Idea Exchange: The Practical Aspects of Doing the Most with your e-Newsletter

Your Customer Support Team Welcomes You! Julie Reynolds Leslie Bradford Kathy Bowman

Objective To provide a meaningful open-discussion session where you share ideas and learn from each other.

Agenda  Key components for discussion  Facilitate discussions for each component  Your ideas  BizActions ideas  Wrap up  Checklist

Key Components for a Successful e-Newsletter Healthy database e-Newsletter design Sponsor content Reports New enhancements Team Member adoption

Key Components Theme Process >> Database Create >> E-Newsletter Design Strategy >> Content Initiate >> Reports Learn >> Enhancements Commitment >> Adoption

Process Process Healthy Database

Process Healthy Database Foundation for success Quality and quantity, not just quantity Develop a strategy append

Healthy Database Strategies & Tactics Internal List Development Policy –One person in charge –Goals for each quarter and for each Team Member –The more you put in, the more you will get out Offline List Development –Existing internal lists –Rolodex, tradeshow attendee lists, business cards –Encourage referrals

Healthy Database Strategies & Tactics Online List Development –Gather employee contact data –Search Websites –Post sign-up option on Website and promote Refer Colleague link

Healthy Database Target Audiences to Consider Internal employees Clients (all key POC’s) Prospects, referral sources and former clients Association members Chamber of Commerce Journalists/editors for local and regional publications

Healthy Database Building & Maintaining Again, one person in charge Manage & clean up Bad s at least once every other month Pull member download and review regularly Utilize Memo field for important searches and Radar Assign POC’s if not already assigned

Append Build your database without the work 40% - 60% success rate Append Bad s

CREATE e-Newsletter Design

e-Newsletter Look & Feel Masthead Color scheme / template design Newsletter formatting Banners

e-Newsletter Design Tactics Color Scheme / Template Design –Matching the Color Scheme –Choosing the right template design choice –Various template design options Masthead –Professional Masthead important for name branding –Examples of Mastheads created by Sponsors –Examples of Mastheads created by BizActions

Sponsor Created Mastheads

Sponsor Mastheads Cont.

BizActions Mastheads

BizActions Mastheads Cont.

e-Newsletter Design Tactics Newsletter Formatting –Edit Welcome Messages, customize –Use Masthead links to promote Website –Tweak verbiage to personalize; Greeting Line, Subject Line Banners –Create Custom Banners to reflect company style –Samples of Banners created by Sponsors –Samples of Banners created by BizActions for Sponsors –Using all available Banner slots can be too much