Newsletter Marketing

Newsletter Marketing Strategy

A monthly newsletter is a chance to talk with your customers, but it's also a chance to offer them more of what they come to you for. A monthly newsletter is one of those promotion ideas that seems like work - so you'll notice that your competition is most likely not doing it. Therefore it's one of the greatest opportunities for you.

Here's a sample outline to follow. Fill this outline out, like a form, and keep track of your results:

1- Header and table of contents. Make this fun. A header that people will recognize so they know the newsletter is from you, plus a few enticing article titles will keep people reading. Here's a hint: a juicy article title always tells your reader "What's in it for THEM!"

2- Article 1- Give your readers something. You can do this in the form of teaching, or sharing information in some way. The owner of a craft store could write an article about pattern making. The owner of a hardware store could write about how to care for hand tools to make them last longer. The owner of a mom and pop convenience store could write about time saving aspects of shopping at neighborhood stores. Newsletter marketing should offer value while establishing your credibility or expertise in an area.

3- Article 2- Update your readers on what's going on in your business and how it impacts their lives. A chiropractor could write about a new herbal supplement she now carries that speeds healing between treatments (encouraging patients to add herbal supplements and come in for more frequent treatments). An accountant could write about choosing the right month to begin working with him (enticing people to come in during slow months and help pick up business during a time usually low on revenues). A pizza shop owner could write about a new softball team sponsorship (and how readers can eat great pizza at the games - make sales at the field!)

4- Article 3- An update article on a past announcement. Write about your customers' reactions to purchases they made from you. A coffee shop owner can share customer comments on the new Rawandan roast. A massage therapist can share clients' reactions to the new aromatherapy oils. (Remember - get testimonials. If you don't get these from customers, you can't share them as promotion ideas!)

5- Closing piece- A boomerang piece. You want your newsletter reader to come back to you. In each month's newsletter marketing campaign you want to include a coupon with a code in it. Each month there is a different promotion with a month-specific code. For example, in November a restaurant owner includes a coupon for 1/2 off a 2nd dinner at a certain price point (and if you're tracking your business' numbers, you know to make sure that 2nd dinner is at a price point above your average priced dinner). The coupon has November's coupon code on it. Who cares when they bring in the coupon - it doesn't need to expire because you're getting valuable information about your customers and your newsletter. So what if they bring that coupon to you in June? Isn't that telling that they kept your newsletter that long?

If you're ready to implement this, or other strategies you find here at SiteSOHO.com, we're available to assist. Please see our Services and Fees page to find the level of service that's right for you.