Content Creation For Your Business Newsletters

You may know that I love newsletters. They're a great way for you to keep connected with your customers. (Read my blog post here for some ideas on why they're such a great idea!).

A question often raised by clients is though, what to talk about? How on earth to come up with ideas for newsletters?

In this post, find 5 great content ideas for your newsletters for your equine or canine business

1. Why is your work with horses and dogs useful? Let your subscribers, know different reasons why you can help their horses or dogs. Don't try and give all reasons at once though! A newsletter doesn't need to be long. Give a different reason over a series of editions. Focus on the why and the how. Include case studies if you can.
2. Case studies of your work with horses or dogs. This can be over a series of newsletters, looking at different breeds or types of horses or dogs. And different ailments. The possibilities are endless. Include photo's and video's if you can.
3. Product recommendations. You may even sell some products alongside your business. But there are probably products you do use. For instance if you're a canine hydrotherapist you may use special towels to help dry your dogs. Give your subscribers recommendations. And let them know how they can buy.
4. General health tips. Give your subscribers advice on healthcare tips for horses or dogs. This could be seasonal. Or a specific ailment. Or even grooming.
5. Any CPD you've completed. Provide reassurance that you do complete CPD. Don't be shy about telling people about a course you've attended. Your qualifications are hard earned. But be sure to share why they will make a difference to your business. And importantly how they'll help your equine or canine customers.

A general point is be consistent. Send a newsletter regularly. Whether that's every week, or every month. Be consistent.

Action Point

• Use these content ideas to get your newsletters created and published.
• Review my previous blog posts about mailing lists and also more content ideas.

How to Get Confidence Running Your Equine or Canine Business

Click here for more information on consultancy. Or email me at info @ taranet.co.uk for info on coaching opportunities with me.

About The Author
Suzanne Harris is an equestrian and canine entrepreneurial coach and consultant to veterinarians who want to help prevent animals being affected by domestic abuse.

PS: You can find more equestrian and pet care themed business articles over at my Linkedin, see more here https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzanne-harris-mcmi/detail/recent-activity/posts/

Tags: marketing, equine business, canine business, website, online marketing, coaching, business

What do you do on social media? Do you concentrate on posting AND connecting with others? Or do you prefer posting and 'hoping' for a response?

The "posting and hoping" approach is quite common! It enables you to get your posts done, sharing content and if someone sees it and likes it, so much the better.

But it's not targeted. And if you get some customers, it may well be more luck than anything else. Of course there are exceptions to this, like if you're a large international brand.

To get the best benefits out of social media, connecting with others is vital. There's two main ways you can connect.

1. By commenting on other people's posts.
2. By expanding your network, by following or linking with others.

So how do you connect on social media?

First of all, don't treat every new connection/ follow as a sales opportunity. I don't like going into a shop and having a shop assistant start trying to sell me something straightaway. Do you?

Also if you go into a shop and every (potential) customer has the same sales pitch said to them. It doesn't make you feel like an individual does it? You're one of the numbers only.

Instead it's better to have a customised approach. What do I mean? First off, if you know a connections name. Then in your private/direct message or post comment, use their name if you can. You're then talking to the person as an individual. This is especially important when you're inviting someone to connect with you. Such as on a network like Linkedin.

Do some research. Nothing complicated. But check their profile and/or website. If it's clear they work with dogs. Say something like you share in interest in dog health. Including it shows you're taking an interest.

Why bother personalising comments and connection invitations? It shows you're not a robot! And helps in the first stage of building trust.

Your comments and connections may not immediately lead to a sale. But in time they might. Remember most people don't like a sales pitch at any time, let alone from someone they don't know. And importantly someone they don't trust. It takes time to build this.

Your Action Point

• Commit to connecting with new people on your social media every day. Even five a day is a great start!
• Personalise your messages.
• Comment on a few posts every day from people in your groups, newsfeed. Ensure your comments are helpful and useful. Not a sales pitch for your service!

How to Get Confidence Running Your Equine or Canine Business

Click here for more information on consultancy. Or email me at info @ taranet.co.uk for info on coaching opportunities with me.

About The Author
Suzanne Harris is an equestrian and canine entrepreneurial coach and consultant to veterinarians who want to help prevent animals being affected by domestic abuse.

PS: You can find more equestrian and pet care themed business articles over at my Linkedin, see more here https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzanne-harris-mcmi/detail/recent-activity/posts/

Tags: marketing, twitter, social media, online marketing, coaching, business, facebook, instagram, linkedin

You've got your website, so all should be ok?

It may be "selling" your service, so customers know what you do. Where you do it. And how you can help their horse or dog. You maybe proud of it. And hopefully you are!

But can people find it easily?

Without stating the obvious. Your customers won't be able to love your website if they can't find it!

Before you go down the SEO (search engine optimisation) route. Start at the beginning and what is your domain name?

Your domain name is the website address. So here, my website domain name is taranet.co.uk. Is your website domain long? Is it your own? Or does it include a suffix like wix.com or wordpress?

