BeTuitive: e mail newsletter

Words Glorious Words

Posted on March 07, 2007 by Kevin G.

I think it’s always great to be precise with wording. Though I don’t consider myself a wordsmith, I try to: bestow the lexicon of my colloquies with consummate exactitude. But even statements like that don’t phase vocabulary-prodigies like Robert Marshland.

He is the winner of the National Vocabulary Championship, hosted at the New York Public Library. Here, the contestants must have a clear understanding of uncommon words and their differences; like the difference between what is simply underrated from a clear example of floccinaucinihilipilification (the estimation of something worthless). This competition is intense for contestants to not only know a plethora of words that are not commonly used in social discourse, but to react quickly with their answers to proceed to the higher rounds.

The winner, 18-year-old Marshland from Wisconsin, was awarded $40,000 towards college tuition and the title of “Most Challenging Person to Play Scrabble Against.” Read further about the competition and Robert’s road to success.

March 7, 2007 in create a newsletter, creating newsletter, e mail newsletter, electronic newsletter, email marketing, email marketing campaign, email tracking, ezine marketing, newsletter, newsletter design, newsletter marketing, newsletter sample, newsletter service, online newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

In Review: No Yelling

Posted on February 28, 2007 by Kevin G.

No Yelling: The 9 Secrets of Great Leaders

“What is your major malfunction?” Not exactly the words you would expect to hear from your boss (unless his last name is Patton, and he prefers pushups to coffee in the morning).

We all communicate in different ways to get what we want. Managers, CEOs and other leaders need to understand the necessary steps to take to get their team to work as a unit and get what they want. The US Marine Corps. manufactures leaders through effective training in the physical and mental realms. Former marine, Wally Adamchik, knows the methods to handle high stress situations, manage a team, and complete tasks that mirror the likeness of the business world.

In No Yelling: The 9 Secrets of Marine Corps Leadership You Must Know to Win in Business, Adamchik lets readers in on this classified information:

1. Integrity

The individuals that work with--not underneath--you need to trust and respect your efforts by demonstrating integrity. By building trust, maintaining consistency and establishing non-negotiable terms, your integrity as a leader will develop.

2. Technical Competence

Demonstrate the knowledge and ability to complete the menial, labor-intensive or specialized tasks your workers do for you. By offering a sincere effort to level with your team, they learn to accept and respect your role as a leader.

3. Set the Example

Delegating work to a team does not ensure its completion. Maintaining professional composure and being a role model for others communicates what a leader expects out of a team.

4. Self-Awareness

It is impossible to be conscious of the tasks and people around you if your personal standards of practice are not identified. Being self-aware allows leaders to assess unique situations, recognize effective methods of team members, and continually improve leadership style.

5. Take Care of People

A happy worker is a good worker. Recognize workers’ accomplishments, give sincere attention to concerns, and make a natural effort to connect on a personal level. What goes around comes around.

6. Make New Leaders

The leader will not be there forever, and the team must be able to uphold its responsibilities for the company. By developing a team of leaders culturally and personally, each member will take ownership and pride in their tasks as they become accountable for successful completion.

7. Commander’s Intent

When a team knows where it’s headed and why, it will be more willing to spearhead new initiatives and venture into uncharted territory.

8. Culture and Values

By creating a positive and productive working culture with an honest and comprehensive value system, a team will be able to identify and respect the foundations of their company.

9. Rehearsals and Critiques

Creating scenarios for your team to practice within allows for mistakes to be made. When these mistakes are critiqued in a clear and non-threatening, non-judgmental manner, your team will be conscious and motivated to minimize recurrence of the same error.

In Review

At the end of this book, these secrets may seem like common knowledge—but that’s a result of the clear examples and content that progresses naturally from one secret to the next.

These secrets not only identify the personal qualities a leader must have, but also address the practices necessary to foster a happy and productive team. Though you might occasionally want to shout “Drop and give me 20,” No Yelling makes it clear how good leadership is created for any team. As you were, soldier.

February 28, 2007 in Opt-in Email Marketing, bulk email marketing, company blog, create a newsletter, creating company newsletter, creating newsletter, direct email marketing, e mail newsletter, e newsletter, electronic newsletter, email marketing, email marketing campaign, email newsletter, email service, email services | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Reviving Stewardship

Posted on February 19, 2007 by Vinnie Lacey.

In the business of custom publishing, we here at BeTuitive always have to be mindful of copyright and plagiarism. After all, word-smithing is part of what we do, day in and day out. Not to mention that a crucial aspect of our credibility is ensuring the originality and authenticity of the work we produce, both for ourselves and our clients.

But are we, as the model of capitalist societies, too obsessed with the claims of private ownership in our created works? Has the rush to stake claim to their seemingly inalienable rights destroyed the public domain that these works also naturally reside in?

The author Jonathan Lethem gives an excellent treatment of these questions in this month's Harper's Magazine. Lethem's mini position paper, "The Ecstasy of Influence," got me thinking about what we are quick to deem worthy of protection these days. The article does get rather heavy at times, as a good position paper should, but I found some of his ruminations very interesting and worth the time. One of my favorites is Lethem's distinction between a market economy and a gift economy.

Check it out.

February 19, 2007 in Opt-in Email Marketing, company blog, company newsletter, creating newsletter, customer retention, e mail newsletter, e newsletter, electronic newsletter, ezine, newsletter, newsletter service, newsletter template, nurturing relationships, online newsletter, writing newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Sales 4.0: Not Your Kid Brother's Lemonade Stand

Posted on February 12, 2007 by Vinnie Lacey.

Call me a skeptic, but am I wrong to suspect technology has complicated--not streamlined--the sales processes? My simple measuring stick: more information generally equals more headaches. We're swamped at home; we're swamped in the workplace. Give me one more place to read information on a potential lead, track my calls, and network network network, and I just might transition into a promising career in ditch digging.

But don't call me a pessimist just yet. I'm giving it a shot. Diving in headfirst. Enlighten me oh wondrous, endless information age. Make me a fool for your coy clicks, a sucker for your blips and beeps and colorful images. I'm ready for an electronic co-dependent relationship.

My guiding light? A recent Inc. article entitled "Turning Sales into Science" which boasts, "Your bottom line may never be the same" in the era of "Sales 2.0." (Side note: In our line of business, I get the idea of effective branding, but isn't the "2.0" moniker getting a little tired? I have no more patience for such vacuous naming and capricious numbering. But if that's the game, then I'm playing by my own rules. My blog is hereby dubbed Sales 4.0. Take that.)

For the next two weeks I will be whisked away into the e-wonder that is the networking site LinkedIn (called MySpace for businesspeople, but apparently without the cute photos) and the business directory/lead generator Spoke.

Check in the next two months to track my adventures in Sales 4.0. It's gonna be pretty crazy. Umm...I mean...your blogging experience will never be the same.

February 12, 2007 in bulk email marketing, company blog, company newsletter, customer retention, direct email marketing, e mail newsletter, email marketing, email marketing campaign, email marketing solution, email service, mass email, newsletter, newsletter marketing, newsletter service, nurturing relationships, opt-in email | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Waxing Grammar

Posted on January 23, 2007 by Kathryn Regina.

