5 items to include in your newsletter

5 items to include in your newsletter

Do you find yourself struggling to think of content for your regular newsletter to your mailing list? Do you feel like you have writers block? Do you feel like you have nothing to say?

Let me make it easier for you. 

Have you considered having a pre-set template? This is a great way to help you pre-plan your content and create your newsletter in a more timely manner. But what do incorporate?

Here are 5 items to include in your newsletters as regular content;

#1 Introduction


Always open with a brief hello and what you’re up to. Connecting with your audience is vital and sharing a little about you, makes them know you’re real and that you care about them as your audience.

Connection is the key.

TIP: Make sure you personalise the email to include their name. Small personal touches go a long way.

 

#2 Valuable information  

Imagine getting an email that is giving you some awesome information relevant to you. Now imagine getting an email that’s all about them and salesy. That’s right … a real turn off. Give a little to gain a little, or hopefully more.

 

#3 Your latest projects or blogs

Don’t always assume your audience is reading your blogs or social media post. Remember, they’ve invited you into their personal space by allow YOU to have their email address because they may not have time for social media or may not be online as often as assumed. 

Depending on the length of your blog, you may want to put the whole things in your newsletter, or insert a portion of it and link the rest back to your website.

 

#4 Links to other services


We often assume that everyone remembers what we do. But be honest, do you remember what everyone does? Don’t be afraid to have dedicate a section to your other services, this can be done in the form of images with the service title and of course ensure its linkable to your website where further details are.

If you have a special running, then you can dedicate this area to that. Just don’t make the whole newsletter about you, remember it’s a relationship with your target audience so a bit of give and take goes a long way.

 

#5 Bio

In the footer of your newsletter you can have your social media platform linked and why not add a photo of you and a short paragraph blurb about who and what you do (another refresher for your audience).

TIP: Use a professional headshot, it’s the best investment you’ll make. 

 

#6 But I sell products not services

If you’re a retail product selling business, then you may have heard the term ‘picture tells a thousand words’. Use images of your products in your newsletter. You may have a product you’re wanting to move the last stock items off, so promote it in your newsletter, say something like ‘whilst stock lasts’ or ‘limited stock left, don’t miss out’.  Putting an ‘urgency’ with it, makes people take action faster.

Launching a new product, then share it. Maybe even offer an upsell product that would go well with the product.

TIP: Do not flood your newsletter with millions of images, it gets to overwhelming for your audience.

 

Feel like it’s all a bit hard and just want someone to create your branded newsletter for you. Guess what? I can, I am a Mailchimp expert and can create your branded newsletter templates, or automation series. Contact me today if you would like to know more.

 

 

 

 

How to set up your Mailchimp Account

How to set up your Mailchimp Account

Mailchimp is the All-In-One integrated marketing platform for small businesses, to grow your business on your terms. It’s free for your first 2000 subscribers, it enables you to use it’s automation functions for signs and sending welcome emails. It integrates with your website.

Some of the functions Mailchimp offers are:

• Sending Newsletter Campaigns
• Creating Automation Workflows
• Creating Landing Pages
• Creating Websites
• Posting to Social Media

It integrates with wordpress, zapier, slack and canva. And 300+ others.

It provides reporting analytics to enable you to enhance your campaigns.

You can sign up here.

Getting Started

Thing you’ll need in order to get started:

  • As Mailchimp is a web-based application. You will need to have an internet browser.
  • You’ll need to provide an email address that will be associated with the account you’re setting up. As you’ll need to verify and confirm your account and URL.
  • Your Mailchimp username must be unique, and cannot be reused.
  • You will need to provide a mailing address, I would recommend using a PO Box for security purposes especially if you do not operate your business from a physical premises.
  • All accounts start on our Free plan, so you don’t need a credit card to sign up.
  • If you choose to purchase add-ons or upgrade to a paid plan, you will be able to pay these via credit card or paypal. 

Sign up for an account

Click here to sign up. It’s important to note that when you sign up you are agreeing to terms of use and anti-spam regulations.

Type in your Email, Username, and Password, and click Get Started!

A confirmation message will appear advising you to check your inbox to activate your account set up .

 

 

Activate your account

When you receive your account activation email from Mailchimp Client Services, you can complete the account setup.

