If you have a blog for your business, good for you! How many subscribers do you have? How are you getting people to read it? Just hear me out… A blog is great, but alongside it you REALLY need a newsletter. If you don’t have a blog, don’t worry about it yet. Your first priority needs to be developing your email newsletter. Here’s why:I can’t force you to read my blog. (Read more)

1. sut t oncreat ivest udios.com http://suttoncreativestudios.com/just-hear-me-out/
Kimberly Sutton May 21, 2014
Just Hear Me Out
If you have a blog f or your business, good f or you! How many subscribers do you have? How are you getting
people to read it? Just hear me out… A blog is great, but alongside it you REALLY need a newsletter. If you
don’t have a blog, don’t worry about it yet. Your f irst priority needs to be developing your email newsletter.
Here’s why:I can’t f orce you to read my blog. You may be subscribed and you may receive a notif ication
everytime I publish an article. If you’re not subscribed (shame on you), I thank you f or stumbling across and
reading.
When you have a newsletter using a service like Constant Contact or Mailchimp, every
time to hit the “Send” button you are putting a message into your subscriber’s inbox
that says “Just Hear Me Out!” The subject may be dif f erent, but unlike a blog, you are
taking your content to the people, rather than making them come to you. What are you
doing to make sure they read your newsletter?
Are your subject lines catchy? Are they intriguing and make your subscribers jump to
read your content?
They should be! Boring subject lines will mean a low open rate. Recently I sent a newsletter called, “Your
Contract Will Kill You.” The open rate went through the roof ! My subscribers were intrigued and wanted to know
more!
Catchy email subjects are a developed skill. You need to walk the line caref ully between risky and proper,
humorous and prof essional. The last thing you want to do is of f end a potential client bef ore you have even
had the chance to speak. While some may include slang obscenities in their subject lines to grab that extra bit
of attention, I ref use to do so, and I honestly recommend against it.
Imagine this: Joe the businessman is sitting in a meeting with one of his clients, and has his screen on display
f or his client to see. His email notif ier pops up and tells him he has a new email f rom ABC Company with
subject line “**** That!” I assure you, Joe the businessman will be terribly embarassed, and will most likely
unsubscribe as soon as the meeting with his client is over.
Depending on the newsletter service you use, split A-B testing is available.
What does that mean? Simply put, you can enter two dif f erent title/subject
ideas, and both emails will be sent (each to a dif f erent segment of your
subscriber base). Af ter the email is sent you will receive a report as to
which subject line received the better open and click-through rates.
Remember, the best way to say “Just Hear Me Out!” is to take your content
to the people you want to read it. If you allow the people to hear you in
their inbox, or in their “here”, they will be more likely to listen to what you
have to say.
Do you need assistance setting up a newsletter? I can’t deny that our pref erred newsletter service f or small
businesses with a tight budget is Constant Contact. We have helped many companies set up their newsletter
templates and develop their contact. You are invited to contact us f or more inf ormation and to subscribe to
our newsletter here.

2. *****
Kim Sutton is a f ounding partner of Sutton Creative Studios, an agency specializing
in social media management, graphic design and virtual assistance. She is a
graduate of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she earned her
Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Architecture. In her f ree-time, Kim cherishes the time
she gets to spend with her husband, Dave (her business partner), and three children.
She also enjoys reading, knitting and writing. You are invited to f ollow Sutton
Creative Studios by f ollowing our blog, subscribing to our newsletter, or
f ollowing/liking us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ or Pinterest. In addition,
please comment and/or contact us with any questions.
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