>> DIRTY SECRET of HTML VS. TEXT
Two sides to the publishing equation I'm going to reveal a dirty secret. It has two parts:
1. HTML
I publish this newsletter in HTML not just because it looks attractive or
is easier to read. I produce it in HTML so I can learn more
about you, dear reader. Whether you're opening it. What
articles you click on for the "full story." Whether
you're clicking through to purchase e-reports from the WordBiz
store.
2. Text
Since I launched WBR in July 2001, I've continued to
publish a nicely formatted text version for one reason only
- about 10 percent of new subscribers ask for text when
they sign up. As of this issue, I am stopping...
CLICK HERE to take a quick survey on HTML vs. text e-newsletters and enter the free giveaway for a copy of Seth Godin's The Big Red Fez: How to Make Any Web Site Better. This is a useful, quick read. It's a 111-page softcover (a real book).
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Find out why... [MORE] | 10 key tips to launch a lead-generating e-newsletter
22-page PDF report walks you through 10 key variables to consider before launching your e-newsletter: - 3 things that should be part of your content formula
- designing an HTML template that's readable
- what to put in your Welcome letter
Includes 5 tips to improve the open rate of your e-newsletter plus the full text of three of Debbie Weil's most popular articles on e-newsletters. Only USD $14.95 Download your copy instantly.
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| | >> PUBLISHER'S NOTE |
Open
letter to "texties"
CLICK HERE to take a quick survey on text vs. HTML e-newsletters and enter this issue's book giveaway.
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I love you guys. But I can't continue to publish a separate, text-only version of this newsletter. It takes too much time. And for little demonstrable return other than making you happy. Yes, I know all the reasons you want plain text. You're on a Mac and your version of Outlook doesn't render HTML properly. You say it's a productivity issue; you read text more easily. You like the smaller file size.
But I'm not providing a public service. Publishing issue after issue is a huge amount of work. I've got to show a measurable return, whether it's increased ad revenues, more leads, or more sales.
Frankly, many of you - texties, that is - are not as responsive. You don't click through...
CLICK HERE to read the rest of the open letter to texties.
Want to keep WordBiz Report free?
Then
please update the info on your subscription management
page. Tell me about yourself... who do you work for,
where are you geographically, what's your title? This
newsletter is supported by ads. Ahem, that means you
get to read it free. (Note: if you're a WordBiz subscriber,
you'll find an "update your profile" link
at the bottom of every message you receive.)
I need to know more about you in order to attract advertisers whose offers match your needs and interests. Any information you enter is completely secure in the WordBiz database. I don't share it with anyone. My credibility as an award-winning publisher rests on this guarantee.
That vs. Which
This is one of those usage rules I can never remember. It's clearly explained in the latest issue of Grammar Tip by ProofreadNOW.com. Read my dissection of Grammar Tip's content formula in the last issue.
Last call for next week's E-newsletter Seminar
If you're not in the D.C. area, maybe you have a colleague who is. Please tell them about this hands-on seminar that will cover both the nitty gritty of publishing as well as how to develop killer content.
Yours in the business of words online,
+1 202.333.2022 land
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| | | >> SECRET LIFE OF A WEB CONTENT MANAGER | | | Aimee Hagedorn spills all |
You may have heard about HealthSouth's Enron-like meltdown. Aimee Hagedorn is one of many former employees. She also happens to be a long-time WordBiz subscriber. Aimee is now (happily) in business as an independent marketing and communications consultant.
She agreed to reveal her behind-the-scenes role at HealthSouth. Find out what she did - and didn't do - as Web Content Manager for this mega corporate site (7.5 million page views in 2002). It may surprise you...
[MORE]
| Take the Pain Out of Publishing an E-newsletter
SOLD OUT
Join
me at a hands-on, tip-packed, half-day seminar
on Wednesday,
May 21, 2003 in Tysons Corner, VA.
This is a small workshop with limited attendance.
Registrants to date include The Smithsonian,
AMS and the National Education Association.
I'll cover:
- how to grow your list
- opt-in best practices
- nitty-gritty of publishing in HTML and/or text
- how to develop a content formula
- how to create killer content for your specific audience
- how to get useful feedback from readers
- how to boost click-throughs with effective layout
- how to write compelling Subject Lines and teasers
- how to drive readers back to your site with "house ads"
Find out more... REGISTER TODAY
P.S. Can't make it to the seminar? You can purchase a seminar transcript including hand-outs, useful Q & A's, PowerPoint slides, etc. through the WordBiz store in June. |
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| | >> HOW A WORDBIZ SUBSCRIBER BECAME A COW | | | What Lisa Sparks said in her email to Seth Godin |
Lisa Sparks is one of two WordBiz subscribers who made it into Seth Godin's just-released e-book, 99 Cows. This 120-page downloadable PDF is a companion to his new hardcover, Purple Cow - which is all about being remarkable in business.
Here's how Lisa describes the 99 Cows. "They didn't slap a marketing plan onto their products and services after they were finished - they integrated the marketing plan into their offerings as they were creating them. It's a simple formula that's often forgotten in these days of interruption marketing."
Find out how she got into Godin's e-book. And if you haven't done so already, you can download your free copy from this secret page on the WordBiz site...
[SECRET PAGE]
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| | 50 Ways to Build
Your Email Database
While email marketing has come a long way in a few short years, we find that people are still overlooking opportunities to collect email addresses. Here are 50 tips we compiled for our clients, including Oracle/HP and Ohio State University, so they could make greater use of TargetX technology and services. Download "50 Ways" at:
http://www.targetx.com/50ak |
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WordBiz readers log in on 'login' vs. 'log in' | If you missed it last issue, scroll down to take the instant poll. How to spell 'login' vs. 'log in' may be trivial but boy do WordBiz readers have opinions about this.
I logged on to the online version of the AP Stylebook to do a bit of research. (I've just subscribed to this for USD $20. Seems worth it.) And the answer is...
As a noun it's login, logon and logoff. As a verb, it's two words.
Here's
a sampling of replies. Thanks to all who wrote
in:
"All this logging in and on to comes
from captain's log books from the earliest days
of sailing when a daily record of the business
of the ship was made in the captain's log."
"The short answer to the debate, in
my opinion, is that neither login nor log
in is historically correct. The original
usage was compounded for a noun. So, you used
your logon id and password to log
on to a mainframe computer. Then
you used your login to log in
to a particular environment such as Fortran."
"I don't know witch (sic) is correct,
login or log in, but I wish someone would
design a spell check that knew computereze!"
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