What makes a good Newsletter?

[Jacob]

I'm interested to hear everyones thoughts / views on what makes a good Newsletter.

Layout? Content? Flow? Lemme hear em!



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Jacob A. Wheeler
Co-Founder / Web Engineer
Big Resources Network
jacob@bigresources.com
ICQ: 390147 (http://www.icq.com/390147)

[ivonnieda]

Well Jacob, I've always liked a table of contents at the head of the newletter, and then if you have sponsers or adds in it don't put it between two paragraphs, but instead at the end.

That's my two cents.



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Isaac
Admin
Big Resources Inc.
isaac@123webmaster.net
ICQ# 71401549

[Jason]

I've always thought that it was ok to add sponsors to the top of the newsletter (or at least near the top). It's hard to sell an ad to a company if they know they are going to be at the bottom of the page, their click rate would also be pretty poor.

What it all comes down to is content. If you are providing useful and relevant information to your visitors, they will be willing to scroll past some ads, or even read them if you can find a sponsor that will provide something useful to your visitor. I've actually worked with sponsors that are so helpful, I would have considered listing it as a feature for free.

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Jason M. DesRoches
Co-Founder / Business Development
Big Resources Network
jason@123webmaster.com
ICQ: 17947522

[jalouda]

I don't mind a few adds at the top. it is better that way than having them littered all the way through the newsletter.

I like a table of contents too, because i get so many newsletters that I often just scan the contents to see what I will read there and then and what can stew in a folder for a while.

I hate newsletters which consist solely of a line or two about an area and then a link to a full article on their website. i don't mind a bit of that, like in one bit to draw attention to new articles at the site or when the topic merits a more thorough discussion than the newsletter space allows, but if that is all that is in it, I unsubscribe fast!

I like a bit of variety. One or two main articles/features, a few quick tips to break it up and I like to see an interactive bit where subscribers are asked for suggestions or a few subscribers' questions are included in each issue or you can enter a competition.

I don't like a newsletter to be overly long. I would rather receive a relatively short mailing twice weekly than a huge issue that i have to scroll down through forever once a week.

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~jalouda~
moderator 123webmaster (http://www.123webmaster.com)
* jalouda@iol.ie
* http://www.geocities.com/jaloudasworld/