|
Grammar Corner
Well or Good?
Have you ever been confused about when to use well and when to use good?
Good is an adjective, describing something.
He's a good man. (What kind of man?)
She is a good driver. (What kind of driver?)
Well usually answers the question how.
He did well on the test. (How did he do on the test?)
She drives well. (It might sound odd, but because we're answering the question of how she drives. We should say she drives well. If it feels too awkward, say, "She's a good driver."
When it comes to health, to feel well means you're in good health. To feel good means you are in good spirits.
My cold is finally gone, and I feel well now.
We had a disagreement, but I feel good about our resolution.
Feeling good is more about attitude.
Feeling well is about health.
|
|
Recommending Constant Contact
Looking for a service for your e-mail marketing? Check out Constant Contact for e-newsletters and other marketing services. Click here for more info. |
|
My Birds--Chickens, Guineas, and Homing Pigeons
I find homing pigeons fascinating. For example, did you know that for the first 7 days, the mother feeds the babies milk from their crop? During this time, the babies grow rapidly, about doubling in size each day. The male sits on the nest in the afternoons, and after the babies reach a certain size, he takes over most of the feeding so mom can lay another set of eggs.
Finding their way home from great distances isn't the only interesting thing about them.
| |
Greetings!
I'm wishing you all the best as I send out this issue of TIPPS--good health, much happiness, and rewarding work.
Testing your newsletter could be one of the most productive investments your make to improve your newsletter and its effect on your business. The lead article presents some ideas for testing--what to test and how.
Please give me your feedback. I'm truly interested in hearing from you. Email me with your comments, questions, or requests for help or service.
I am growing my business and need your help. Please take a moment to forward this newsletter to those who may benefit. Just click here to forward it.
TIPPs - TIPPs - TIPPs - TIPPs - TIPPs - TIPPs
|
|
 Testing Your Newsletter
If you distribute a newsletter, you know that its creation and distribution requires time and effort. But, the work is well worth it when you send out a quality communication that connects with your audience.
Testing your newsletters can help improve your newsletters and increase their productivity. As you gather results of testing, you will get to know your readers better-what they like and don't like, what they respond to, and what gets more results. Then you can tailor your newsletter in ways that suit your audience and get the desired results.
Three common test methods are:
1) Splitting your database in half
Create two newsletters where everything is the same except for the piece you are testing. Then you measure and analyze the results of each.
You may want to try two different subject lines and compare open rates. Or place your call to action in different places to see if either position makes a difference in response rate.
2) Testing a random sample from your list
Create your test samples and send them to a small portion of your list. After determining which sample produces the best results, send that newsletter to the remainder of your list. (This works best when you have a large list to work from.)
You might want to create a long and short version of an article and track which one has the best response. It could be the longer article creates a stronger tie, reinforcing your expertise on the subject. Or depending on your audience, you may find the shorter article has a higher click rate. Determine what you want to accomplish and see which newsletter brings it about.
3) Using a focus group
Establish a group that reflects your type of recipients. Ask the members of this group to review your samples and give you specific feedback.
You might use this technique when reviewing your layout. A focus group can give you feedback on your color scheme, type size and font, positioning of articles or links, or style of your articles.
Testing may take additional time since you will create more than one newsletter. You will also need to track the various groups and which version they received. Links may need to be set up in such a way that you will know which newsletter they were in when they responded to the link. But, this additional work has produced very positive results for those willing to put forth the additional effort. By tweaking your newsletters in ways that produce better results related to your purpose, you take better advantage of one of today's least expensive marketing tools.
TIPPs - TIPPs - TIPPs - TIPPs - TIPPs - TIPPs
|
| Making a Difference
Using the Nite Guard
Alan Gold and his newsletter, The Chicken Chronicles, were a topic in the Jan/Feb 2008 issue of Pennsylvania Magazine (www.pa-mag.com). What started out as a little chronicling of the antics of his chickens came to be a newsletter requested by many. He gives his birds characters and personalities and updates us on the latest happenings in their community. (agold122248@yahoo.com)
Alan reports that he's helped at least a dozen poultry owners when he wrote about the Nite Guard (www.niteguard.com). He described the Nite Guard's function as follows: "The inexpensive, solar powered, all weather, red blinking lights keep away ALL predators, from eve to morning, if adjusted to the right height." The predators think this glowing red light is the eye of another animal and go the other way. Thus, the invasion of a coop is thwarted before it even starts.
So Alan's newsletter has made a difference. Poultry owners who install Nite Guards are losing less chickens. And their chickens are thanking their lucky stars before they settle down for a peaceful night's sleep under this new protection.
[The experiences related in this column are focusing on "Making a Difference," with the goal of inspiring each of us to create and notice ways that have a positive effect on those we touch. Being featured in this column does not indicate one way or another, my opinion of the person or group featured. If the business or organization sparks your interest, please go to their website and form your own opinion.]
[Do you have an experience where a newsletter has made a difference for you or your business? Please email or call me to share your story.]
TIPPs - TIPPs - TIPPs - TIPPs - TIPPs - TIPPs
|
Workstation Tips
Look Up
Studies show that being in nature or even looking at nature-pictures of trees, flowers, and rainbows-can bolster health and productivity.
Self magazine and The Chicago Tribune published some information on this back in 1996. (See http://www.charlesneedlephoto.com/trib_article.pdf for the Trib's article.) Charles R. Needle presented information on this subject at a National Wellness Conference in Wisconsin. Basically, he tells us that exposure to views of trees or landscapes, or at least pictures of nature, decreased stress and boredom, and increased healing and worker productivity. You can learn more about Mr. Needle's work at http://www.charlesneedlephoto.com/nature_comforts.html.
In view of this information, why not hang beautiful pictures of nature in your workstation? It's recommended that we look up from our screens periodically anyway, so why not look up at beautiful photos of natural scenes?
Depending on your computer set up and your businesses policies, you may also be able to load beautiful photos into your My Pictures folder and then under Settings, Control Panel, Display, and on the Tab, Screen Saver, choose My Pictures Slideshow from the drop down box. You may need to tweak your settings for when the screensaver comes on and how long it stays on, but once you've adjusted it to the settings you desire, you will be able to view beautiful nature scenes whenever your PC moves to Screensaver mode.
TIPPs - TIPPs - TIPPs - TIPPs - TIPPs - TIPPs |
|
|
