Should I Merge My Newsletter And Blog?
The Copy Doctor’s Profit Pillâ„¢ is my free newsletter, which I’ve been publishing since 1998.
But noticing that there’s a trend towards RSS and blogs, that my time is becoming extremely tight, that my blog is growing in popularity, and that more and more people are merging the two — or using RSS/blogs to publish their newsletters — I’m seriously thinking of merging the two.
Take Jim Edwards for example. He converted his I Gotta Tell You newsletter into a blog.
What do you think? And if so, how should I do it?
For example, should I keep TheTheCopyDoctor.com domain and main page for signups? Or should I replace the front page of my blog with a signup form currently on The Profit Pill’s website?
Or should I just leave it altogether?
About the Author
Michel Fortin is a direct response copywriter, author, speaker, consultant, and CEO of The Success Doctor, Inc. Visit his blog and signup free to get tested conversion strategies and response-boosting tips by email, along with blog updates, news, and more! Go now to http://www.michelfortin.com.
Last 5 Posts by Michel Fortin
- Feel Like Giving Up? Go Out On a Limb… Or None
- This Eye-Opening Video is, Well, Golden!
- Review of Robert Plank’s SpeedCopySecrets.com
- This Little Tool Quadrupled My Signups
- Computer Geek Discovers Speed Copy Secrets?
Share This Post
Share this post with a friend by clicking "share this" below. You may freely reprint or redistribute this article, provided the content and links are left intact, and the "about the author" section is included. Get notified of new posts by RSS or email, below.
Email Updates
|
Your First Copywriting Client In 14 Days Or Less
|
Discover this copywriter's personal system for getting copywriting clients in as few as 14 days. It includes both online and offline marketing strategies. Other Related Posts
Posted by Michel Fortin on March 27th, 2005. Filed in News, Opinions, Questions. Tagged as blog, Copywriting, ezine, front page, jim edwards, newsletter, rss. Follow responses through the RSS feed.
Leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
From Terri
FWIW, I’ve tried several times to subscribe to your ezine and I never receive it. I suppose my ISP’s spam filter filters it. I’d be in favor of you publishing it as a blog instead. Thanks!
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From graham
How about merging them into Michel Fortin’s Copywriting Profit Pill:
You could easily place a sign up place on the blog.
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From Wendy Baldwin
Merge the two. I signed up for your newsletter awhile back but don’t receive it. Besides, it takes less time to read one site instead of two. That’s win win for you and us readers.
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From Lane Lester
Good content is valuable, whether it arrives via blog or ezine. My experience has been that ezines have better thought-out content than blogs, but I don’t think it has to be that way.
However you do it, Michel, I’ll be a faithful reader, because I need all the help I can get!
Lane
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From David Smith
Please merge the two. One place to go to get the information would be great. My time is tight also and the blog is a lot more personal and interactive than the newsletter.
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From Carmel Baird
Merge the two. Easier reading and with a feedreader you don’t miss the posts.
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From Larry Foster
Merge the two. My mailbox(es) are overflowing.
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From Marius Mikkelsen
Hi Michel.
I would merged them together.Its easy to have a signupform,on the topleft side of your blog.
Then you have it on one site,and the people dont need to change from one site to the other.
Wish you All the Best.
Regards
Marius
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From Jeremy Markum
Merge it with you blog, but use categories, one of which, obviously, would be your newsletter, and all its entries should longer, and more in-depth with less linking, and less links on the page in general so you have more “control” of the reader’s interest and attention (ala Gary Halbert’s newsletter site)…
I’m working of an example of this approach myself. I’ll let you know when it’s ready (a day or two probably).
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From Nick
Why Double Your Work by Having 2 Different
Contents on Your Blog & News Letter?
Put Blog Content in Your Newsletter with
Links!
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From Wayne Ikebuchi
I would sat merge it with your blog. But perhaps give people the option to sign up for a reminder service when you publish.
That way you can send a reminder to let people know your newsletter is available.
I like the reminder because I currently don’t keep my feed reader open at all times. But I do check my email regularly.
