Your Newsletters Are Pretty Lame If You Are Doing These 7 Things

I remember the good old days of the internet when it was a real treat to subscribe to someone's newsletter and receive all their wonderful information through the convenience of your email.

It's still like this today - for the publishers that are getting it right. I believe newsletter publishers somewhere along the way forget WHY readers subscribe. On their websites we are promised all this wonderful information and instead we receive a sales pitch, email after email.

Bad newsletters far out number the effective ones. Here is a list of mistakes I find newsletter publisher religiously make?

1. Sell right off the auto responder

When I subscribe to a newsletter and get the sales pitch right off the auto responder, I know my subscription to this newsletter won't last long.

The autoresponder is the ideal place to get your subscriber familiar with yourself and your business. It's a great first step in building that relationship with your reader. Get them enthusiastic about receiving your newsletter. Tell them the wonderful things they will come to expect.

Welcome them and just leave it at that.

Something to take with you: "Don't put the cart before the horse"

2. Talk about how much money you are making ? all the time

Hyping is old news. Are you still doing it?

The newbie internet marketers love to tell you how much they are supposedly making. They love referring to this time and time again in their newsletters. They haven't yet realized that hype doesn't sell. Information does.

If you are making all this money, then help someone who isn't. Give them some intelligent information. Help them make an informed decision about buying your product.

Something to take with you: "Uh? Don't hype?"

3. Instead of 80% content and 20% selling you are doing it the other way around

Your subscriber didn't give you permission to sell to them. They gave you permission to give them more information. That's what you promised when they signed up. Are you honoring that promise?

Subscribers know that you will be doing some selling in your newsletters. They are not stupid. So weave the selling process in with your great information. That way it won't stick out like a sore thumb and your readers won't feel pitched.

Something to take with you: "Always give before you ask to take. It rarely works the other way around"

4. Copy and paste an article in your newsletter and hey presto! You have a newsletter? Not

There is no double about it. Articles are very effective ? the ones that are well worded and give the reader insider information about a specific topic.

One publisher I subscribe to uses the power of articles very well. He is an affiliate and in his newsletter he publishers different people's articles.

This is his technique:

• His newsletters begin by telling readers a little about his day.

• Then he introduces the article author, giving readers about a paragraph of information about him/her

• Next we read the article

• Then he gives us his thoughts/tips/stories/comments.

• Then he finishes by referring to the author and the information in the article.

I've bought from this affiliate time and time again. Know why? Because his technique works.

He puts effort into his newsletters. Readers see that. Through them, I've come to know him, trust him, like him. Not only does he provide me with good articles, he is also knowledgeable in the subject he's involved him and his contributions really help reinforce the information of the article.

Unfortunately, most newsletter publishers don't use the power of articles. You see, when you don't put effort into it, I know you went to an article directory, selected an article, joined it's affiliate program and just stuck it in your 'newsletter' with nothing else but your name and contact details.

Not good.

Something to take with you: "Go the extra mile. It's not crowded."

5. Not telling people abit about yourself

Give readers a sense of you. We are curious creatures and want to know abit about people we associate with. You do want to bond with your readers, don't you? Then your name and website address at the bottom of your email won't accomplish much.

The best newsletters I subscribe to, without fail, always include a small paragraph in the beginning about themselves.

Tell readers something and keep it short and sweet. Don't go to the other extreme and devote your newsletters to talk about yourself. Boring.

Something to take with you: "Balance is what we are looking for here."

6. Giving subscribers info that is so basic, they can tell you are new to this

Your defense may be that you are catering to newbie internet marketers so your information has to be basic. Okay, let's put it another way. Last time I checked there were 55,000 people looking for internet marketing. Do you believe all those are new to this?

There are many types of products to do with internet marketing like ebooks, newsletters, autoresponders etc. An internet marketer needs a variety of products to build and run their business.

Consider something else. Who else buys your products? Answer: Affiliates. So at most times you are dealing with people with a higher level of experience.

Let me give you an example of what I consider basic information. If you write an article telling me why I need an email service then this won't make an impression on me. I already know this. And if I was a newbie, I would know this too because I would've come across it hundreds of times before from other people who rehash the same information.

On the other hand, I may not know what the best email services are and why. So tell me.

Something to take with you: "Do some research. It always pays off."

7. The biggest booboo of them all

I was stunned. Are people this dumb?

About a month ago, I subscribed to a bunch of internet marketing newsletters. I don't remember now from where. Pity.

