WAHM Marketing Tips – Which Newsletter Format Should You Use?

Posted on | July 5, 2010 | 5 Comments

For your WAHM business, a regular newsletter can be one of your most valuable marketing tools. Your newsletter gives you a way to keep in touch with people who are interested in your services or products, but are not yet ready to become a customer. And for current customers or clients, your newsletter gives you an easy and affordable way to keep them updated with your business news and sell them even more products or services.

For my own WAHM websites, regular newsletters have been invaluable for educating my members, building relationships with potential clients, and even making sales from affiliate products.

When you’re first setting up your newsletter, there are basically three newsletter formats you can choose from. Here’s a brief summary.

Your WAHM Newsletter – 3 Ways You Can Go

1. An HTML newsletter. These are the pretty newsletters you get that are nicely formatted and include pictures or graphics. They are created in HTML code, but you don’t necessarily need to be a coder to create them. If you want to send out HTML newsletters you can use a newsletter service that offers HTML templates you can customize, like Constant Contact or AWeber. Or you can hire another WAHM to create a template for you to customize for each issue.

2. A text newsletter. These are the newsletters you get that don’t really look like newsletters; they look like regular emails. These are easy to create… all you have to do is type in the text. While text newsletters aren’t as pretty as HTML newsletters, they are easier to read for some people, depending on how they pick up their email. Plus, these look like messages from friends, which could mean more people actually read them.

3. A PDF newsletter. These are created in a Portable Document Format (PDF) and uploaded to your website. Then you send out a link to the newsletter. You will need a program that creates PDF documents to send out your newsletter this way. If you’re graphically inclined, or work with another WAHM who is, you can do a lot of nice formatting with these. Also, it’s one way to send a print newsletter without the cost of printing. Your subscribers can just print it out for themselves.

One thing to remember with PDF newsletters is that it’s nice to include a friendly note in the email you send out to announce your newsletter is ready. An email with just a link saying, “Hi, here’s your newsletter,” could easily be ignored by your subscribers on a busy email day.

Which Newsletter Format is Right for Your WAHM Biz?

For one thing, it depends on which you’re most comfortable using. If you don’t know any HTML and you’re not prepared to hire someone for help, you might not want to start out with an HTML newsletter.

Do a little digging and see what other businesses are sending out to your target market. That will give you some insight into what your subscribers like to get and what they’re used to receiving.

Finally, choose a format you’ll be willing to work with on a regular basis. Can’t stand the monotony of a black and white text email? You probably won’t look forward to putting your newsletter together each month or each week if you don’t like looking at it. Choose a format you will send out regularly so you can stay in touch with your valued subscribers.

Whatever format you choose, remember it’s not set in stone. As your WAHM business grows and your skills develop, it’s natural that your newsletter will evolve too. If you start out with a text newsletter, you can redesign and change to an HTML format when you’re more skilled. Or if you start out with a PDF version and want to simplify later on, you can always revamp and move to a text newsletter.

The most important thing is that you actually do start a newsletter – it’s one of the best business building tools there is. The rest will fall into place over time.

Want more subscribers for your WAHM newsletter? Submit your articles at http://www.WAHM-Articles.com and get free traffic for your work-at-home-mom-website. Subscribe to our newsletter WAHM Tips and get weekly work at home tips from work-at-home-moms who have been there and done that. Denise Willms is a work-at-home-mom of two teens and owner of WAHM-Articles.com.

Author: Denise Willms
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

WAHMs – Do You Need a Time-Out?

Posted on | June 30, 2010 | 1 Comment

Building your own WAHM business is not an easy task. While I find it to be one of the most fulfilling things I have ever done, it can at times be overwhelming.

There’s so much to do. And all the decisions rest in my hands. That means I am responsible for the successes, and the failures.

If you’re not careful, that can turn your life into a virtual rollercoaster ride.

You are NOT your business

One of the best pieces of advice I ever received from a business coach was “you are not your business.” He coached me to NOT get emotionally wrapped up in my work-at-home business and whether or not a marketing tactic worked, or whether or not people were buying.

Those are simply business-related results and are not a personal reflection of the business owner.

I have also been counseled by others to NOT take negative feedback about my work-at-home business, personally.

Logically, I agree with this advice. Problem is, it’s sometimes hard to put into practice. When you are pouring your heart and soul into building a WAHM business that feeds your passion as well as your family, it’s tough to be detached.

And, when your WAHM business is on your mind 24/7, it’s easy to feel like your business IS your life.

A simple remedy

I firmly believe that as work-at-home moms we need to take periodic “time-outs” from our business if we want to keep going for the long-haul.

Summertime is a great time to do this because many businesses naturally slow down in the summer. People take vacations and their priorities switch. And, you may be less focused on business as well if your kids are home for the summer.

