world will move on without you.

Look, publicity is an investment – because once you’ve gotten the publicity, doors will open for you, and other opportunities will fall into your lap.

So let’s look at the ABC’s of Publicity that will help you promote your book… Read the rest of this entry

This is a question that a lot of aspiring authors probably ask themselves… especially if they’re sitting in front of a blank screen, watching the cursor blinking mockingly at them… Or if they’re so busy running their businesses, or their medical practice and they find it difficult to actually find the time to sit down at a keyboard and create a manuscript… A full length non-fiction manuscript can take between 200 and 400 hours of work – and that’s just the writing.  It doesn’t include the background research, interviewing the client or other people, and creating the proposal (something that needs to be done even if you’re self-publishing)… Read the rest of this entry

On this very special holiday weekend, (at least for those in the U.S.), part of the tradition is to take a little time to think about what you’re the most thankful for…

And even though I’m not in the states, we still celebrate Thanksgiving, and I wanted to take a little time out to do just that…

First of all, I’m thankful for my family – the French ones and the American ones… You are the most important people in my life, and if I don’t tell you often enough, I’m grateful to belong to such a crazy, wonderful bunch of people. (I especially want to say Thank You to my husband, Alain, my mom Louise, my sister Cathy and my cousin Mary Jane.  You are my strongest supporters, my fan club and the people I know I can always turn to, whether I want to share laughter or tears.  And I hope you know I’m there for you in the same way!)

Next, I’m thankful for my friends – you know who you are… You’re fabulous, fun and my life would be a little less colorful, a little less flavorful and a lot more boring without you in it…

And I’m thankful for my colleagues and my clients.  You make my professional life interesting, exciting and full of twists and turns that are never expected, but add to the adventure that makes my business so much fun.

And I’m thankful for Dan Shaw, my intrepid partner in business, who always knows exactly how to make technology work and who has made being in business more profitable, fun and rewarding.

And finally, I’m thankful for the technology that makes it possible for me to have the life and the business I have while living where and how I want to live.

If you’re in the states, I wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving too!

In my last post called “Creating Community, Not Followers – a Social Media Rant” I asked you if you were using social media as part of your marketing/advertising strategy.  This is part two of this social media series – and why you should be creating a community – not a list of followers – in your business… Read the rest of this entry

Are you using social networking or social media in your marketing mix?

If so, you probably know that twitter was recently the victim of a DOS (Denial of Service) attack.  Earlier today I read a blog post by Michelle MacPherson – an expert in social media networking – called Why Social Media Sucks, which got me thinking about it – especially because right now it’s the “next big thing” and it seems like everyone and their brother is on the bandwagon about how social media can make or break your business.

It’s no secret that the world of media and marketing has changed. Read the rest of this entry

Part one of this article gave an overview and definition of Search Engine Optimization. In case you missed it, you can read it here: What You Need To Know About SEO. In this second article, we’re going to talk about the easy DIY things you can do to optimize your writing or author’s Website for the search engines to send more traffic to your site.

Let’s start with the the importance that Meta Tags, Page Titles, Descriptions and Keywords have in optimizing your Website or blog for the search engines… Read the rest of this entry