A Guest Blog Post by Carol Ann Quibell
Sometimes the thought of creating and sending out regular newsletters to our clients or potential customers can be overwhelming and because of that they don’t get done. By establishing how important sending out newsletters is, maybe it will make it easier to actually sit down and do it.
- Connecting – you are making a connection and creating a relationship with your clients and potential customers so they can get to know you and your business. As they get to know you they start to trust you and will be more inclined to use your services.
- By staying in touch regularly you can keep them up to date on new services and products you are offering. How will they know what you can do for them unless you tell them?
- Write about industry trends or things that will help them in their business – they may not even know they exist or that they need them. For example, write an article (with a link to your site) on how social media will help them grow their business.
- Provide effective tools and information your customers can use towards the success of his / her business. Remember you have a vested interest in their success.
- Strengthen your relationship with your customers or clients. Become the person they turn to for assistance and service – remember you are the expert.
- Grab the attention of potential clients. Ask your customers to share the newsletter with other businesses or their clients.
Your list of people who receive your newsletter is like gold. They have signed up for it – so they are already interested – now it’s up to you to keep them interested.
Tips for creating a newsletter
· Know what the purpose is for sending out the newsletter before you create it.
· Who will write it? Yourself? Or will you out-source it?
· Keep it simple, with a clear message that is easy to follow.
· No more than 1,000 words in length
· Articles should be informative and create an interest in you and your product or services
· Provide information they can actually use will want to keep on file for future reference
· Use a template – either from your word processing program such as MS Word or an auto-responder service.
· Have an auto-responder account to track people who are on your list, create an opt-in form and distribute your newsletters.
· Distribution – is this for online distribution or hard copy.
· Be consistent – either weekly or monthly, but keep to a set schedule
Whether you connect through a newsletter, emails, or phone calls it is important to stay connected! Do it in the way that is best for you and your business and start today! It’s important to both you and your client. Sending out newsletters is just one suggestion.
Carol Ann Quibell, is the operator of Lorac Virtual Solutions, providing virtual solutions to business owners by assisting them with social media, developing business plans, online marketing and writing services.
Thanks for these great tips, Carol Ann!