Archive for the ‘Ezines’ Category

As most online business owners, I produce my newsletters through email.  I specifically use Constant Contact to produce my newsletters and manage my contacts, open and bounce rates and now for all my events.

As a business partner with Constant Contact, I am privy to early information and I just learned that Constant Contact has an iPhone app called QuickView.

It’s the iPhone app built specifically for Constant Contact® Email Marketing. QuickView lets you:

• Check the status of your email campaigns
• See who clicked, opened, forwarded, bounced, and unsubscribed
• Create a new email list on the go — you’ll see it when you’re back at your computer
• Add a new contact while you’re out networking — your account updates automatically
• Search your contact database
• Update any contact’s individual record — your changes will save to your account

All you need is an iPhone or iPod Touch and your Constant Contact username and password. It couldn’t be easier or more convenient.  I just downloaded the app to my iPhone and have added some new contacts and checked the status of my most recent email open-rate.  I love it!

Email Marketing by Constant Contact® is the easy, effective, and highly affordable way to get your message out to your customers, clients, or members—and build strong, successful, and lasting relationships with them. You’ll create high-impact email newsletters and promotions in minutes, no technical expertise necessary. With more than 300 easily-customized templates, a simple point-and-click tool, and award-winning free customer support, you can create professional, compelling messages your audience will act on. And it’s easy for you to manage your contact lists, sign up website visitors, track your clicks and open rates, and send automated communications to new subscribers.  You can even try it Free for 60 days!  Click this link Free 60 Day Trial to get started.

That is an autoresponder I received from a friend of mine when I recently sent out my ezine Gifts.  At first glance, I thought that was the funniest thing I had ever read.  I thought, how clever she is.  She has decided to retire early from her job and has left a comical message for her co-workers and friends.

Well, unfortunately, that was not the case.  She happened to call me that same week and after laughing hysterically about the autoresponder, she told me that she had been laid off from her job because of what else?  Downsizing due to a lost contract (she works for a governmental agency).  She had been with this company for 18 1/2 years!  She was devastated, but I told her to stay positive, that God was in control of this situation.

As more and more people are “downsized” and asked to take early retirement, home-based businesses will become increasingly popular and almost the norm.  When I decided to start a home-based business more than a year ago, I had no idea if it would work, if I can handle the stress of running my own business and taking care of my family from the same space and if the services I provide would be needed.  But I’m happy to report that all is good in my virtual world!  My business is growing day by day.  I am providing a very beneficial service to other business owners, freeing them up to manage their business.  And my plans are to utilize the services of other virtual professionals to assist and support my business as part of my virtual team.

If you have been thinking of starting a home-based business, I would highly recommend it and there are many great resources out there to guide you along the path.  If your background is in administration, like me, check out

or visit our website at www.avirtualbiz.com for other links and resources to help with your online success.  Take charge of your career, and always be In The Office and In Control of your future.

I work for several clients that produce an email newsletter, or better known as an Ezine.  I have helped them to set up the layout and design, and input content and images for publication.  But…I had never done one for myself and my business.

Oh my gosh, can I just tell you how much fun I had?  Of course I gave myself a deadline, which was yesterday, to have the first one out and that became a little stressful at 11 pm last night when I still hadn’t hit the Send button.  But I met my goal and it was out of my inbox and into the outbox of more than 300 contacts in just a matter of minutes! 

I searched for the best techology to use for my Ezine and I selected Constant Contact.  They have more than 300 templates to choose from, great reporting features to see who opens your email, how many bounced because of bad addresses and who just didn’t want to hear from you.  (That was a little tough, but I’m trying not to take it personally)

In addition to the excitment of fulfiling a goal and utilizing a great tool, I have received many compliments, one much appreciated critique and several inquiries for my services.  BINGO!  Feedback, just what I was hoping for.

I know the next one will be much easier and I won’t put so much pressure on myself to make it perfect (which it wasn’t).  But it was easy, fun and fast, three things we need more of.  If you need to boost your business, consider Constant Contact it’s a great tool to market your business and services and if you don’t want to do it yourself or don’t have the time to do it, check with a Virtual Assistant to take care of it for you.