One of the most exciting aspects of using the net as part of your marketing strategy is that you can track the effectiveness of your efforts. You can tell:

• How many people opened the email - this may show for example that 60% of those on your mailing list read your email. While you may like to think 100% would be interested at least you have hard data on what is actually happening. When you send out something in printed form this type of information is much more difficult to obtain.
  
  
• Who actually opened the email - this is where the feedback becomes very helpful. Through tracking software you can tell the individuals who have looked at your email. Let's say for example you were chasing a particular lead then it is very helpful to know they have at least looked at your material.
  
  
• How many times each person opened it - but there's more - you can also tell how many times each of these people have looked at your newsletter. This enables you to identify those within your list who are most interested in the information you are sending them. If they are existing customers/ clients this may give you the opportunity to make contact with them to talk about ways to further strengthen the relationship. If they are not a customer/client this information may help you to formulate a follow up plan to convert this interest into a sale.
  
  
• Which part of the newsletter attracted the most interest - but there's still more!! - if you have links within your newsletter/promotion then tracking can tell which part of the newsletter attracted most interest. Sometimes the results may surprise you because there may be response to a product/service you hadn't expected. Based on this feedback you can respond to this market interest in your future promotions.

Bendles Cottage and Villas is a bed and breakfast resort, on the Sunshine Coast, which is described as 'the perfect serene escape for couples". So when you feel like getting away from it all come and indulge in a few of life's pleasures. Head off to Bendles and treat yourselves to a well earned break. Bendles has recently started sending out a monthly newsletter keeping their mailing list up to date with new deals and what is happening on the Sunshine Coast.
Tony, the owner of Bendles, comments ""Using the Net" got our newsletter up and running very quickly. I found Derek and his crew very helpful in steering me through the design, creating an email list and producing our first newsletter.Their ongoing assistance in ensuring the newsletter continues to create interest amongst our readers and regular suggestions is appreciated"

Elite Design Interiors – is a Corporate and Retail fitout specialist.
From commercial joinery through fully integrated and customized fitout solutions, Elite is committed to exceeding expectations on time, every time.
Darryl, Elite's Director of Sales and Marketing, says "We are very encouraged with the response we have received from this first mailout. It has already produced some strong leads and we are confident that this system will continue to be an effective part of our ongoing marketing strategy."

Setting up a newsletter within your business takes a bit of time and effort. So many people ask me - is it really worth this type of investment. Here's my answer.
Look at other ways you spend time marketing your business. You take clients to lunch, you send holiday cards, you attend trade shows, you ask for referrals, you make cold calls and you attend business meetings.
All of this you do with the hope of gaining visibility, meeting potential clients and reinforcing existing relationships.
It's a necessary part of running a small business, but if you think about it, it's very much a hit or miss approach.
An e-newsletter on the other hand, offers all the benefits of these other approaches, but in a much more cost effective and targeted way.
Why wander around business meetings hoping to stumble on a new client, when you've got existing relationships with customers and others that you're not really nurturing?
Taking one day per month to connect with your universe of contacts is well worth your time, and in terms of ROI, your e-newsletter may quickly become the most systematic, most effective marketing activity your small business is engaged in.

Using the Net is a business which focuses on the amazing ways the net can help business to market and communicate with their clients and prospects. Our range of services include web design, web hosting, enewsletter delivery, writing enewsletters, and network provisions for larger companies. Our goal is to make the net work for your business.