Not that there's anything wrong in itself with having a suffix. But the longer the domain name, the more likely it is someone will forget it. Or not be able to clearly tell their friends or relatives about your service, and your contact details.

Remember, your website may not just be seen by your direct customers. But by people who can refer others to you.

Potential customers will love your website if it's easy to find and remember. A long domain name will put people off. Or they could mistype and end up somewhere else entirely.

Over many years, consumer research suggests simplicity is preferred. It may cost you more to have your own domain name. But not having a clear easy to remember name, may cost you more in lost sales!

There are a huge range of suffixes you can have to your business name as a domain. It's no longer just .com or co.uk or .org. There are dozens! So you're bound to find one that will work for you.

In auditing websites for my customers, the first thing I look at is the name. It's surprising how often it's overlooked! And is a fairly easy to thing to fix. And is an easy way for you to start getting your customers loving your website!

Your Action Point

• Review your website domain name. Is it clearly describing your service?
• Is it long? Does it have a suffix that is yours or is it hosted on another platform?
• Can you change the website name, and can you find a suffix that means the website is yours?
• Consider your website name on any of your marketing materials. Does it look easy to remember and is clear? If you do change your website domain name, update your marketing materials or advertising!

How to Get Confidence Running Your Equine or Canine Business

Click here for more information on consultancy. Or email me at info @ taranet.co.uk for info on coaching opportunities with me.

About The Author
Suzanne Harris is an equestrian and canine entrepreneurial coach and consultant to veterinarians who want to help prevent animals being affected by domestic abuse.

Tags: website, marketing, business, coaching

Have You Considered Youtube For Your Equine or Canine Business?

As you know youtube is a popular online place for videos to be posted. And it's not just a video sharing website, but a social media platform. An enormously powerful one at that.

Worldwide there are over 2 billion active monthly logged in users. Yes really, 2 billion! And importantly some of those will be your potential customers. Whether you're in the UK, USA, Australia or another country it's almost certainly the case youtube is being used right now by people who could either be your customer. Or they know someone else who will be.

Youtube is powerful as a search engine too. People searching on Google will also get youtube results. And people will use youtube to search for information that will help them. So in many ways it's more useful than some other social networks, who don't have the same search ability.

Barriers For Using Youtube?

Do you feel reluctant to use youtube because you think you need professional video's? Or perhaps you don't think you've anything worthwhile posting?

Firstly you don't need anything more than the video on your smartphone. Yes you can get professionally made video's. There are many photographers and marketing companies who can help you do this. Or you could get a camcorder, tripod and sound equipment to do it yourself. You don't necessarily need expensive editing software either. If you've an Apple Mac, then you may have iMovie, which is brilliant.

But as I said, a smartphone is fine. Either film something yourself. Or get a friend, relative or colleague with a steady hand to film you working with your equine or canine customers.

Other Types Of Video?

You can also create a slideshow/ presentation. If applicable, create an accompanying voiceover (you can usually record on good presentation software). And export it in a movie/film format, and then post it on youtube.

What To Post On Youtube?

Whether you film or create a slide show or hire a professional. What should you post on youtube? What will be helpful for your equine or canine business? Here are 5 ideas:

1. Have a film showing you working with horses or dogs. This could be a 5 minute clip or a 30 minute clip. However long is up to you. Keep it relevant and if you can show something in a short time. Do it. Don't think you need to prolong it. But if you need longer that's fine!
2. Create a slideshow/presentation explaining some key facts about your service. This could be all your service. Or a particular aspect.
3. Use a film of you explaining about why you do what you do. And how you can help horses and/or dogs. See this as an introduction to you.
4. Provide tips and advice. This could be general horse or dog care tips. Or something specific.
5. Interview someone. This could be a customer (the horse or dog's owner?). Or a veterinary professional who refers to you. Ask 3 or 4 questions. Keep it light. But it'll help show people another aspect of what you do as a equine or canine professional.

Will People Be Interested In What I Have To Say?

Remember that what you know is different to what others know. It will often be more than what others know. You don't know, what people don't know!

The important thing is to be authentic. Be interested in what you're talking about. Hopefully this shouldn't be difficult! But don't try to be someone you're not.

These video's will be about helping your potential horse or dog customer. And showcase why you maybe able to help.

How Often Should I Post?

Try and be consistent. The more you do, the more practice you'll get. And the more you should enjoy it! And your potential customers have the option of subscribing to your youtube channel and so can keep in contact with your updates. So be consistent.


Action Points..

• Get planning. Write down 5 ideas for youtube content.
• Create a schedule. Will you do one video a month, or once a week? Decide on the frequency and plan how you'll do it and when.
• Create an account and post. If you've not already, create a youtube account. Remember you can set video's to 'private' so you can practice and post, without the public seeing if you like! But don't spend too long worrying about perfection. If it stops you posting publicly!

• Do you want coaching support to help your business flourish? Please email me to discuss!

About The Author
Suzanne Harris is an equestrian and canine entrepreneurial coach and consultant to veterinarians who want to help prevent animals being affected by domestic abuse.

Tags: marketing, twitter, social media, online marketing, coaching, business, facebook, instagram