This guide shows you how creating a newsletter for your site can be a very effective method of increasing the traffic it receives. Newsletters are also a great way to build a community and keep your readers well informed.
There are many methods to increase the overall web traffic your website receives. There is one proven method however which generates great organic traffic to your website, this is by writing newsletters. Ok so what exactly is a newsletter? A newsletter is a type of email sent out to a reader who has requested them (as opposed to spamming people who have no idea why you sent it to them). They can come in any form of layout, text, colors, basically anything your imagination allows you to.
A lot of websites use newsletters to update their readers about new content and news. So if you’ve just published 3 or 4 new articles and you want to let your readers know, then this is something that can go in the newsletter. Some newsletters are sent every week, some every fortnight or even once a month. This just depends on what information you want to share and how often.
Not only does a good newsletter form a great community feeling for amongst the readers of your website, but importantly for you it serves to increase the traffic you get. A lot of websites try to sell their affiliate products through their newsletters which can be a good idea if you have loyal readers.
So how do you start writing your first newsletter? You’ll need a subscriber list, if you don’t have on, spend time building one, introduce features into your site that ask readers if they’d like to receive one. If you’d like to write it yourself by all means do so, readers love to know what you the owner is up to, the ideas and thoughts coming to your mind, it’s a great way for them to know you better. Almost like a blog entry but not so often. Before you start writing one, you need a list first.
- Do you have a subscriber list? Have your readers signed up to your site? Take some time to incorporate these
features into your site so readers can accept to receive newsletters from you.
- Sample & Feedback - Send out a sample if this is your first newsletter, ask your readers what they would
like to see in the newsletter.
- Layout & Template – People will read it if it’s laid out neatly, looks fresh and not too cluttered. There
needs to be some value in it, so people will want to reciprocate.
- Well Placed Buttons/Links - Includes links in the newsletter to new articles on your site, and places on your
site where you would like to increase traffic.
These tips and ideas will get you well on the way to sending out your first newsletter. If you want to see great template ideas or need a hand creating and sending your newsletters, try the popular aweber service who can organize everything for you.
Remember to keep it fresh, listen to reader feedback and try not to miss a newsletter day. One thing however that you should never never do, even if someone offers you money, is to give out your subscriber list. You will lose respect and your credibility will plummet. You’re basically handing out confidential information about your readers without them knowing or their permission, so be good and look after them.
Have fun designing your newsletter and heres hoping it brings in a wave of new subscribers and traffic to your website!
August 5th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Great informative tool. Nice piece of help.
August 5th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Good article, but I think newsletters might be more suitable for larger organisations, rather than individual writers and poets? We mainly want people to click through to our published pieces, so providing our readers with quick and quirky updates via Twitter and Facebook is probably better. I may be completely wrong, but I think social networking sites are more effective for individuals, unless you have plenty to say on a regular basis above and beyond your articles!
August 5th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
misty..i agree with u.newsletters are good idea but probably more suitable for larger organizations. i am getting good response through twitter
August 5th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Hi all thanks for the comments, Misty good point I do agree with you that for individual writers or poets, networking sites can pretty effective, I’m planning on writing an article about marketing with social networking sites so stay tuned! Like you say though if you have plenty to say with regular new content then I’d go with newsletters… eventually though, marketing through both would be ideal as your site/work/following grows.
August 5th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
One more idea to increase traffic. Something I really need to improve. Thanks.