Namaste Blog

We’re always on the lookout for good ideas and strategies. This month, Click Z Network shared five ways to improve you email communications efforts. Check it out.

According to a recent study by the Natural Marketing Institute (NMI), almost 90% of the U.S. population believe it’s important for companies to not just be profitable, but to be mindful of their impact on the environment and society. In the same study, over 70% of consumers say they are more likely to buy their products or services, and nearly 50% state it makes them more likely to buy their stock.

Record business legend Chris Blackwell, who brought Bob Marley and U2 to the world stage, now sees great opportuntiy to take “world music” to the mainstream. However, it’s going to require some unconventional thinking.

One of the most compelling pieces we’ve seen on the undeniable power of permission based marketing. According to DM News this month, permission is here to stay and companies that “get it” will win the day with a database of customers who have requested to be communicated to via e-mail or other channels. This is one of those warm and fuzzy moments.

Donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort.

Research by Forrester shares that people now place more trust in Web sites and e-mails they’ve signed up for than in newspaper, magazine, radio or television ads. To benefit from the trust your audience places in your online communications, DM News this month shares the importance of updating practices covering how we build and manage lists, target customers and measure effectiveness.

Good news for socially responsible companies… the future is green! A recent survey by GMI that gauged the opinions of more than 15,000 online consumers in the U.S. and 16 other countries about their socially conscious business practices, found that future American consumers, between the ages of 18-29, are more likely to buy organic, environmentally-friendly or fair trade products than other age groups.

1. Know your e-newsletter’s goal. Do you to keep your name in front of prospects? Position yourself as an expert? Show samples of your work? Shaheen finds a lot of self-employed people are overly humble about talking themselves up. It’s your time — and your dime. If you put out an e-newsletter, make sure it achieves your business goals.

2. Don’t send an e-newsletter as a mass mailing through Outlook, Eudora, or Entourage with all your recipients’ names in the BCC field. You won’t be able to track whether they open your message. You need an outside company to send the e-mail for you.

3. Set up a publishing calendar and stick to it, such as the second Wednesday of each month. Many readers will actually look forward to your e-newsletter and expect to receive it on a regular schedule.

4. Version your e-mail to different audiences. It doesn’t take long and will increase your response rates when your e-newsletter shows relevance to your reader’s needs and interests.

5. If you’re not a writer, include links to interesting articles from other sites or invite your colleagues to contribute articles. Lead off the e-newsletter with an editorial note from yourself, and be sure to include your photo for brand recognition.

6. Keep on top of spam filter triggers. Instead of saying “free,” say “no cost.” If you sell products with red flag words such as “mortgage,” put the word in an image, which is less likely to be picked up by spam filters.

7. Link back to your Web site so you can track what your audience is really interested in.

8. Review the data. Shaheen says practically no one does this. You can find out what topics really resonated with people, and you can follow up individually with highly interested prospects.

We would include running a permission pass to lists that have never been mailed to, utilizing a double opt-in process and of course balancing good appreciative content with promotions.

Good thinking. According to Technorati a blog is born every second… that’s 80,000 a day! But don’t just do it because it’s a hot new trend. You also want to be considering your blogs purpose. For instance, blogs are great marketing platform for announcing promotions and new products, or you can utilize your blog to keep your customers informed of your industry’s latest happenings. Get creative and have fun with it. It’s a great environment to feature your company’s unique brand image. One of our favorite blogs on, you guessed it, blog marketing is called Buzz Marketing with Blogs. Be sure to check out the Ten Things to Consider Before You Blog… and blog away!

We are happy to hear that Whole Foods Market is preparing to unveil its first “lifestyle” store in California in late October. The new store concept for Whole Foods will make its debut on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. The lifestyle stores will be far smaller than the food stores, but will have a wide array of earth-friendly products.

The lifestyle store will offer products such as organic blue jeans, recycled handbags and paint that is free from harmful compounds. The Edun Clothing line by U2 lead singer Bono will be sold at the store along with organic, sweatshop free t-shirts from American Apparel.

The store was built and decorated with environmentally friendly materials, including hemp curtains and reused furniture. Read More.