Freshen up your newsletter approach

May is always a refreshing time of year. So that's what we're going to be talking about in this issue of Newsletter Resource - freshening up your newsletter campaigns to keep your readers' attention. Below are some ideas to help you make your newsletters a must read.

Send a press release. If you've got a new product, special, or package coming out or a new event or workshop, send a press release to your readers instead of the usual newsletter. Just focus on one topic and make it a special announcement. Let your readers' feel like they're an insider getting advance information about something out of the ordinary.

Special contact requests. Put a few unusual contact links in your sidebar that gives your readers a reason to communicate with you. Have a link where they can request your new brochure or catalog, or let them share their story. Think about what you'd like them to do and create a simple, compelling call to action and put it where it's impossible to miss. Since it's something that you don't do regularly, it will stand out and get noticed.

Run a survey. Your readers would love to share their opinions with you. Plus you can share those ideas with the rest of your readers. You're creating a community! It's a great way to get some interaction with your readers. Use the results down the road to create a special report. Your readers will be interested in the outcome because they took part in helping you gather the information. It's all about developing that relationship.

Make a graph. Sometimes it helps break things up to illustrate your point with a colorful graph. Business people especially are used to seeing information presented this way and it makes it more powerful to them.

Do an interview. Talk to a perceived mover and shaker in your field and write the article up like an interview you'd read in People. Include a nice photo that has good eye contact with the reader. This will draw them in and make them care about what this person has to say even if they don't know who they are.

Make a list. Come up with your own Top 5 list of relevant things in your field like the best interview questions to ask the prospective employer. Perhaps there are some secret terms that you use to be more success in what you do.

Develop a tips check list. Share some tips on how to better deal with a common situation in your field - how to maintain your new VCR or questions to ask you loan officer.

Develop your own Cosmo Quiz. Many of the major magazines use some great features that keep their readers' interest. Borrow one of theirs such as a revised Cosmo Quiz. Instead of finding out if you're married to the right person, your quiz could be "Do you have the right mortgage broker?" or "Does your CPA understand you?" How about "Has the fire gone out of your attorney's eyes?" You get the idea. Put a juicy spin on it and your readers' will love it.

Well, there are a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing. Now, go forth and spice up your newsletters.