Simon Payn's Effective Customer Newsletters

Why I don't care much about Facebook (and nor should you)

Here’s an interesting stat that came across my desk yesterday:

Email is 40 times more effective at acquiring customers as Facebook and Twitter combined!

Think about that. You would have to make 40 social media posts to get the same benefit as one email.

Now…I didn’t just make up these stats. They come from McKinsey & Company – super-respected business consultants.

The reason, say the experts at McKinsey, is that 91% of all US consumers still use email daily.

They also found that the average order value is also 17% higher.

Here’s the thing:

With Facebook, you might get lots of engagement.

Lots of “likes”.

But “likes” don’t pay the bills!

It’s sales that count.

So while Facebook might be social and fun, it’s email that brings in the business.

That’s why instead of posting to Facebook, you’d be wise to start your own email newsletter today.

http://www.readybusinessnewsletters.com/onemonthfree/

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Just one bite

So there’s my five-year-old nephew, and in front of him is a plate of strange food. 

It’s new food. Something he hasn’t tasted before. 

His nose wrinkles up. 

Eeeeeewgh! 

"Take just one little bite," says his mother. 

And he does...as if there is poison on the end of his fork. 

One. Little. Bite. 

And you know what? 

It’s not so bad after all. 

...five minutes later and the plate is empty. 

I like to think of this when I have a big project on my own plate. 

That product seems so huge...so filling...that I could never finish it. 

Better not to start at all. 

But if I remember to take just one bite, the whole thing becomes a lot less daunting. 

Because after the first bite, I take a second. And a third. And a fourth. 

Before long, I am totally "in" to the project and all I can see is the finish line. 

The empty plate. 

The same thing goes for your newsletter. 

Starting a newsletter program seems like a huge mouthful. 

So instead, take just one bite. 

Download your first newsletter and see what it looks like. 

If you like it, you’ll take a second bite. And a third. 

And away you go. 

Here’s where to start; http://www.readytogonewsletters.com/onemonthfree/ 

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The shop that sold only water

Once upon a time when I was in Spain I ran across a shop that sold nothing but water.

And it wasn’t any of your fancy water from Fiji either. It was your plain, good-old grocery store water in plastic bottles.

Now, I know that Spain is a warm country and people need to hydrate.

But how could a store survive selling nothing but water?

The rumor around town was that they were selling something else out of the back door.

Something a little more profitable than water.

Something you couldn’t display in the window.

…you get my drift.

I’m telling this story for a reason – and it’s not to promote selling something whacky from under the counter.

Here’s the thing.

Most businesses have more than just one thing to sell.

Real estate agents, for example, can act as a buyers’ agent as well as a listing agent.

But do your clients realize that – and realize how helpful that can be?

Insurance brokers can sell more than one policy – a homeowners insurance client should have auto and life with you too, right?

Indeed, most businesses have more than one product on offer.

So if a client has bought one product or service, why not suggest they buy another?

It’s the easiest way to increase the size of your business.

And it’s the way that most people forget.

A newsletter makes it easy. If you mail to your existing clients (who have already bought something from you and are therefore proven to be willing to whip out their pocketbooks), you can tell them what else you offer.

What you have out the back.

Here’s the place to start with your newsletter:

http://www.readybusinessnewsletters.com/onemonthfree/

Photo Credit: Muffet via Compfight cc

New Year, New-sletter

I’ve often said that January 1 is my favorite day of the year.

Way to peak early, huh? Downhill from there on.

But seriously.

There’s something glorious about the clean slateness of that day. A fresh start with no baggage.

And what’s more, it’s a holiday.

January is one of the golden times of the year. The other is just after Labor Day.

So it’s a good idea not to waste it.

The thing is, in January, people are thinking about the future. Making resolutions and embarking on a new start.

And one of their resolutions might be to think about what you have to offer.

So that’s why it really pays to be out in front of them in January.

In the great moving parade of clients, this is one of the months when many of them are shopping.

So send out your January newsletter this week.

We make it easy for you by providing you something that is completely ready-made (but which you can edit as much as you want).

Start here for the free trial
month: http://www.readybusinessnewsletters.com/onemonthfree/