Whether you run into the occasional grammar roadblock or are a full-fledged word junkie, I recommend Patricia T. O'Connor's blog at Grammarphobia.com. O'Connor is the author of the entertainingly comprehensive book Woe is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English. Her daily blog answers questions from readers regarding grammar and etymology. The site also includes writing tips, grammar myths and links to other language resources.

My favorite blog of the week is today's entry on the origins of the phrase "waxing eloquent."

January 23, 2007 in Opt-in Email Marketing, bulk email marketing, company blog, company newsletter, create a newsletter, creating company newsletter, creating newsletter, customer retention, direct email marketing, e mail newsletter, e newsletter, e zine, electronic newsletter, email marketing, email marketing campaign | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

What Can Brown (on white) do For You?

Posted on January 17, 2007 by Kevin G.

I came across an article about the new ad campaign for UPS. Originally harnessing the slogan “What can brown do for you,” the company is looking to express that mentality in a broader way.

Described as the company’s “most integrate communication campaign ever,” the campaign will involve multiple mediums including print, online and television commercials amongst others. The commercial I found below is slightly reminiscent of Apple commercials, if only they decided to use Zach Braff from Scrubs.

The commercial is kept simple and direct, which is refreshing. Bottom line, they aim to make complex shipping seem like a piece of cake. I am convinced, see for yourself.

January 17, 2007 in bulk email marketing, company newsletter, creating company newsletter, customer retention, e mail newsletter, e zine, email marketing, email marketing solution, email service, email tracking, ezine marketing, newsletter, newsletter format, newsletter outsource solution, newsletter service | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The Power of Yes

Posted on January 12, 2007 by Jeff Sanchez.

New to BeTuitive Publishing? Although we may go beyond email marketing it is still one of our most valuable tools. Some of you out there may need a refresher or a starting point to know the ins and outs of email marketing. Dynamic Graphics magazine has an article in their most recent issue about "The Power of Yes: Secrets of Permission E-Mail Marketing." Permission is obviously a keyword, considering the CAN-SPAM act and the thin line that email can cross if it is unwanted. You be the judge...from design to reaching out to your customer or client in a more direct way...this article covers it. Explore it...then explore us!

Read up on "The Power" here.

January 12, 2007 in create a newsletter, creating company newsletter, customer retention, e mail newsletter, electronic newsletter, email marketing, email marketing campaign, email service, email services, email tracking, newsletter design, newsletter format | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

News Source Fit for a (Burger) King

Posted on January 08, 2007 by Vinnie Lacey.

My first experience with news snobbery appeared in high school. I distinctly remember a certain world history teacher--an ex-nun with a condescending flair for anything she deemed non-intellectual--criticizing my choice of Time magazine as a research paper source. McNews she called it. Ouch.

Times have, of course, changed (no pun intended). The landscape of our news sources--like all our information--has certainly undergone quite a transformation with the arrival of the web. Credibility? Eh. News worthy? We'll need a vastly underdressed celebrity for that.

It was with great trepidation (and yet hope) then, that I learned Time had revamped its website, which I discovered through a posting on Adrants. Time 2.0. The ex-nun would have probably called it 0.5--all things new being the most suspect and ripe for ridicule, of course.

My first impression was favorable. The site seems less like a poor advertisement for the magazine and more like a full scale news source. Features to check out are the news aggregator and blogs from some of the more insightful columnists. Extra points for ease of navigation and a crisp design. The best new feature, though, has to be the revamped archives. Time backlogged all of their old articles and covers, and the result is a wistful stroll across 90+ years of the weekly news magazine. All for free. Like it or not, Time is part of the collective American consciousness as much as apple pie and the Big Mac.

In fact, all was going healthy and well until I ran into the quote of the day. From Angelina Jolie. I frantically clicked away, only to end up caught in a photo journal of a day in the life of Barack Obama. Yikes! I navigated until I reached safer waters. And for just one second I felt the hot breath of a certain ex-nun on the back of my neck asking, "Is this how you spend your time, Mr. Lacey?"

But don't mind my Catholic guilt. Decide for yourself here.

January 8, 2007 in bulk email marketing, company blog, company newsletter, creating company newsletter, e mail newsletter, e newsletter, e zine, email marketing campaign, email marketing solution, email tracking, ezine, ezine marketing, mass email, newsletter design, newsletter format, newsletter marketing, nurturing relationships, online newsletter, writing newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Best commercials of 2006

Posted on December 28, 2006 by Kathryn Regina.

Once in a while a commercial comes along that you enjoy almost as much as, if not more than, the program you’re watching. Smart and creative, these are my picks for the top five commericals of 2006:

Microsoft redesigns the iPod packaging

Milky Way commercial

Carlton Draught: Flashbeer

Folgers: Happy Mornings

Dove: evolution

December 28, 2006 in company blog, company newsletter, create a newsletter, creating company newsletter, creating newsletter, customer retention, direct email marketing, e mail newsletter, e newsletter, e zine, electronic newsletter, email marketing, email marketing campaign, email marketing solution, email newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

And the merry bells keep ringing...

Posted on December 22, 2006 by Sarah Eaton.

It's that time of year again...time for the BeTuitive outing to the post office to spread a little goodwill and cheer.

Check out our experience with Operation Letters to Santa this year (and take in our new online magazine--vs. our former format, the e-newsletter).

And happy holidays!

December 22, 2006 in company newsletter, creating company newsletter, e mail newsletter, electronic newsletter, email marketing, email newsletter, email service, email services, email tracking, ezine marketing, newsletter outsource solution, newsletter service, newsletter template, nurturing relationships, writing newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

The Red Bow on your Sales Package

Posted on December 18, 2006 by Vinnie Lacey.

In the process of revamping our sales proposals over the past two months, I've had the...ummm, how can I put this nicely...opportunity to review tons of material on writing for a business audience. Turns out proposal writing, like writing for the web or writing out your holiday wish list, is a specialized skill. It's not just a matter of pitching a laundry list of your products and services, but really putting into concise and targeted words how your solutions match your prospect's needs. You did write convincingly to Santa, didn't you?

This is the case in all sorts of sales processes, of course. Speaker and "small business copywriter" Troy White emphasized targeted message delivery recently in his blog about ratcheting up your holiday sales. As Troy makes clear, even with the fanciest of toys and the most glittery wrapping paper--that is, great product and a way to spread the word--you must buttress your sales pitch with the compelling, consistent message that your customer can understand. Sometimes that takes testing and restesting--the same thing we here at BeTuitive emphasize with our clients--in order to maximize consistent return on their publications.

So while I whittle away these last few working days of 2006 refining proposals....errr, I mean providing the human capital that drives a successful literary presentation of our solutions...no, what I mean to say is... giving the straight talk on building your relationships with a custom publication...Ahem. Please remember: It's not just what you say, but how you say it.

tags: Email Marketing | Nurturing Relationships | Mass Email | E Newsletter
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December 18, 2006 in Opt-in Email Marketing, bulk email marketing, company blog, company newsletter, create a newsletter, direct email marketing, e mail newsletter, e newsletter, email marketing, email marketing campaign, email marketing solution, mass email, newsletter, nurturing relationships | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Speaking…All the Way to the Bank

Posted on October 31, 2006 by Vinnie Lacey.

