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copywriting :: Internet Marketing :: Copywriting
How To Write A Newsletter Without Being A Writer
Imagine the next time you join a
discussion about content,marketing and promotion. When you start
sharing the fascinating content,marketing and promotion facts below,
your friends will be absolutely amazed. Knowledge can give you a real
advantage. To make sure you're fully informed about content,marketing
and promotion, keep reading.
One of the best ways to stay in
touch with current and past clients, colleagues and fans, is to publish
a regular newsletter. Whether you use a HTML template tool like
Constant Contact, simply create a good looking text email to send out
to your contacts, or publish something fancy with PDF, it can draw new
business simply by making sure that no one forgets what your business
does and can do for them. For every company that benefits from this
form of marketing,
many more feel they are not good enough writers, do not have the time,
or are not comfortable enough with the computer to make the effort.
There are many ways a small business can develop a newsletter, when
the full do-it-yourself route is not an option. First, keep in mind
that it is acceptable that 20-30% of the newsletter is promotion
and good news about the business, assuming the audience is primarily
made of clients and prospective clients. To come up with the rest of
the content, try these techniques:
1) People who know how to write well, but cannot think of subject
matter can visit one of the many article databases on the web, and
browse for ideas. The idea is to use it for inspiration, and as a
brainstorming tool for topics. Once an idea is established, start
writing for the audience and put a unique spin on it.
Some of these databases include:
* http://www.goarticles.com
* marketing-seek.com/articles/search.shtml>http://www.marketing-seek.com/articles/search.shtml
* http://www.ezinearticles.com
2) Anyone who doesn’t like to write can reprint any of the articles
in these databases. In other words, he might decide to do a feature
article on, say, logo design, to provide some substance along with
business news and other thoughts. This is perfectly acceptable. Just
make sure the author’s credits and bio are always included.
3) For those who know their subjects, and are willing to write but
aren’t confident in their ability, there is the option of arranging to
have an editor. Many freelance writers would be pleased to have a
steady monthly or bi-monthly arrangement, on retainer, to work on
editing newsletter items. It is also possible to find someone who is
willing to barter this service for products or services on a regular
basis. You can also hire someone to handle the design and technical
implementation of the content and manage your mailing list. Be creative and consider getting help if having a newsletter would bring marketing and communication benefits to the company.
4) When the subject matter is not commonplace, and available in an
article database, consider asking members of specific industries or
disciplines to pen articles
for the audience in exchange for credit. If it is a complementary
service, or related product they sell, it will broaden the information
provided your audience. These strategic alliances can bear fruit in
many ways if we are confident about the quality of what we provide our
clients to offer them knowledge they might not get otherwise.
5) Subscribe to industry newsletters and create a compilation of the best feature articles
there. Your audience will appreciate the effort you take to discern and
distill the most useful information for them, and bring it to them in
one place.
The important thing is that the information is of use to the
audience, and that they have the option at all times to stop receiving
the newsletter if they request it.
Make a realistic monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly schedule. Create
a plan for how you will accomplish this goal. Determine which route you
will take to build your content,
and which tools you will use. Set recurring deadlines. For example, put
on the calendar that the newsletter feature article is due by the end
of the second week of every month, and whether writing it, finding it,
or submitting to an editor, it will be ready to go.
With good planning and taking advantage of the resources which are
online, nearly any small business can develop a solid, informational
newsletter to share with their customers.
Eileen 'Turtle' Parzek (c) 2003 All Rights Reserved
About The Author
Eileen 'Turtle' Parzek is a veteran web designer and an online marketing
& communications consultant who has been working from home and
virtually since 1995. You can subscribe to her free monthly newsletter
called Increase Your Reach: Infuse Your marketing with Technology at http://www.soho-it-goes.com
NOTE: You’re welcome to “reprint” this article online as long as it
remains complete and unaltered (including the “about the author” info
at the end), and you send a copy of your reprint to ezine@soho-it-goes.com
Hopefully the sections above have contributed to your
understanding of content,marketing and promotion. Share your new
understanding about content,marketing and promotion with others.
They'll thank you for it.
We hope you found the information on this page useful and will return often to browse
the many articles throughout our site. We will be adding new material on an ongoing
basis in order to keep our visitors up to date on the latest promotion and marketing
information and tools that allow so many marketers to earn a full time living on the
internet.
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