I have a certain relative, let’s call her Aunt Marge (mostly because I don’t think there’s ever been a Marge in the family). Aunt Marge never met a forward she didn’t like. People have actually been known to set up email accounts just for Aunt Marge’s forwards.

Virus warnings, chain letters, “cute” photos, jokes, etc, etc, etc. I don’t think she knows how to actually write an original email–just how to click and send to everyone she knows.

In my own email account, I have a folder just for Aunt Marge’s emails. Outlook automatically routes her emails there and from time to time I go through and delete the messages she’s sent. Unread.

Perhaps you have an Aunt Marge of your own. Most of us do.

Aunt Marge teaches us two lessons about effective email newsletters.

What Do They Associate Your Name With?
The first, what do subscribers think when they see your name in the “from” field? Information they’ve already seen a half dozen times? Or fantastic, to-the-point advice that’s always entertaining?

Entertain them, inform them, and your list will grow. That’s because people like to share information they find interesting and engaging.

What’s Aunt Marge’s second lesson?

Why Does Aunt Marge Forward Those Emails?
Take a look at those forwards she shares with you. Chances are, they’re very specific about who she should send them to–”Six people who know you best,” “Everyone in your address book,” etc, etc.

And yet, most newsletter publishers write a more generic, “If you know someone who might be interested in this newsletter, please forward it to them.”

I don’t know about you, but, as a reader, I don’t have time to think about who I know who might be interested.

But, tell me to forward the newsletter to someone who’s struggling to find their perfect new house, or to someone who’s just bought a new puppy, and I can think of two or three people to share the newsletter with.

Aunt Marge, More than Just an Email Threat
Lesson one, make your newsletter fresh. Don’t rehash information that’s been going around the Internet for the last six years.

Lesson two, tell readers precisely who to share the newsletter with.

Turn your readers into a powerful sales force for your newsletter and your list’ll grow. Just, please, don’t let Aunt Marge subscribe! One copy of your newsletter’s enough for any reader.

Excerpted from Getting Permission, by Jessica Albon. Get your copy of Getting Permission by visiting http://www.designdoodles.com/

Are you writing articles for your monthly newsletter only to publish them once and never use them again? Successful writers resell their articles multiple times for maximum exposure. Why don’t you maximize your exposure, and put those articles to work for you by exploring your reprint options.

1. Reprint them on your website. This will help you build a substantial content base. Your website can also provide the perfect place to expand your articles or provide links to further resources.

2. Get them published. Does your industry have a regular newsletter that might want to use some of your articles? What about consumer publications? Do any come to mind that might be interested in a piece you’ve written?

3. Offer to let others reprint them. Say you’re an insurance agent with lots of articles about auto insurance. Offer to let a local car lot reprint your articles on their website or in their newsletter. Be sure to include your copyright notice, a brief bio and contact info!

4. Put copies in your publicity package. When you’re filling a request for info, pull relevant newsletter articles for inclusion. You might also want to include information on how the recipient can subscribe.

5. Send them to networking contacts. If you’re a caterer and you’ve written an article on planning parties for healthy eaters, share the article with a nutritionist or trainer you know.

6. Use them to spark press releases. Did a new industry development lead you to do a couple of hours of research and writing for an article? Consider that development’s newsworthiness. Might it make a story? Try turning it into a press release for local media outlets and provide your newsletter article as an example of your approach.

7. Republish a selection as a booklet. Gather articles that seem complimentary and publish them as a pamphlet. You can distribute this selection free as a special promotion or offer it for sale. Either way, be sure it addresses a specific customer for maximum impact.

Put your articles to work and watch the impact of your newsletter grow exponentially!

Do you want your newsletter to look just like your competition’s? Of course not! That’s why you need The Write Exposure; we’ll design a newsletter focused on your USP. Visit our website at: http://www.designdoodles.com today.

My father always wanted my brother and I to play musical instruments. He owned a veritable musical menagerie, including two mandolins, a flute, a guitar, a trombone (my brother’s instrument of choice), and many others.

Joe (my brother) was good–he picked up the trombone and never looked back. In fact, he still plays it, upon request. Growing up, he practiced nightly (though the trombone really isn’t an instrument you can listen to alone–it seldom plays the melody in a piece of music). Within a short amount of time, he turned into a fantastic trombone player.

Me, I preferred to look through the music books and think about playing an instrument. I’d sit at my desk, no instrument in sight, and stare at the notes that went up and down. Sure, I could tell you what each note was and how long you should hold it, but when it came to actually playing those notes, I always hesitated.

Your newsletter is exactly the same way. You can read all about it–you can read the articles at The Write Exposure’s website, you can read our "Do You Make These Six Mistakes in Your Company Newsletter?" And, when you’re finished, you’ll be able to tell me succinctly the difference between a masthead and a nameplate and the importance of having goals.

But until you actually put what you know into practice, until you publish that newsletter regularly, your skill at publishing a newsletter will match mine at playing an instrument.

Your Turn: Make a commitment to start your newsletter, and do it. It’s only by putting in the practice that you’ll get the results you want!

Are you at the end of your rope when it comes to writing your newsletter? Do you sit and stare at that little blinking cursor?

Even the most prolific newsletter publishers face times when they just can’t stand the thought of writing another issue. The next time that feeling strikes, use these three techniques to pull yourself out of it.

Renew your commitment to discipline There’s something to be said for forcing yourself to do something, even when you don’t want to. Whether that’s exercising your muscles, getting up an hour earlier, or keeping your promise to readers to get your newsletter out on time, you’ll shore up your personal integrity by honoring the commitments you make.

If just the thought of training yourself to become better disciplined isn’t enough, consider this question posted by Sam Horn in her book, ConZentration: What will I remember a year from now?

Will you remember that you played hooky for a day? Or will you remember that you got your newsletter out on time, every time, for the entire year?

Pare down the newsletter Last year, I was writing two feature articles per issue. And though the newsletter came out less frequently, I was still writing both articles at the same time. It was simply too much writing for me.

So many of my clients feel they have to put out a long newsletter or not bother. In reality, just as you’re busy, so are your readers. Most publishers get better results with shorter, more frequent newsletters.

Plus, brevity makes readers happy.

Use a content formula that makes sense If you hate to write, arrange your newsletter so there’s a minimum of it to do. For instance, if you can include photos that’ll communicate your point instead, use them. If you can run interviews instead of articles, conduct interviews.

Find articles that are easy for you to write and write them. You’ll find your readers genuinely notice the difference between a happy writer and a miserable one. They respond better when you make the newsletter easy. No one wants to feel guilty for making you suffer.