Ho Newsletter - Your Thoughts and Experiences

[Becca_in_MD]

For those that had the October (or was it November?) HO newsletter sent out, what's your reaction?

Good, bad, indifferent? Are you getting more of a response from it, as in orders, bookings, recruit interest? Is it getting past spam blockers? Any personal feedback from customers and hosts?

I didn't have my act together to subscribe at the end of the summer. After the initial mess, I figured I'd wait until one issue went out with the new vendor to see if it's time to switch. I'd like to if it's getting through to people and getting a good response. I really like the concept of the response report.

Thanks!

 

[pamperedchef88]

I sent it out and I liked knowing who opened it and what they clicked on.

So far no sales or bookings but someone followed my link to join and I had a phone interview with them today and it looks like they will sign!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...in my opinion that makes it worth it. My other newsletter was good but I got very little response and I had to have time to write it so this is an excellent alternative for me.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I didn't do the first month, but I did the November one on a limited basis. I cleaned up my contacts list, and then had it sent to 150 people - mostly past hosts.

So far, I have 1 November Cooking Show, and a November Catalog Show from it.

I was a little frustrated that I didn't receive my copy in my email, but then, on the 31st, it showed up in my mailbox! Not sure why it took a week to show up, but it restored a little faith when it did!

I've had a good response to it - like 40% opened it, and 12% did specific clicks. Some of the people who opened it and clicked on things are people I haven't had contact with in a long time - so I really felt good about that, and about contacting them to say "Hey - haven't heard from you in a while - wondered if there was anything I could do for you, or if you were interested in hearing about current specials?"

I also like that it will be relatively easy to maintain, w/o costing extra money. Cheap and Easy! Wahoooo!

I'm going to give it a try for the next 6 months.

 

[Chef Kearns]

For some reason more people opened the newsletter I sent out through PC than with my other newsletter service. I like it, it is professional looking and I know there won't be issues with it linking to my PWS (course I say that and there might be some). I like the Warm Call Summary that they send out after. Overall I am pleased. Is there room for improvement? Sure, but it is good for now.

 

[Intrepid_Chef]

I looked at it and was so underwhelmed I ran to Tasty Tidbits and signed up again!Actually, ironically, got more response from a simple update (My name) just sent out her Pampered Chef newsletter. Let me know if you're not on the list but want to be! From that, I got a book show and two orders from co-workers, which are almost enough to be their own show!

 

[ChefBeckyD]

For some reason more people opened the newsletter I sent out through PC than with my other newsletter service. I like it, it is professional looking and I know there won't be issues with it linking to my PWS (course I say that and there might be some). I like the Warm Call Summary that they send out after. Overall I am pleased. Is there room for improvement? Sure, but it is good for now.

I had the same experience! a 40% open rate is excellent!

 

[lt1jane]

I think the newsletter looks great, and for someone working the business full-time, it's gonna be great. I, however, am a hobby to part-time consultant. I NEED to book out 60-90 days. I need more than just the current month for specials. That and the ability to recognize my past hosts is why I am just testing the HO newsletter with 20 people.

 

[Careyann]

I Love it! I like Tasty tidbits newsletters but I was not willing to pay for Icontact or any other service to send them out, it's just too much money and I have well over 400 on my contact list. So sending out the newsletter was a huge hassle for me since hotmail only allows you to send to 99 people at a time and it will only let you do that 3 times in one day and then it cuts you off. So there were people who never got my newsletter because I would forget to go back and send it to them.
I love the fact that I can see who looks at what and know who is opening it, 100% better, plus being able to customize it is nice too! It's a nice looking newsletter, it looks like it comes from Pampered chef which makes it more professional in my opinion.:thumbup:

 

[jbdowd0798]

Its good, but can't be personalized like Tasty Tidbits. I'm going to send two I think. I want the option of adding my own stuff. I do like the Warm Call Summary but NOTHING has come of it so for now I'll just let my customers know I have two.

 

[SpiritdancerIA]

So far, my open/click rate seems to be about the same as the monthly Tasty Tidbits (runs right around 20%)

Interestingly, I've been sending out the Weekly Dish that Joy has put together, and I've gotten half a dozen very positive responses when I talk to folks on my email list. And the open rate for that seems to be better than the once a month newsletter.

Upshot is, I'm going ahead with the monthly email from HO, and sending out a weekly (short) newsletter, too

 

[magentablue]

This makes me feel better. I felt like it was a flop, because I only had 26 email addresses, and 1 was bad. Of that though, I had a 56% open rate. I felt a little defeated, because I thought "why didn't everyone open my email?" I was thinking the number should be more like 100%... or close... but reading this thread makes me feel better, and put it into perspective. It wasn't an email that screamed "hey this is your friend writing you a note!" it was an email that said "here's some advertisements, in an inbox already full of too many advertisements."