Click the account activation link in the email. 

 

You will need to confirm Humanity screen, check the I’m not a robot box, and click Confirm Signup.

 

 

Sign up for an account

Click here to sign up. It’s important to note that when you sign up you are agreeing to terms of use and anti-spam regulations.

Type in your Email, Username, and Password, and click Get Started!

A confirmation message will appear advising you to check your inbox to activate your account set up .

Activate your account

When you receive your account activation email from Mailchimp Client Services, you can complete the account setup.

Click the account activation link in the email.

You will need to confirm Humanity screen, check the I’m not a robot box, and click Confirm Signup.

The signup process

In setting up, Mailchimp will ask for required information. This information enables them to provide content that is relevant to you and your company’s needs, as well as to help make sure your account is compliant with our Terms of Use. In this section, you’ll learn how we use this information.
• Name
• Email Address
• Organization Questions
• Organization Name
• Website URL
• Physical Address

After you type in the information, follow the prompts to finish the process and log into your new Mailchimp account.

To busy to be doing all this yourself, then why not have your Mailchimp Partner (ME) assist you. Simply click here.

Creating an email campaign in Mailchimp

Creating an email campaign in Mailchimp

Here are your step by step instructions on creating an email campaign/newsletter in Mailchimp. 

Firstly, log into your account.

Click on CREATE on the top menu

Click on EMAIL in the dropdown menu

If you are sending a one off email to your mailing list, you want to select REGULAR. 

NAME your campaign, and click BEGIN

Click on TO, and select your list you’re emailing.

Click on FROM, and enter your details (email and name)

Click on SUBJECT, and enter your email subject. 

Click on CONTENT and design your newsletter. 

To design your newsletter

Select a template

Choose a template in the Content section of the Campaign Builder. The template you select will be the foundation of your design.

To select a template, follow these steps.

  1. In the Content section of the Campaign Builder, click Design Email.
  • On the Template step, click the template you want to use. You can always go back later to switch templates.

Choose from Layouts (Featured and Basic), Themes, Saved templates, Campaigns, or Code your own to begin to design your campaign.

Add your content

After you choose a template, you’ll move on to the Design step of the Content section. Use content blocks to add and format text, upload images, link to files, and more. All templates show placeholder text and images to help you begin to design your campaign. Depending on the template you choose, you can add, delete, move, and replicate content blocks to create the look and feel you want.

Drag and drop content blocks

Our drag-and-drop editor allows you to duplicate, delete, and rearrange content blocks. Drag and drop a variety of content blocks into your layout and rearrange them to customize the look and feel of your campaign.

Add text

The best way to add text to your campaign is to type it directly into the content block editing pane. If you prefer to work outside of the campaign builder, copy and paste your content from a simple text editor, like Notepad or TextWrangler.

Avoid rich-text word-processing programs, like Word or Publisher. They add styling code to the text that can prevent your ability to style content in the campaign builder.If you want to copy content from a rich-text editor, website, or email program, click the Paste as plain text icon on the editor toolbar to add your text.

If content has already been added to your campaign and you didn’t use the Paste as plain text option, or if content doesn’t update when you apply styling to your text, click Clear Styles and try again.

How to link your Squarespace to Mailchimp

How to link your Squarespace to Mailchimp

For those who are setting up websites using Squarespace but struggling on how to link it to the Mailchimp account. Here are some instruction to help you confidently link them.

#1.  Log into your Squarespace Account

#2.  Go to the page you want to add your sign up bar in

#3.  Edit your page

#4.  Click the right ‘+’ icon the top right hand side

#5.  Scroll down to the MORE section

#6.  Click on Newsletter icon and drag it to where you want to add it

#7. Enter in your display details

#8. Click on the second tab Storage.  You will the platforms you can connect to. If you can’t click the plug icon on the squarespace campaign and the others should appear.

#9.  Click Mailchimp, and link your website to your Mailchimp account my login into Mailchimp as the prompts come up on screen.

#10.  Select your list and connect the corresponding fields.

#11.  Repeat the above for everywhere you want to add the form on your website.

If you don’t feel confident doing this yourself, then please connect with me and I can assist you.

Anne