Article, Blog, Newsletter or Website Content?

connectingrainbows · Joined: 04 Apr 2006 Posts: 27 Location: Southern Maryland

I'm sorry for such a general question, but what do you put where? For example, when it comes to adding time management tips to my life balance website, should I add them to my website, offer them in an autoresponder series to capture their contact information? When is information good for an article to drive traffic instead of website content? If I find a great new product that applies to my market, do I send a newsletter, blog about it, or add a page to my website?

I have a peer who apparently does all of it because her duplication of content is starting to be annoying. I obviously don't need to be subscribed to both her blog and her newletter. I'd like to avoid making this mistake.

Any guidance on the best use of different content?

Rosalind Gardner · Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 1:48 pm Post subject:

Hello connectingrainbows,

I'm certainly guilty of doing all of it! Smile

I use the blog to post timely information and the newsletter to do a 'weekly wrap-up' as well as introduce the weekly topic or feature article.

You'll note that I try to separate products and topics into articles onto themselves, primarily to make visitor access easier, but also to encourage better search engine rankings.

So, regarding time management tips, unless you have use your blog to announce your latest newsletter, you might wish only to point your visitors to your latest article (or section on your site) within your newsletter.

Hope that makes sense!

Cheers,
Ros

connectingrainbows · Joined: 04 Apr 2006 Posts: 27 Location: Southern Maryland

Um... No. I don't get it. Embarassed

I don't think your newsletter, blog, website content duplicate each other. Your newsletter more points back to your blog and website updates. It appears to be used more as a "in case you didn't see this already... check here". I like that.

So, perhaps rephrasing my question would help. I have a new website. I have not yet added a blog or a newletter. Where do you recommend I start?

boysbach · Joined: 27 Dec 2005 Posts: 195

I would get a newsletter up even if you only send one out once a month. Change the "be notified when the website is updated" to sign up for great information for the wham or whatever words you like. Get people signing up for that and then add a blog. You can look at rss once you are comfortable with the blog. Take it one step at a time. I did the newsletter now have added the blog and will at some point do rss.

The biggest danger is looking at Ros and where she is today and wanting to get there (good goal) but forgetting it took her time she didn't start and overnight have it all up and running.

If she is our mentor (just given you another job Ros Laughing

) and we want to follow her then we have to follow her step by step and not a quick jump which ends in frustration and failure.

Bev

Rosalind Gardner · Posted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 6:34 pm Post subject:

Hi again,

I agree with Bev (not about having another job to do.. tee hee) but that your newsletter should be your first priority.

Actually, I think everyone should have their autoresponder series together BEFORE they make their site public. Otherwise traffic comes and traffic goes... and it's gone for good.

Waaaaa!

Cheers,
Ros

connectingrainbows · Joined: 04 Apr 2006 Posts: 27 Location: Southern Maryland

Darn! That just made more questions. Laughing

To me an autoresponder series is different from a newsletter. Isn't it? Or do you just start out that way?

Embarassed

Editting very shortly after I posted this: I am going to read http://www.netprofitstoday.com/_resources/email-marketing.html RIGHT NOW! Please disregard the previous question! Wink

Rosalind Gardner · Posted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:09 am Post subject:

Hi K.C.

Sorry about that... and reading that article is a good idea.

You're right, I should have been more specific. You DEFINITELY should have your auto-series in place before launch.

Then your broadcast newsletter goes out periodically... weekly, monthly or whatever. Remember though, the more the merrier.

Cheers,
Ros

connectingrainbows · Joined: 04 Apr 2006 Posts: 27 Location: Southern Maryland

Thank you everyone!

I added my newsletter box to one of my websites yesterday! One more step forward. Very Happy

Greg · Joined: 01 Mar 2006 Posts: 7

K.C. I am looking to do the same, but I dont know where to get the newletter code to capter the name and email info. Did you buy it as part of a service / package such as aweber or mailloop?

Thanks

connectingrainbows · Joined: 04 Apr 2006 Posts: 27 Location: Southern Maryland

I'm currently trying out a free autoresponder at http://www.freeautobot.com. They gave me the code to put on my website.

Rosalind Gardner · Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 1:30 am Post subject:

Hi Greg,

The code is easy to get when you have an Aweber account. It walks you through what you want on your form step by step then creates the code for you to put on your site.

Cheers,
Ros

spotmea30 · Joined: 01 Feb 2006 Posts: 28 Location: Tampa, FL

Of all the services Ros has recommended, Aweber is still the ultra-awesome-amazing star. I'm still amazed at how great they really are!

richerbrat · Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 137

I totally agree with Roz on newsletter first and Aweber. The great thing is with Aweber, you can have as many different newsletter campaigns on it as you want - great if you have a few websites. It was brilliant for my mum and I, as we can share the one aweber account - which we got right here on this site - i think the info on Aweber is in the marketing tools directory to your right.

Blogs and articles are essential too once you have your newsletter in place. One thing though - one way of avoiding duplicate content is to use the same topic but from a different angle for each. You can get so much mileage out of one tiny topic. Just pick your topic then brainstorm. That way you can use the same research several times but avoid duplicating content.

boysbach · Joined: 27 Dec 2005 Posts: 195

If you are not ready for an autoresponder and want a short term solution get them to sign using a mailto option. One advantage of that is you never get the wrong email address from them.
I know it might not be practical in the long term but it certainly does solve the problem short term and allows you to collect names and build your list.

Kevin Riley · Joined: 26 Dec 2005 Posts: 17 Location: Osaka, Japan

I've seen two posts here ... one person opting for a free autoresponder, the other using mailto: NO, NO ,NO

Aweber is only $19.95 a month. If you want to be successful as an affiliate ... start treating it as a business ... get serious now!

The two ways you're thinking of using will only bring you grief ... and they sure won't help you grow a business.

Don't be daunted by Aweber ... it's real easy to set up .... they have great tutorials to help you and Tom Kulzer gives fantastic customer support.