Originally Posted by iVirtual

Wow Tammi, that is a great example of how effective newsletters can be! Something I think I'll have to get onto

Glad it was helpful to you! As an update, I just sent out a special promotion offering a free consultation to my list and got enough responses to fill about 7 weeks worth of my consultation times (I set aside a few time slots each week for free consultations). It was very exciting!

Side note: when it comes to promotional emails like the one I sent recently, it's all about the wording, and getting the right message to your list. If effective copywriting isn't on your list of things you have the desire, time, or resources to learn, you might consider outsourcing the task to a pro. Otherwise, you can start by just sending content-rich newsletters once a month, every few weeks, or whatever other schedule you choose. Dig into the topics within your niche that seem like common sense to you (like setting up QuickBooks might be for a bookkeeper) but are probably Greek to your target audience. They'll eat it up and will appreciate the assistance. They'll also come to see you as the expert in your field, so when they need help with something you're great at, guess who they'll come to...YOU!

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Tammi Metzler ~ The Write Associate
Free call: "How to Write Email Subject Lines That Grab Attention!"

Originally Posted by Write Associate

Glad it was helpful to you! As an update, I just sent out a special promotion offering a free consultation to my list and got enough responses to fill about 7 weeks worth of my consultation times (I set aside a few time slots each week for free consultations). It was very exciting! Side note: when it comes to promotional emails like the one I sent recently, it's all about the wording, and getting the right message to your list. If effective copywriting isn't on your list of things you have the desire, time, or resources to learn, you might consider outsourcing the task to a pro. Otherwise, you can start by just sending content-rich newsletters once a month, every few weeks, or whatever other schedule you choose. Dig into the topics within your niche that seem like common sense to you (like setting up QuickBooks might be for a bookkeeper) but are probably Greek to your target audience. They'll eat it up and will appreciate the assistance. They'll also come to see you as the expert in your field, so when they need help with something you're great at, guess who they'll come to...YOU!

Wow, thanks Tammi, some really great advice there. I won't be sending out my first newsletter for a few months yet, but all of these ideas are getting me thinking.

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Claire Baber ~ Horizon Virtual Assistance

Most of you answered my question about the effectiveness of newsletters. It is something we did with our first business, but we really didn't find it effective. Either that or we were not consistent with it long enough to really see a difference in our business.

Do you think it is necessary to have a newsletter? If so, I would have to get a sign up box up on my website first.

How long approximately has it taken you to see the "fruits of your labor" so to speak?

Thanks in advance,
Theresa

Hi Theresa,

Once I committed to regular newsletters (which for me was every other week), I started getting responses right away. It got to the point where I could hardly wait to send out my newsletter, because after each issue I would get a few requests for quotes on my services - which was definitely nice!

Then it took probably about 5-6 months of regular newsletters to really feel like people were seeing me as an expert in my field, and to start noticing that in most cases, the same people were faithfully reading my newsletters and buying my products and services. The bigger you build your "fan base," the better off you'll be - because every time you release a new product or service (or even just run a promotion on an existing product or service), you'll have an audience that will be eager to hear about it - and will readily take you up on your offer because they already know, like and trust you. And once they get to that point, they'll be eager to refer their friends, and your fan base will keep growing.

So to answer your question, it may not be 100% essential to have a newsletter, but I know that having one can do wonders for your business, if only to give you a quick and easy way to stay in touch with past clients and interested prospects.

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Tammi Metzler ~ The Write Associate
Free call: "How to Write Email Subject Lines That Grab Attention!"

Thanks, Tammi! You shared some good thoughts. Now I will have to decide if this is something I should implement in my business. I know others have expressed this on other threads, but I also fear not having enough or quality content because I struggle with that very thing on my blog. I'd love to come up with certain things to do each day for my blog, like themes and then tie in a newsletter with it. Not that I'd do a daily newsletter, but tie it in with a weekly/bi-weekly or monthly newsletter...maybe...

Would love to know what you all do...

Theresa

This is a great question. I would like to start up a newsletter, but I too have absolutely no idea of the content. Are there any examples out there? I'd love to see other VAs' newsletters to get an idea of how and what to do! I think this is a great idea.

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Patty

I do a monthly newsletter and yes, I do worry about content so I work at least two months ahead (Dec and Jan newsletters about ready to go, just need finishing touches) which takes the pressure off.

Content - well, I try and have one main article then include a little bit about what's been discussed on my blog over the last month, links to two articles that may be of interest to my audience and any information about new services I may be offering.

This was my last one http://mim.io/bea06

HTH

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Bridie's Typing Services - Transcription, Copy Typing, Editing and Proofreading Services
The professional's choice

I just sent out last week what I guess was my first "newsletter". It was a short blurb on what I have been doing professionally, i.e. new clients etc (not names since many of mine are confidential). I included an article re Social Security and the Mentally Ill since that is close to my heart.

I sent it to business contacts/associates, even went ahead and sent to a couple of prospects that I had had previous contact with when they were looking for someone to hire for a "job".

It doesn't have to be a certain format - let it reflect who you are or what you want your business to be reflected as. I want my business to be virtual but yet personal and I feel it will help people to get to know me. Also I have other contacts in "real life" that I sent it to - and helps keep in touch. I would almost prefer to call it "a note from Deb" -- if you would prefer it to be more formal - so be it!

After all -- this is YOUR business - go for it!