Tag / copywriter

by Copley Sutton

Get a copywriter for your email marketing – Olivia Colville

Think your South African business is too small to consider email marketing? Worried that it will cost too much or take up a lot of your time? Despite the rise of social media, people actually prefer to engage with businesses and brands through email. If you’re ready to try it, keep these three stages in mind as you plan your strategy.

 

First, you’ll need to set up a programme for creating and sending emails. Then, you’ll get into the nitty-gritty of crafting compelling emails. Finally, because email programmes allow you to track the results, you’ll need to do some data-crunching.

Choosing the right email software is critical to your success. The sheer number of different options can overwhelm new users. As you research your options, ask the following questions:

  • How easy is it to use? If you’re not technical, you’ll want a programme that has templates you can use. Most are very simple to use and you can simply add in text or images to create your newsletters quickly and easily.
  • How much support is available? Everybody needs assistance at some point. Make sure it’s easy to get help when you want it. Do you have to log a request or can you pick up the phone and talk to someone?
  • How much does it cost? While every programme offers different models, you’ll most likely be charged based on the number of subscribers you have. Increasing your email list will help reduce the cost.

The benefits of email marketing are not limited to companies that sell products. If you offer a service, you can still use newsletters to keep in touch with your customers. Educate them on new developments in your industry, showcase your services with real-life examples and share your knowledge with them. This kind of content goes a long way to establishing your business as an authority and earning trust from new prospects.

Sending out regular, professional looking newsletters to your customers doesn’t have to be a hassle. Before you start, think about what you want to achieve. Are you looking drive more traffic to your website, increase sales or just keep your business top-of-mind for customers?

Do some research online to familiarise yourself with the many options available. Speak to other small business owners about their experience with email marketing. Choose a copywriter that offers you the features you need that will help you achieve your objectives.

This is just the first stage of email marketing. Once you’re up and running you can educate yourself on creating newsletters that get noticed by your subscribers. After a few emails have been sent out, analyse the results and see what works best. Small businesses can also use email marketing to help them grow and succeed—so don’t be afraid to try it!

 

About the Author – Since she was a little girl, Olivia Colville has always had her nose in a book. Her curiosity knows no bounds and she spends her time collecting stories. Olivia’s greatest wish is to become a sought-after copywriter. Fingers crossed!

by Copley Sutton

How to take the minimal approach to becoming more productive

The term ‘work smart, not hard’ has been thrown around for more than a decade now, but still people are confused as to what steps to take in order to do more in less time. Work has a tendency to pile up the further we progress in our careers, while deadlines remain as strict as they’ve ever been.

Getting headway in your work will win you the real commodity of our day; time. Money might make the world go round, but we all know that without time, money is pointless. So how can you get your work done and still retain enough time in your week to enjoy life?

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Planning is half the battle

People who are flustered by a huge plethora of work often neglect the most important part of their working day; planning. Planning works as an investment in your time; i.e. the more you plan, the less you’ll have to work later. It’s a matter of knowing what to expect when the task comes up and having the strategy to deal with it effectively.

Take time at the start and end of every day to organize your tasks into manageable chunks that allow you to breathe in between. Once you’re finished a task, tick it off in your day planner. This gives you a sense of completion which enables you to focus on the next task with a clear mind.

 

Managing your time without anxious clock-watching

Having your tasks written down beside time segments helps you to get a fuller picture of all the work you have. Once you have this fuller picture, the day doesn’t seem as crammed anymore and your day is a lot easier to tackle.

It’s important to stick to your schedule. Failure to do so will invariably cause work to once again pile up into an unmanageable point. The best way to avoid this is to factor in reasonable breaks between your tasks so as not to burn yourself out.

 

Structure will keep you sane

No matter what industry you’re in, you need to work out a system that organizes your work in order of importance. The art of prioritizing has no set recipe. You will have to work out your own way of structuring tasks as they come in according to how important they are.

For inspiration, here are some ideas that have worked for others:

–          Colour coding: If your emails are filling up your inbox and you feel overwhelmed by them, consider a colour coding strategy. Red for urgent, orange for to-do, green for done, etc.

–          Piles: An overabundance of paper can fluster the best of us. Organize your documents into pile categories and watch how quickly your desk neatens and your work flows. Coloured paperclips can also make your tasks easier to identify.

Remember that a clear working area equals a clear thinking space. Your work will go faster—with minimal error—if you are in control and on top of every situation.

 

Let the time you’ll be saving motivate you to incorporate these methods into every day. Within no time, you’ll start noticing the difference: More time, less errors, and no reason to cut down on your workload.