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lyndeb
Joined: 09 Nov 2005
Posts: 54
Location: MO
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 Posted: March 3, 2006, 1:13 am Post subject: Newsletter questions - newbie here |
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Hi everyone,
I started a monthly contest last month and everyone who enters also signs up for my newsletter. This is my first official newsletter besides updates emails to those who have requested info about my greeting card biz.
So, my questions are: (ready...lol?)
#1 - On my contest entry page, I have a statement that says by entering the contest, you are agreeing to receive mail from me (not exact words). Is this a proper way to go about getting people to sign up for your newsletter? You can see how I have done this here: http://keepintouch.homestead.com/contest.html at bottom of page.
#2 - My newsletter isn't fancy and is mostly text only for now, how would I go about making it better?
#3 - Should I find a way to make this a double opt in newsletter? Right now I just send them an email thanking them for entering my contest and joining my newletter...
#4 - I've added 140 subscribers in one month and more are added daily. Do you suggest that I get an auto responder to start handling this?
Hmmm, I may have more questions but this is all I can think of for now...LOL.
Debbie
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Anita
Leader of this Crazy Bunch!
Joined: 24 Feb 2004
Posts: 7376
Location: Mifflintown, PA
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| Posted: March 3, 2006, 6:04 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | | #1 - On my contest entry page, I have a statement that says by entering the contest, you are agreeing to receive mail from me (not exact words). Is this a proper way to go about getting people to sign up for your newsletter? You can see how I have done this here: http://keepintouch.homestead.com/contest.html at bottom of page. |
Adding that statement is an okay way to go and I say that very, very lightly. See below #3
| Quote: | | #2 - My newsletter isn't fancy and is mostly text only for now, how would I go about making it better? |
You could do your newsletter in HTML and host it on your website that you already have. However, I strongly suggest you get your own domain name and hosting.
| Quote: | | #3 - Should I find a way to make this a double opt in newsletter? Right now I just send them an email thanking them for entering my contest and joining my newletter... |
Absolutely! I highly suggest getting yourself a mailing list. One that we recommend often is YourMailingList.com. They have both a free and paid version. For reasons of why you should have a double-opt in newsletter, see the other post here http://mommyshelperonline.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3470
| Quote: | | #4 - I've added 140 subscribers in one month and more are added daily. Do you suggest that I get an auto responder to start handling this? |
If you go with a mailing list provider such as YourMailingListProvider.com they will take care of all of your sign ups.
What I would suggest for you to do is to go with a mailing list provider. Have people sign up to your newsletter and tell them by signing up to your newsletter, they'll be entered into your contest.
Hope this helps some!
Take care,
Anita 
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karadawn
Idea Queen & Candle Expert
Joined: 25 Feb 2004
Posts: 1035
Location: Iowa
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| Posted: March 3, 2006, 8:35 pm Post subject: |
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I too strongly recommend a mailing list provider. By doing this you are protecting yourself against spam complaints (and there WILL be complaints no matter how many times you make it clear they are signing up - a mailing list provider takes care of this FOR you though), as well as making things MUCH easier on you. As your list grows, so will the amount of subscriptions and unsubscriptions as well. It can easily get out of hand, so having a mailing list provider that takes care if for you makes it MUCH easier.
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~Kara Kelso~
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lyndeb
Joined: 09 Nov 2005
Posts: 54
Location: MO
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| Posted: March 3, 2006, 9:44 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks Anita & Kara,
I just signed up with YourMailingList.com and I'll be playing around with it today. Can I transfer my current subscribers over fairly easy?
Debbie
_________________
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karadawn
Idea Queen & Candle Expert
Joined: 25 Feb 2004
Posts: 1035
Location: Iowa
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| Posted: March 4, 2006, 3:51 am Post subject: |
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Very easy. I'm thinking it's even free up to a certain number of subscribers. When Anita and I merged, we had something like 300 to import so it costed us extra, but I'm pretty sure it's free up to at least 100 if not 200.
_________________
~Kara Kelso~
Advertising on Idea Queen
Over 700 daily unique visitors, great rates!
Prairie Soy Candles
Handmade Soy Candles - no dyes or additives! |
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lyndeb
Joined: 09 Nov 2005
Posts: 54
Location: MO
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| Posted: March 4, 2006, 4:00 am Post subject: |
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Okay, I directed one of my domain names to the contest page:
www.HavingFunWithCards.com
Then I added the YMLP subscriber form where my old entry form was located. I checked out doing the imports but I would have to upgrade to import any subscribers, so I'll just wait until they all sign up for April's contest and then they'll be added.
Then I added this to the top of the page: Sign up for FunSendingCards.com weekly E-Zine and you'll be entered for a chance to win!
Okay, so what do you think?
www.HavingFunWithCards.com
Debbie
P.S. Thanks for all your help and advice!
_________________
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www.FunSendingCards.com
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Anita
Leader of this Crazy Bunch!
Joined: 24 Feb 2004
Posts: 7376
Location: Mifflintown, PA
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| Posted: March 4, 2006, 5:57 am Post subject: |
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Looks great!!
Another thing you could do to maybe get some of the subscribers back that you already have is to send out a "special announcement" that you're switching mailing providers and you'll need current subscribers to resubscribe at http://www.havingfunwithcards.com
Good job!
Take care,
Anita
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P.S. You have to check this out:
COMPLETE Business For Sale - All Ready to Go! |
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lyndeb
Joined: 09 Nov 2005
Posts: 54
Location: MO
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| Posted: March 4, 2006, 9:28 am Post subject: |
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| Anita wrote: | Looks great!!
Another thing you could do to maybe get some of the subscribers back that you already have is to send out a "special announcement" that you're switching mailing providers and you'll need current subscribers to resubscribe at http://www.havingfunwithcards.com
Good job!
Take care,
Anita |
Great idea, I think I'll do that!!
I also posted it at Online-Sweepstakes.com and I've had 33 new subscribers already.... just in the last few hours!! This is fun.... now to keep my newsletter interesting so they don't leave 
Blessings,
Debbie
_________________
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Anita
Leader of this Crazy Bunch!
Joined: 24 Feb 2004
Posts: 7376
Location: Mifflintown, PA
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| Posted: March 4, 2006, 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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| lyndeb wrote: | | now to keep my newsletter interesting so they don't leave |
I'm sure you'll do fine You have some really great ideas to do with those cards ... just share em!
Congrats on all the sign ups!
Take care,
Anita
_________________
P.S. You have to check this out:
COMPLETE Business For Sale - All Ready to Go! |
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lyndeb
Joined: 09 Nov 2005
Posts: 54
Location: MO
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| Posted: March 4, 2006, 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Anita wrote: |
I'm sure you'll do fine You have some really great ideas to do with those cards ... just share em! |
Thanks Anita, you and Kara have been a great help!
Debbie
_________________
Free 10-day trial into Send Out Cards!
www.FunSendingCards.com
My Squidoo Lens:
http://www.squidoo.com/debbiedavis |
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