6 Ways To Use Customer & Sales Newsletters

Sell More Higher-Margin Products
Businesses that find they're not earning much profit, despite strong sales, may have allowed low-margin products to become their mainstay.

A newsletter can emphasize higher margin products, among both customers and employees. For employees, reiterate the benefits (for them and the company) of selling a product or set of products with a higher profit margin. For customers, let them know these products exist, how to buy them, and outline the benefits of using them.

Go From Commodity To Branded Status
Control over pricing is one important advantage a branded product provides over a commodity. Of course, the process of moving a product to branded status starts with incorporation of some value-added feature. But once you add that value you want to make sure your customers know.

A marketing newsletter provides critical communication for the branding process. After all, increasing the cost of a commodity without explaining benefits could lead customers to switch to another supplier. Before the price goes up customers should expect the increase, understand the added value, and appreciate the extra benefits they receive.

Penetrate New Markets Or Territories
Often, sales people focus on existing customers and existing business. That's not surprising, but not necessarily in your best long-term interests. All businesses need at least some prospecting and new customers. The problem: rewards from prospecting and developing new business come slowly, compared to returns from current customers.

A marketing newsletter can be an effective first-line. Using lists prepared by your sales people, or representatives of the areas you want to enter, mail out your print newsletter and a response form. If you publish a free electronic newsletter, look for ways to find new subscribers in the target area.

The newsletter should make it simple for potential customers to contact you, to ask for information about your products, or to ask a sales person to call. Plan to send multiple issues of the newsletter, since repeat exposures are key to developing new business.

Internal Marketing
Marketing, for good reason, usually focuses on externally-oriented activity. However, one school of thought argues that internal marketing matters, too. Essentially, internal marketing helps ensure that everyone within your organization knows what you sell, and why customers should buy from you. And, don't forget attitude. Everyone in the organization should be a booster of the company