“My criterion for success is pleasing people who can write checks that clear the bank.”
-Alan Weiss

You can’t get past the preface of Alan Weiss’ Money Talks: How to Make a Million as a Speaker (McGraw-Hill, 1998)—indeed not far beyond the title—and miss the crux of this 200+ page roadmap to the ins and outs of professional speaking. Weiss wants you to know he has made millions as a professional speaker and now, apparently, it’s your turn, too. Dilettantes beware: this book is not for the weak-hearted—nor the daydreamers fancying themselves the next Tony Robbins. While Weiss’ blunt, tongue-in-cheek delivery often comes across too smug for its own good, the content here is all business: the tools, targeted advice and piercing questions to push you head first into a career in public speaking.

In this review I will focus on three “big picture” lessons from Weiss’ marketing and sales techniques, although the book covers everything from developing content to publishing a book to staffing and supporting a business.

Big Lesson #1: Speaking professionally requires a lot of work.

Not surprising news, right?

Turns out the obvious is not so obvious. Weiss makes the distinction that having something to say—even with a superior ability to keep an audience captivated—does not make you a professional speaker. Only a public speaker. The truth is that most “professional” speakers find it difficult to put food on their plates just from speaking. The corollary to this first lesson is that you will expend more effort selling your speaking than actually delivering your lines.

Weiss catalogs several examples of professional speakers—some who have been speaking for many years—desperately trying to improve their business. In most scenarios the problem is not the content of the material, but rather how the individual has been defined.

Like any aspect of sales, speakers can fall into self-destructive attitudes and routines rather easily. Ongoing success means a willingness to do the advance research and constant self-analysis that centers you as a comprehensive solution to your client’s problem. Celebrities sell on name alone—they have it easy. But Weiss details the step by step process to honestly answer: “What do I bring to the table in my buyer’s terms?”

Naturally, then, chapters such as “What is a Professional Speaker?” and “Positioning Yourself in the Field” precede discussions of platform skills. Weiss insists, “The only reason to hire a speaker…is to improve the condition of the audience and, frequently, the organizations which they represent.”

BeTuitive uses the same criteria to develop content for our B2B clients. Great professional speakers, like great custom publications, leave a lasting impact and improve the lives of their audience. Relevancy and end results are everything. In this point lies the theme that Weiss returns to again and again. For all his boisterous opinions and “myth-destroying” contentions, the fundamental message is quite simple, bringing us to…

Big Lesson #2: Craft all aspects of your professional speaking career around value to the customer and sell on value.

Successful businesses and successful salespeople, of course, do this all the time. It’s getting there that’s difficult. In order to drive home this point, Weiss dedicates his first five chapters to identifying the buyer’s objectives, defining your value as a speaker and finding ways to match the two effectively. Particularly helpful are the topics:
• Responding effectively to the question, “What do you speak about?”
• Transitioning content knowledge and process skills into client results
• Leveraging past experiences to adult learning needs
• Determining where your ideal clients “live” (e.g. who has easiest established need, who taps into trends that drive your audience, who knows you exist as a speaker already, etc.)

Only by understanding the professional speaking process as a value-directed venture, Weiss contends, can you actually begin crafting a speech in the first place!

Of those three steps in the sales process, I found Weiss’ approach to defining your value as a speaker the most counterintuitive and challenging–bringing us to our final take-away, reprinted in its entirety for your convenience:

Big Lesson #3: “Define your value in the broadest conceptual terms, studiously avoiding industry, niche, and segment alignment.”

Huh? Isn’t it all about specialization? What happened to meeting exact objectives?

Weiss readily admits that some vehemently disagree with him, but writes, “Experience and circumstances will intelligently narrow [your market] as needed, but that winnowing process is often a gentle erosion around the edges, not a sharp knife slicing a pie into eights. These steps are equally applicable for the neophyte or the veteran.”

At first I had difficulty seeing this advice as anything more than motivational (c’mon champ, lots of people want to hear your spiel—it’s just a matter of getting their attention!) However, I think Weiss’ contention dovetails into his overall message of thinking critically about what you leave behind as a speaker. A value-based definition is broad by its very nature and may open new avenues of potential audience members. You may be capable of doing more than you think.

Weiss’ point may be best summed up: Approach and market as if every person were a potential audience member; specialize your value to the buyer. In other words, enable any buyer to buy from the outset. When building rapport, ask the right questions and position yourself as the solution to your buyer’s specific needs and areas of pain.

Money Talks is an excellent place to start thinking seriously about a career in professional speaking. Experienced speakers looking to elevate their careers can also benefit from Weiss’ bucking of the status quo. Making a living as a speaker is a difficult niche to carve out, delivering a fresh product an even bigger challenge. But the results can be rewarding and—as Weiss would have us remember—quite lucrative.

See you on the circuit.

For more information on Alan Weiss:

Summit Consulting Group

tags: Alan Weiss | Professional Speaking | Custom Publications | Money Talks
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October 31, 2006 in bulk email marketing, company blog, company newsletter, create a newsletter, creating company newsletter, creating newsletter, customer retention, direct email marketing, e mail newsletter, e newsletter, electronic newsletter, email marketing, email marketing campaign, email marketing solution, email newsletter, email service, email services, email tracking, newsletter, newsletter design, newsletter format, newsletter marketing, newsletter outsource solution, newsletter sample, newsletter service, newsletter template, nurturing relationships, opt-in email | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Your Work or Your Life: Entrepreneurs Sound Off

Posted on August 04, 2006 by Sarah Eaton.

More balance stuff: Here's another article I wrote for this month's BeTuitive newsletter. I interviewed several entrepreneurs about work and life, how the two intersect, and how they make time for life outside of work.

tags: entrepreneurs | work-life balance | custom publications |
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August 4, 2006 in Opt-in Email Marketing, company blog, creating company newsletter, creating newsletter, e mail newsletter, electronic newsletter, email marketing campaign, email marketing solution, email newsletter, email service, email tracking, ezine, newsletter design, newsletter marketing, newsletter outsource solution, nurturing relationships, online newsletter, opt-in email | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Get More Done At Work, Have More Time For Life

Posted on July 28, 2006 by Sarah Eaton.

A review of Never Check Email in the Morning

Are you a complete mess at the office? Do you find you’re returning calls a week after getting a voice mail? Then Never Check Email in the Morning is the book for you.

It’s also the book for you if you only occasionally feel overwhelmed or disorganized.

Of course, I was attracted to the book by the sensational title. When I suggested it for review, one of my colleagues said it sounded like a good idea, but that, seriously, I have to check email in the morning. I agreed then, and after having read the book, I still agree.

Having said that, there are many takeaways people can apply to amp up their productivity—and with that, their work-life satisfaction. Julie Morgenstern, “Oprah’s favorite organizing expert,” imparts a number of suggestions gleaned from her work with clients.

My time-saving gift for you: I have separated the suggestions into two categories: useful and really hard to accomplish.

