Consistency is King!

admin — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 01:24:57 +0000

In working with clients and now implementing my own newsletter, I see the importance of being diligent in distribution and staying innovative with the content. No matter how often you send your newsletter, it’s important to develop and follow a plan to keep yourself on track. Consistency is key! If your subscribers are expecting your newsletter on a certain day and time, you need to follow through. Otherwise, you may appear unreliable. In order to build the like, know, and trust factor with your audience, you must get your newsletter out on time, every time.

As a busy entrepreneur, your newsletter is just another item on your long list of things that you have to get done in your business. So, let’s look at some ways of making this process easier and more manageable for you. Here are a few tips for you to consider.

Use A Template: For the most part, your newsletter should always be in the same format. Possible sections of content include: an Introduction, the Feature Article, a Resources section, a Recommends section and an About (bio) section. With the exception of the “About” section, you will need to provide new and interesting content for each distribution. And there you have it, a template for your newsletter. Now, simply create a Word document that you can use to add your content quickly and easily and you’re done!
Calendar your Distribution Dates: It’s a good idea to have an “editorial” calendar. This doesn’t have to be anything fancy. The key is to set up something that works for you. It can be a portion of your Google or Outlook calendar, or simply a paper calendar with your distribution dates and topics for next 3 months, 6 months, or even a year. The important thing is to actually use it. Have it visible place in your office if it’s a paper calendar, or have pop-up reminders if it’s on your computer, or both. Whatever it takes to keep you on track.
Keep an “Newsletter Ideas” Notebook: Whether you use a notebook, an electronic file, or a binder, it’s a good idea to have a dedicated place to keep possible newsletter article topics. If you’re like me, I’ve been on a conference call or at a meeting and thought “This would be a good topic for a newsletter article!” Having a notepad for this purpose makes it easy to jot down the idea for future content so that you can remember it when you are ready to write.
Dedicate the Time: Set aside time on your calendar to focus on your newsletter content. This will help to keep you on track and helps you to focus on your electronic marketing for your business.

Bonus Tip: Keep one or two “extra” articles on hand. This will serve as your a back-up plan for those times when you’re overwhelmed with other tasks, not feeling well, or simply having writer’s block.

Follow through on all of these tips above and you will find it EASY to keep your newsletter on track!