Newsletters, or ezines, can be an extremely effective marketing tool for your business. It gets your name in front of your potential customers, regular customers, and peers while showcasing your expertise and professionalism. It’s an excellent medium both for marketing and growing your business, or for showing your existing clients your creative chops.

What is an electronic publication? It is the abbreviation of electronic magazine. It’s those email newsletters you receive regularly. If you’re not submitting one now, strongly consider doing so. It can make a big difference to both your business and your bank account. For example, I know a life coach who sends out regular posts. Lately he recognized that he started receiving more than 30 people signing up every day! When you think about those 30+ new leads a day, doesn’t it make sense to use this as a regular part of your marketing?

Now the only downside is making sure your newsletter is worth reading. I subscribe to a lot of newsletters, but find that I regularly only read a few when they arrive. When I decided to create my own newsletter, one of the first things I did was look at the newsletters I read regularly and determine what was in them that made me want to read them. What sets them apart from the rest? One of the most important things I discovered was that they gave me valuable information to help me in my business. They often provided me with information that I did not yet know. For example, some newsletters provide tips on search engine optimization, affiliate programs, or software shortcuts. Since I’m always looking to grow my business, this information is valuable to me. You typically have knowledge in a certain field that others don’t, when preparing your newsletter, think about what expertise you have or can gain that might be of interest to your target market. Now that’s what you want to add to your newsletter.

When writing your newsletter, keep the following points in mind:

your readers

oGet to know your readers and what they want.

Ask your readers for feedback and how to improve.

o Talk to your readers. Don’t just put information in your newsletter; Think about that audience that reads your newsletter. How do they feel after reading what you have prepared?

your writing style

o Use short and simple sentences; keeping the paragraphs short.

oPlease write clearly and avoid slang or profanity.

Use humor and keep a refreshing tone in your writing.

oKeep the tone friendly, but also professional.

o Have blank spaces between paragraphs.

Use small graphics where appropriate.

oInclude your logo for business recognition.

Use bold or italics for emphasis, but don’t underline.

o Use plain text. (12-14 points)

headers

o Draw the reader in with your headline to make sure they read the article.

oTitles should be slightly larger than the rest of the text.

Use bold or italics and a good font, but don’t use all caps.

Newsletter content

oContent is king! Just like your website, it’s vital to have your newsletter or ezine packed with useful information.

o Provide articles written by you and other experts.

oProvide any new services or features you have added to your business.

oProvide links to relevant press releases, articles, other sites, etc. This gives readers more information to review.

o Provide case studies, unknown facts, etc. Sign up for Google News so you can get information your customers may not have seen.

oProvide a collection of valuable small business tips, testimonials, etc.

o Provide a personal message from you. Many enjoy knowing how you are doing and what is new in your life and business.

o Provide humorous quotes or jokes.

oContests / Surveys / Gifts / Questionnaires / Games!! Let the party begin. Why not include something that makes the reader want to take a break from their busy day to read your newsletter?

The final step — Test

oMake sure everything is 100% accurate and free of typos.

oMake sure you have permission for any copyrighted material.

oMake sure that if you have sources, you have credited them correctly.

Most ezines are “opt-in,” meaning that everyone who receives them has signed up to receive them, they already want them. Now all you have to do is provide them with great information that will keep them looking forward to receiving it every month.