Thanks for the great content
Wayne
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From David
I’d like you to keep them separate.
I simply don’t have time to check your blog all the time, and there are important announcements that you make that come from your newsletter.
You might want to shift most of your content over to the blog, but I wouldn’t abandon the “push” technology entirely.
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From Chris Richards
I have several Websites linking to your news articles. What happens to affiliate links re your news articles if you merge the two.
I myself am trying to understand RSS and how to add news articles on my web sites.
As said before It is your decision but the problem with Blogs is to get prospective prospects to subscribe to them.
With newsletters you have a contact and email address whereas the subscriber to a blog via RSS feed may remain unknown and therefore targeted marketing becomes un traceable.
Regards
Chris
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From Chuck
I guess I will be the sole voice of dissent.
With more than forty years of computer programming and use, I am not a newbie to computer technology. But, I HATE BLOGS!!! Much like your comment that Chip Tarver hates PayPal (I do too), I simply will not participate in blogs.
Chuck
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From Lois M. Jeary
Michael,
I would merge the two into your blog. I did that two years ago and I haven’t looked back.
As you know, your blog is an excellent way to provide content to your subscribers. I say go for it.
Lois M. Jeary
http://www.home4success.com
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From Ralph Zuranski
Hi Michel,
Definitely combine the two. It is so much easier that messing with email, spam filters, CAN Spam act, etc.
Sincerely yours,
Ralph Zuranski
PS When can we do your In Search Of Heroes copywriter interview over the phone. You can hear what Ted Nicholas and Joe Vitale had to say at: http://www.insearchofheroes.com/dbb.htm I will be interviewing Lorrie Morgan-Ferrero on Tuesday.
PPS I would love to do it before the Big Seminar. I want to create the In Search of Hero Copywriters on the Internet E-book, audio CDs, MP3s and course.
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From Mike Sigers
Michel,
If you only have time for one, the blog will be fine, but you have to post info, just having a blog is worthless.
Most people who cater to internet marketing are real good starters and bad finishers. Posting on a consistent basis is work, remember that, as you posts before now were very spotty at best.
You have good insight and your opinion is well rounded, but unless you are diligent, it won’t mean a thing to anyone but yourself.
Mike
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From Bill Hibbler
Hi Michel,
I vote for the merge.
I’m essentially publishing my ezine via blog now but still send out teaser emails once a week to get my list to it.
It beats the heck out of having to constantly rephrase things so your message can get past they spam filters.
All the best,
Bill Hibbler
http://www.EcommerceConfidential.com
Tips, Tricks & Brutally Honest Product & Service Reviews
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From Frank
Hello Michel,
I think merging the two would be good! If it saves you time and makes it more efficient for you! ~ Great Stuff!
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From Scherif
Hi Michel,
I think you should merge the two. Time is an important asset. If you don’t like it you can always change it back to the way it was.
Best Regards,
Scherif
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From Brad Pollina
Go ahead and merge the 2.
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From ts
Why not trying running both for a short time?
I have a newsletter and a blog, but find it very difficult to get enough traffic to either one.
Your newsletter reaches me automatically and the content is informative.
If you decide on a blog it will mean that I must make it a point to search out the blog and will most likely forget to do it half the time.
And your blog will be more restricted in content. Not everyone has RSS or cares to. And you might want to give some thought to just how many readers you will lose. Another thought…will the blog be as informative as your newsletter or will it be just another ad. So many of the blogs seem to be just ads to promote a product.
Give it some thought, don’t just jump into it.
I for one find it very time consuming to go through a bunch of blogs that I don’t want to read in order to find one that holds my interest.
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From Donna Knight
Please merge the two. Just like you, I’m sure a lot of your subscribers, including myself, don’t have time to follow both a newsletter and blog.
Thanks,
Donna Knight
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From Howard In Toronto
Michel -
Send your info on the back of a dirty, crumpled envelope.
It makes no difference.
Your insights are sensational; your info exceptional.
Easier on one spot?
