When you started your online business, you knew that you would have to have the traffic to make it a worthwhile venture. With your marketing plan, ideas were already recorded to help that become a reality. Here’s one you may not have thought about: newsletters. They bring the reader into the “know” and that could mean dollars and cents to you.

A business website gives visitors the basics of your operation. You want to use your resources to tell them about what you do and why they need to get involved with you. There is not always enough space to put columns or tidbits that would be important to readers but not necessarily part of your main marketing agenda.

Newsletters are designed not only to inform but also to let readers get to know you. There can be a column written by you that thanks them for being loyal readers and customers (leading them to buy if they haven’t already). You can share honest appreciation for what they do for you.

The Magic of Newsletters

When you don’t have enough room for the fun things (contests, freebie offers) and the more in-depth things (affiliate program info, new products) that you want your readers to know put it in a newsletter. There are several formats for online newsletters:

• One page layout that you email to subscribers
• Multiple page PDF format they can access through a link in email
• Animated links on website

Usually, newsletters are sent to subscribers. These are readers who come to your site and opt-in for it by giving you their email address and name. Each month they get an email with your newsletter or link to the newsletter.

For longer newsletters with more information, you can create a PDF they can access, download, print and share with others. This way, your newsletter goes viral to people who know your readers.

Creating a “Subscriber Only” section on your site gives them access to newsletters that have video or animation that they won’t see if they had a PDF. This makes readers feel special that they have a place just for them on your site.

Your format is up to you. Whatever you feel that will engage your readers, use it. In the beginning they may not want a lot of flash since it could be viewed as trickery. Keep it simple until they ask for more.

Customer Spotlight

Newsletters are a way to highlight those readers who want to be known. Maybe you have visitors who have joined your affiliate program or have opted in the previous month for the newsletter. Listing their names gives them a place of importance in your business.

What will you place in your newsletter? Creating one, to catch all the “tidbit” information that readers really love, helps them feel like a vital part of your enterprise.

Find out how we can help you with your existing newsletter or help you get started with a newsletter today here.

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In today’s economy, people are always looking for businesses who give them a break on prices. There are ways to give customers and potential customers a helping hand on your website without putting yourself in the poor house. One such way is to offer coupons.

We shop at the grocery store with coupons. Retail stores offer discount coupons to get you to come and at least look and hopefully to shop. Online stores are full of coupon codes that are helpful to lower your total shopping bill.

Coupons are a great way for you to promote your website and possibly increase your conversion rate at the same time. A discount coupon will get them in the door to check out your website and what you have to offer. You can use your web content and your fabulous marketing skills to do the rest.

Remember all those names on the list you worked so hard to build?  You can advertise your coupon offerings in your monthly newsletter sent to your email list of names. Create a page or a section of your newsletter devoted to highlighting discounts and coupons.

Here you can create sample coupons that contain a code which you will incorporate in your shopping cart so that customers get their discount. The purpose of the sample coupon is so your subscribers can print it out and pass it along to others. This is viral marketing. Make sure that your coupon has your website name listed on it as well as any terms and conditions of using the code.

Coupons can also be featured in an email marketing series. For instance, when someone on your list downloads your free report or signs up to buy the featured eBook, they get sent a discount coupon code that they can use towards other products in the future.

When you participate in joint ventures, offering special discount coupons specifically for your partner’s lists will encourage visits to your site.

Determine what type of coupon or offer that you will offer, set up your shopping cart to utilize the coupons or how you will have them to take advantage of the coupon and begin promotion.

Need help creating your couponing strategy or campaign.  Check out how we can help with our services.

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