The fact is that even new subscribers are not interested in your "welcome new subscribers" message. New subscribers are trying to determine if your newsletter will provide them with useful information, or if they should un-subscribe immediately. Judging by a "welcome new subscribers" message, your newsletter appears to waste their time.

7. DO NOT bore readers with your personal life.

As your subscriber opens your newsletter, they are thinking "what's in it for me". They couldn't care less that you are going on vacation, that your child did something cute yesterday, or that you have a new puppy. They only care about what's in your newsletter that is useful to them. Don't waste your readers time with trivia about your personal life.

8. DO NOT leave a lot of white space.

Someone wrote that text is easier to read if you leave a lot of white space. Was that idea based on a scientific survey, or was it one persons opinion? I suspect it was latter. Leave one blank line between paragraphs. Never leave more than one line blank anywhere in your newsletter.

White space is equivalent to "dead air" time on radio or TV. Leaving a lot of white space in your newsletter just forces your reader to scroll more. Don't waste your readers time.

9. DO NOT apologize for a missed schedule.

Sending your newsletter on a regular schedule is one indication of professionalism. But it may surprise you to know that if you miss a publication date - nobody will notice. Contrary to your delusions, not all of your readers are sitting on edge of their chairs waiting for your newsletter to arrive in their email box. Your newsletter is just not that good.

If you are a day or two, or even a week late sending out your newsletter, I promise you, nobody will care. And last thing you need to do is post a message in your newsletter pointing out your lapse in professionalism and making excuses.

10. DO take advantage of viral marketing.

A virus is an organism that spreads itself around. Your newsletter should be like a virus. Ask your readers to forward your newsletter to their friends. Make sure your newsletter has a subscribe link so that anyone that comes into contact with it can easily subscribe. Give reprint rights to articles, as long as they include your resource box.

11. DO thank your readers for their support.

There are hundreds of thousands of free newsletters. This reader chose to give your newsletter value of their time. An honest thank you is never a waste of readers time.

12. DO tell subscribers why they should not unsubscribe.

You should always place an unsubscribe link at bottom of your newsletter. Just above unsubscribe link, you should put reasons why reader should NOT click on unsubscribe link.

Remind reader of what they get from your newsletter. Entice reader to stay by mentioning what will be in next issue. Display number of subscribers. If that many subscribers think newsletter is of value, maybe unsubscribing would be a mistake.

Major changes that have occurred on Internet over last year may have made your newsletter's format obsolete. By making 12 changes described above your newsletter will be better able to deal with spam filters and with todays demanding and impatient Internet users. ---------------------------------------------------------- Resource Box: Copyright(C)2002 Bucaro TecHelp. To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on Web visit http://bucarotechelp.com To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter Send a blank email to mailto:bucarotechelp-subscribe@topica.com ----------------------------------------------------------

4)When subject matter is not commonplace, and available in an article database, consider asking members of specific industries or disciplines to pen articles for audience in exchange for credit. If it is a complementary service, or related product they sell, it will broaden information provided your audience. These strategic alliances can bear fruit in many ways if we are confident about quality of what we provide our clients to offer them knowledge they might not get otherwise.

5)Subscribe to industry newsletters and create a compilation of best feature articles there. Your audience will appreciate effort you take to discern and distill most useful information for them, and bring it to them in one place.

The important thing is that information is of use to audience, and that they have option at all times to stop receiving newsletter if they request it.

Make a realistic monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly schedule. Create a plan for how you will accomplish this goal. Determine which route you will take to build your content, and which tools you will use. Set recurring deadlines. For example, put on calendar that newsletter feature article is due by end of second week of every month, and whether writing it, finding it, or submitting to an editor, it will be ready to go.

With good planning and taking advantage of resources which are online, nearly any small business can develop a solid, informational newsletter to share with their customers.