Useful tips:

You’ve heard it before, but have you taken it to heart yet? Stop multi-tasking. It just scatters your ability to focus, and it takes you longer to get things done than if you concentrate solely on the task at hand.
How many steps from the revenue line is each item on your to-do list? Complete the items that will have the largest impact on the bottom line first.
To minimize interruptions, rehearse some catchphrases to get you temporarily off the hook, like “I’m working on a deadline right now. I’ll get back to you this afternoon.” (That means you really do have to get back to the interrupt-er that afternoon, by the way, otherwise he’ll never believe you and just plough ahead the next time you use your line.)
Do stuff right away. Are you returning from a sales call with a small tower of business cards? Don’t stack them behind your computer monitor; enter them in Outlook immediately.
If an employee shoddily completes work you delegated to her, don’t correct it yourself. Send it back for corrections. Delegation is about other people completing tasks.

Tips that require a major shift in thinking:

Never check email in the morning. Okay, I would just die if I couldn’t check my email in the morning: Not everyone I work with is in my time zone, as is the case with most people in this crazy, electronic world. Things happen when I am not in the office, things that could change my morning’s plans.
Morgenstern suggests a whole list of ways you can minimize time spent in meetings, but most of the suggestions require being a pest: Question the length of the meeting; ask if you really have to be there; see if you can send your assistant instead; make everyone in the meeting stand the whole time, etc.
The last chapter is called “Work Well With Others.” To do so, you need to be accessible, reliable, adaptable, respectful, clear and fair. If you have trouble with any one of these issues, it’s going to take more than a few actions points to turn you around. You will need to completely re-think the way you interact with people.

Tip I’m trying out:

Quiet hour: Many of my responsibilities require complete silence and concentration, but many others require interaction with people on my team. Every day from two o’clock to three o’clock next week will be “quiet hour” at BeTuitive, so everyone gets a chance to focus. I’ll let you know how it works out in a blog post.

Everyone has difficulties with some aspect of his work life, and honestly, Morgenstern touches on most of those troubles in her book. If you’re a procrastinator, she can help you out. Ditto if you’re a perfectionist, your office is disorganized or you take on too much work.

Not every chapter applies to every person, and not every challenge is discussed in the depth you might need or want. But, the book does a great job of identifying and illustrating common work concerns and helping the reader pinpoint his own problems.

tags: Never Check Email in the Morning | Julie Morgenstern | Oprah | book review
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July 28, 2006 in bulk email marketing, create a newsletter, creating company newsletter, customer retention, direct email marketing, e mail newsletter, e newsletter, e zine, electronic newsletter, email marketing campaign, email newsletter, mass email, newsletter, newsletter marketing, newsletter outsource solution, nurturing relationships, online newsletter, writing newsletter | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Good writing isn't always correct writing

Posted on July 13, 2006 by Sarah Eaton.

Quick, which sounds better when you read it?

There are a lot of challenges our solution can help with.

There are a lot of challenges with which our solution can help.

One, according to your seventh grade English teacher, could get you thrown in the slammer by the grammar police, but...in some situations it might work better because it sounds less stilted.

Check out this entry on the Big Bad Book Blog.

tags: Big Bad Book Blog | Erin Nelsen | Greenleaf Book Group | writing correctly
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July 13, 2006 in Opt-in Email Marketing, bulk email marketing, company newsletter, creating company newsletter, creating newsletter, direct email marketing, e mail newsletter, electronic newsletter, email marketing, email marketing campaign, email service, email services, ezine marketing, newsletter design, newsletter marketing, newsletter outsource solution, newsletter template, nurturing relationships, writing newsletter | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack

Come Sale Away With Me, Lads

Posted on June 30, 2006 by Sarah Eaton.

Tomorrow is July 1. Summer is saling right by. Don't sale close to the wind; you'll just get put about on the wrong tack, or even turn turtle. Instead, keep a weather eye open to Janet Ryan's column "Selling Skills for Non-Sales People," a regular component of the WorldWIT newsletter, Thinking Aloud.

(An aside: It's amazing how many nautical terms we use without knowing their origins. Check it out.)

tags: Janet Ryan | WorldWIT | selling skills | nautical terms
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June 30, 2006 in company blog, create a newsletter, creating company newsletter, e mail newsletter, email marketing, email marketing campaign, email service, email services, email tracking, newsletter design, newsletter outsource solution, nurturing relationships, online newsletter, opt-in email | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Superstitious Selling

Posted on June 07, 2006 by Kathryn Regina.

Yesterday was 6-6-06, a day when pregnant women everywhere crossed their fingers and prayed not to go into labor. It was also a golden marketing opportunity for moviemakers of “The Omen,” who capitalized on the nation’s superstition with their foreboding ad campaign. For those unfamiliar with the campaign, it employed simple black billboards that featured the text “6-6-06” in large white letters with the warning “Heed the Omen” underneath. Flyers with the same text could also be found strewn along the city streets.

The first time I came across a flyer, I assumed it was distributed by a neighborhood church. Then I noticed the billboards. I still thought it was the work of a church, but wondered what local church had enough money to post esoteric messages on billboards. That’s when a friend said, “Maybe it’s a movie.”

While not all mystery ad campaigns work (see Kat’s rant on “Follow the Finger”), this one has proved effective. The difference? “The Omen” campaign wasn’t just a teaser—it was a masquerade of superstitious and religious zeal. Is there a word for a marketing campaign that disguises itself as something other than marketing? If there’s not, there should be.

The Omen’s marketing campaign

tags: 6-6-06 | The Omen | superstition | marketing
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June 7, 2006 in company blog, company newsletter, e mail newsletter, e newsletter, e zine, electronic newsletter, email marketing, email marketing campaign, email marketing solution, ezine marketing | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Remember: Part 3

Posted on May 24, 2006 by Kathryn Regina.

Like all great trilogies, my memory series must come to an end. I’m closing with a bang by directing you towards The Memory Exhibition. This website is sponsored by the Exploratorium Museum of Science, Art and Human Perception, located in San Francisco, CA. Although the physical exhibit is no longer at the museum, the web exhibition is a cyberspace delight accessible to all. Here are my recommendations:

 Sheep Brain Dissection (The Anatomy of Memory)
 Remembering Nagasaki
 Don’t Forget! Playing Games with Memory
 Lecture Series Webcasts

And for all you marketers and salespeople, be sure to read the article “Messing With Your Mind” to learn how guided questions can lead to desirable answers.

For more information on memory and what it could mean for your business, look for our upcoming newsletter featuring articles on the "business of memory."

The Memory Exhibition

tags: memory | The Memory Exhibition | marketing | sales
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May 24, 2006 in company blog, company newsletter, e mail newsletter, e newsletter, electronic newsletter, email marketing, mass email, newsletter, newsletter marketing | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

We are so cool.

Posted on May 16, 2006 by Kat.

It's been a banner week here at BeTuitive. We've just gotten word that we are finalists in both the Stevie Awards (Best Online Ad/Campaign category) and the ACE Awards (Digital Advertising -- E-mail Campaign category). We are all pretty excited. Many thanks also go to our client, Advanced Clinical Services, the company behind the nominated publication. Hooray for us!

tags: Stevie Awards | ACE Awards | online marketing | email marketing
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May 16, 2006 in customer retention, direct email marketing, e mail newsletter, e newsletter, electronic newsletter, email marketing, email marketing campaign, email marketing solution, newsletter, newsletter marketing, nurturing relationships, online newsletter, opt-in email | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Have you seen it?

