|
>>
PDF NEWSLETTERS: retro or a smart move?
Exclusive interview with design guru
Roger C. Parker
The
debate over HTML vs. plain text newsletters is still humming.
But not at fever pitch. Without going out on a limb, I'd
venture the pendulum has swung towards HTML e-newsletters.
They're just plain nicer to read.
But
what about PDF newsletters? Printed out, they've got heft,
tangibility and a look of authority. Some publishers swear
by them. Get top tips on publishing in PDF format in my
interview with Roger C. Parker, author of the classic Looking
Good In Print plus 31 other books.
Hint: are CEOs in your target audience?
[MORE]
|
|
AFRAID
TO RAISE YOUR PRICES?
The
biggest barrier to increasing your prices:
your beliefs. Learn what’s wrong
with “My clients can’t afford
higher rates,” “I’m just
starting out” and other self-defeating
rationales for low prices. Download Marcia
Yudkin’s Charge
More and Get It - an exclusive
report for WordBiz readers!
|
|
|
|
| >>
PUBLISHER'S NOTE |
|
More on authentic voice + book winners
Am
I being authentic if I tell you that I'm feeling
a bit of summer doldrums here in Washington DC? Or
is that merely candid?
I spoke briefly last issue about the greatest challenge
of publishing an e-newsletter: finding and sustaining
an authentic voice. I define authenticity as the intersection
of your own voice (or that of your company) with language
and a style that connects with your readers.
It's a fine line to walk. Publishing an e-newsletter
is a business endeavor whether it's to generate leads
or make direct sales. While I strive to be authentic,
I don't want to be too candid. (Do I really want you
to know when I'm feeling uninspired?!)
Read
blog entry for more on authenticity in writing
Be sure to post your own comment. The public feedback
feature of blogs is powerful. Think of it as viral
marketing for you.
And the three lucky book winners are...
- Barbara Davey, Help/Systems, Minnetonka,
Minnesota
- William Mahoney, Young Industries, Muncy, Pennsylvania
- Peter A. Schaible, Subscription Website Publishers
Association, Brewster, Massachusetts
Each gets a copy of Ruth
P. Stevens' The DMA Lead Generation Handbook:
Proven Techniques to Create Demand and Drive Sales
Yours in the business of words online,
Publisher & Editor, WordBiz Report
P.S. Got a story idea or want to contribute an article?
Drop
me a note.
|
|
|
ONE QUICK DOWNLOAD...
With our easy-to-use software you can:
-
run newsletters or ezines
- send highly targeted marketing camapaigns
- build relationships with your customers
Download
a free trial
of AY Mail 2
|
|
|
|
|
1.
Newsletters That Sell
A recent ClickZ article profiled three newsletters "that
sell." Common characteristics were consistency of publishing,
responsiveness to readers, well-written content and topics
that match subscribers' interests. Interestingly, two are
plain text; one is HTML. Links to sample issues are included.
Read
THREE NEWSLETTERS THAT SELL
by Paul Soltoff in ClickZ
2. Email Trend Report Is Positive
I forgot to point you to this nifty little report earlier.
It's DoubleClick's Q1 2003 trend report on email marketing.
Click-through and open rates continue to climb despite spam.
Bounce rates are down. Stats are based on two billion emails
sent by hundreds of DoubleClick's clients. So take them
with a small grain of salt.
DOWNLOAD
IT (three-page PDF)
|
| WORDBIZ
SPONSOR |
WORDBIZ
SPONSOR |
 Why
doesn’t your PR work? Learn
how B2B pros build successful press
kits and strategic PR programs. Download
your copy now.
|
|
|
FREE
Giveaway! Sign up for our newsletter
and enter to win a free review of
your website ($200 value) by KISS
Computing. Click
here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Can
You Write A Simple Letter?
If
yes, you could be in big demand, earning big
money, writing just a few hours a day from
anywhere in the world you choose to be.
Here's how you can learn the secrets of this
little-known, lucrative business.
FIND
OUT
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
How
to choose a compelling title for your e-book
Hint: ask your readers
If you've tried to choose a title recently for
an e-book or special report you know how hard
it is to come up with just the right mouth-watering
phrase.
And yes, it matters. Your title is what sells.
As Roger
Parker (interviewed in this issue) puts
it, "People don't buy books based on their
covers... readers buy the concept expressed
in the title."
Lisa
Sparks, a copywriter based in Florida, had
a clever idea to jumpstart the creation of a
compelling title for her new e-book.
She asked readers of her e-newsletter to enter
a contest and submit suggestions.
She told them the topic of the e-book was how
to write emails and ezine articles that sell.
Readers had 24 hours to respond. And the prize?
A copy of the new e-book (value USD $47 along
with bonuses).
About 10 percent of her list (less than 500
but loyal readers all) responded to the contest
offer. She picked two winners, thus creating
both a title and a sub-title: Power
Words: Increase Your Profits With a Click
Clever, huh?!
I've only had time to take a quick peek at Power
Words. It looks great! A well-written, step-by-step
guide with lots of specific examples. I'll review
it in more depth in an upcoming issue.
FIND
OUT MORE about Power Words.
P.S.
If Lisa's name sounds familiar, it's because
she was selected as one
of Seth Godin's 99 Cows.
She says she followed Godin's lead in structuring
the "special offer" to her readers:
1) give a time limit; 2) make a specific request
(name the e-book); 3) offer a clear and desired
incentive (free copy of the book plus bonuses).
|
|
|
|
|
