Guest Author - Pamela Blackmon

5 Ways to Prepare for 2008

As the year draws to a close, it’s a great time to reflect on your successes and failures, not only for your personal and professional life, but for your ezine/e-newsletter as well.




1. Set goals for next year.
Ask any expert and they’ll tell you that it’s important to write out your goals in measurable steps to help you accomplish them over time. Do you want to increase your subscriber base? By what number? Boost your open rate? By what percentage? How do you intend to do so? Whatever your goals, be as specific as possible and set realistic timelines to achieve them.




2. Use past successes(and failures) to chart your course for the future.
Check out such statistics as your open or click-through rates. Review the types of articles that drew the most reader feedback, whether positive or negative. Resolve to offer more of the types of articles or other content your reader found particularly helpful. Try surveying your readers to get their feedback on what they’d like to see more of next year. Throw in an incentive to respond and you’re sure to get a greater response.




3. Introduce a new feature.
While you don’t want to tamper with success, you do want to keep your publication fresh and appealing. Brainstorm to see what positive changes you can make to keep your readers clicking through. For example, one of my clients used quizzes such as ones testing her client’s financial savvy to boost the click-through rates for her newsletter. Or try using an occasional article by or with a well-respected industry professional to spice up your ezine or e-newsletter to pique your readers’ interest.

4. Recharge yourself.

Okay, that might be hard to do during the holiday season. However, it’s crucial that you find time to rest your mind, body, and spirit as you segue into a new year. Schedule time for yourself to do the one thing that rejuvenates the total you to prepare you for the challenges of the new year.

5. Learn something new.

Staying abreast of trends in your industry is important to ensure delivery of cutting edge information to your readers. Take time to catch up on industry publications, websites, and other resources. Decide what trade shows and other events you’ll attend. Brush up on your grammar. Read a new writing book. Listen to a webcast, or download or buy an audiobook.