Posted on May 05, 2006 by Kathryn Regina.

The “it” in this case is the new esoteric Milky Way commercial featuring a miniature-sized woman and a despondent man. The storyline of the commercial runs something like this: A man goes on a date that ends badly. He goes to his car to sulk. Then he opens a Milky Way bar and a woman pops out of the wrapper and says, “Why so blue, panda bear? You are a buffet of manliness.” Then he laughs and eats the candy bar.

It sounds strange, but this commercial has an enraptured following. For example, last night I talked to a friend who normally eschews television, but gave the commercial rave reviews. She’s even adapted the phrase, “why so blue, panda bear?” After she told me about it, I went online and did a search. I found that blogs everywhere are lighting up with Milky Way debates. Not everyone loves the commercial, but everyone is definitely talking about it.

For marketers, having your client’s product on everyone’s mind is the ultimate goal. And taking risks is a big part of that. But how can you predict which risks will pay off? When BeTuitive’s client Advanced Clinical Services decided to create a newsletter, they wanted to stand out from an industry overpopulated with medical and scientific journals. Their answer? A journal focused on work and life balance. It’s gotten great results because ACS didn’t just take a risk—they considered their readership’s needs and values, and then took a leap.

So today, consider taking a leap of your own. Who knows, maybe you could be the next “it.”

To watch the commercial, click here

tags: Milky Way | Why so blue panda bear | marketing | taking risks
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May 5, 2006 in company blog, company newsletter, customer retention, e mail newsletter, e newsletter, electronic newsletter, email marketing, email marketing campaign, email newsletter, ezine marketing | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack

Judging a Book By Its Cover

Posted on April 10, 2006 by Sarah Eaton.

How I wish I could say it's the words that suck people in to a publication! Actually, I am going to say it, but I'll put a "sometimes" in front of it: Sometimes words suck people in.

But, facing reality, I also must acknowledge that design is a great big part of it. So, I sat down with two of our designers and we talked about what's hot right now, what tactics you should employ, and what you should avoid.

Enjoy!

tags: business publication design | interaction with design |
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April 10, 2006 in Opt-in Email Marketing, company newsletter, create a newsletter, creating company newsletter, creating newsletter, e mail newsletter, electronic newsletter, email services, ezine marketing, newsletter design, newsletter format, newsletter sample | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Out of Ideas

Posted on March 03, 2006 by Sarah Eaton.

The title does not refer to me. I am, in fact, positively brimming (yes, brimming) with ideas. Well, actually, sometimes I run a little low.

When I talk to people on the phone about why they want to use BeTuitive's services, a lot of the time, one of their concerns is that they're going to run out of ideas for content. We help you with a steady stream of ideas, but we also advocate the repurposing of other content: press releases, an article your SVP of marketing wrote for another publication and so on.

Repurposing only takes you so far--if your entire newsletter is filled up with pieces that your subscribers have seen in other places, no one's going to get excited about receiving your newsletter. But it does have its place.

Here's an article to put you on the road to repurposing.

tags: newsletter content | repurposing
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March 3, 2006 in Opt-in Email Marketing, company blog, company newsletter, create a newsletter, creating company newsletter, creating newsletter, direct email marketing, e mail newsletter, electronic newsletter, email marketing solution, email newsletter, newsletter marketing, newsletter service, nurturing relationships, writing newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

As If It Weren't Difficult Enough

Posted on February 08, 2006 by Sarah Eaton.

Let's face it. Putting together an e-newsletter is a hassle. There's a lot to think about: strategy, content, list management, design, construction, reporting, analysis, and on and on.

We all know the merits of the opt-in system: People expect and want the email from you; presumably, that means they'll recognize it when it hits their in-box. Then they'll open it, interact with it--and voila!--the newsletter has done its job.

So let's saying you're doing everything right, in terms of opt-in. And let's say most of your subscribers are receiving the email at their business address, but a significant portion of your subscribers are getting that email at their personal, Yahoo! or AOL, address.

Then let's say Yahoo! and AOL came up with the idea, in order to curtail the amount of illegitimate email reaching their users, to charge legitimate marketers for sending bulk messages to their users, adding yet another step (and more moolah) to an already complicated process.

You know me. I always try to look on the bright side. So here's the good in this: Well, probably people will get less spam (although it seems unlikely that spam will be Eliminated through this initiative), and then might have more time and attention and patience for your legitimate email.

Read the whole article here.

tags: Yahoo! | AOL | spam | legitimate email marketing
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February 8, 2006 in bulk email marketing, company newsletter, create a newsletter, creating company newsletter, creating newsletter, e mail newsletter, e newsletter, e zine, electronic newsletter, email marketing campaign, email marketing solution, email newsletter, mass email, newsletter outsource solution, online newsletter, opt-in email | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Pulling Pertinent Posts

Posted on January 05, 2006 by Sarah Eaton.

Feed me! Feed yourself! Feed the world!

I'm hungry--for information (and also food; my mid-afternoon healthy snack of a pear didn't quite hit the spot today)--and, like any good lazy person, I like it to come to me.

I dig this article from Technology Review. It's comprehensive, the voice is human rather than technical, and it will tell you what's up-and-coming: Read it.

tags: Technology Review | RSS feeds | hunger
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January 5, 2006 in Opt-in Email Marketing, company blog, company newsletter, creating company newsletter, customer retention, e mail newsletter, e zine, electronic newsletter, email marketing, email marketing campaign, email services, email tracking, mass email, newsletter design, newsletter outsource solution, newsletter service, newsletter template, nurturing relationships, writing newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Write Like a Pro

Posted on December 19, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.

I know, I know. I've been AWOL from my own dear blog for far too long. I could give you a litany of excuses, or I could just say I'm sorry. I choose the latter: My apologies, readers and friends.

But look! I have found an article by Julie Jordan Scott about how to write great articles for the Web, so it makes up for my extended absence! Yes?

It's worth a look-see, too. Example:

4. Allow your readers to hear YOUR voice shine
through in your article. People purchase authenticity,
not screeching, cookie cutter pitches.

Click on through to read more.

tags: Julie Jordan Scott | extended absences | heartfelt apologies | writing great articles
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December 19, 2005 in bulk email marketing, company blog, company newsletter, create a newsletter, e mail newsletter, e newsletter, email marketing campaign, email service, email services, ezine, ezine marketing, mass email, newsletter marketing, newsletter service, newsletter template, online newsletter, writing newsletter | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

If You're Gonna Do It, Do It Right

Posted on November 28, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.

Really, you want your email campaign to explode, but you want it to explode in a good way, right?

From ClickZ: Seven E-Mail Landmines. It's all sensible information that we need to remind ourselves of every now and again.

tags: ClickZ | email campaigns |
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November 28, 2005 in Opt-in Email Marketing, company blog, create a newsletter, customer retention, e mail newsletter, e newsletter, e zine, electronic newsletter, email marketing, email marketing campaign, email service, email services, ezine marketing, newsletter design, newsletter marketing, newsletter sample, newsletter service, newsletter template, nurturing relationships, online newsletter, writing newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Clever Wordplay Makes Me Giggle

Posted on November 18, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.

