Newsletters

[iacas]

We're going to be putting together newsletters pretty soon. Newsletters will be mailed at most weekly (I highly doubt it will be that often - most likely monthly, maybe bi-weekly).

Newsletters will be brief and will seek to be of positive value. I don't want to send anyone even something closely related to spam - that's not the point. I hate spam as much as anyone.

So what would you like to see in Newsletters? Huddler has some ideas (and they've been doing newsletters for awhile, so I'm going to listen to them too)... but I want to hear from you guys too. I can't promise everything you say will be in there, but I'm going to read and consider everything.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by iacas

We're going to be putting together newsletters pretty soon. Newsletters will be mailed at most weekly (I highly doubt it will be that often - most likely monthly, maybe bi-weekly).

Newsletters will be brief and will seek to be of positive value. I don't want to send anyone even something closely related to spam - that's not the point. I hate spam as much as anyone.

So what would you like to see in Newsletters? Huddler has some ideas (and they've been doing newsletters for awhile, so I'm going to listen to them too)... but I want to hear from you guys too. I can't promise everything you say will be in there, but I'm going to read and consider everything.

I like what's on the home page. Most info is available from different sites, but what are those sites? I wouldn't be against the following in a newsletter:

- updates of the OWGR and top WGC events

- quirky and little known but relevant rules decisions (maybe a short quiz)

- links for regional events, sponsors, and vendors  (links, ads, whatever)

- opinions

- introduding up and comers (trending up and buzzworthy players)

- equipment news and reviews, industry buzz, demo days

- tips for playing better and betting smarter

[Zeph]

I'm more interested in what you are imagining it will contain and how much material. Like Hitting The Links, recaps of the last weeks articles on the main site, threads that might be entertaining or of interest?

[uttexas]

Agree with s_m and zeph's suggestions.  I'd definitely like a "comics" section.  How about a "zinger" of the month?

[iacas]

The newsletters should apparently have a specific goal (i.e. get everyone to read a certain article, thread on the site, use commenting or positive reputation more, for examples) and should be 250-350 words long.

s_m, none of those things really pertain to the site. It's a "Sand Trap" newsletter, not a general "golf" newsletter. Did I misunderstand what you wrote?

Also, I think there's room for something quick like "thread of the week" or something, at the end, that isn't the main source of content.

[iacas]

This is what they recommended for regular newsletters...

• drive adoption of a new site feature (content or functionality)
• direct attention to an active discussion
• announcing a contest/promotion
• spotlighting your best members ("hero" shot)

For TheSandTrap, your first newsletter could cover:

• TheSandTrap is new and improved
• Introducing TheSandTrap Supporter program
• Reputation system: where do you rank?

The last one there would encourage people to use the thumbs up button more, as I encouraged Forum Leaders to do recently.

[ControlJunkie]

Announcements of any upcoming staff equipment reviews might be a good one to add.

Not sure if we're planning on doing the CoverIt Live thing for the final days of majors again this year, but if we are, throwing in reminders about those might be another good item to add.

[jamo]

A neat thing to add might be a summary of the "stats" section on the main page. I find it kind of interesting who posts the most day to day, week to week, month to month.

[iacas]

First newsletter goes out tomorrow. Look for it in your mailbox, open it up, and click some links. I don't believe there's any advertising in it - it's just pointing out a few of the new features here on the site. So check it out!