Here at Two Cups Connect, we’re often asked which one is better.  I’m sure a lot of you are probably wondering if you should set up email newsletters or a blog.  If you have the time and resources, there’s no doubt that you should put up both.  But let’s be realistic here.  A lot of us really don’t have the time and expertise two do two things at once especially for something as important as newsletters and blogs.  So usually, we’re left to choose between the two.  So to make that decision easier, here are some comparisons between the two:

1. A blog will have its own URL and that will be its home on the web.  For it to be effective, you have to have people check it out regularly.  This means that you have to exert some time and effort to make sure that it’s always exposed to a lot of people.  You would have to do SEO and marketing to make it visible and that can be a little complicated.  Although you can hire a company like Two Cups Connect to take care of that for you.  On the other hand, email newsletters are sent out to your list.  It doesn’t matter where they are.  They’re going to receive your newsletters.  You just have to build a list and take care of it by sending great and useful content regularly.
2. You get to be proactive with email newsletters.  You don’t have to wait for people to check out your message.  You bring your message to them.  With blogs, you have to wait for people to check them out.  This is especially true if you’re just starting with a blog and you don’t have a lot of followers yet.  Think of it this way.  Your blog can be a party that you organized.  On the other hand, email newsletters are the invitations.  You get to be proactive and you send out newsletters to remind people about the awesome party that you’re throwing!  You just have to include a link to your blog or website.
3. It’s easier to “sell” in your email newsletters.  Since people signed up for them, there’s a greater chance that they’re really interested in what you have to offer.  On the other hand, blogs are usually set up to share information.  A little “selling” may turn off a lot of your readers and may stop going to your blog.
4. Let’s say that you have 10,000 people on your list.  If half of them forward your email newsletters to at least one friend, then you have an additional 5,000 views.  These views can easily turn into subscription and your list grows in the process.  On the other hand, it’s very uncommon for people to refer blogs to their friends.

Obviously, using newsletters is the better choice.  But once you have that set up, you can then explore the possibility of putting up your own blog.  Blogs also have their own advantages and you just have to have the key to unlock them.  Either way, Two Cups Connect can help you.  We have a great system for newsletters and we have a great team that can help you put up your blog and market them.  So contact us in order to explore your options.

Hi everybody!

Wow – what a meeting we had yesterday!  Almost 50 people attended our lunch meeting at the new Chef Mo’s at 900 Hendersonville Rd. in Asheville, NC and we had a great time.  I had at least 5 people come up to me afterwards to tell me that this is the best business networking meeting in Asheville.  It makes Wayne and I so happy to hear that, because we work hard to make these meetings as productive as possible.

We are all there to help each other be more successful and every time we meet I see more and more business being done between our members.

Check the Events Calendar for our meeting dates and locations in Asheville NC, and Waynesville, NC.

best,

Mandy Wildman and Wayne Porter

We have used GoDaddy.com for a number of years for a number of reasons – they are well-priced, their site is not too complicated, and – most importantly, they have real live SUPPORT!   Their support is the best, and that’s why we recommend our website clients use GoDaddy for hosting and domain registration.  Check them out here:

How to build your email list is probably one of the top questions for those who want to use email newsletters as a strategy.  After all, there’s no point in having a newsletter with a great design if you can’t send them to anyone.  It’s comforting to know that you can build a list just by going through your normal day to day activity.  You don’t have to do something out of your way.  You just need to do a little something more about them.

You can start with people that you know.  If you’re asking how to build your email list, this is the easiest and fastest way to start.  It’s a great place to start because they’re more receptive.  It’s because they know you personally.  So there’s a very good chance that they’ll check out your email newsletters.  They can be a relative, friend or even and acquaintance.  With people that you know, you basically have one foot inside the door.  It’s now easier to have your message heard.  You can start by collecting their email addresses.  There’s a great chance that you have most of them anyway.  This is another reason why it’s a great way to build a list.  If you’re like most people, then you’ll probably have hundreds of people on your list just by starting with people that you know.

You can then slowly but surely build a list just by going through the normal day to day activities that you do.  You probably meet a lot of people and usually, you exchange business cards.  Nowadays, most business cards have their email addresses on it.  So that’s another answer on how to build your email list.  If you join social networking events (and you should), then you’ll get a chance to meet a lot of people.  These are prospective contacts and you can easily build a list just by going to these events.  In any business, networking is good.  David Doerges, author of the Master Networker’s Manual and founder of Free Networking International, defines networking as “the process of creating a large sphere of helpful contacts through personal meetings and structured, casual and social networking events.”  So keep on networking so you’ll have more recipients for your email newsletters and your message will be heard by more people.

Joining the Two Cups Family will let you take advantage of your list easily.  You can just go to our website and enter all the information that you got and we’ll take care of everything.  You shouldn’t build a list if you don’t plan on using it.  Now that the question, how to build your email list, is answered; it’s now time for you to reap the benefits of your huge list by sending them customized email newsletters.

Do you have a great product or service that you’re trying to sell? Well if you’re like most people who don’t get the chance to be heard, tough luck. It’s an even tougher luck if you do something about it through several online marketing efforts and still, no one is listening. This is where online newsletters come in.

You’re probably a little concerned about the thought of making email newsletters. After all, it can be pretty intimidating because of the time, effort and money involved. But let’s talk about efficiency for a second. Let’s say that you are very popular and you know 300 people. Imagine yourself calling or emailing each and every single one of them to ask them to check out your website. Sure, it’s free. But can you imagine the time and money involved in doing that? If you’re not up to the challenge like most people, you can sit down and cross your fingers hoping that they’ll stumble upon your site for some reason. Either way, it’s a waste of time.

It’s a given that most people are on a tight budget with the present economy and all. But consider online newsletters for a second. With email newsletters, you can create a positive impact. This positive impact will lead to those 300 people checking out the great product or service that you’re trying to sell. This is the advantage of email newsletters. You don’t wait for people to hear your powerful message. You bring the message to them.

I guess the number one concern for everyone is the price. Not everyone can afford online newsletters, right? That’s where you’re wrong. Sending out email newsletters to people is even cheaper than sending snail mail. If you’re going to use snail mail to have your message heard, you have to spend for the design of the postcard, stamps and mailing labels. There’s also the added hassle of trying to find the best deal available. But with online newsletters, you don’t have to spend a lot of money. They’re also much more effective than snail mails if you want to get your message heard.

Call Two Cups Connect RIGHT NOW in order to have your own email newsletters. Call 1 (800) 608-3714 or contact us right away to get started.