Your First Newsletter: 5 Sure-Fire Ways to Annoy People
I read a lot of newsletters. Some are great and some are not so great. I put together this article to highlight the five mistakes I see most often in people's first newsletter.1. When you're composing your newsletter in your email browser, put everyone's email address in the "To" field so that when someone receives your mailing they can see everyone else's address.Why You Might Not Want To Do This: With the high prevalence of spam (unwanted email) these days, people are very sensitive about their email addresses getting "out there". Also, depending on the topic of your newsletter, your readers may not be comfortable being identified.What To Do Instead: Put your own email address in the "To" field and use the Bcc. (blind carbon copy) field for everyone else's addresses. A much cleaner look and you're not compromising anyone's privacy.2. Don't give your reader a way to unsubscribe, or ignore them when they ask that you stop contacting them.Why You Might Not Want To Do This: With people using more and more time these days to delete unwanted email from their Inbox, their patience is really getting thin when they get email they didn't ask for. And not responding to an unsubscribe request, well, that's just bad customer service. Have you ever heard that people will tell more people about a bad customer service experience than they will a good one? Don't have them talking about you!What To Do Instead: You can use an email distribution service that will automatically place an unsubscribe link at the bottom of every mailing you send out, plus the system will immediately take the person off your list as soon as they request it. If you're managing your list yourself, then include specific unsubscribe instructions yourself (i.e. to be removed from this mailing list, please send an email to this address ? insert your address - with the subject line "Unsubscribe"). And most importantly, promptly honor these requests!3. When you meet someone new and chat with them about your business (or the weather), or if they contact you about something unrelated to your business, be sure and immediately add them to your mailing list (don't get explicit permission or let them know you've done it).Why You Might Not Want To Do This: People don't like it! Just as I mentioned above, people don't want email they're not expecting or haven't asked for. This is especially true if the email is labeled as something that will be sent more than once (like a newsletter).What To Do Instead: Send your new contact (and your old ones, while you're at it) a complimentary or sample copy of your newsletter and invite them to subscribe if they liked it. Assure them that they haven't been added to your list (you'd NEVER add anyone without their explicit permission).4. Be sure not to check your links in your newsletter ? that way people will be annoyed AND frustrated when they click and wind up at an error page.Why You Might Not Want To Do This: You include links in your newsletter because you either want to share valuable information with your readers that you have scoured the Internet for (so they wouldn't have to), or so that your readers can find out more about your products and services and purchase them and/or recommend them to others. When your links are incomplete, incorrect, or unclickable, it's frustrating to that person who wanted to find out more. It might even send them away forever.What To Do Instead: Use full URL addresses (including the "http://" at the beginning), check your links to make sure they're correct and still active (if it's not your own website), and avoid putting a "." period directly after a link (some web browsers can't distinguish between the end of the link and the "." character and so the link won't work). An email distribution service will give you lots more options for using links in your newsletter (HTML, etc.).5. Dress up your promotion as a newsletterWhy You Might Not Want To Do This: People will see through your attempts to hide your promotion, and then they'll resent that you tried to sneak it past them. People are getting weary of being sold to, especially when they've let their guard down because they thought they were going to read an innocent newsletter.What To Do Instead: You could simply call it a promotion (and let your readers know when they sign-up that they'll hear from you about products and services). Or you could add value to a promotion by writing or providing an informative article or collection of tips that will be useful to your target audience. Then include your promotional information as a bonus. It's not to say you can't promote yourself within your newsletter, it's just that people want to feel that you care enough about them to offer them something valuable before asking them to buy something!It's great that you're starting a newsletter. It's a fantastic way to maintain repeated contact with your customers, prospects and referral sources, increase your visibility and establish your credibility as an expert in your field. So why risk all that with any of the annoying habits I've listed here?Maybe you're not annoying ALL of your readers when you do these things. But do you really want to take that chance?(c) Copyright Linda Dessau, 2005.Linda Dessau is a writer and coach. Through her "Newsletter Assist" and "You Talk It, I'll Write It" writing services, she helps coaches and other solo professionals promote their business with email newsletters and create passive revenue streams with written information products. Find out more at: http://www.genuinecoaching.com/writing
How to Decorate Spaces for People
