Theresa73,
Thanks for signing up for my newsletter. The next one will go out tomorrow (5/20).
Let me try to answer your questions in the order you asked them. I think you wanted to know how to get started setting up a mailing list?
Well, if you have someone who designed/maintains your website they should be able to add a "form" box on your site,so that you can collect the information.
Since you have been to my site and signed up, I am sure you noticed the box in the upper right hand corner of the site (in the banner area) that announces a place to sign up for 7 free tips.
Well, that area is really a form box I created. It sends your information (email and name) to an autoresponder. I am not sure if you know what that is, so I'll explain it quickly just in case you don't.
An autoresponder is similar to an email account that whenever someone subscribes, it automatically collects your information, then sends you (the subscriber) a prewritten email. In this case, it asked you to verify that you really meant to subscribe, and once you clicked the link in that email, it then automatically sent you another email thanking you for subscribing.
Now you are on my "list", and whenever I send out a newsletter, I select the "list" of people that I want to send it to, and since it has your information, you will receive all my newsletters (unless of course you "unsubscribe".)
Ok, that's what the autoresponder does. How to find them...
Well, there are a number of services out there that provide autoresponders. Your shopping cart system may already have them.(check there first)
If not, you can do a couple of things. Use google to search "autoresponder" and see what services are out there and then compare price and services.
An easy to use service, that has built in newsletter templates that you can easily customize is called, "Constant Contact". They offer a free trial. It's a monthly service and it keeps track of all your names in your mailing list for you, and you can set up prewritten emails
to send to your subscribers.
constant contact I use Aweber. It's a bit more complicated to use, but it has a lot of extra features that I needed. They also offer customizable newsletter templates and have the ability to create forms for your website... including those popover ads and other cool tools.
aweber There are many others out there. I recommend shopping around.
As far as what to base your newsletter off of... that is completely up to you, you have a lot of different options such as any promotional specials, tips on fashion, events, trends, golf tips, etc. They don't have to be really long, either. In fact, the shorter the better, because people are really busy and don't have time to read really long articles.
I hope this will get you started setting up a mailing list and newsletter. Let me know if I can be of further assistance. You are welcome to email me.
Warmly,
Kim