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Ladies and gentlemen of the Jury, What I am about to confess is the truth, the whole, and nothing but the truth.
As a professional writer, it is imperative that I remain a voracious and unquenchable “READER”.
Reading expands ones horizons and allows one to see things from the experienced vantage point of a thousands of other equally observant souls, ever aware and cognizant of the realities of their environment and the world in which they live, at large.
While enriching my life and mind, reading through various online forums, I came across this very question, being asked by a rather eloquent and insightful fellow, and it really got me thinking and even willing to test and question some of my own deeply heartfelt, and strongly antithetical attitudes towards most advertising that I encounter regularly in my weekly readings.
So what did I tell this inquisitive mind in my online commentary? When is it and when is it not acceptable and appropriate to stick advertising into a newsletter?
After much serious thought and contemplation, here is the best I could come up with, in the limited time needed to respond before the poster disappeared off into the night air.
I think that it's completely fine and acceptable to include some high quality, relevant ads from other individuals in your newsletter.
If the services or products are really good, in other words, if you've done at least a minimal amount of homework by checking them out yourself, and you’re not boring your poor readers to tears with an endlessly long string of continuous ads, (pitching everything from "Hydro-Electric Lint Collectors" to "Nuclear Powered Roller Skates," as well as the kitchen sink) then I think that it's totally cool to include some ads in the periodical.
Informing your loyal readers about relevant, on-topic, tested, quality products and services can really help some people out, and they will appreciate you for it. We all understand that an editor has to pay the bills and eat.
If you have your own products to advertise and promote, hey, all the better. It helps you to continue building your brand and deepens your relationship with your subscribers.
Remember, we don’t hate ALL advertising. The day after the “Super Bowl,” there’s more talk around the office water cooler about the amazing commercials, than about the game itself.
Now I will agree with most advertising experts, that as interesting and entertaining as these commercials are, they rarely prove to be effective tools for getting the marketing message across effectively, but that’s another article in itself.
It's really the masses of untested, unverified, irrelevant and off-topic, not to mention blatantly commercial, interruptions that we all find so annoying.
Stay on target and focused. Make sure all the information presented in your newsletter is relevant, interesting and helpful, and you will grow a large family of loyal subscribers for as long as you choose to publish.
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Copyright © 2003 Larry L. Nichols
Ventura, CA
All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
PUBLISHING GUIDELINES:
This article may be reprinted without modification, provided that the copyright notice remain completely intact. Email notification of your intent to publish would be sincerely appreciated.
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