Week 6: Connecting via Newsletter

This week's challenge in MSi9W is all about sending out regular  correspondence to the people on my mailing list.  Since my solo project began, I've sent out a couple of updates using gmail (BCCing my mailing list of course!)  I'm hesitant to bombard people with emails because, frankly, I know how much content of a newsletter I read.  Skim, skim, skim. I have noticed, however, that the day after I send out an email update, I get the most hits on my website.  This heartens me!  People DO actually read it, and some even click through to the website.  That said, I don't want to abuse my 'listers.

For this challenge, I decided to rev up my email format.  Not that I don't love my Gmail, but it doesn't support HTML (at least I don't think it does).  So I signed up for free with mailchimp, imported my contacts, and started on my template.  It took quite a bit of time to format the newsletter precisely how I wanted it, but now it's there for when I need it the next time.  And it's purple!  One good thing about using mailchimp is that the email still comes from "Jess Braun", so hopefully people won't think it's spam.  I didn't add a survey this time, but will the next time when I build my list more.  You can see the newsletter HERE.

And now an update from challenges-past:
A couple weeks ago, I signed up on Music Alley, and posted "Sometimes", the first track on my new album Waveside, for safe podcast.  It got picked up by two podcasts this week, Indie Music Sampler and Radio Orphans and they had some very nice things to say about the track!  I'm very grateful.

Also, I recorded another cover song (video above) and the mp3 is available for free download on my homepage (if you enter your email address).  In fact, I also placed it in the blog, directly to the left of this post.  The widget seems to only work with certain browsers, which is a shame, but I still like the fact that you don't have to click through any pages to get to the song -- it never takes you away from my website.


To wrap up, I think my online presence is progressing  well.  I can't wait to get my album up and out there, but I have faith that these challenges are setting the right stage for the release.

Until next time,

Jess Braun: Dream Rock Songstress
www.jessbraunmusic.com