Go for it.
Easier in two?
Go for it.
Whatever works for you is fine with me.
Howard
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From Dean
Sure, merge them… but I’d appreciate an email notification when you post to it. There’s already too many blogs out there that I always MEAN to get back to but never do. An email reminder would be great.
I know there’s software out there for subscribing to blogs but I’m a dinosaur.
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From Larry Trocha
Hi Michel,
I’d like to see you combine the two.
Personally, I really like the blog format.
Take care,
Larry Trocha
Larry Trocha Training Stable
Horse Training
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From Lyn Adelstein
Hi Michel,
Go for the blog! Put an RSS feed on it, so subscribers can automatically get the info when you add content.
My inbox is overflowing with ezines, all are ones I wanted, but few are read fully.
John Carlton’s blog is wonderful - I’ve subscribed to the RSS feed, and it automatically shows up in my browser (Firefox) as he updates it - fast, painless, no spam filters to worry about, people who want your info can get it easily.
As far as the sign ups go, how is The Profit Pill’s page ranking? If it’s high, linking between the 2 (blog and newsletter) would benefit the blog, and vice versa, no? Keep both signups, but let people know their newsletter will be in blog format. If the page ranking is low on the CPP–off with its head! (And just have the sign up on the blog.)
Use them both to your best advantage.
All the best . . .
Lyn
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From Bob Mark
Merging them would be fine. A reminder or RSS Feed of new postings would be helpful since I rarely surf bloggs.
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From Murray
Merge the two.
Email is becoming less effective, with mails not getting through and mailboxes overflowing.
I should probably to the same.
Trouble is how to track who has opted-in. Maybe a specific members area on the blog?
Murray
Author's Website March 27th, 2005
From Judy Rury
Hi, Judy Rury here,
Just wanted to make a quick poss. I think it would be a very good idea to merge the newsletter with the Blog….Then you have some real Blognews.
It would also be a great way to link your site with others that do not have a blog, but the users of the site would very well enjoy checking out your blog, sounds win/win to me.
Judy Rury
Work at home online living, ideas and opportunities.
http://www.clicknhithomebiz.com
Author's Website March 28th, 2005
From Michael Worthington
Michael, I particularly like the way you can respond to comments on the blog.
Whereas in the newsletter, if anybody has a question, they have to open up the email client, write a letter, send it to you, hoping you will read it in the first place, then hope you will have time to answer.
I say, go with the ‘blog, but keep the same content you have in the newsletter, add a notification so I know when something new is added, and implement the RSS feed.
Put the sign up form on the main page of the ‘blog. Any way you can simplify your methods of getting your excellent content out to us is only going to benefit us.
The less time you have to spend to produce your column is going to mean more time to spend on quality content. You work less-give more quality. Win/win? I think so. But that’s just my humble opinion.
Author's Website March 28th, 2005
From Mike
Michel,
Merge the two, and implement the RSS feed.
I agree with Lyn’s comment about John Carlton’s blog feed popping right into Firefox — it makes life simpler for everyone.
Author's Website March 28th, 2005
From Marte
I don’t even know what an RSS feed is! I’ve read a little and it looks like more software to download… from where? Also looks complicated. And then we’d need to remember to go find you?
Sounds like a thing for computer gurus… and I’m not one of them.
Author's Website March 28th, 2005
From Ryan Tames
Yes, you should totally merge them.
Luckily I have this wicked new tool that
simplifies your entire syndication process.
For more informaton.
Author's Website March 28th, 2005
From Chris
I agree with Howard in Toronto, Marius, Michael and Wayne; go with the ‘blog, but keep the same content you have in the newsletter, add an automatic e-mail notification so I know when something new is added, and implement the RSS feed for those who want it.
Keep up the good work.
Best wishes,
Chris
Author's Website March 28th, 2005
From Chip Tarver
Hey Mike -
Welcome home! I hope you had a fun, safe,
and restful trip.
