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Marketing
This Deserves Your Attention
Now that I have your attention, I’d better earn it, right? We’ve all heard it said that advertising is buying people’s attention. Content marketing is all about earning that attention by providing value to readers. There are a lot of different types of content that … Keep reading…
Thinking of Skipping the Summer?
It’s already started: people are asking if they should continue to send out their newsletter over the summer. My reply is a definite YES. I want to convince you to stay the course… and not just with your newsletter. If you’re considering taking a break … Keep reading…
Customer Service in a Box
photo by Gertrud K. You know when you land on a website and, before you’ve had a chance to take a breath, a box pops up over the top of the text you were just reading? “Can I help you?” How does that make you feel? … Keep reading…
Milestones Mean Business
I firmly believe that you manage what you measure. Numbers provide context so we know when we’re doing good or not so good. Sometimes we’re not even sure what the numbers are telling us and that requires a little more research and reflection. And sometimes … Keep reading…
Creating Content that is Useful
Your newsletter (or blog) has to be both useful and interesting to be successful. If one of your goals is to be seen as an expert, consider that the usefulness of your content can have a big impact. What types of content are useful? Here … Keep reading…
A Marketing Strategy Gone Wrong
The first thing I said when he answered the phone was, “Josh, I really feel sorry for you today!” Josh is a pleasant fellow who answered the phone last Thursday when I called the Centre for Arts and Technology in Halifax. I was just a … Keep reading…
Your Reader’s Experience
“…at some point along the way, gathering and managing their subscribers’ info became more important than their subscribers’ experience.” I made that statement a year ago in response to an article that Danielle wrote explaining her troubles when trying to unsubscribe from Air Canada’s newsletter. … Keep reading…
Audit your Reputation
I know, I know! Doesn’t it sound dreadful? The Audit. Conjuring up images of spreadsheets, accountants and bad hair days. But wait… this isn’t about that kind of audit. This is much less stressful, yet just as important. We have talked about auditing your website … Keep reading…
Content Strategies: Curating vs. Creating
I read a great article recently called Content Curation vs. Content Creation: Finding the Right Combination which discusses the goals of these two different strategies. I’ll summarize a little here. Curating content is all about becoming a trustworthy, reliable resource of high-quality, cutting-edge information that … Keep reading…
Everyone I Meet Should Do This
I want everyone I meet to take one key action. Whether you meet me at a networking breakfast or on Facebook, browsing our website or reading our blog, there’s one simple thing I want you to do. You want every person you meet to take … Keep reading…
4 Ways to Constantly Grow your List
Over a year, your mailing list will decrease by 30%. That’s an industry average but we’ve seen it with our own and clients’ lists. You’ll lose contacts in several ways, not just through unsubscribes. People change their email addresses, for example, or have other difficulties … Keep reading…
Fiasco in the Fields
screen shot of email header There’s nothing like getting an email addressed to ‘fname’ or ‘subscriber’ for making you feel valued. Yes, I’m being sarcastic. This is definitely not the message you want to send to your readers. You want to make a personal connection with … Keep reading…
SPAM is a Dirty Word
I really hate the word SPAM. For me, it usually means a sudden sick feeling in my stomach that has nothing to do with the unwanted visual of canned luncheon meat. Clicking that SEND button on a newsletter is the last step in a meticulous … Keep reading…
10 Signs this is Your First Newsletter
I’m such a newsletter critic. I think it makes me better at what I do – learning from others’ good and bad examples. Here are some things that often stand out during my critiques: You didn’t use a bulk email application. This is such a big mistake, … Keep reading…
Resist the Impulse
Every day I’m faced with opportunities to offer a deal. I receive calls asking me to invest in print ads. I can easily tweet a deal or insert it in our newsletter. I can offer an added bonus. I can low-ball requests for quotes. It … Keep reading…
When to Send
I get asked this a lot, “When is the best time to send out my newsletter?” My short reply is usually this: Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday between 9:45 and 10:15am. Then one Thursday morning I received 4 newsletters at exactly 9:45am. The fact is, there … Keep reading…
Guest Post: Marketing to Your Tribe
Stephanie Holmes-Winton Stephanie Holmes-Winton, The Money Finder, is a crusader for financial freedom. She doesn’t wear a cape (but that would be kind of cute). She does have an important message for you and me and every small business owner… This just in: some people … Keep reading…
Why Use a Bulk Email Service?
For a small cost, using a bulk email servicer provider (ESP) gives you LOTS of benefits: Cost is minimal. It allows you to schedule your email sends. It handles subscribes and unsubscribes effortlessly and accurately. It has built-in functionality to manage your contact lists and … Keep reading…
A Networking Philosophy
In conversation last week, I was surprised to hear for the third time in as many weeks, a similar reason for resistance to joining a networking organization: “I don’t want to connect with people that are just looking to sell me something.” It has me … Keep reading…
Building your Reputation
You don’t build a reputation by churning out facts or putting on a suit. A reputation is built through walking the talk. The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear. – Socrates If building your reputation … Keep reading…
Delivering the Goods
Think about the executive summary that prime ministers and presidents read every morning. That has to be a darn concise document. Up-to-the-minute information, well-curated, and accurate, with an appropriate level of detail. Doesn’t that sound like a great newsletter? A newsletter has to be useful … Keep reading…
Don’t Dilute Your Message
Let’s say you own a business that sells services to the general public. And, because you are so good at what you do, you also sell different services to other businesses in your industry. This is a common scenario for successful small businesses. You want to start an enewsletter – let’s … Keep reading…
Stick with the Plan
12/12/12 marked 7 years since I incorporated Daley Progress. If I only knew then what I know now! The last couple of years have been very different from the previous ones. I finally stuck to a realistic plan. Now, I know all about plans and … Keep reading…