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email marketing
What Name Are You Using?
This morning I deleted an email from a good friend and past client. I didn’t realize it was from that wonderful lady because it didn’t show up in my inbox from her name or her company’s name. I only dug it out of my trash … Keep reading…
Being Seen = Being Remembered
Isn’t it amazing that it’s now so easy to keep in touch with people we met years ago? Social media has allowed me to reconnect with old friends and work colleagues from long before social media existed. (Yes, I’m that old.) It has also allowed … Keep reading…
Old Marketing Tricks
“Yes, it’s an old marketing trick to “accidentally” make a mistake in an email campaign so you can resend an email shortly thereafter to increase the number of times people see your message.” This was the lead message in an email I received recently which … Keep reading…
Being Sneaky About Email
When I see the words “try this” along with the words “your email subscribers” in a headline, I get a little antsy. The email I received today included “sneaky-favorite email sequences” in the body text. Here’s the thing, if you’re delivering value to your readers … Keep reading…
Email is the Alternate to SEO
What’s a goal of business blogging that will never be a goal of email marketing? Search engine optimization (SEO), of course. For email, it’s all about subject line optimization. (Is SLO a ‘thing’?) Crafting a compelling email subject line can achieve better and more immediate … Keep reading…
There’s an Email Battle Brewing
Email bots are coming. Now, your reaction might be “Ugh!” but mine was, “Yay!” And that’s part of the challenge. Here’s another part: they are heaven-sent for spammers. Yes, that deserves an “Ugh!” What I’m excited about are all the possibilities for improving productivity in … Keep reading…
Email Marketing 101
Starting an email newsletter isn’t especially difficult if you have a propensity for apps and design. You could start tonight and send tomorrow if you really want to. BUT developing and implementing an email marketing strategy that will serve your business – and your readers … Keep reading…
Email Marketing Best Practices: It Depends…
You’ve finally decided to start doing some email marketing for your small business. There are lots of things you know you need to consider and lots of things you don’t know about yet. But you’re game and, having finally made the decision, you hop online … Keep reading…
Proofing Checklist for Error-free Newsletters
Having prepared and sent well over a thousand different newsletters, this is what I know to be true: mistakes happen. There are so many opportunities for error that I still cringe inwardly when I click ‘schedule’ or ‘send’. This checklist gives you an easy way … Keep reading…
“Why Didn’t I Start an Email List Sooner?”
If you’re a small business owner without an email list, at some point your future self is going to think, “Why didn’t I start an email list sooner?” It takes years to build an engaged email audience. If you’re successful (and of course, you want … Keep reading…
23 Things to Put in Your Small Business Newsletter
All the experts know that email is still king. If you’re starting an enewsletter for your small business, figuring out what content you want to put in it might be one of your first challenges. Here’s a quick rundown of a variety of different content sections you … Keep reading…
Is Your Newsletter a Vehicle or the Destination?
Small business owners often arrive at the desire to start an email newsletter from one of two different directions. The route has an impact on the strategy, tactics and tools you will use. A Vehicle Some have already been blogging and, for them, an email … Keep reading…
Email Newsletters – Develop Your Strategy First
The process of starting an email newsletter for your small business involves focusing on these aspects: strategy, tactics and tools. It makes sense to approach them in a logical order from high-level thinking through to detailed work. Strategy First This is where you consider that your … Keep reading…
How Giving Options Reduces Unsubscribes
After sending out clients’ newsletters, I’m often asked by them why someone would have unsubscribed. The worry seems to be that something in that particular issue made them disconnect. This is rarely the case. I can’t tell you all the reasons people unsubscribe but I … Keep reading…
Pinpoint Your Unique Content Marketing Opportunity – An Example
If you read Pinpoint Your Unique Content Marketing Opportunity last month and are still stuck, this article may offer some hope. First, if you are sitting at your desk alone, new ideas may not come to you easily. This process requires brainstorming – and more than … Keep reading…
What’s the Best Day of the Month to Send a Newsletter?
Wouldn’t it be great if I had a magic bullet for you? The thing is, if I did, everyone else would be sending their newsletter on that day and it would no longer be magic. What I can do instead is give you some suggestions … Keep reading…
Pinpoint Your Unique Content Marketing Opportunity
If you think writing blog posts about what you do is your best content option, you might be sorely mistaken. The popular approach to content marketing usually includes some combination of blogging (podcasting, video, etc) + email + social media. (I love that equation!) The … Keep reading…
A Call-to-action Formula for Your Free Download
You’ve got your first lead magnet all ready to go and you’ve got a great landing page for it. You’re anticipating a rush of new visitors to download your giveaway and discover how valuable your small business might be to them. If sending a series … Keep reading…
The Wrong Way to Introduce Your First Newsletter
You wouldn’t hug a complete stranger. So, if the red-head in the photo approached you on the street, you’d likely back away and think WTF. Even if he wants a date, that’s a pretty lame approach. We don’t have much room for needy strangers in … Keep reading…
Your Not-for-Profit Should Mimic this Newsletter Strategy
There are many bad newsletters out there… I’m sure you’ll agree. In particular, many not-for-profit and charitable organizations lack the time and skills to craft exciting newsletter content. Sometimes it’s from lack of strategy – not knowing what they can and want to achieve with … Keep reading…
Sometimes You Need a Boring Subject Line
This email message below arrived in my inbox shortly after sending out my weekly small business event listing (for Halifax, Nova Scotia). I love it when instant blog posts arrive by email. Hello Linda I’ve been getting emails from you for a couple of years … Keep reading…
13 Ways to Make Your Small Business Blog More Interactive
Why do we want our blogs to be more interactive? I googled that question and didn’t find any kind of consensus or a clear answer to share. This seems a little odd with everyone talking about engagement (and lead magnets and sales funnels). As soon … Keep reading…
What’s Black and White and Read All Over?
OK so the joke is ancient… and really only works when spoken. The answer has even changed – now it’s newsletter instead of newspaper. But people are still reading, and more than ever. Whether you choose informational or promotional marketing or both, you’re missing opportunities … Keep reading…