When it comes to decorating your home, forget about the empty, lifeless rooms you see in interior design magazines and books. Instead, you should concentrate on designing all of the rooms in your home as backdrops for the people who will be living in those spaces. Here are a few simple techniques for designing dynamic spaces:Don't be afraid to leave some empty spaces in your rooms. Empty space allows for breathing room and lets the most important items in the room shine -- the people who live there!Avoid large patterns in your fabrics and wallpapers. As a general rule, use no designs larger than your palm, because they will interfere with the appearance of people in the room. Using smaller patterns on walls and furniture will mean that friends and family won't have to compete with bold patterns for attention.Use paint colors that complement people's skin and eye colors. For light skin colors, use yellows, pinks, and beiges. For darker complexions, yellows, olives, and tans can make people look great.Use textures that stimulate the sense of touch. Look for textures that are nice to caress, such as velvet, chenille, or satin. They'll create a feeling of being pampered.Always choose comfort over pretense. Just because a sofa looks great doesn't mean it's comfortable. When you visit a showroom, remember that in order to truly test a piece of furniture, you need to sit on it for awhile, until you feel totally rested. Only then will can you get a realistic feel for its support and comfort level.Your home is meant to be a place for people, and if you always keep yourself, your family, and your guests in mind, you'll be well on your way to designing spaces that will be more comfortable and emotionally appealing than the staged photos you see in magazines and books.(c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved.Professor Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Joy to the Home, and other books teaches Real Estate Investing and Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, newsletters, and sales flyer template, see http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com/pages/5/index.htm
Alternative Health Treatments for People Who Give Too Much
Being a modern traveler, you probably get onto an airplane these days, find your seat, pull out a paperback and tune out those all-important instructions from the flight attendant about emergency procedures. Let me refresh your memory. At some point in the presentation, the flight attendant usually says something like, "Please place the oxygen mask on yourself, before assisting others." Let's follow that profound message for a moment and apply it to your everyday life.We receive messages on a daily basis that promote the concept that it is better to give than to receive. The truth of the matter is that we can only give something to other people IF we have something to give. Imagine yourself as a pitcher of clear cool water. The water is your care, concern, and positive energy. The water is free, you give it away all the time to the people in your life, it takes nothing away from you. However, once your reach the bottom of the pitcher, if you are still giving, you are depleting your own life force energy. Even though it is possible to continue to give at this point, you will be risking your health and your happiness. It is a self-destructive habit. Refilling yourself with energy to spare is really easy, but it does take a little time. Are you worth it?Treating yourself well is a great way to refill your energy reserve. Try these easy suggestions.? Have a Massage.Massage is a great way to relieve stress and shows your body that you care about it. The benefits of massage can last for days. Before the massage begins, inform your therapist that you will not be talking during the session and that you would like to meditate during the treatment. Be firm about this. Releasing your thoughts is important to real relaxation and healing. I recommend receiving a massage at least once a month. Discount massages can often be obtained at massage schools.? Take a Bubble Bath.Relaxing in a tub with soft music, candles, and the essential oil of your choice can be a fabulous way to create serenity. You can use dishwashing soap to make bubbles. Pure essential oils used in a hot bath are absorbed into the skin promoting a physical and emotional sense of well being. I suggest using Lavender essential oil as it is very versatile and is known to create tranquility. Adding a cup of sea salt or Epson salt to your bath will help draw toxins out of your body resulting in even more space for positive influences.? Drink Original Noni Juice.Medical research has shown that Noni juice creates positive hormone balancing that regulates your "feel-good" endorphin. Honestly feeling good about yourself and your body becomes a gift that you can share with others. They will sense your positive energy just by being around you. Original Noni Juice also helps rid the body of toxins. Some research is available here: http://www.cnw.com/~timo/scien/scientific.html? Practice Qi-Gong Exercises.Qi-Gong is an ancient oriental exercise that promotes the building of life force energy. Everyone can do Qi-Gong as it is a series of positions combined with focused attention that has no jarring impact on your joints. Purchase a video that demonstrates Qi-Gong. Once you've become familiar with the positions, you can take short Qi-Gong breaks throughout the day to give your energy level a boost.To maintain your ability to gift other people with your unique talents and positive energy, you have to take responsibility to "place the mask" on yourself first. These suggestions will get you started, but remain mindful of the things that bring joy to your life and then do them often. Building your life force energy is absolutely worth your time because you are an incredible gift to this world and your health and happiness is important to all the people who love you.