Have you ever spoken to anyone who wasn't in the middle of redesigning his or her site? The refrain "Don't look now; our new site isn't live yet... " must be an online reflex.

Savvy Web designer Jamie Kiley zeroes in on a key problem: often we're just tired of how our site looks and want to freshen it up. Don't start a redesign with this approach, she advises.

Instead, cold-bloodedly analyze what's not working (confusing organization of your content, not enough strong calls to action, etc.). Then set down a game plan in writing for how you will fix each problem.

Get Jamie's full story...



Want to learn about effective HTML design for an e-newsletter?


If site redesign has you stymied, figuring out the best HTML design for an email newsletter can be even more of a headache.

Join design guru Roger C. Parker and me for a fun, fast and tip-filled session on April 29th, as we critique live up to 2 dozen HTML e-newsletters.

We'll explain what works, what doesn't and why - with the focus on how to make your HTML newsletter a razor-sharp marketing tool. Handouts include a mini guide to HTML newsletter design.

Learn more & register now
www.wordbizstore.com/rogercparker.html

To register by phone, call Donna at: 919.975.1705.

If you haven't seen this DoubleClick trend report yet, download it for a quick skim. It's based on aggregate data from over 2 billion emails sent out on behalf of DoubleClick's clients.

Notable stat: in 4th quarter 2003 open rates for B2B emails increased by 6.2% to an average of 39.2%.

DoubleClick's Q4 2003 Email Trend Report (3-page PDF)


I pointed you to this Year-End Email Marketing Review in late December, but it's worth another look. It includes solid tips on how to analyze your key performance metrics (open and click-through rates, forward-to-a-friend, unsubscribes, etc.).

Full disclosure: this was written by EmailLabs' VP of Marketing Loren McDonald. I use EmailLabs to deliver this newsletter.

Year-End Email Marketing Review (4-page PDF)


For more email metrics...

If you're just getting up to speed with email marketing, tell your boss you need the following report: Sherpa's Email Marketing Metrics Guide, 2004 edition.

It's an excellent primer to what all the stats and terms mean. Highly recommended:

Learn more & order the Email Marketing Metrics Guide, 2004 edition

Viral e-books, recommended software for split-testing, shortcuts to create a business plan, loads of copywriting tips, a primer on how to create professional-sounding audio content, why you don't need to be an expert to publish an effective e-newsletter...

These are just some of the tips that pack my detailed notes from The Big Seminar 3 in Orlando. You can download this 40+ page PDF report for less than 2% of what it cost me to attend the conference.

Download my detailed Big Seminar notes here.

Note: WordBiz Insiders received advance notice and a 50% off link for this PDF report. Wanna be an Insider? Click here.

Blogging from Asia

Yeah, I know I'm playing hooky by sneaking off to Asia with my husband. But I do want to stay in touch.

Subscribe to my blog (see instructions in box at right) and you'll get a ping every time I post a new entry. I expect to post from both Bangkok and Manila. No Internet access (or strictly limited) in Myanmar (aka Burma).

And by the way, no I don't support Myanmar's awful dictatorship. We're visiting a medical clinic in the remote Inle Lake region.

Warm Regards,