Week 11 Email Newsletters

Blog Post: After reading the lecture and text book assignment, write a blog post in response to this assignment:  Newsletters can be sent weekly, monthly, quarterly, or even twice a year for certain businesses. With that in mind, what information could your business use for a newsletter, and how often would you send one? Write a list of content ideas you think your customers would enjoy seeing and why.

If you already are on a mailing list for some email newsletters, review them for ideas in what works and what doesn't, plus what type of content to include.

If you are working with your own real business, consider signing up for your competitors' newsletters. What do they cover in their news?

My business can use content on new class, workshop and event details for a newsletter.  I try to send a newsletter quarterly and at a minimum send then them out when I have big events such as a yoga retreat or a new series to announce.  I think that my clientele enjoys seeing images of beautiful locations they can imagine themselves traveling to to enjoy yoga in nature and the inspiration and break that time away can offer.  I also think they like to learn about other local offerings I may be providing in the community outside of the one time a week they see me in their office environment for an occupational yoga session.
Content ideas for newsletters:
Highlight local Chair yoga classes and the benefits of chair yoga for COPD, MS, post surgery, arthritis 
Clients would enjoy seeing this because people whose lifestyles have been limited due to chronic illness, pain or are undergoing rehabilitation following surgery may not be aware that they are eligible for free and/or deeply reduced therapeutic yoga, they also may not be aware of the benefits)
 
Highlight MS Yoga Fundraiser Workshop Offering 
Clients with MS would benefit from finding out about the regular ongoing classes they are eligible for, if they are not a current subscriber to the newsletter, someone who is may have a friend or family member who could benefit from the regular class.  The class would benefit from attendees, donors and sponsors that may choose to support this unfunded class.  Most of the current attendees are not able to work due to the illness and have limited incomes to be able to afford yoga.

Highlight Cats on Mats and benefits of practicing with companion animals, research and sight any studies that reflect health benefits of time spent with companion animals.  The clientele may enjoy learning more about the adoptable cats we help support, socialize and network with regular Cats on Mats yoga offerings.  The cats are cute and provide excellent photo opportunities for engaging images. 

Highlight collaborations and partner projects and promotions.  Clients may be interested in similar offerings that I can provide information on and in turn the collaboration should benefit my business with referrals from the collaborating partner.

I find that pictures and short sentences are more engaging in a newsletter.  If I am interested in the topic I want to be able to easily link to the rest of the story.  If the newsletter is highlighting a single event on a single date I think it should also include the time.  I think it is a newsletter fail when they announce a single event and leave out the time details and contact information.
I find that most competitors cover details about classes, retreats and workshops they are holding with basic information available.  I am surprised at the number who do leave out pertinent information such as the time of the event and their links usually link to the exact information, missing the critical piece you are looking for.  It is good to get feedback from readers to be able to improve newsletters.  It is also surprising the number of clients who tell me they don't read the info at all but sign up for the event and text or ask in person a number of questions whose answers were all in the newsletter or linked to on the website.