Good Information Articles

Win More Sales with Customer Newsletters - More Small Business Power Tools

One of the most powerful ways for small businesses to increase sales and keep customers coming back for more is to mail them a newsletter periodically.

Why is this such a powerful tool? It's because if done right, a newsletter automatically separates you from the big box stores like Best Buy and Toys 'R Us, and can help you even compete successfully with the giant online retailers like Amazon.com and Overstock.com.

How does this work?

You might not be able to compete with these giants on price but you can beat them by offering great personal service. And one aspect of this service is a newsletter just chock full of helpful information geared to your customers' interests. For example, suppose you have a fishing tackle store. How about a monthly newsletter that includes information on the week's fishing "hot spots," and the lures that are just bringing lunkers in by the basketful? Do you suppose a Sports Authority or and Amazon.com could compete with that in terms of personal service?

A newsletter can be one page, printed on both sides or four, six or eight pages, depending on your customers and their interests. For example, that fishing tackle store might send out a four-page newsletter with lots of fishing tips, news about fishing hot spots and information on the newest and best lures. On the other hand, a jewelry store might mail just a single-page newsletter with pictures of interesting new necklaces and earrings, and tips for cleaning and storing jewelry.

One newsletter I get that I really like is from a store here that sells good wines. I get their newsletter quarterly and it always has information on new wines that have just arrived from France, etc., case prices and sometimes even wine country travel tips.

How do you do a newsletter? If you are a do-it-yourselfer, you can use a program like Microsoft Publisher to create it. Publisher comes with a bunch of templates that totally eliminate the need for you to be any kind of a designer. Just pick a template and start filling in the blanks. You can go to the Microsoft web site and download free pictures and illustrations for your newsletter. The one downside of this is that your newsletter could end up looking just like a lot of other newsletters. If you want a truly unique newsletter that will stand out from the pack, you might try to find a high school or college student who would be willing to design your newsletters for $50 or $75 each.

What should be in your newsletter? Put yourself in the place of your customer. Who are they? What are their interests? What information would they find of value? What problems are they trying to solve? A carpet cleaning service might want to include information on do-it-yourself furniture cleaning or housekeeping hints. If most of the company's customers are women, it might want to include information on new, anti-aging medications or child care tips. By now, you should have the picture – write to your customers' needs, interests and problem.

What do you do if you're not much of a writer? Again, you should be able to hire a high school or college student to write the newsletter for you. Just make sure you provide good, tight direction so that your newsletter will reflect well on you and your business.

Also, don't bite off more than you can chew. Once you tell customers you will be sending them a monthly newsletter, you will have to send them a newsletter monthly. I know of many businesses that started out with monthly newsletters and then ran out of steam (and article ideas) after three or four months. If you have any doubts about the time you can spend on a newsletter or how much helpful information you can provide, it's better to either do it quarterly or whenever you have enough articles to warrant doing it. Just try to make sure you mail your newsletter often enough that customers don't forger who you are.

Finally, never and I do mean never, send out a newsletter without including an offer that will bring customers into your store or have them calling you for an appointment. Make the offer as powerful as you can and make sure your customers know it's only available to those who read your newsletter.

Creating and mailing a newsletter requires time and effort. But I promise you this: If you do provide good, helpful information in each newsletter, your customers will not only read it, they will start looking forward to receiving it each month or quarter.

For more information on building a mailing list for your newsletter, be sure to look for my article, "Small Business Power Tool: Direct Marketing."

Article by Douglas Hanna. Douglas is a retired advertising and marketing executive and long-time Denver resident. He is the webmaster of http://www.all-in-one-info.com, a free resource for information on a variety of subjects. Please visit his site to subscribe to his free newsletter, "Tips & Tricks to Save Money & Live Better."