You said:
But noticing that there’s a trend towards RSS and blogs, that my time is becoming extremely tight, that my blog is growing in popularity, and that more and more people are merging the two — or using RSS/blogs to publish their newsletters — I’m seriously thinking of merging the two.
*** Makes perfect sense to do it for all
the reasons you mention.
Take Jim Edwards for example. He converted his I Gotta Tell You newsletter into a blog.
What do you think? And if so, how should I do it? For example, should I keep TheProfitPill.com domain and main page for signups?
*** yes - keep it; don’t sacrifice that
branding or existing traffic.
Or should I replace the front page of my blog with a signup form currently on The Profit Pill’s website?
*** you can add it, but not at the cost of
“replacement.” Just add another form to
your blog’s front page, and keep the other
one.
Or should I just leave it altogether?
*** Fortune mag says that ‘blogs’ are the
Number One tech trend in 2005. I can attest
to the way they improve SE rankings, as I
am page one for my ‘B2B Tips’ keywords
phrase in most SEs I’ve checked.
*** That is from my blog only. And on my
Free Targeted Traffic site, I have a free
pdf that shows people exactly how to have
their own blog set up and hosted in three
minutes or less! Yes - 3 minutes …
Blessings to you -
Chip
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com/blog
http://www.Free-Targeted-Traffic.com
PS - Thank you so much for your amazing
love and support during the last 8 weeks.
I deeply appreciate you.
Author's Website March 28th, 2005
From Paul Copcutt
Michael
I have only just started receiving your e-zine so difficult for me to comment on quality of content yet.
This subject though is fast becming a hot topic as more e-zines get bounced by the filters and therefore their effectiveness lessens.
The challenge is how to get readers to go to your blog - its another action that needs to be done after opening an e-mail and might not get done if they do not happen to have internet access at the time, load time is too slow or they are working mobile via a Blackberry or other PDA and do not want to take up a lot of memory on web access.
I notice some of the other ‘leading’ ezine producers are loking at blogging as an alternative and to reduce duplication.
Sorry - do not have the answer except be sure to put good metrics in place so if you go to the blog only you can compare click through rates, open rates, purchases etcd etc to see if it makes a difference
Good luck!
Author's Website March 28th, 2005
From Phil Ballard
YES, merge the two.I like what I see here !
Keep up the great work !
Phil,
Author's Website March 28th, 2005
From Phil Ballard
YES, merge the two.I like what I see here !
Keep up the great work !
Phil,
Author's Website March 28th, 2005
From Dave Cushion
I prefer the blog for readability but it would be nice to get a short email notice simply saying that you have a new posting.
Thanks for asking,
Dave
Author's Website March 28th, 2005
From G.
If you do that, don’t use the term ‘blog’ anywhere in your header information or I will be unable to access it from the office. Our filters block ‘blog’ sites.
Also would need email reminders of updates at least once a week or I will forget about you. Sorry. That’s how fast things go.
Author's Website March 28th, 2005
From John Thomas
Frankly, I prefer the blog. I get the newsletter, but I love using the RSS Feed from the blog and that way I have less email to fish through and look at (specifically, I only have feeds from blogs that I’m interested in as opposed to having to read through the “from” and “subject” lists on the email I recieve to edit out the trash from the good stuff - good stuff being stuff like your newsletter). So I say merge them into the blog. And, if you keep the domain name, just use a redirect straight to your blog, that way, newsletter articles, etc. that you have floating around out there can still point people to your newsletter/blog.
-John
Author's Website March 28th, 2005
From Brian
I vote for the merge into an RSS “blog. Some people dislike blogs, but what is a blog? Its a list of dated content. What is a newsletter? Content that is dated.
There is no difference other than delivery. You have some content that you want to deliver to your readers. It can be delivered via email, or via RSS. The “blog” part is irrelevant. That’s just a tool you use to display the data on the web, and people often choose a journal approach, but that is not required.
RSS is quickly becoming the new wave of the Internet and its not just a fad. It is a huge improvement over email delivery. By nature I ignore most emails that aren’t from people I know, because I get so much. But, when I sit down and check my RSS feeds, I’m looking for updates. Much better chance I’ll see your content if it is via RSS.
