Many years ago when I studied marketing and sales my lecturers drummed it into our heads that it is imperative for your company to have a marketing plan, both short term and long term. Back then a short term plan was for one year and a long term plan was generally for five years. Things have changed dramatically since then.
These days a short term plan is for three months and a long term plan is for one to two years maximum. The time frame will obviously depend on the industry that you are in. Just over eightseven months ago, during December 2007, I wrote down 52 newsletter topics for the 2008 year ahead, with a few descriptive lines for each of the topics. Knowing that we are operating in a dynamic environment and that things change so quickly, I knew that I would have to discard about 10 of the topics but that I would still be able to use the rest - I had a plan and a direction.
More often than not, what we read in newspapers, on websites and in newsletters, etc. changes the way we think and how we behave.
Let me explain:In the past I was spending on average close to R5,000 per month on Google advertising. I then read about 4 articles about increasing one's spending with Google and how successful the results were. So, like a true Internet believer I did just that and upped the ante' to R25,000 - R30,000 per month. At the same time I slowed down my traditional email newsletter marketing. (Intentionally)
The question was did this work? The Google Adwords worked to a point. Did I gain R25,000 - R30,000 additional income from them? The answer is quite simply, NO. What had I done wrong? Why did I deviate from my traditional marketing plan and direction? I had to ask myself these questions. I know it is always good to try new things but should I have slowed done on my email newsletter marketing? Many people will have differing opinions on this. I chose to do this to see if the income generated from the Google Adwords would justify the the increase in cost.
You may ask why I am writing this article. At that same time as making these huge revelations (tongue in cheek), I realised the my weekly (well almost) email newsletter that goes out has been hugely successful and that our bulk emailing system, My ListManager, has been the major tool of our most successful marketing thus far.
After having given due consideration to the powerful functionality and reach of My ListManager, the DiaMatrix team decided to expand its functionality, making it an even more powerful and effective marketing tool.
I would like to share some really exciting enhancements with you that are happening within MyListManager. For the past 3 months we have been working on giving MyListManager a total revamp. This will continue for the next 2 months - it is already looking great!
Below are a few of the new ideas and functionality that we are incorporating into the new version:
- REVAMP: MyListManager is getting a total make-over. We are going for ease of use by simplifying the layout of the pages. The old "Send Message" was 5 steps - this has now been simplified into 3 easy steps. The "Preview, Spam Rating & Test Send" are now all in 1 simple step;
- BLOGS: For those of you who do not have a website AND for those of you that do, you will be able to create your own online blog. People will be able to view your blog in our MyListManager blog community (if you so wish) and they will be able to subscribe to it as well, thereby increasing your subscriber base;
- COMMUNITY: In our current version we started with a basic community builder whereby you, the member, allocated your newsletter to a category and should you have wanted to make your newsletter public it would have been displayed within this category. We are now taking this to a totally new level. You will be able to publish your newsletter AND blog to the community. The public will also be able to see what you have published. In addition to this, they will be able to see your profile and subscribe to your newsletters from this open community thus growing your subscriber database;
- AFFILIATE PROGRAM: For those resellers who always refer clients to us, you will now be able to do this via a proper affiliate control panel. You will have the option of selecting commission on a once-off basis or on a monthly basis, thereby earning extra for yourself;
- TEMPLATES: We are aiming to include 100-150 professionally designed newsletter templates that you can choose from to use when compiling your own newsletters;
- SURVEYS: We are also aiming to incorporate close on 25 professionally designed pre-configured surveys that you can use to send out to your clients; and
- REVISED PACKAGES: Stay tuned as we are revising our packages to give you more value for your money.
These are just a few of the new ideas and functionality that are currently being added and I am happy to say that there are lots more in the pipeline.
