When you think of marketing via email, you probably think of the business aspects, including how it can improve your profitability. You may not think in terms of fun, but the fact is that marketing with email can be enjoyable both for you and for your readers, and the more fun you have with it, the better your results will be.

1. Build a persona.

This doesn't mean that you should make up a character or be someone you're not. But create a persona of who you are as a marketer. If you have a tendency to be frank in your tone, and your name happens to be Bill, you could be "Wild Bill." If you're the best at a certain area, you could be the diva or the prince or the duke of whatever it is you do. Create something other than just your name, which will help people remember you.

2. Get to know your customers.

Invite feedback and questions, and encourage your readers to talk to you. You might set up a section of your newsletter where people will send in questions and you'll answer them in the newsletter, or even allow readers to write a section of your newsletters. Encourage communication, and learn from it. Be responsive and aware of your readers, and build a relationship.

3. Create an ongoing promotion.

Your promotion might involve hiding an error in each issue, and giving a special gift to anyone who finds it. You might have a contest each month to propose an article for the next issue. You have total flexibility as to what promotion you design, but get something going that involves your readers. You might have a virtual scavenger hunt on your blog and newsletter. There are many possibilities for how to get your readers involved in a promotion like this. If you involve your readers, they'll feel more attached to you and be interested in buying what you're offering.

4. Get creative.

You may want to do your newsletter in a slightly different way. Consider offering short stories instead of articles, or short videos instead of a written newsletter. You can even offer a "serialized" set of articles or stories. Use graphics creatively to build your story. There are hundreds of ways you can build your newsletter creatively, and the more you think about this, the more ideas you'll come up with.

5. Play games.

You might consider having someone program a game for you, or create a text-based or graphical game your readers can participate in. Make the game an ongoing part of your newsletter, and build excitement with your readers by posting high scores and allowing readers to get involved in building new games.

6. Ask questions.

Ask your readers what they think about things, and print their answers. Ask for examples of certain points, or how they've solved problems. Give your readers a chance to help each other, and you'll not only have great content created for you, but you'll also cement your relationship with your readers.

7. Laugh on paper.

You should always make sure your humor is appropriate for your audience, but as long as you're not saying anything offensive, you should make sure you take the time to laugh and learn with your readers. Be humorous and approachable.

While having fun may not have been your first goal in starting an email campaign, you will find that having fun makes your campaign more profitable, as well as more enjoyable for you and your readers.

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Brian Schwartz invites you to join the EZ-ine for creative marketing ideas, advertising opportunities and motivational articles.