When should you upgrade?  If your subscribers are unlikely to go back to old emails you have sent, and you don’t need many images in your newsletter, then the basic Library will probably do just fine.  However, if you have a very visual product or service to sell, and your newsletters are timeless, you may want to upgrade.

Using the Library+ is similar to using the basic Library.  From within your email, place your cursor where you want to put an image, click the “image” icon, and choose the image to use. Once you have selected the image, you can add a link to the image, adjust the size, and select whether the image will appear on the left or right side of the column.  The difference is that there are more images to choose from in the Library+.  Select the Stock Images tab to choose from hundreds of images, or use your own.  You can also organize images (your own as well as stock images you have moved to your Library+) into folders.

Uploading new images is also easy – simply click on the Library and click on the “upload new image” button, browse to the location on your computer where you store your images, and click on insert.

PDF documents are handled in a similar manner, except that you are uploading and inserting a document instead of an image.  A PDF document can be inserted in to your email as a link.  When a reader clicks on the link they are taken to the PDF document online.

If you are considering upgrading to the Library+ and want to discuss the options, contact me.

Most of us are aware that there are anti-spam regulations in Canada and the US, and that it is important to stay within the regulations with our e-newsletters and other email marketing.    What happens if you violate the regulations with your e-newsletter?

Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation is being revised but currently business owners can fined as much as $1 million per violation, and up to $10 million per violation for corporations.  It’s definitely worth paying attention to your email marketing processes!

What do you need to know to stay within the guidelines?

Use these best practices to protect your business and your subscribers.

• Ensure you have explicit permission to add an email address to your newsletter/mailing list.  That means it’s not enough to collect a business card, or an attendee list at an event.  Future regulations may also require that you keep a record of where, when and how you obtained permission, so start collecting this information now and be a step ahead.
• Ensure that your e-newsletter or other email marketing has an easy unsubscribe process.  Best practices advise using a one-step unsubscribe process – the subscriber simply clicks on an unsubscribe link and removes their email address from any/all mailing lists from your business.  If you currently have a process where the subscriber has to send you an email with “unsubscribe” in the subject line, you will most likely end up with an unhappy subscriber.  And, you’ll have to manually unsubscribe their address too – it’s time intensive, and less professional than an automated process.  Most people I’ve spoken to will NOT unsubscribe if they have to send an email, instead they may just block the email.  The more people who block your email address, the higher the potential for your email address to be flagged as a spammer!
• Do not share your mailing list with anyone!  Do not accept mailing lists from anyone else!  If you decide to do a joint venture with another business in order to market to both mailing lists, share your marketing.  You send to your list with an offer for them to subscribe to your partner in the venture, and your partner does the same with their list.  Now each subscriber has the option to subscribe to the other list.

For me, the bottom line is to make things easy.  Easy for subscribers (they can choose to subscribe or unsubscribe without having to contact you), easy for mailing list managers (automation means less time on administration), and easy for the business owner (happy customers mean happy sales).  Funny thing about “easy”, it often results in higher satisfaction for everyone!

This teleclass is held once a month and will last about an hour.  The first half of the call will be a presentation of an idea for email marketing, and may include successful and not-so-successful examples.  The last half of the call is for you to ask questions, share insights, and offer ideas to others on the call.

We are all in business together.  Sharing ideas with each other does not mean copying or “stealing” – put your own interpretation on any ideas shared on these calls, and enjoy your own unique successes.  These teleclasses are also an opportunity to network with other successful business owners.  You just never know who you might meet!

Date: April 17, 2012
Time: 6:30 -8:30 pm (Mountain)
Cost: $32.00

Location:  Salisbury Composite High School, Sherwood Park, Alberta

Workbook available at the class: $20 (cash or cheque payable to Taylor Made Time) or purchase the e-version now

Registration details

Date: April 24, 2012
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm
Cost: $32.00

Location:  Salisbury High School, Sherwood Park, Alberta

Workbook available at the class: $20 (cash or cheque payable to Taylor Made Time) or purchase the e-version now.

Registration details

• What social media marketing really is and why it’s important;
• Various social media networks and tools: how they interact, ways to leverage their strengths,
  and how to evaluate them for best use for your business or organization;
• How other businesses are using these low-cost tools to gain visibility, develop relationships,
  and drive sales and engagement;
• How to incorporate it into your business life without losing productivity.

You’ll have plenty of time to ask questions… share your experiences… and network with your peers. And you’ll leave this high-powered seminar with real-world insights and knowledge that you can put to work immediately, to help your business succeed.

Don’t miss this revealing, exciting program that will change the way you market your business.

Check the calendar for the next scheduled presentation in your area.  If you would like to bring this presentation to your business or professional organization, contact Bonnie.

Presented by Bonnie Taylor Wachowicz, Constant Contact Expert Presenter

Yvonne Witzaney, Virtual Executive Assistant

Mary-Lou Ashton, Master Virtual Assistant
Virtual Assistant Training Program
“Making Dreams Reality”

Linda Maul, Certified Executive Coach
Co-Author of Be the Leader They Love
Creating People Power