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Making The Most Of Newsletters
Newsletters can be wonderful tools for communicating with your customers or prospects. Because of their format, they're often infused with more credibility than traditional brochures. If your newsletter is little more than blatant self-promotion, however, it's likely to hit the wastebasket before it hits your target's desk. By following a few basic tips, you can cultivate interest in your newsletter and make it an effective marketing tool. Keep it interesting. Whether you're informing prospects or current customers, provide useful content and avoid the temptation of use a hard-sell approach. For example, include a how-to article about some aspect of home buying or selling. While these topics relate to your field and reinforce your message, they also offer valuable advice and will help cultivate a loyal audience. Do it yourself . . . or not. The abundance of desktop publishing programs on the market makes it easy for virtually anyone to create a newsletter. However, poor knowledge of design basics and overzealous use of difficult-to-read fonts has led to more than one design disaster. Before you try to do it yourself, consider hiring a professional graphic designer to create a template into which you or a staff member can input copy. If you still want to give it a shot yourself, pick up a book on graphic design basics before you create your masterpiece. Find your look. Depending on your budget, you can choose from a variety of styles-from a simple, one-color piece to a multi-page, full-color format. Factors such as the number of colors and pages, type of paper, and paper size can mean big differences in cost, so ask for quotations on different specifications from several printers. Keep it short. Generally, it's best to limit your newsletter to eight pages or fewer and keep articles at 300 words or fewer. If you have a lengthy or complex issue to address, try to break it up into two articles or one longer article accompanied by a short sidebar piece. Remember what a picture's worth. Photographs add interesting elements to your piece-as long as you use something more creative than the traditional "smiling head" shots. If you choose not to use a full-color format, keep in mind that photographs reproduce best in shades of black. Don't ignore the details. Triple-check spelling and grammar. Typographical errors can quickly damage your credibility and distract your reader. In addition to running the document through spelling and grammar checkers, have someone proofread it-preferably someone who hasn't seen the article before. He or she will be more likely than you are to catch any errors. Include a feedback mechanism. Make it easy for readers to respond by including a contact name, phone and fax numbers, and postal and e-mail addresses. Cost Cutters Looking for ways to cut your newsletter costs? Here are a few tips: Team up with another business that reaches out to similar prospects. Split the content-and the cost-of the newsletter. Run your rough design by your local post office. Sometimes, simple size changes can cut postage costs. Get prices from at least three printers, and let them know you're soliciting multiple bids for the job. Competition can help you get a better price. Offer an e-mail option. This allows you to save on postage and printing, but send it only if customers ask. New laws are cracking down on unsolicited e-mail. We've found newsletters to be a great marketing mechanism. Keep in mind, if you have truly timely news, you can turn your newsletter into a subscription based newsletter. This can lead to another cash flow source. We have used newsletters as both a marketing mechanism and a cash flow source. To check out the HBS Digest, click here: http://www.homebusinesssolutions.com/hbsd_info.htm Copyright 2004 DeFiore Enterprises Interested in having your own successful, home based creative real estate investing business? Chuck and Sue have been helping folks start successful home based businesses for over 19 years, and we can help you too! To see how, visit http://www.homebusinesssolutions.com for the latest FREE tips and tricks, educational products and coaching in creative real estate investing and home based businesses. No time to visit the site? Subscribe to our "how to" Home Business Solutions Digest, it's like having your own personal coach: mailto:subscribeHBS@homebusinesssolutions.com
MORE RESOURCES: How AI can enhance customer service The Keyword | Google Product and Technology News Opinion: If it's not dead already, customer service is certainly on life support • Asheville Watchdog Asheville Watchdog Frequently asked questions and customer service CSPI Newsroom Customer Service & Support Hillsborough County (.gov) HubSpot debuts new AI-powered marketing and customer service tools SiliconANGLE News A Customer Service Adventure: Customer Service: It's Everybody's Business | Calendar City of Glendale, CA (.gov) T-Mobile Delivers Industry-Leading Customer, Service Revenue and Profitability Growth in Q1 2024, and Raises 2024 ... Yahoo Finance Poll workers emphasize election confidence, customer service • Indiana Capital Chronicle Indiana Capital Chronicle T-Mobile implementing AI-powered tools for better customer service Android Headlines The Marriott Maze: Navigating Customer Service Over $11, When Does It Stop Being Worth It? View from the Wing The article discusses the use of chatbots in the self-storage industry, including how to implement the technology and ... Inside Self-Storage Bank of Ireland to invest €34m in customer service improvements The Irish Times Oracle Leverages AI to Boost Sales Performance and Empower Service Agents Acceleration Economy The correct airline customer service numbers to help avoid scams - The Washington Post The Washington Post What Your Business Can Learn From Southwest Airlines Business.com Secrets of Great Customer Service News Channel Nebraska How did customer service get so bad? Financial Times Citizen First Customer Service City of Lynchburg Poll workers emphasize election confidence, customer service | News | chronicle-tribune.com Chronicle-Tribune Welcome to Riverside Public Utilities City of Riverside (.gov) Andreas & Sons values customer service above all else WGN Radio - Chicago Customer Support GE Aerospace Social media customer service statistics to know in 2024 Sprout Social MTA opens spring customer service survey to hear from New Yorkers PIX11 New York News Contact SEA Customer Care portseattle.org AI is replacing customer service jobs across the globe The Washington Post Forbes Recognizes Regions Bank for Best Customer Service Regions Financial Corporation Best Customer Service 2024 Forbes Customer Service Center - Recreation & Wellbeing University of California, Berkeley Will AI customer service kill the call centre? Tech Monitor Is Consumer Services a Good Career Path? | Careers | U.S. News U.S. News & World Report Buccaneers Continue to Excel in Season Pass Member Customer Service Experience, Voted No. 1 for Sixth ... Buccaneers.com Billing and Insurance WellSpan Health 2023 Tax Filing: IRS Improved Customer Service, but Could Further Improve Processing and Evaluate Expedited Hiring Government Accountability Office Excellent customer service in Austin, Texas, indicative of nationwide survey Transportation Security Administration What is the future of customer service in an automated world? Inside Retail Asia Porsche claims first place for customer service among premium car owners in J.D. Power Study Porsche Newsroom CFPB Issues Guidance to Halt Large Banks from Charging Illegal Junk Fees for Basic Customer Service Consumer Financial Protection Bureau DPW Wants to Know the Material of Your Water Service Line Baltimore City Department of Public Works Klarna says its AI assistant does the work of 700 people after it laid off 700 people - Fast Company Reducing Retail Loss through Customer Service—and Other Strategies Loss Prevention Magazine Chick-fil-A Ranks #1 for Customer Service—But Another Brand Is Nipping At Its Heels Eat This, Not That Above & Beyond — Individuals that provide outstanding customer service | AIN Aviation International News Utility Billing The City of Vancouver, WA U.S. Passports - Recreation & Wellbeing University of California, Berkeley Services | Polk County Waste and Recycling Polk County Government How does the Direct Express ® card work? U.S. Department of the Treasury (.gov) Creating Customer Service Bots That People Don't Hate HBR.org Daily Reyers shoe store honored for customer service Mahoning Matters Human Interaction in Customer Service Still Preferred Despite Technology Innovations, New Research Finds Yahoo Finance Mayor prioritizes schools, neighborhoods, transportation, customer service in Capital Spending Plan Nashville.gov How to reach airline customer service quickly The Points Guy |
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