Other Article Sites

findabook.com  moneycd.info  a-mortgage.info   about-lemon-laws.info  aboutstudentloans.info
all-about-publishing.info  auctions-articles.info  bestcollege-university.com  bestispconnection.com
biblefolder.com  blogger-website.com  books-used.info  brokers-guide.info  buywindows.info  cable-dsl.info
career-miner.com  carpel-tunnel.info  cashinaflash.info  cashloanreviews.info  casinobell.com  chat-house.info
clearmycredit.info  collegeloantips.info  crones.info  depression-articles.info   dirnic.net  dishguides.info
divers-below.com  expodog.info   financewizz.com  fire-insurance.info  getgood.info  handleit.net   it-idea.info
health-supplies.info  hosting-right.com  insidealert.com  insurance-facts.info  jobs-employment.info
justgood.info  lookgold.net   lowcost-travel.info  money-source.info  myhostzone.info  numisblog.com
peoplesearchfinder.info  pr-articles.info  realeas.com   refinancing-guides.info  spyware-remove.info
telelot.info  the-law.info   toppaid.info  travel-deals.info  travelcorrect.com  wedding-guide-site.com
your-blog.info  your-credit.info

MORE ARTICLES:

Be Wary of Work-at-Home Schemes
Be wary of work-at-home schemes as they are not all that they may seem. The adverts promise big monetary gain but invariably prove to be a let down.

Benefits of Home Equity Loan
A home is not something that one goes around buying on a regular basis. It is a carefully planned move and often comes attached with high expectations and anxiety. It is also more often than not unrealistic to imagine buying a home without a home loan of some kind. But let?s begin with the preparations you need to do to apply for a equity home loan. There various benefits of equity home loan and benefits from home loan can differ from country to country.

Bring That Difference To Your Business!
Romans had a phrase for this- First among Equals.Online marketing has too coined a similar one – when everything is equal the difference is me.

Imerica Re-Launches Rates On Norvax Health Insurance Quoting Software
Imerica Life and Health Insurance Company is back on the Norvax insurance quote engine and agents who use this tool can now run the carriers' rates customized for their customers in just 60 seconds.

Mercy Ships Recognizes International Day of the African Child
Story of 10 year-old boy demonstrates hope for African Children

Thinking of Starting Your Own Business?
It?s not hard to see why people would want to start their own business Starting your own business is both exciting and rewarding

Hometown Dumpster Rental Launches Internet Marketing Service
Hometown Dumpster Rental has launched an internet marketing service for locally owned dumpster rental companies. This new marketing service is designed to increase dumpster rentals from homeowners and contractors using search engines like Google to find dumpster services in their city.

Home Office, House Arrest -- What's The Difference?
After 3 years in a Home Office, completely connected, one Northwest consultant decides it's time to visit the Real World again.

Marvin Stanford, of Charter Funding, a Personal Mortgage Planner and Home-buying Expert, Today Offered His Tips for Home Ownership for Renters: Renter
Buying a home vs. renting is a big decision that takes careful consideration, as most mortgage consultants will agree. But the rewards of home ownership are great.

How To Build Your Business The Easy Way
You need an opt-in list.

How Much Time Do You Have For A Business?
Usually people choose a new business by thinking about what work they would most like to do. I'll admit, it IS important to spend your time on things you enjoy. But that's not what often determines whether a business succeeds or fails.

Tips for Starting Your Own Jewelry Business
Starting your own business can be an intimidating challenge. However, this task can be made achievable by setting up realistic goals, and following a few easy steps. If you have a passion of fashion and are an outgoing person, you can establish your own silver jewelry business. Being in the jewelry business myself, I can tell you what you will need in order to start one on your own.

Online Auctions Provide Home Job Opportunities
Everyday there are more job opportunities that are available online. Working online is often a desired way to earn an income and there are many options that are available. Some online businesses focus on selling one product or service while others offer a variety of goods. As more people are using the Internet on a regular basis, online auctions are becoming a way for home business owners to earn a living.

Cheap UK Holidays For Your Family
Believe it or not, planning cheap UK holidays for your family?s next break is possible with a little homework and research It is a fruitful experience which can be entertaining and a way to promote your child?s learning and growth while on holiday