From the scope of this site, it would seem like it's something that everyone knows about but me. But, I'm blogging it anyway, because it made me giggle.

It's a buzzword dictionary! Sometimes the entries are clever, sometimes silly, sometimes insightful, and sometimes they're groaners, too.

And, because it's Friday, you totally have my permission to waste the next ten minutes of your life expanding your buzzword vocabulary with words like:

sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.

and

centergistic: Focusing on one main goal or purpose. "We need to keep this meeting centergistic if we're going to make our deadline."

Play with buzzwords here.

tags: buzzwords | Friday fun |
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November 18, 2005 in company newsletter, create a newsletter, creating company newsletter, e mail newsletter, electronic newsletter, email marketing campaign, ezine marketing, newsletter format, newsletter outsource solution, newsletter sample, newsletter template, opt-in email, writing newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Our Chief in Chief Marketer

Posted on November 03, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.

E-zine publishing is an art, my friends. And...it is a science. How do you combine the two to make the perfect product--form and function?

Todd Smart sat down with Eda Galeno of Chief Marketer recently and answered her questions on the subject. A snippet to whet your hunger for knowledge: When asked what the ingredients to a successful newsletter are, he replied that content with tangible value was the most important.

E-Zine IQ: But how do you gauge relevance for a third party?

Smart: You must understand what prospects and customers think is valuable. A lot of companies look inward instead of outward, and the newsletter becomes all about them. When we’re working for a customer that hires us to develop their newsletter, we ask what kind of information will make their customers’ and prospects’ lives better. We want to know what difficulties they experience, so we can alleviate them. Ultimately, we’re looking for the answer to this question: What kind of information is so valuable to your subscribers that they would pay for it? Now, I’m not asking that they do pay for it. But the discovery process of formulating a newsletter and putting together relevant content depends on where the reader places importance.

You can read the whole thing here.

tags: Todd Smart | Eda Galeno | Chief Marketer | marketing interview
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November 3, 2005 in create a newsletter, creating company newsletter, customer retention, e mail newsletter, electronic newsletter, email marketing, email marketing campaign, email service, email services, email tracking, mass email, newsletter format, newsletter sample, newsletter service, opt-in email, writing newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Combine Efforts for More Return

Posted on September 19, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.

Brian Carroll of the B2B Lead Generation Blog wrote a super-duper article for RainToday.com.

The crux of it can be found in this paragraph (although it's well worth reading the entire article):

Targeted email combined with outbound calling is the ideal 1-2 punch for increasing leads, sales activity and revenue. It has long been accepted that combining outbound calling with direct mail marketing dramatically increases results in B2B programs.

Also, brother blog BeConnected's author Peter Davidson contributes an interesting quote.

tags: Brian Carroll | B2B Lead Generation Blog | Peter Davidson | cold calling | email marketing
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September 19, 2005 in Opt-in Email Marketing, company blog, company newsletter, create a newsletter, creating company newsletter, creating newsletter, customer retention, e mail newsletter, electronic newsletter, ezine marketing, newsletter design, newsletter format, newsletter marketing, newsletter outsource solution, newsletter service, nurturing relationships, writing newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Hire Good People in One-Third the Time

Posted on September 09, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.

Below you will find the opening of Todd's rant from August's BeTuitive newsletter. (Like what you see? Sign up for it! It's totally free. Hey! I made a little poem.)

QUALIFICATIONS

I am a professional self-starter with excellent organizational and problem-solving skills. I learn quickly and am a dedicated worker, with outstanding communication and interpersonal skills. I possess the ability to balance and prioritize multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

Yes, yes. That's what they all say. And I almost mean that literally. Everyone has read the same resume books and created pretty much the same document.

How do you get the information you really need to know in order to hire a qualified applicant without wading through the same litany of qualifications over and over and over again?

Here, you can read the rest of the rant.

Any ideas of your own? Leave 'em in comments.

tags: Todd Smart | company newsletter | BeTuitive
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September 9, 2005 in Opt-in Email Marketing, company blog, company newsletter, create a newsletter, creating company newsletter, customer retention, direct email marketing, e mail newsletter, e newsletter, email marketing campaign, email marketing solution, email newsletter, email service, email services, email tracking, ezine, ezine marketing, newsletter outsource solution, newsletter sample, newsletter service, newsletter template, nurturing relationships, writing newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Grow Your List With Corpses

Posted on September 06, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.

Just saw something rather clever (and macabre).

You send an email to Staci Wilson at horror.about.com telling her which corpse you'd most like to marry (because this is the "Corpse Bride" sweepstakes [new Tim Burton stop-motion animated movie], not because she is a sick-o), and you're entered into a sweepstakes to win sweatshirts and magnets and garter belts and such.

Being savvy about this kind of thing, the folks at Warner Bros. also toss in a pitch for you to sign up to receive updates from them about the movie. I'll bet they get a pretty decent bump in their list from it.

When it comes to that big question that everyone always asks: "How do I grow my list for my opt-in e-newsletter?," there are a lot of answers. And one is "Give and ye shall receive."

tags: Corpse Bride | Tim Burton | e-newsletter list
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September 6, 2005 in Opt-in Email Marketing, bulk email marketing, company newsletter, create a newsletter, creating company newsletter, creating newsletter, direct email marketing, e mail newsletter, email marketing campaign, email marketing solution, email tracking, ezine, ezine marketing, newsletter format, newsletter marketing, newsletter outsource solution, newsletter sample, newsletter service, opt-in email | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Beware the dreaded bad seed

Posted on August 01, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.

In Todd's rant for last month's newsletter, he says there are three ways to create a positive work environment (and he ain't talkin' 'bout feng shui) and encourage work groups to perform at a high level :

Keep people focused on their work by placing teams together in the same physical space.

Remove bad seeds, those workers who either actively or passively undermine the efforts of the group.

Foster genuine conversations between team members, where everyone can feel safe enough to admit their faults and take suggestions for new methods.

Read more about how to implement those steps.

August 1, 2005 in Opt-in Email Marketing, company newsletter, create a newsletter, creating company newsletter, customer retention, e mail newsletter, electronic newsletter, email marketing campaign, ezine marketing, newsletter design, newsletter format, newsletter marketing, newsletter outsource solution, online newsletter, writing newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

Absolutely Something: That's What Blogs Are Good For

Posted on July 21, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.

I had the chance to interview Peter Davidson of the BeConnected blog this month for the BeTuitive newsletter and ask him some burning questions that might be on your mind as well.

From establishing credibility to reading metrics, Peter leans back in his virtual chair, lights up his virtual pipe and holds forth on a broad range of blog topics.

Here's your chance to listen in, and then really impress your kids at the dinner table (and your colleagues at the conference table) with your extensive knowledge about this up-and-coming means of communication: the blog.

Read all about it.

July 21, 2005 in Opt-in Email Marketing, company blog, create a newsletter, creating company newsletter, customer retention, e mail newsletter, electronic newsletter, email marketing campaign, email marketing solution, ezine marketing, newsletter design, newsletter format, newsletter marketing, newsletter outsource solution, opt-in email, writing newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack

What Does Fireworks + Iowa + eMarketing Equal?

