February 8th, 2001
Today's WebSiteNotes is about writing an E-mail newsletter, which is a simple public relations tool that can effectively draw attention to your business or Web site. If you're struggling to draw visitors to your site, or if you just want to kick your successful business into high gear, then keep reading.

Many more companies are beginning to embrace e-mail as one of the pillars of their Internet presence. They realize, as you should, that newsletters are an easy way to promote your site and give it a solid foundation of loyal customers.

E-mail publishing is the killer medium for communicating on the Internet. It's up to you, however, to create powerful newsletters to draw potential customers out of the woodwork.

Help keep this E-zine free. Visit our advertisers today.

We hope that you find this newsletter interesting and useful.

Patrick Stoddard, Editor

Automate your Links Pages with LinksManager.com Never Code Another Link Again! LinksManager.com automates your links pages in minutes with no software installs.  Add, edit, import, and delete links, rotate links, find dead links, verify reciprocity, and much more... all without coding any HTML!   It's a dream application for webmasters and now you can try it 30 days for FREE. LinksManager.com

For ad rates and info click here

Why You Should Write A Newsletter

Companies that effectively use e-mail newsletters can establish a relationship with their visitors and thereby ensure, in a way no other method can, that users will return to the site.

"Studies have shown that newsletters delivered on request to targeted groups of customers can be up to 30 times more effective than banner ads in promoting products." John Buckman, CEO of Lyris.

Newsletters can provide much more information than any newspaper article, radio program, or television commercial.

You can give more specific information, because you have an audience with a common interest.

E-newsletters increase sales. Managing your list and mailing the newsletters to interested parties enables you to build more sales from your current customer base.

Know Your Audience
Before writing your newsletter, you must know your audience. Know their interests, their knowledge of the subject, and their reading level.

Write the "Right" Stuff
Write about your audience's interests. Sending them information that is irrelevant might just label you a Spammer.

Plan Ahead
Plan what articles are to be written several months to a year ahead. There's absolutely no need to knock yourself out trying to finish a newsletter the day it has to be sent.

Make a Connection With Your Reader
Write your newsletter as though it was going to one individual directly from you. By including personal information or adding a personal touch, you develop a relationship with your audience. If they feel some sort of bond, no matter how slight, they will be much more likely to visit.

Make it Easy to Read
Write titles, pull-quotes and leads that grab the reader. Use correct grammar and spelling.

Publish on a Schedule
Publishing your newsletter on a regular schedule will make your readers look forward to the next issue. It's also much more professional.

Tips for Success
In order to be successful with a newsletter, specialize in a subject not adequately covered in existing newsletters. Choose subjects which you can cover better and more comprehensively than others.

Plan in advance how your layout will be set up, and know what kind of photos or drawings you might use. Be sure you have time to handle all the details required to get the newsletter out on time, every time.

Research the market to determine what your "category" of subscribers want to hear in your newsletter.

Develop your own individual style in your writings to give your newsletter its own distinctive "personality". Don't be afraid to break away from formal conventions.

A Managers Guide to Newsletters

EMagGen
EMagGen is a free software program that helps you lay out and design e-zines (either as plain text for sending by email, or as formatted HTML).