Well, I received the autoresponders, as all newsletters begin. All the same. I received the first newsletters, second newsletters, third newsletters. (then I unsubscribed from them all). All the same.

Word for word they were all the same. The only thing that changed was the contact details of these people.

I found out later that you can pay for a service and they will write your newsletters and send them off for you, with your name and contract details of course. You join their affiliate program and you make your money that way. Well, that's the theory anyway.

Doesn't work. Write your own newsletters.

Something to take with you: "Email is a powerful medium. Are you using or abusing its power?"

About The Author

Copyright © Gina Stathopoulos & Nick Vernon

Looking for a gift? Let Gina and Nick show you what we buy for friends/family and each other. At our site you will find popular gifts, gift information and stories from our readers. Come have a look http://www.we-recommend.com

---

What Good Is An AutoResponder?

A term that confuses just about everyone is "autoresponder". When... Read More

The Name Squeeze ? Should You? Shouldn?t You?

This is a little "beauty" of an idea if you... Read More

Viral Marketing Tips: Greeting Cards

When we speak about viral marketing, we are not talking... Read More

Promote Your Web Business With Every Email You Send!

Website owners are always on the lookout for new ways... Read More

Are Opt-in Email Lists Still Valuable in this SPAM Age?

One of the things that the introduction of blogs has... Read More

Confessions Of An Info Junkie

I love the Internet! Information about any topic that piques... Read More

Seven Ways to Dramatically Increase Your Email Marketing Profitability

1. The Power of SevenWhen choosing a price point for... Read More

Viral Marketing with Your Signature File

Computer viruses are usually a bad thing. They can compromise... Read More

How Autoresponders Boost Sales By Up To 400%

Imagine going to bed and waking up in the morning... Read More

Writing Newsletters Online: How to Get it Right

A strange thing has been happening to newsletters online. They... Read More

11 Creative Ways You Can Use Autoresponders

1. Pick 4 or more articles you've written that have... Read More

Top 3 Reasons Why RSS Is Better Than Email

Everyone is talking about RSS. Blogs, newsites and the like... Read More

Plain Jane Email Equals Flat Results

Years ago, when email was just emerging as the incredible... Read More

Are Autoresponders An Important Asset To Your Business?

Autoresponders are an important asset to an Internet Marketer. When... Read More

Creating A Newsletter And Making Your Website Magnetic

Creating a newsletter is an ideal way to drive repeat... Read More

Persistence, Patience, Dedication - The Nick Martin Interview

Name: Nicholas John Martin aka Nick MartinAge: 24Residence: Copenhagen, Denmark... Read More

Combating List Building Frenzy: Take The Time To Promote

It is an accepted fact among the experts now that... Read More

Building Your Own Goldmine - The Golds In The List

The best way to make money on the Internet is... Read More

Internet Tip of the Week: Mistakes Count Against You

Before the advent of email most of us, other than... Read More

Heres Why You Dont NEED a Blog

The word "blog" seems to be everywhere, and what an... Read More

Email Marketing 101 - What You Must Know Before Starting an Email Marketing Campaign

Before you start an e-mail marketing campaign it is important... Read More

Make Your E-mail Signature File WORK for You

You're probably familiar with e-mail signature (or "sig") files --... Read More

4 Time-Saving E-Mail Tips!

E-Mail is still the most widely used Internet tool available... Read More

How You Can Automate Your Business Using Autoresponders

What is an Autoresponder?An Autoresponder is a program or service... Read More

Sequential Autoresponders Build Customer Relatonships

A powerful reason for making the switch from using the... Read More

Tips to Build Your Email Address Database

WHY BUILD YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS DATABASE? Gaining your customers' email... Read More

How To Use Email Autoresponders to Boost Customer Loyalty

Your e-commerce website relies on its customers to become returning... Read More

The #1 Thing You Must Have Before Even Thinking About Building An Opt In Email List

It's not a website.It's a smart autoresponder and mailing list... Read More

Spam! Whats the Real Problem

Most people now know the official definition of spam- Unsolicited... Read More

A Guide To Automated Email Marketing

You've probably heard the expression, 'the money isin the list'.... Read More

Autoresponders An Important Part Of Internet Marketing?

Setting up and using email autoresponders on your site is... Read More

Top 10 Business E-Mail Basics

When it comes to your business e-mail communications, you need... Read More

8 Ways to Get More Email Addresses On Your List ... Today

Whether you've got 100 or 100,000 people on your email... Read More