When people look for a newsletter or e-marketing service, they often are only looking for something that will help them with a single communication program to one unique audience on a regular and timely basis. A newsletter service is for newsletters only, right? At IMN, we encourage our customers to think outside the box and we provide them with a Rubik’s cube of opportunities, not only for the type of communication they are creating, but also with their various audiences and messages. Here’s just a sampling of the flexibility that you can have within a newsletter program – if you think outside the box, that is.
Go beyond a monthly newsletter: Sure you can have a monthly newsletter and you can create a program that has hard-hitting copy issue after issue. But what about when your company has some great news that just can’t wait until the next issue is published? How about creating a “News Flash” or “Bulletin” that carries a single article of importance? Or if your company has seminars, tradeshows, special events, or webinars, how about creating a new template that can be used as an eye-catching invitation? Got a new product release that will wow your audience? Why not give it some special attention in an e-mail message all of its own? The bottom line is that whenever you have a communication need, instead of using traditional routes, look to your newsletter program and see how you can adapt it to your present need.
Reach overlooked audiences: Think outside the box for audiences as well. Oftentimes, the primary audiences for newsletters are customers and prospects. But any time you have a significant number of people you need to communicate with, you can use your newsletter or a variation of it as the communication vehicle. All of a sudden you’re providing information in a new, intriguing format – one that will grab attention and get your point across quickly. So think beyond customers and prospects and include other groups such as media, vendors, distributors, dealers, resellers, and partners. And don’t forget the groups inside your company – sales people, customer service reps, developers, all employees…the possibilities are endless.
Give people the information they want and need: A newsletter typically offers a plethora of information that is a microscopic sampling of what a company has to offer customers and prospects. But don’t be afraid to come up with diverse applications for your e-marketing program. You might even find some additional benefits along the way. For instance, you can use it as a training vehicle for either external parties or for remote employees and save travel costs. You can use it as an employee benefit update and save printing costs. Or you can introduce a last-minute sales spiffs to help boost your quarter-end sales.
By creating your own Rubik’s cubes of ideas, you will be able to extend the potential of your newsletter program and you will be able to deliver communications that are timely, hard-hitting, and impactful. And who knows? Maybe you’ll save some time and money along the way too!
