How To Send Your Newsletter

Transcription

1 How To Send Your Newsletter You can manage contacts and send your newsletter through our proprietary system called the ONLINE MARKETING CENTER. On the next few pages of this guide you will learn the following: 1. How To Access The Online Marketing Center 2. Exporting Contacts From Your Database/ Program 3. Importing Contacts Into Our -Sending System 4. Upload Photo To Be Merged Into Your Newsletter 5. Sending First Newsletter Issue 6. Using Opt-in Forms To Get More Addresses 7. Frequently Asked Questions 1

2 1. How To Access The Online Marketing Center Go to our main website: Then click Member Login (top left of homepage) Enter your username (which is the address you signed up with), and your password on the login page Note: you can easily retrieve a lost password by having it ed to you. 2

3 You will now be on the Dashboard page, and you should click tab. Then, visit the ONLINE MARKETING CENTER (under the tab) When you click this link, you should see the Online Marketing Center: Note: this opens in a new window so if you try it a few times and still don t see it, you may have a popup blocker you need to disable. 3

4 What happens if you see this login screen? If this happens, go back to the internet window of the members website and Logout Then login again to the members website again. And go to the tab, and visit the Online Marketing Center. Note: This should synch up our system so it works correctly. If it doesn t work, and you still see a VR login screen, try these solutions: clear your cache try a different internet browser (Firefox, Internet Explorer) restart computer call us if you still have trouble accessing the Online Marketing Center ( ) 4

5 2. Exporting Contacts From Your Database/ Program Here s how to export contacts from your program (Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, etc.), and/or your contact management system (even systems like Top Producer). You May Be Thinking: Is it legal to upload contacts and send them an ? Answer = YES. As long as contacts can reasonably expect a message from you, you may upload them and send them an newsletter. This is not spam. Basically if you have someone s address in your program because you ve ed them before, or if they re a past client or lead you can put them on your newsletter list. You do NOT have to send an asking your existing contacts if they want your newsletter. Your contacts may unsubscribe if they no longer want to receive your newsletter. You cannot, however, purchase or acquire an list of people you don t know and them. Key Questions: Where are your contacts currently stored? -- program! which one? You can easily export these contacts to a CSV file. -- database! which database system? The contacts that have addresses will be the ones that will be able to get an newsletter. If your database has extra data, that s fine, it won t get imported. All we need are the First names and addresses. IMPORTANT! Here s a PDF you can use: * This has links to step-by-step instructions on how to export contacts from various systems or database programs. And it has 15 easy and free ways to get more addresses. 5

6 3. Importing Contacts Into Our -Sending System You first need to add contacts with addresses to the Online Marketing Center before you can send your first newsletter. Your contacts are secure and not shared with anyone. Note: You can add or update contacts from a CSV file (all at once) or manually (oneat-at-time) as that s what you ll be doing after you get your initial import done. Follow the directions on the screen as the system will guide you through steps to upload (also called importing ) your contacts into your Online Marketing Center account. 6

7 4. Upload Photo To Be Merged Into Your Newsletter We automatically insert your photo into your newsletter IF it is stored in the proper place. The very first issue you see in your online account won t have a photo automatically put in because you haven t saved a photo yet! Use our members website to upload a photo Here s how: Go under the My Account section of the Service For Life members website, and choose to Upload Photo You have to upload an image in.jpg file format. Our system will resize your image file so it fits within in our newsletter template. 7

8 5. Sending First Newsletter Issue We provide you with the template that's 95% ready to send. Here s how you make your personal touches and send it out How To Access Your Personal Newsletter On the members website, save personal profile details that get merged in (name, photo, , phone, etc.) this is under the Newsletter Profile Then you click a button on our members website (under Create Newsletter tab) to PUSH a merged template into your Online Marketing Center. Then you have to visit the Online Marketing Center to preview, edit, and send your newsletter. You should see a message on this screen to visit the Online Marketing Center. Click that link and go to your account 8

