Posted on WebCamiCafe.com on September 10th, 2018
This week's episode highlights my realization of the untapped potential of sending regular newsletters to clients. I share my intention to leverage this opportunity for client engagement and my commentary update listeners on what path I ending up taking.
About the author: Cami MacNamara, otherwise known as WebCami, has 21 years of experience running a small, profitable, one-person web design business, so she can walk her dog whenever she likes. She has co-hosted a beginner WordPress Meetup in Seattle since 2018 and has been an active member of the Seattle WordPress community since 2013. Cami has designed nearly 600 websites, provides services to 350 active clients, and manages over 200 websites monthly as a solopreneur.
The original post can be found here: https://webcamicafe.com/the-importance-of-a-business-newsletter/
Transcript of Cami's Commentary:
If there's ever a blog post needing an update, this is it. I'm sharing this with you on my podcast because many web designers aren't tapping into the potential of their company newsletters. Fortunately, I've made many improvements since writing this.
Shortly after creating that blog post, I launched a monthly newsletter. It wasn't just about business; it included valuable information for my clients and updates on my ailing parents. During this time, I frequently flew to California to care for my folks and assist my dad, who was taking care of my mom with dementia all on his own.
Being open and honest with my clients about what was happening in my life was my best decision regarding my newsletter. Yes, I simply called it a newsletter because it was the easiest thing to do. It wasn't solely about business; I shared my human side, and my clients genuinely cared about my parents. This support was significant during such a challenging period. My sound systems helped me keep my business afloat.
Today, I send out a monthly newsletter to all my clients. It includes something beneficial for them, such as updates on Google Analytics and the approaching GA4 deadline, hacking statistics, or something I've learned that they'll find valuable.
I also share my travel schedule. Although it no longer involves visits to my folks since they've passed away, I still inform my clients when I'm out of the office. I provide them with months and weeks of notice, and this newsletter is a great reminder of how to contact me during my absence.
I also try to share a personal picture from the month, whether it's a scenic shot from my walks at Alki, a picture of my dog, or one from an event where I've spoken. My goal is to establish a connection with them.
To ensure a smooth onboarding process, I've added steps to ensure everyone on my list starts on the correct segmented list. My monthly newsletter goes out to all active clients. I use segments for alert emails. I also launched a second newsletter for WebCamiCafe.com. I had wanted to do this for a while, but I needed more time and attention to dedicate to it.
Lastly, this year, I switched from MailChimp to FloDesk. While it's pricier, it allows for unlimited emails and subscribers.
Through my podcast and newsletter, I aim to build a community with other freelance web designers who prefer working solo. If you want to subscribe to the WebCami Cafe newsletter, please check the show notes for a link.
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To view my business website, visit: https://webcami.com/
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