I like email newsletters. I think they are a great way to stay in touch with our customers. We use them to announce new releases, updates and general items (like our recent one to remind our users to backup!). But they are a pain to put together. I’ve used several different tools, and consider myself savvy enough to dabble in HTML, yet I always get frustrated trying to get all of the different elements to work together. Even when I re-use a template there seems to be something that derails me from keeping it simple. Our main distribution system is iContact, I’ve found them to be a reliable and affordable solution. And while their HTML editor is good, I have a dream of something better. But I don’t think it is going to come to pass anytime soon.
I’ve been digging around the web and have found some interesting links:
Here is a great one about why HTML Email Newsletter Editors Suck. Worth a read if you are responsible for setting up your wineries email newsletters. It gives some insight into the common problems we face when putting the emails out.
And if you are looking to get more bang for your email newsletter, here are some ideas from a guy I like, John Jantsch with Duct Tape Marketing: 5 Ways To Make an Email Newsletter Your Best Sales Tool
And here is a handy tip for adding a video to your email newsletter.
Good luck with your own newsletter, and if you have any tools you like, let us know in the comments!