Spotted Wombat

Well done to the Atlantis Marcoola Beachfront Resort on a well-timed newsletter and a tempting offer.

I stayed there quite a while ago and was quite surprised to receive an e-newsletter from them yesterday. As newsletters are one of my main services, I was delighted to see this wonderful message that was tempting and perfectly timed. 

The best part is the photo of the beach at Marcoola! I'm sure that it got people drooling for more - it certainly made me want to close the office and head straight for the beach.

Easter is coming up and most of us think that Easter Weekend is expensive, fully-booked and we'd stand no chance of going away at this late stage. Well, Atlantis Marcoola have come up with a nifty way of telling us the beach is beautiful, there is accommodation available - PLUS there's a discount.

Fabulous job - I think we can all learn from your example. Please note that I am in no way affiliated or connected with Atlantis Marcoola, apart from being a guest there a few months ago.

See an excerpt of the newsletter below:

"The Sun is Shining - finally!

It’s been quite a while since we’ve emailed a Guest Newsletter, so for those guests who have been asking, thanks for thinking of us.  If you’d rather not hear the news, unsubscribe here.
 
The most important news we need to tell you is that the weather is amazing and the beach is beautiful.  After weeks of rain and strong winds, The Sunshine Coast is finally being true to its name and providing us with perfect March days. 

Easter is only days away, but still we have a few rooms available if you’ve been thinking about a break but didn’t think you’d find availability.  Your 10% return guest discount still applies in Mid Season, so don’t hesitate to call soon or we will definitely be fully booked and you could miss out on your last chance to bask in the warmth of an early Easter weekend by the ocean.  After the holidays, we will be offering some amazing specials for those of you who don’t have school aged children. 

Take a look at some of our specials and call us on our freecall number, 1800 247 700.

Marcoola Beach at the moment!"

Joanne Grey from Spotted Wombat is a copywriter in Brisbane. Spotted Wombat builds content marketing websites, creates and manages newsletters, writes blogs and articles, plus offers a range of other writing and online services.

A lot of questions we get asked are about blogging. For example:

• How do I start a blog?
• What do I blog about?
• How often should I blog?

Although the above questions are important – the main question that prospective bloggers should be asking is “What does my audience want to hear?” It’s not about what you want to say, but rather who wants to listen to you.

The questions that prospective bloggers should be asking are:

Who am I targeting?

Are they new or existing customers? Perhaps they are the existing customers of your competitors. Whoever they are – you need to know upfront.

Do I enjoy writing?

Blogs are a written medium. If you dislike writing, you’ll probably dislike blogging.

Have I got time?

Consistent updates are crucial to the success of your blog. Three times a week is perfect, but weekly can be good - if it is consistent. Decide on your blogging frequency and stick to it. The worst thing you can do is start a regular discussion with your customers and then stop. Rather don’t blog at all if you cannot commit to regular postings.

What will my key message be?

If your message is “I am wonderful” – then please don’t start a blog.

What keywords will I use?

Research what people are looking for in your industry. Don’t try and reinvent the wheel (not at first, anyway).

Am I a technical dinosaur?

Blogging is easy, but you do need to have some idea as to how the Internet works and how to use online software. If you aren’t Internet-savvy, learn - or find someone to help you before you start your blog.

What is my ultimate goal?

Know what you want to achieve from your blog upfront. What do you want your blog to have achieved within one year from now?

A blog is a great way to engage with customers and maintain fresh content on your website. If you can confidently answer the above questions, then you will most likely find that your blog will add value to your business. Go for it.

A whopping 78% of 26,000 people surveyed* said that amongst all advertising, customer recommendations were the most credible in making purchasing decisions. The bottom line is that customers need to trust businesses and businesses need customers to trust them. Read more >>

Who said Social Media was a fad? Facebook reached 350 million users in December 2009. LinkedIn today announced that the LinkedIn Australia membership has passed the 1 million mark. According to research compiled by LinkedIn, Australia is one of LinkedIn's fastest growing regions. Globally, a new member joins LinkedIn every second.

LinkedIn is free to use, making it ideal for small business owners with small budgets to get connected. Online networking gives businesses a distinct advantage over other professionals.

LinkedIn Profiles appear as one of the top Google search results under your name. Make sure that your profile is complete and updated. Potential clients and partners may Google you before meetings, so use LinkedIn as an opportunity to sell yourself and your achievements.
 

Brisbane copywriters providing web content, newsletters, brochure copy, blogs, articles and ebooks. 

Many savvy customers are armed with information about your company before they make their first contact with you. What this means is that your customer has already started forming a relationship with you, which makes it easier for them to buy your product or services. Read more >>