Online Newsletters – Building a Sense of Community with Prospects
From the beginning of your internet business venture, you are already aware that you would need a constant stream of web traffic for your business to be successful. You probably created a detailed marketing plan that outlines everything you need to do to make an estimated amount of profit. But here’s one important marketing tool that most entrepreneurs overlook: newsletters. They build rapport with your target crowd, faster and stronger than you can imagine (which leads to more sales).
Why do you need an online newsletter? It’s because your main website should only furnish a summary of your business operation. You cannot get into all the details using the website homepage, because usually there is not enough space. A good solution would be to provide only vital info in your website, then use other communication tools to send detailed info to your readers and prospects. This is where the use of a follow-up newsletter comes in.
While newsletters can be used to provide information, it can also be used to allow readers to get to know you better. You can share an inspiring personal story, and then recommend useful services or products at the end of the story. You can provide order links at the end of each newsletter issue and convince readers to buy if they haven’t done so yet.
The Power of Newsletters
Each time you run out of space in your website to mention all your back-end offers and promos (such as new product launches, affiliate programs, technical upgrades, time-sensitive promos, etc), you can choose to put all these details in your newsletter. After all, a website homepage doesn’t look good when cluttered with too many details. Here are some forms of online newsletters that you can choose from:
· Single page of text that you email to your marketing list
· A report in PDF format that contains multiple pages of exciting info
· Flash video series that are accessible to subscribers
Newsletters are sent to so-called “opt-in subscribers”. They are the ones who visit your site then decide to sign up to your newsletter by submitting their name and email address through your web form. Once they subscribe, they automatically become part of your mailing list, and will receive updates on a weekly or monthly basis.
If you want your newsletter to go viral or spread via word of mouth, put it in a PDF format. This way, subscribers can download and print the file for better reading. There’s an also a greater chance that after they read and enjoy your newsletter, they will share it to their friends.
Putting up a section in your website that is accessible only to subscribers is important. This is where you upload HTML newsletter issues, videos, photos, and many others. Subscribers feel important knowing that they have an “insider access” to your material.
It’s up to you to choose the newsletter format that fits your preference. If it suits you and your target audience, make use of it immediately. Remember to keep your information simple. Focus on providing value to your customer and they will want to know more.
Put a Spotlight on Your Customers
Newsletters also provide an avenue for you to make readers and subscribers feel special. If you have recent customers or new subscribers, you can mention their names in your upcoming newsletter issues as a way of saying thanks. Or if you have affiliates who made an exceptional amount of sales, you can congratulate and recognize their achievements by putting their names in your newsletter issue.
All in all, a newsletter is useful for many aspects of business building. Remember to include as much valuable information as possible in you regular mailings. This builds trust and rapport with readers, and makes them feel part of your business community.
Online Newsletters - Building a Sense of Community with Prospects by Steve