So, provide your newsletter content via RSS, and using a blog tool just makes it easier. The tone and format of the blog is up to you, and can model a newsletter, a traditional blog, or hybrid of the two.
Brian
Author's Website March 28th, 2005
From Judith Miller
I appreciate the newsletter and blog combination. I’m much too busy to visit anybody’s blog or web site on a regular basis, but do take mini breaks throughout the day to check my emails and read the valuable ones. It’s good to have access to past topics, etc. on the blog.
Author's Website March 28th, 2005
From Mike
I really want to hear your comments in a structured way. I dont’ enjoy random musings from one person or many that I see so many blogs become. It’s like all the yak-yak on the radio talk shows. Some people like it, but I don’t want to hear everyone’s opinion, just the opinion leader, ie. you. Keep ‘em separate.
Author's Website March 28th, 2005
From Ray Edwards
Michel, you can do both.
Make it a blog, which can be read as a website or through an RSS reader.
AND…sign up with Bloglet (http://bloglet.com), a free service which allows people to suscribe to an emailed version of your blog content.
Author's Website March 28th, 2005
From Giselle
Michel, I would merge the two. As a reader I would get the best of both worlds: the nuts and bolts and how to that is usually found in the ezine combined with your own valuable comments from the heart.
Author's Website March 28th, 2005
From Bolo
I LIKE BLOGS, JUST DO IT MAN BLOG IT.
WE LOVE YOU BABY!!
Go forth and do good.
Author's Website March 28th, 2005
From Alice Seba
Good suggestions here…merge them, but still deliver the content via email. Great resource at bloglet, Ray…thanks.
Mr. Sigers, you’re a blog bully!
There is no responsibility for a blog owner to post regularly, daily or weekly. Do what you will with your own blog, Michel — we just love hearing from you.
And Chuck, you are aware that you just participated in a blog, right? LOL!
Alice
Author's Website March 28th, 2005
From Shaun Fawcett
Hi Michel,
I just replaced my newsletter with my new blog last week and the feedback has been all positive.
For me it wasn’t about RSS though. 99% of my people don’t have a clue what RSS is.
I say you should go for it.
Good luck,
Shaun Fawcett
http://writinghelptools.com/blog/
Author's Website March 28th, 2005
From Howard In Toronto
How do I prevent getting a copy of every post in my e-mail’s in-box?
Don’t remember what I did, but this is INSANE!
Thank you.
Howard In Toronto
Author's Website March 28th, 2005
From Ashish Jain
It’s a good idea to move to blogs but there is a big problem associated with it. You need to manually make the post after each cycle.
With ezines many issues can be prefilled with evergreen content and it could be distributed to every new user. and content recycling is also possible as people don’t remember what was told 12 months ago.
Also, since blog will open the past archive to people, you cannot position it as an opportunity which if not taken now could mean loss as the subscriber will not get the current issue (or those that have already been out).
Many people might remove themselves from the list as they can get the content from blog and later they can forget about the blog altogether. you can do nothing but hope that these people visit your blog.
These are major concerns that needs to be looked at before the shift. I think a mixture is best.
Ashish Jain
Author of http://www.laser-linking-to-targeted-traffic.com
Articles writing @ $3 only — to be launched soon.
Author's Website March 28th, 2005
From Nadav
Merge the two and send us an email when the blog is updated.
Nadav
Author's Website March 29th, 2005
From Randy Arras
Hi Michel,
Both, but in this way. Email with short announcement of new blog post. Blogs can be set up to do this for you. Put your newsletter content on the blog. Sign-up forms should be on home/landing page and page copy should be dedicated to the sites theme purpose. Think about it this way, would you post your newletter as your home page on theprofitpill.com. I don’t think so. Unless you create a membership blog, what motivation will your readers have to “sign-up”? From a SEO stand point, create a blog subpage off of your home page and link back. Google has already announced its intent to seperate blog searches from normal organic content searches. This will erase blog/home pages from the organic(main) list. Hope this helps.
