This article is reprinted from Tammi’s blog, where it first appeared on August 3, 2010. View it here.
We all know how important it is to stay in touch with the people on our mailing list. They’ve already expressed an interest in what you do, and they want to hear from you again. By consistently sending them valuable information about topics they care about, you build on that interest, establish your credibility as an expert and deepen your relationship with them.
This good relationship will be reinforced when you are promoting your services or products to the list. Because you’ve been sending such relevant, useful content, your readers will trust that you understand their problems and have their best interests at heart. Remember that people hire or buy from the people they know, like and trust.
But what if you hate to write? If the thought of sitting through a root canal or two is more appealing to you than the idea of writing 400-word articles on a regular basis, here are four ways to get your newsletter done with minimal writing:
- Tip of the week/month – Think back on recent conversations with clients (or even friends and family) and choose one tip that made a big difference for someone. Add a sentence or two at the beginning to explain why it’s relevant, another sentence or two at the end to close things off, and you’re good to go!
- Video e-newsletters – Getting face-to-face with your readers via video will reveal more of your personality and create a sense of familiarity. Plug your videos right into your e-newsletter (look for the option to “embed” your video). If that’s not possible, introduce the video with a brief description and include a link where your readers can view it online.
- Audio e-newsletters – If you enjoy speaking, record yourself talking about your area of expertise, or you can also interview another expert in the field. Then embed or link to the recording. This is another way to build intimacy with your readers. And they can even listen on the road from their mobile device!
- Blog recap – If you’re blogging throughout the month, showcase all of your blog posts in your newsletter. Include a brief blurb about each post and a link where they can read the full item.
Sending a regular newsletter is a crucial part of any online marketing campaign, but it doesn’t have to be a painful task. Even with very little writing, you can still wow your readers with valuable content and enjoy profitable results from your newsletters.
Do you have questions or comments about this article? Please share them in the Comments section below!
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Tammi Metzler, founder of The Write Associate, is a Copywriter and Marketing Consultant who helps solo entrepreneurs worldwide get more clients with their online marketing efforts. Her one-on-one copywriting services and marketing training materials have helped clients achieve outstanding results, including as much as a 600% increase in new clients within just a few weeks’ time. To sign up for her upcoming f.ree teleseminar, “6 Steps to a Steady Stream of Paying Clients: How to Create a Simple Marketing Funnel That Sells Your Products and Services Time & Time Again – Even When You’re On Vacation,” please visit http://writeassociate.com/free-teleseminar/.



Great tips Tammi! This will be VERY helpful when I get stumped on
what to include in my newsletter