|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home | FAQ | News | Links | About | |
|
|
|
|||||||
|
 |
Become a Home
E-Newsletters and You (Part One) I was sitting in Swimmers, the new palapa restaurant in El Anclote downloading my e-mail and doing other various on-line tasks while spending some time at our condo in Punta Mita. I have several e-mail addresses and receive hundreds of messages every day, as I suspect all of us do. I also receive several e-newsletters every day from all sorts of sources. Some I immediately disregard and simply delete (they do not have an “unsubscribe” option when I open them). Others are simply spam that people send me thinking I am going to read them and somehow buy something from them. The truth is, that spam e-newsletters only taint any possible relationship that might evolve. I also receive many “daily” newsletters from various trade groups and publications that I sometimes open and other times do not. Then there are the e-newsletters that are actually “infomercials” for affiliate marketers. I sometimes read these simply because I am interested to see how they present their wares. I am amazed that people actually fall for these pitches of making jillions of dollars using the “secrets” that one can buy for only **7. Isn’t it amazing how every one of these scam’s prices always end in a 7? But, then there are those e-newsletters that I open and read from the first word to the last. Even when I am on a cruise ship paying ungodly rates to access the Internet, I download these newsletters and read every single word of them. Many of them I save for future reference. I actually receive one e-newsletter that I hold in such high regard, that I read and re-read it to make sure that I understand the depth of the thinking that is presented. I find it provocative and stimulating and would not miss an issue even though this newsletter is free just like all the others. So I thought that I would write an article on what makes an e-newsletter effective and about the mistakes many agents make when compiling their publications. After all, what good is an e-newsletter that is not read by its intended readers? Before we start, I invite you to subscribe to my e-newsletter by visiting www.HomeBasedTravelAgent.com and clicking on the “subscribe now!” link in the animated banner ad. I would love to hear your comments and suggestions after reading this article, as I am trying to follow the guidelines as set forth herein to add value to the periodical. Here are some thoughts about how to manage your e-newsletter. Focus on the Results You Want Your Newsletter to Accomplish: You should be able to define the objectives of your e-newsletter in very precise terms. If you want to establish your credibility as an expert, your newsletter should contain expert information that displays your level of expertise. If you want to drive people to your website, your newsletter should contain compelling content that links to further information. If you want to sell a group cruise, your newsletter should deliver significant information on why folks should join the group. I think you get the idea. Just distributing an e-newsletter with no objective will not deliver focused results. Only Use Professional Opt-In / Opt-Out E-Newsletter List Services: The day has long gone where you could use your e-mail client to batch e-mail addresses for a textual newsletter. At the very least, your e-newsletter should offer in HTML template format with your readers voting their approval of each issue by choosing not to unsubscribe. NEVER send an e-newsletter to someone without him or her requesting that you send it. This action will hurt your efforts more than help them. “Spam” e-newsletters are likely to damage your efforts much more than facilitate them. Just because someone has an e-mail address, might be a likely potential client and receives other newsletters does not make them a good target for spam. NEVER purchase a list of e-mail addresses to spam e-newsletters to. Conversely, make sure that your readers can change his or her mind once they have subscribed by simply unsubscribing when they receive you e-newsletter if they choose. Letting your readers determine the desirability of your newsletter by willingly opting in is the only way to guarantee a quality list. Only Send Your E-Newsletter When You Have Something Important to Share: If you get nothing else from these articles remember this advice. The newsletter that I mentioned that I read every word of only comes when the author has something important to share. One stretch between newsletters has been several months, but on the other hand, when a topic is hot, I might receive three or four in a single month. The newsletter has every thing to do with content and nothing to do with consistency. Committing to doing a twice a month newsletter almost commits you to mediocrity. If you publish your newsletter on a fixed schedule, there must be an important reason for doing so and the reader must understand the importance of the message in order to motivate him or her to open and read it. By focusing on the highest quality of unique content before publishing your newsletter, you will guarantee its success. Next month we will explore the specifics of creating a successful e-newsletter.
|
|
If you have a travel website, you have to read this book. It will introduce you to more ways to make money than you can imagine.
Order
it Now!
A complete Independent Study Course for starting a home-based travel agency is now available for shipping. This is a professionally edited new book that will help you get started in record time.
Order
it Now!
Order it Now!
Finally a comprehensive workbook companion to the Study Course. This workbook, start-up check list and test will make starting your own home-based travel business easy. If you plan on starting your business soon, be sure to purchase the workbook companion to the How to Start a Home Based Travel Agency Independent Sturdy Course.
Order
it Now!
|
||||||
 |
| Thanks for visiting the Home Based Travel Agent Information Center |