Posted on July 01, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.

My holiday weekend, of course!

I'm going to Iowa to visit some friends, where there will inevitably be fireworks, and, in my spare time, I'm totally going to do the thing that I promised you last week that I would do this week: Begin a series on e-newsletters and outsourcing, so, starting on Tuesday, there'll be loads of great new information for you to soak up, bask in, whatever.

First reason to outsource your newsletter, just to whet your appetite for knowledge (opinion): Because You're So Flippin' Busy.

July 1, 2005 in company blog, company newsletter, create a newsletter, creating company newsletter, customer retention, e mail newsletter, e newsletter, email marketing campaign, ezine marketing, newsletter design, newsletter format, newsletter marketing, newsletter outsource solution, nurturing relationships, writing newsletter | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Feedback: Brain Food for Growing Companies

Posted on April 14, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.

In an ideal world, we all constantly strive to better ourselves.

In an ideal world, we want to know what others think about our processes and policies and procedures and just us in general, because to know what others think (good or bad) can provide us with information we can use to get better.

(Of course, it goes without saying that we shouldn't rely on others entirely to tell us how we're doing. Deep down, we all know how we're doing. It's just helpful to get others' perspectives.)

My article in this month's newsletter is all about the different ways to amass feedback, and how you can use that feedback in a productive way. (Hint: you can't just ignore the negative stuff.)

April 14, 2005 in company blog, company newsletter, create a newsletter, creating company newsletter, creating newsletter, customer retention, e mail newsletter, electronic newsletter, email marketing campaign, email marketing solution, newsletter design, newsletter format, newsletter marketing, newsletter outsource solution, newsletter sample, newsletter service, nurturing relationships, online newsletter, writing newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0)

Something to Look Forward to

Posted on April 07, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.

I mentioned my excitement about BeTuitive's new book club before. Occasionally, I'll be posting a review on behalf of one of my co-workers.

This afternoon I'll be posting Susan Fisher's review of that amusingly snarky and informative bestseller, "Eats, Shoots & Leaves."

April 7, 2005 in company blog, company newsletter, create a newsletter, creating company newsletter, creating newsletter, e mail newsletter, e newsletter, electronic newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's True. I Am a Nerd.

Posted on March 30, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.

Imagine this scenario, if you will: a group of friends has just completed a rousing game of kickball. The main character (all right, it's me) says, "Well, I'm heading to the library now." All of the peripheral characters practically fall over laughing. "The library?" they say. "You gigantic nerd, why are you going to the library?"

Now probably, because you read "kickball," "library," and "[taunting] friends" in the previous paragraph, you might think that all of this happened in fourth grade.

But, um...that scene took place fairly recently.

The truth is that I love the library. I love the library because I love to read. I love to read because I love to learn. (Okay, so yes, they were right to call me a nerd.)

I think it’s important to stretch my brain every day; I like to get better at things. And improve my vocabulary. And think about sentence construction. (Okay, so yes, they were right to call me a gigantic nerd, but I wear that moniker proudly.)

That’s why I’m so pumped about the company book club that BeTuitive has begun in the name of continuous learning.

Look for reviews of books that my co-workers and I have read to be posted here periodically.

March 30, 2005 in company blog, company newsletter, create a newsletter, e mail newsletter, email marketing campaign, email newsletter, newsletter, newsletter outsource solution, writing newsletter | Permalink | Comments (1)

How Your Brain Works

Posted on March 01, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.

As I mentioned in my last post, I'm reading Malcolm Gladwell's "Blink," so I've been doing a lot of thinking. About my brain. And yours.

Some interesting stuff I found today:

Article on marketing to our brains in the LA Times with a brain-breakdown-of-cool diagram (thanks, Gareth Kay at brand new).

And, here's a blog that I read on a daily basis, just because it's interesting. And also about brains: Mind Hacks. (There's a book, too.)

Brains! Brains!

March 1, 2005 in create a newsletter, creating newsletter, e mail newsletter, electronic newsletter, email marketing, email marketing campaign, email marketing solution, ezine marketing, newsletter design, newsletter format, newsletter marketing, newsletter sample, online newsletter, opt-in email | Permalink | Comments (0)

Cut through the Clutter, Slice through the Saturation

Posted on February 23, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.

Skip's post on marketing for seminar attendance is excellent, thinking back to our recent webinar with the always stellar Brian Carroll. (Hmmm. That sounds a tad conceited. But really I'm just complimenting our great taste in speakers and thinkers.)

The most sage phrase in my opinion:

...we need to be smart and use the power of repetition to cut through the clutter in the overloaded, saturated environment in which we live.

Here's what we did:

We put out the invite in our e-newsletter, then Peter and I posted invites on our blogs, and then our fearless leader Todd sent out personal e-invitations. We had a full house for the event, but it took persistence and planning.

I'm not saying we did it exactly the right way and that we won't vary our methods in the future--there's nothing we love more at BeTuitive than testing and re-testing to find methodology perfection--but cutting through the clutter is key.

And, I'm not so blind that I don't realize I'm advocating cutting through the clutter by adding to it. But we really can't call genuine efforts to add value to our contacts' lives "clutter," can we? What do you think?

February 23, 2005 in company newsletter, create a newsletter, creating newsletter, e mail newsletter, e newsletter, email marketing campaign, email marketing solution, newsletter marketing, newsletter sample, newsletter service, newsletter template, nurturing relationships | Permalink | Comments (0)

Networking: the First Step in a Long Dance

Posted on February 03, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.

One of my Technorati watch lists spat out (in a good way) this post from a brand new blog by Kevin Stirtz. He gives us ten easy ways to work toward better networking skills.

February 3, 2005 in customer retention, direct email marketing, e mail newsletter, newsletter, newsletter marketing, nurturing relationships | Permalink | Comments (1)

Marketing Strategy for Any Time of the Year

Posted on February 01, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.

Did you think you were safe from New Year strategy articles just because it's February? Not quite yet.

Lucky for us, this article seems to be late because the author spent so much time thinking about the subject at hand.

So here are some marketing strategies for the new year, courtesy of Rob Engelman, which, really, you can apply any time:

Focus on your ideal customers.
Know the "pain" that creates opportunity for you.
Define your personal value proposition.
Turn your clients into your sales force.
Build high-power allies.
Become a celebrated expert.
Build your personal direct marketing engine.

[The whole article.]

February 1, 2005 in bulk email marketing, create a newsletter, customer retention, e mail newsletter, electronic newsletter, email marketing, email marketing campaign, email marketing solution, ezine marketing, newsletter marketing | Permalink | Comments (0)

Love Your Customers

Posted on January 26, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.

Dana VanDen Heuvel's blog pointed me to this column by Kirsten Osolind.

Go ahead. Don't be shy. Build those business relationships and love your customers.

January 26, 2005 in customer retention, e mail newsletter, email services, nurturing relationships | Permalink | Comments (1)

Direct email marketing: entrepreneurial experiences

Posted on January 13, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.

