Exactly two years ago I published a
case study about a text-only e-newsletter created by three Aussie financial consultants.
"Pitch-perfect writing, an easy-to-read format, plus some extras"
was how I described
All Things Considered. Yes, it's called
All Things Considered. The National Public Radio program by that name isn't trademarked.
www.AllThingsConsidered.biz As of this
writing, ATC is still going strong. It's still published in a simple text-only
format and is avidly read by about 4,000 subscribers with an interest in financial
planning. Topics cover the gamut, from investing for women to government regulations.
I asked WordBiz Contributing Editor
Aimee Kessler Evans
to track down lead editor Tony Negline and find out what he and his prolific partners
are up to after publishing 104 issues.
She reports they've built a successful Web-based business by repurposing the content
from the free e-newsletter.
Find
out how a text e-newsletter turned into a paid content site...
www.wordbiz.com/archive/casestudy_text_newsletter.shtml
Note: The original case
study on All Things Considered is on pages 43-45 of Best of WordBiz Report, Volume
I. It includes useful tips on formatting a text newsletter.
If you're publishing an email newsletter already, you know the drill...
In addition to checking the open-rate for a given issue, you peer anxiously
at the click-through rate (CTR) for your lead or featured article. You want to
know if your subscribers are interested enough to click through and read the whole
article on your site.
5 most popular articles
The 5 articles below were winners with WordBiz subscribers. Thousands of readers clicked through to read them.
Think of them as my anniversary gift to you as a thank you for being a loyal subscriber. (Several of these are not posted anywhere publicly.)
1. How
to write a sexy teaser
2. Top
tips to write a persuasive case study
3. 7
nitty-gritty tips to publish a monthly e-newsletter
4. Top
20 definitions of blogging
5. Clip
& Save Guide to avoiding spam filters (updated)
Want to learn more about selling through your e-newsletter?
If you're looking for more articles with solid, specific tips about marketing effectively with an e-newsletter...
Here's a pointer to my collection of best articles about how to sell your products or services through a regular ezine.
-how to write articles so compelling your subscribers will clamor to read them
- how to develop a content formula that regularly repeats the same topics
- pros & cons of publishing in text vs. HTML vs. PDF
- adding up the 3 C's (content, community & commerce) of an e-newsletter that sells
- how publishing an e-newsletter saves one consultant $18,000 a year
And more. The "persuasive case study" and "7 nitty gritty tips" articles above are included.
You also get an e-newsletter strategy worksheet and an e-newsletter planning tool you can print out.
Yes, this is another in our series of special 3rd anniversary offers. Look for more in upcoming issues of the newsletter.
$37 $18.50
Purchase & download instantly
Learn more about this 50-page PDF guide...
Note: this special offer expires midnight Thursday July 29, 2004 U.S. Eastern.
I'm
delighted to report that WordBiz has won two 2004 APEX Awards for Excellence. One
is for this newsletter. The other is for our nifty E-newsletter Starter Kit: Insider
Secrets of Profitable E-newsletters. Get Opened. Get Read. Get Results.
The starter kit is a complete package that shows you step by step how to
launch or improve a lead-generating e-newsletter. It includes a PDF (download
instantly) and handsome 3-ring binder & audio CD (shipped to you).
What makes this publishing kit stand out is that it's richly illustrated with
screenshots of e-newsletters you can steal ideas from. You get worksheets,
templates and checklists - and a before & after look at a text e-newsletter that switched to an HTML design.
Also included is a 30-minute phone consult with Debbie Weil. Some customers say this is the most useful part of the kit.
Learn more: www.eNewsletterStarterKit.com
$197
Note: you can sign up for a fre*e
mini course through the link above.
What would an anniversary issue be without a book giveaway?

Here's your chance to win a copy of
Kristin Zhivago's
new book:
Rivers of Revenue:
What do when the money stops flowing.
This is a highly-practical - and provocative
- handbook on how to "think like a buyer" in order to increase your
sales. It's gotten rave reviews.
One of her key points is particularly
intriguing: "brand" is not the promises you make; rather it's the promises
you
keep when interacting with your customers.
Kristin is a
highly-respected B2B marketing consultant with 35 years of experience. I've got
3 advance reader copies, signed by the author, to give away.
Enter
the book giveaway + quick survey
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=65499567192
More
about Rivers of Revenue & Kristin Zhivago
Breaking the rules I preach consistency when it comes to a publication
schedule for an e-newsletter. Yup, I've broken my own rules this month.
I promised you an issue every 2 weeks and it's been longer than that. (I did enjoy a wonderful vacation on the coast of Maine; no electricity, no Internet.)
As always, I'd love to hear from you. Email
me at wordbiz@yahoo.com for best results (i.e. so I don't miss your message in
my Outlook inbox).
Warm regards,