5 Tip Tuesday: 5 Newsletters An Entrepreneur Should Never Delete
How many newsletters are in your Inbox right now? Of those subscriptions, how many do you open and actually read regularly? I'm sure I'm not the only person who has subscribed to newsletters and mailing lists that I immediately delete without opening.
One of the reasons that I subscribe to newsletters I don't read is that they were once useful (Groupon) but my lifestyle has changed. Going through a newsletter audit at least twice a year lets me sort through the stuff I actually still want and the clutter I have lost interest in and clearing out my subscription list is a very different as an entrepreneur. When you run your own shop you are both a consumer of other people's goods and services and you are a competitor in the marketplace; you're more aware of how other businesses are using their newsletters to speak to consumers like you. If you're thinking about decluttering your inbox soon, consider the following 5 types of newsletters you ought to keep.
1. A newsletter you admire
These are the newsletters that tell you about a life you aspire to live. I love subscribing to BlogLovin' because they show me the latest and greatest posts of my favourite lifestyle, travel, food and fashion bloggers. Skimming through this newsletter is pure pleasure and keeps my mind focused on where I aim to be. This newsletter reminds me of the elevated level of content I would like to produce and creative things I like to support. Keep your subscription to something, anything, that keeps you looking forward towards the possibilities of what you want for your life and your business.
2. A newsletter you want to copy
Who is doing what you do and creates an awesome newsletter to talk about it? I love to read something honest and useful for anyone trying to make entrepreneurship work as a real possibility for their life. Ash has a real potty mouth and is uncomfortably transparent about the challenges of convincing customers to buy from you. I look forward to receiving her newsletters from The Middle Finger Project blog and save them for future reference. Do yourself a favour and subscribe to someone who is telling the truth about what you're going through. There are a lot of people faking their success and showing you only the highlights of their lives. Nothing connects with people better than the truth. Keep a subscription that speaks the truth to you as you see it and will teach you how to communicate honestly with your own customers.
3. A newsletter with actionable advice
Every time I receive something from Bloguettes I learn something I can use in my business and #girlboss life. The bloguettes give insight into social media practices, workplace issues, creating a balanced life for women and more. Do you know how to sneak more reading into your week? I'm trying to do develop my reading hobby for myself and my career and bloguettes has a few tips for you to reach that goal too.
4. A newsletter that cares about issues in your backyard
Knowing what is happening in your own neighbourhood doesn't make you nosey it makes you smart. Keep the subscription of at least one newsletter that will keep you informed about what is happening in your community, city or province. Toronto Life is a magazine with several newsletters that examine the issues that irk Torontonians like million dollar real estate, the lavish weddings of local celebrities and local crime.
5. A newsletter from someone you know (and can hold accountable)
Every month I arrive in your Inbox with something I hope you will like. A little bit of information about upcoming networking opportunities mixed with a blog post or two of advice that you can use plus a sneak peek at an entrepreneur you can emulate. If you don't like something in the newsletter or if you have a question you can simply email me and get a personal reply. I'm accountable to you! If you haven't received it yet then you can subscribe to Black Leopard Public Relations newsletter today!
It's true what they say: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Nothing is more true for owning your own business. Owning your own business can give you a sense of pride and accomplishment, but it can also come with unique processes and challenges to overcome in order to fully establish and run your business.