Any owner of an e-commerce website needs subscribers. This is the best way to build your database of customers. A Newsletter will accomplish them while providing readers with valuable information and keeping your name at the top of their minds.
Basically, a newsletter is a way to promote your products or services, yet the last thing you want to do is make it obvious. You have to give your subscribers more than just one long advertisement. Here are five tips for creating an effective newsletter.
1. Write About Interesting Topics
It will be nearly impossible to get someone to read your newsletter if you do not provide them with information they need or want. The best way to do this in a newsletter is to include a particular topic of interest in the main article, located in the body of the piece.
Be creative in your content. Think of a “top 10” list, money-saving tips, answers to frequently asked questions – anything that correlates with your business. You could even use a question/answer format, much like an advice column.
2. Include Links To Further Information
Links do not have to reference back to your own website, but could point your readers in the direction of further information about a topic.
If you have done some guest blogging, you could show some love by including links to the other’s person’s blog site. This is a great way to show your knowledge and expertise and gain credibility.
3. Promotion
This is, after all, the reason you are writing the Newsletter. Just be sure to put your promotional links in the right place – in the section right after the main article.
If it is interesting and informative, then a subscriber will read all the way through the article and be in a receptive frame of mind regarding promotion of your products or services relevant to the topic. This is the best chance you have of making a reader click through that link.
4. Get Personal
Subscribers cannot connect to a writer/editor/publisher who does not include some personal information. You can accomplish this via a short note at the beginning of each newsletter (much like the first page in a print magazine).
Always include some information about what you do, and ways to contact you. Remember that you will always have some first time subscribers for each mailing and they need to be reminded of why they signed up to receive your Newsletter. Be sure to include your tag line. This is a great way to create branding.
5. Real Promotion from Real People
One of the most effective ways to get new customers is to provide testimony from previous, satisfied clients. Don’t have any testimonials? Then get some. An affiliate marketer that follows up after a sale can turn one time customers into repeat customers.
Don’t be afraid to solicit positive feedback. Most people are more than happy to oblige, especially if you tell them you will be featuring them in an upcoming newsletter. Of course, always ask permission first.
Writing a newsletter on a regular basis takes time. But it is well worth the effort. The more website subscribers you attain, the more your page ranking will rise (don’t forget to archive old newsletters on your site for extra SEO optimised content!) and your profits will, too.
Have a most outstanding day.
Sean RasmussenAussie Internet Marketing
www.SeanSEO.com © 2008 - 2010
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Seems to be all the same stuff you would need offline
Hi Sean,
I like your ideas of writing Top 10 lists, money saving ideas and FAQs. This gives me some great ideas for my newsletter.
Hi Sean
I have already started my newsletter and will be setting it up for free subscription on my site after the competition. I have kept it small, no more than 2 pages and I have about 5 categories on the page with the most helpful hints I can muster.
I have a nutritionist who is contributing on subjects that dovetail with my content.
I have gleaned some really good information from this post about identifying myself in the newsletter, which I omitted to do. I have put a statement on it about my reason for making the newsletter but I will need to add a bit more.
Thanks Sean
Hi Elly,
This is fantastic. You are moving ahead in leaps and bounds. It sounds like you have some awesome ideas. I’m sure your subscribers are going to love it.
I have a gardening newsletter connected to my related website and blog – it’s the sort of topic that folks will read – because gardeners like to know more and more and are always trying new things.
With affiliate marketing, it has been a different story, so these 5 tips are something I have to look at closely. I especially agree with being personal. Providing actual contact details shows you are genuine and interested in the readers. I hate those sites etc where you cannot ever find a way to contact the owner etc
mmm Key point for the affiliate marketers blog/ newsletter “don’t forget to archive old newsletters on your site for extra SEO optimised content!” Definitely putting this post in the favourites!
Hi Sean,
Having a newsletter is a good idea. It probably takes a while to set the template up and after that a newsletter only needs the content updated with each edition. Is this true Sean?
Either way, work put into a newsletter is worth the time and effort if it attracts subscribers. The 5 tips here for newsletter writing is appreciated.