Entrepreneur extraordinaire (and my boss) Todd Smart, has begun a regular column in our monthly e-newsletter (sign up here). This month, he ranted on business differentiators--whether you fall into the category of "entrepreneur" or not, everybody loves a good rant.

[Read it.]

January 13, 2005 in creating newsletter, direct email marketing, e mail newsletter, email marketing campaign, email marketing solution, ezine marketing, newsletter sample | Permalink | Comments (0)

Company newsletter: boost your online presence

Posted on January 11, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.

Hilary Marsh of Content Company has a great list of tricks for keeping your website fresh. Here are the most recent:

Periodically review your competitors' websites. Make sure yours has a professional look, up-to-date content and intuitive navigation.

Start an email newsletter, so that when your site is updated, your customers know about it.

Keep your company leaders informed about how your organization is using the Web. Ask them to visit it, or print out the home page for them, so they can refer to it in discussions with employees and outside investors, customers and partners.

[The whole list.]

January 11, 2005 in company newsletter, create a newsletter, e mail newsletter, electronic newsletter, ezine marketing, newsletter, newsletter sample, newsletter service, online newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0)

Newsletter sample: it's comment time

Posted on January 11, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.

"My board of directors thinks our BeTuitive newsletter is fantastic, and we're generating leads!"

Jo Martell
Director, Marketing
Avotus Corp

View sample.

So, how does this look on your newsreader? Comments? I'll link to your blog or your website if you tell me what you think...

0130

January 11, 2005 in company newsletter, create a newsletter, creating newsletter, e mail newsletter, electronic newsletter, email marketing solution, email newsletter, newsletter, newsletter design, newsletter format, newsletter sample | Permalink | Comments (1)

Newsletter format: think backward, move forward

Posted on January 10, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.

As usual, Susan Fisher, everyone's favorite editorial director, wrote a kick-a** article for this month's BeTuitive newsletter. Let's all do the dance together--think backward, move forward:

To begin the backward approach, here are the questions you should ask.

What is our best customer’s buying process?

What are the key stages of this cycle?

What actions do they take during each phase?

What information do they seek during each phase?

Accordingly, what value can we bring to the customer to help them with this process? (Value can come in the form of an analyst’s report, industry statistics, a webinar with helpful tips, a case study illustrating a problem and solution, an article full of “news you can use” tips or a one-on-one consultation.)

She breaks it down and outlines all the necessary steps for you. Read on.

January 10, 2005 in bulk email marketing, company newsletter, create a newsletter, e mail newsletter, electronic newsletter, email marketing, email marketing campaign, email marketing solution, newsletter design, newsletter format, newsletter service, newsletter template | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tracking Personal Data

Posted on December 17, 2004 by Sarah Eaton.

There are a couple of things that are given about January. 1: you are given a (figurative) clean slate, and 2: the gym is going to be way more crowded than usual.

Probably there are all kinds of things you're trying to clean up, tie up, and wrap up right now. Me, too. And aside from all the things I have to do, I'm also thinking of all of the people I haven't spoken to in a long time.

Here's my plan to catch up: every morning while brewing my coffee over the next two weeks, I'm going to think of three people that I am definitely, no matter what, going to talk to that day. I will make sure I've got the contact info for each of those people, and, when I've got a couple of minutes, I will call them. Easy enough.

I know they'll be busy, too, but a few minutes is all each of us needs.

December 17, 2004 in company newsletter, e mail newsletter, email marketing, email tracking | Permalink | Comments (0)

Brass Tacks, Nuts & Bolts

Posted on December 09, 2004 by Sarah Eaton.

Even the smartest of smarty-pants marketers needs a refresher course every now and again.

So here's a concise list of mostly dos and a few don'ts for producing your e-newsletter, courtesy of Buzz!Words.

December 9, 2004 in company newsletter, create a newsletter, creating newsletter, e mail newsletter, e newsletter, electronic newsletter, ezine, newsletter, newsletter design, newsletter format, newsletter marketing | Permalink | Comments (1)

And Make It Snappy

Posted on November 23, 2004 by Sarah Eaton.

You know what to write about, you know who you want to send it to--the next step is making it actually effective.

Here's a ClickZ article on pumping up your e-marketing copy to make it say what you really want it to say and make it do what you really want it to do:

Great copy is part art, part science. You don't start writing by writing; you start by reading, brainstorming, researching, and getting into your topic area. Even once there's a first draft, it can often be improved by sleeping on it and returning to it the next morning. This isn't just my experience; many great copywriters I've worked with say the same.

Even though this article applies more directly to the art (and science) of writing copy for ads (taglines, product descriptions, etc.), her ideas also do translate to writing full-length articles for e-newsletters, in the sense that the writer needs to keep the reader in mind and focus on achieving an end result through content and style.

November 23, 2004 in company newsletter, create a newsletter, e mail newsletter, e newsletter, email newsletter, ezine, newsletter, newsletter design, newsletter sample, online newsletter | Permalink | Comments (0)

Authenticate Yourself

Posted on November 16, 2004 by Sarah Eaton.

I know, I know. You're reaping profits right and left. But that isn't any reason to turn your nose up at this white paper that I found on the Boing Boing blog on non-profits being unfairly identified as spam.

It can happen to any one of us legitimate types, non-profit and for-profit alike. You have to know what might cause you to be identified as spam--it affects your delivery, your open rates, and your click-through rates. Some things are more difficult and time-consuming to monitor than others (contacting your readers' ISPs for whitelisting vs. watching your vocabulary.)

Eliminating spam is a good idea. Everyone agrees with that. We just want it to happen in such a way that a) the genuine messages get through, and b) our freedom of speech isn't constricted.

Here's an example for you: we were checking one of our newsletters for potential spamwords the other day, and the word "enlarge" triggered the alarm. As in "click to enlarge this picture [of a camera] for a closer look." Really.

When innocuous words are imbued with illicit meaning by the anti-spammers, we're forced to construct language pretzels.

The authors of the article recommend some best practices to avoid being trapped in filters, and they're great (really, you should perform every single one of their suggestions with a religious fervor), and they also make some excellent recommendations to anti-spammers, so the authentic messages can get through.

November 16, 2004 in bulk email marketing, creating newsletter, e mail newsletter, email marketing, mass email, newsletter, opt-in email | Permalink | Comments (0)

How Do Your Stats Compare?

Posted on November 11, 2004 by Sarah Eaton.

So, MarketingSherpa just published their annual survey of email marketers, and I was beyond surprised to read that only 71% of email marketers are tracking their click-through rates. What? Who are these people who aren't? If you don't track your click-throughs, you don't know who you're reaching. Isn't being able to track click-throughs the thing that makes email marketing cooler than, say, sending out postcards to your prospects?

The only bone I have to pick with the MarketingSherpa folks is that their most popular reported click-through rates are higher than I've seen in other studies. I'm willing to bet most of those reporting lean closer to the 6% side of 6-10%--we should all aspire to have a list of such hungry readers that we reach a 10% click-through rate with our newsletters. We should all aspire to have a list of such hungry readers that we reach a 9% click-through rate, for that matter.

November 11, 2004 in creating newsletter, direct email marketing, e mail newsletter, email marketing, email service, email tracking, mass email, newsletter, online newsletter | Permalink | Comments (2)