So, it’s a good time for you to step back, evaluate your business, your marketing and your goals, and prepare for the second half of the year.

Here are 5 steps you can take now, to refresh and rejuvenate yourself and your WAHM business, so you are both poised for growth and success when fall rolls around and the kids head back to school.

1) Take a business “time-out”

Sometimes we get so busy “doing” we forget to allow space for abundance to come to us. If you fill every waking moment with activity, there is no room left for anything else. Take a day, or a week, or two weeks off and go play. If you can’t afford to take a vacation, then just don’t work. Instead, sleep in. Read. Relax. Play with your kids. Go to the beach. Go to the mountains. Go for a walk. Do whatever YOU enjoy and don’t think or worry about work.

The simple activity of doing nothing on your business for a short period of time can often move your work-at-home business forward faster than all of your hard work and activity. Because it provides clarity, focus and space for great things to happen.

2) Check your progress on your annual goals and objectives.

Now’s a great time to go back and review your marketing plan. What goals and objectives did you set for the year? Are you half-way there? If not, where are you and what changes can you make to ensure you achieve them by year’s end? Now is the time to address any shortcomings and get back on track … before the year is over and it’s too late.

3) Review your marketing tracking reports.

Hopefully you’ve been tracking all of your marketing activities. Now is a great time to pull out those tracking reports and review them. Take a look at what’s working and what’s not working. Use this information to adjust or fine-tune your marketing plan and activities for the rest of the year.

4) Review how you are spending your time.

Take a look at how you are spending your time. Are you doing the work you love or do you find yourself bogged down with tasks you don’t enjoy. Do you have help for the tasks that are not a good use of your time or are you still doing everything yourself? Make a plan to maximize your time and delegate the tasks you don’t like or that someone else could easily do for you.

5) Make adjustments accordingly

Don’t be afraid to make changes to your work-at-home business or to your marketing plan. The craziest thing you can do is to keep doing what you’ve been doing if it isn’t working or getting you the results you want. Sit down and update your plans. Do more of what’s working and less of what’s not. Try something new. Sometimes a breath of fresh air is all we need to re-energize ourselves and our WAHM business.

© Copyright 2007 Debbie LaChusa

Debbie LaChusa feels blessed to be a work at home mom who gets to spend time with her family, do work she loves and earn a great living. She founded 6FigureWorkAtHomeMom to help other working moms do the same. To see a free “Tribute to Work At Home Moms” video and register for free WAHM tips, visit http://www.6FigureWorkAtHomeMom.com

Author: Debbie LaChusa
Article Source: EzineArticles.com

How to Know if You are a Junkie with a Cashflow Problem?

Posted on | June 23, 2010 | 2 Comments

I admit it. I am a junkie – an office supply junkie that is. I have several drawers in my office full of office supplies. I just love them. I love the different colors they come in, the different shapes, even the aromas. Maybe, I have a problem. No, I don’t sniff markers. However, why did I spend this money on office supplies for which I have no real need? I did learn how to fix this cashflow problem.

The lesson here, because why would I waste your time reading this if I didn’t have one, is that we should watch what we spend our money on when it comes to our business. How much did I spend on these office supplies over the years? Maybe hundreds of dollars. No kidding. But, this money could have been better spent on my Virtual Assistant who helps me complete tasks that make me more money. I needed to learn how to control my cashflow properly.

There is the kicker. In business, we really need to concentrate on spending money on investments. This means spending money on things that make more money. The office supplies didn’t make me more money – it just took up space. I have stickies everywhere!!! (On a side note, thank goodness I discovered Evernote.com)

When trying to decide whether you should purchase something or not, ask yourself “will it make me more money?” This will teach you how to control your cashflow. Besides my purchase of office supplies, I do this all the time. I hate spending money on things that make me no money or don’t do anything to save me time. Time to me is like money. I put a high value on my time.

For example, I hate spending money on groceries. It takes so much time to cook. However, I don’t mind spending money on a restaurant. It saves me time from having to cook and I can instead use my time to talk with my family. I am not making money while talking with my family, but the reason I make money is for them; therefore, they are even more important, and should be.

Knowing where to spend your money is very important, because it can make or break your business. Understanding how to use cashflow in business and personal finances can help you avoid financial problems.

If you want to learn how to gain control over your cashflow, I highly recommend you read the book below and play the game. The links are below. I promise, if you do you will be writing to me thanking me. (Note: The game is a bit hard to get a hold of. There are a few left at the link below.)

Cashflow Quadrant: Rich Dad’s Guide to Financial Freedom

Rich Dad Cashflow 101 board game (with CD’s)

Tell me, are you an office supply junkie too? What do you spend your money on? Do you have any tips to share that others can use to help them learn how to control their cashflow? Leave a comment below.

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