Randy
Author's Website March 29th, 2005
From Eric
Another dissenting voice…
I’m overwhelmed with the volume of material I have to keep up with. If your material comes to me as an email, I will at the very least scan the message. As simple as it may seem to set up an RRS feed, I’m not likely to check it often, if at all, despite the fact that you really provide great content. I doubt that I’m that much different than the majority of your subscribers.
Author's Website March 29th, 2005
From Scott
Doesn’t matter to me. I read both. Enjoy both. Keep up the good work.
Author's Website March 30th, 2005
From Karen
I also am not a fan of blogs. I vote to not merge. I like getting info I can scan through and read what is of use for me. I often just delete Newsletters that require me to click a link.
Author's Website March 31st, 2005
From tjh
I’m a bit contrarian on this one.
I like the newsletter for its thoughtful, evergreen content. They’re are clearly something you took time to research, write, rewrite, etc. Clearly intended for the “official-dom” of a named/branded publication issue.
An html version of all newsletters filed and linked on your site is essential for search engines.
A blog I would appreciate more if I thought of it as your less “official” view on a variety of things, and not as an obvious sales tool.
It’s feels more spontaneous, more “real time”, maybe more insouciant. More of a chance for the ‘real you’ to be exposed.
Plus the comments readers offer adds life, motion and change to the blog. It’s a naturally evolving site. Even reader’s comments may contain knowledge that I’ll search for during research.
And it’s separately branded / brandable. 2 key assets.
It’s not that the newsletter contents couldn’t also be published as a blog entry along with other blog entries. But it just seems that merging the two attempts to blend 2 things with clearly different purposes, and different reader experiences.
For the record, I’ve always read the newsletter, but never, until now, read your blog. Now that I know it’s here, I’ll pay more attention to it.
Besides, you can cross-post links to both in each entity. Cross promotion is good.
Think about the purposes of each publication. Think about the reader’s/user’s usage and experience of each. See if they’re different enough, or should be different enough, that they stay separate.
Author's Website March 31st, 2005
From Roy M.
Bonjour Michel:
As a marketing guy you must be delighted to see that you have your answer staring you right in the face.
Go back and examine why you are doing a newsletter, why a blog? You are marketing specific expertise and information in a highly competitive arena. You need to reach out, inform and motivate as many folks as possible that YOU are the guy who can solve their copywriting problem…or eliminate their marketing “pain.”
Each of these ‘methods’ is just another medium of communication complete with its pros and cons. Each of your recipients has his own set of needs and wants and wishes when it comes to how they want to ‘receive’ your transmissions.
But the overall objective is to market your services. That’s why you’re in this, doing this, providing this information.
Give them, your customers, what THEY want, not what you want, regardless of how much time or money you might save. If you want to get it done, then you’ll do whatever it takes to do so.
If another, third method of communication comes up and you can use it, and enough of your prospects want it delivered that way, then do that one too.
The operative question is not ‘how’ should I do this, but WHY am I doing it?
Asking ‘why’ will always get you back to the real reasons you are doing this in the first place.
Cheers,
Roy
Author's Website March 31st, 2005
From didier bertrand
Hi Michel,
Do you speak french ?
Your web site, forum, blog… are GREAT’s !
I like them soo much ! Thank’s for your generosity !
One question… How to become a GREAT copywriter
like YOU, Michel ?
THANK’S !
Have a very nice & profitable day ! ;-))
Sincerely,
Didier A.Bertrand
Author's Website March 31st, 2005
From Mary Smith
Hi Michel Fortin,
When I want to understand and apply copywriting techniques, I just open my feedreader and read your blog’s feeds. It’s more convenient than saving and accumulating your e-newsletters in my email inbox. Please keep the blog.
Thanks for asking your subscribers what e-newsletter format we prefer!
Have a great day!
Mary Smith
Author's Website March 31st, 2005
From Don
Sure, merge the two. I haven’t seem much of the newsletter yet, but