Today is my e-Newsletter shipping day. I send it out on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month. (Not subscribed? You can do so by clicking here).

e-Newsletters are, in my opinion, one of the best ways to stay in contact with those who have expressed an interest in your business or are current customers.

The key to creating a good e-Newsletter is to make it all about your reader. Keep self-promotion to a bare minimum. Instead, delve into topics that you know will help your prospects and customers.

Here are some quick tips to get you started:

Find a good email service provider (ESP)

I use MailChimp. They offer a free version of their service if you have less than 2000 subscribers. Your emails will be branded at the bottom with MailChimp’s discreet logo, but it’s not a distraction and a small price to pay for all of the great features they offer. There are others out there like Constant Contact, Mad Mimi, and My Emma. They all have similar features and templates. If you work with a CRM, make sure to check if you can import your list. Many CRMs work well with the more popular ESPs.

Create a unique name for your newsletter and a banner

You may want to look into investing in a graphic designer to help you with this part. Coming up with a fun title for your e-Newsletter (mine is “Morning Copy”) shouldn’t be too difficult. But creating a banner to fit your email template may take a little more work. Someone familiar with desktop publishing, photo editing, or a drawing studio can help.

Mix up your content

You want to create content for your audience that is helpful. But you also don’t want it to be boring. One way you can do this is by including some personal snippets of yourself. For instance, I finally upgraded my iPhone and I told my list about it. I admitted that my old iPhone was a dinosaur (iPhone 3) and that I finally am starting to text.  In another newsletter, I told my list that yes, I’m an early-morning person, often getting up at around 3:30 AM. Little glimpses into your life (or the life of your business), humanizes your newsletter and makes it more enjoyable to read.

I’ll be writing more about email because if you want to market your business, it’s one of the best ways to do it. If you’re not involved with it yet, at least promise yourself that you’ll start investigating it today. It’s not nearly as intimidating as you may think and easier than ever to get started. Feel free to ask questions in the comment area and I’ll send you in the right direction.