9 Here s where you edit your personal newsletter issue: Click on the template name to open up the step-by-step editor. IMPORTANT: If you want to PUSH another version of the template into your online account, you need to delete the first one in the Online Marketing Center, then go back to the Create Newsletter tab and push it again. Sending Process To Walk Through: 1. Set Up From Label: o We recommend Firstname Lastname with no initials after full name (this is more personal than your Business Name) Subject Line (either of these examples formats): o August Newsletter o Your August Issue Is Here Reply-to o Where do you want s sent when someone replies to your ? 2. Design This is where you edit the newsletter. You don t need to change anything under the Select Template or Options because it will erase the newsletter. Just continue to see how to edit your Graphical Editor o 95% of this is done for you and personalized with your details. o You can add a LINK to your website or anything else you want (the newsletter is 100% modifiable). o You can update the cover message area and use that area to provide local real estate information or a personal update. 9

10 o Dear {FIRST_NAME Friend}... will say the First name of your contacts AFTER you send the issue (if you have a first name of a contact). o Save work regularly (top right of the graphical editor Text Version o This is a Backup only contacts WILL NOT get two s they either get the HTML or the Text version of the (which is only for people with old Blackberry phones that don t read HTML). o DO NOT check the box to create text version automatically (leave it). If you mess up the formatting: o Delete (or rename) the template name (under Set Up section). o Then go back to our members website and re-send yourself another version of the template that will have your personal details merged in but won t reflect any other changes you made before the template got messed up. How does your personal data get merged in? On our members website, under Newsletter Profile and enter details (name, , phone, etc.), then save. o These are the details that get automatically put in your newsletter. But you can change them in the graphical editor, or change the name of the template and re-send yourself a new version of the template. Whatever is faster for you. 10

11 3. Preview (At the TOP) Click each of the green buttons to preview the (Scroll to BOTTOM) Click green button to Send Test Message o You will get 2 s test messages, your contacts will only get 1 o Your test message will not have the Firstname of your contacts merged in until you send the Recipients Choose which list or lists you want to send your to: o You can choose one list (like your Master List which is a combination of all your other lists) o Or you can choose multiple lists to send your to 5. Send If you did not complete a step, go back and correct it Choose to send your immediately or schedule it for a day and time Then click to Launch your Reports You ll know your is sent because under s! Sent s, you can see stats on the % of people of people who opened your Copy of Sent Under sent s, click on Actions (far right) then choose Make a Copy 11

12 6. Using Opt-in Forms To Get More Addresses You may want to add an opt-in form to your website to promote your monthly newsletter. You can also offer your free newsletter in your signature in addition to your website. Here s example language you can use on your signature: Want money saving tips and to live a happier, healthier life? Signup for my free consumer newsletter where you'll get tips on saving money, eating healthy, and lots of other helpful information that's not all about real estate. Call me, me, or click this link to be added to my monthly list. Here s how to create an opt-in form for your website: You will have to add the HTML code yourself (or have your web designer do it). This is not a service we assist you with: IMPORTANT! Here s a PDF you can use with other ways to get more addresses: * Some of these ideas require you to manually add a new contact, others require a web form. 12

13 7. Frequently Asked Questions How Do I Post My Issue on Facebook? You can post a link to the hosted version of your newsletter: Add yourself as a contact on your list so you also get the newsletter o If you already sent the newsletter, you can create a new list, with just your own address on it, copy the from the sent s section, and then resend it to the list that just has you on it. After you send the issue Open up your program and find the issue Click any of the Facebook share buttons! This is how you OR your contacts can share a link to your newsletter on Facebook. Note: If you want more content to post on Facebook, see the SOCIAL tab in the Service For Life! members website. When Do I Get My Next Issue? 15 th of each month you have access to our print and newsletter template (the one for the coming month). You also have access for the current month: Example 1 = July 14 (access to June and July newsletters) Example 2 = July 15 (now have access to July and August newsletters) More FAQ s related to the NEWSLETTER: Managing and uploading contacts Editing and sending issues IMPORTANT: If all else fails, CALL US! Don't pull your hair out over this, we'll help you. Here's our toll-free phone number to reach us Monday-Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM pacific time (800)