What Sounds Better... Mini Course or Newsletter?

[Daniel Flower]

Hi Warriors

I have an autoresponder series (presently 5 emails of solid content + a couple of sales emails, although this may increase in the future), but I am writing the opt-in page copy and can't decide whether to describe it as a newsletter or mini-course. What do you think?

Dan

[Neil Morgan]

Hello Daniel

Newsletter sounds same-old, same-old.

From the content you've described, mini-course seems to fit the bill better.

And when the course is ending, and assuming it's high quality stuff, you can end with a great big push for your subscriber to continue the learning process by buying/joining/whatever.

Cheers,

Neil

[MaskedMarketer]

Mini- course might sound better, but I think it would sound even better if you created a name for your course.

[Jesus Perez]

Mini-course all the way. Promotes learning and interactivity.

[Mad Dawg]

I'm voting for mini course.

I have the same type of autoresponder and I actually call it an E-Seminar. Do you guys think mini course or e-seminar is better?

Mad Dawg

[zortag]

I would much sooner sign up for a mini-course than a newsletter. A newsletter sounds like once a month you will send out some random musings about how your business is going. Frankly no one cares. A mini-course on the other hand sounds like you have a concise set of instructions on how to do something that your reader actually wants to do and cares about. This is so much more appealing from a reader's point of view.

In short, a mini-course is information for your users/potential customers. They care about that.

A newsletter sounds like it is information about you. I'm sure you are a wonderful person and all, but no potential customers care about you, they care about themselves and their needs.

[jbsmith]

Test "System", 'Formula', 'Course', "Blueprint' as well as minicourse...they tend to have higher valuations than the over-used terms newsletter and minicourse.

Jeff

[Amy Bass]

Mini course sounds like I will be learning something, a newsletter sounds like I will just stay informed about website changes. BIG difference.

[MaskedMarketer]

Originally Posted by jbsmith

Test "System", 'Formula', 'Course', "Blueprint' as well as minicourse...they tend to have higher valuations than the over-used terms newsletter and minicourse.

Jeff

Thats also a good idea... You can say get my "7 Step Blueprint Mini- Course" You should also create a name for this course and insert it in there. If it was a marketing course you could say -

" Get My 7 Step Blueprint 'Marketing Mastery' Mini- Course Now"

[Daniel Flower]

Hi guys

Thanks so much for the advice. I think I will go with mini course then but Jeff - that is a good idea and I will test that also.

Thanks again everyone. I know I can always count on this place if I'm unsure about anything

Dan

[Neil Morgan]

I agree that a name is a great idea. I've done that for years. Just watch it doesn't trigger spam filters.

And you can also say 'over the next X days you will learn..X, Y and Z'. Tell them what they'll be getting without giving too much away.

Cheers,

Neil

[Ricter]

It's based on the type of material being offered, no?

I'm enrolled in a certification program, a mini course, with facts and tests, and when I get those mailings I know what to expect: learning industry theory and practice, and no news.

I receive an industry newsletter, not about any one website, but about industry news. Even though I could go out and find that news on its various sites, I get it all in one place. So to me "newsletter" has no negative connotation.

So is it a course, or a newsletter you're offering? Or neither?

Without seeing the content, I'd put my money on it not being a newsletter, since you've got five emails queued up ahead of time... Maybe they're essays or articles since they are not news and not offers?

[Dean Shainin]

Here's what works great for article bios and any sig I'm using. I simply replace the name of the course to fit the niche...

Get $197 F-R-E-E Videos, Audios, Tools, Blueprints and Secret Formulas by Subscribing to a FREE Trial of Bum Marketing Wiz 15 Day eCourse.


Cheers,
Dean

[Michael Mayhew]

Free eCourse.

[Scott Ames]

Originally Posted by Daniel Flower

Hi Warriors

I have an autoresponder series (presently 5 emails of solid content + a couple of sales emails, although this may increase in the future), but I am writing the opt-in page copy and can't decide whether to describe it as a newsletter or mini-course. What do you think?

Dan

I vote mini-course. It just sounds more valuable.

[Takuya Hikichi]

Personally I publish "Newsletters" only because it covers current trends of the industry and other "news".

OR

You can completely do away with either one of them and GIVE a new name. In fact I recommend this if you'd like to better brand.

For example,

Here are some of mine (mostly in Japanese I wrote).

Affiliate Bible

Internet Surfelogy

Marketer's Creed

Action Taker's

Some of our senior Warriors have newsletter names that are easy to associate.

Kevin Riley's - Product Creations Lab

Paul Myer's - TalkBiz

Give a new name and you and your subscribers will grow to like it.

[Aaron Moser]

Hmmm, What looks/sounds better...

Free Mini-Course
Free eCourse
Free E-Course

[Steven Wagenheim]

Mini-course makes it sound like you're getting more value.

When I think of newsletter, I think of getting, um, news.

When I think of mini course, I think of getting training.

Big difference.

[Lance K]

Originally Posted by Daniel Flower

Hi Warriors

I have an autoresponder series (presently 5 emails of solid content + a couple of sales emails, although this may increase in the future), but I am writing the opt-in page copy and can't decide whether to describe it as a newsletter or mini-course. What do you think?

Dan

"Newsletter" implies continued publication on a regular basis. So I would go with "Mini Course" give only those 2 options.

[Phil]

"What Sounds Better... Mini Course or Newsletter?"

I am always more likely to sign up for a 'course' than a newsletter. Why?
because if it is a topic I am interested in then 'course' just sounds more
targetted.

In my opinion, newsletters are things you browse for broad knowledge,
courses are targetted learning on specifics.

Phil

[Maria Gudelis]

"mini-course" all the way!

[Daniel Flower]

Hi guys

Thanks for the additional replies.

I have two more questions:

> If you're signing up for an e-course, how many days would you like between messages? I don't want to space them out too much, nor do I want to be plopping into people's inboxes on a constant basis

> How many parts do you see as being an ideal number? Does a 20 part course make you think "great value" or are you thinking "Jesus, that sounds drawn out"?

I want to provide what people actually want in the way they want it, and I figure people on this forum are the best people to ask (although I appreciate opinions would probably differ from niche to niche)

Thanks again - really really appreciate it

Dan

[Adrianne_]

i agree. go for the mini because it makes it sound like they can get the info they need in a short amount of time.

[Michael Chris]

Why limit yourself to just sending them 5 emails?

What a waste of your time to obtain those subscribers.

Use both and retain the subscribers for the long term.

Example...

Would you like to get great tips, tricks, and blah, blah about Blue Widgets, then subscribe to our Newsletter (Update List, Ezine, whatever) and we will start you off with our awesome FREE mini-course with the best blah blah about Blue Widgets.

Now, if you won't be emailing them again and you just want to get them in for the 5 emails... just use mini-course.

-Michael

PS Please don't critique my copy... written quickly just to provide an example.

[Daniel Flower]

Michael,

The idea is that after they have received the initial sequence they will carry on receiving emails from me (although less often)

Dan

[SusanUSA]

Originally Posted by Amy Bass

Mini course sounds like I will be learning something, a newsletter sounds like I will just stay informed about website changes. BIG difference.

I agree with Amy's take on the question. Mini-course focuses on me and a newsletter focuses on you . . . that may not be the real case, but at first blush that's what it seems.

Also, the other buzz words are worth testing . . .

[kazmagic]

Mini Course is good. Sounds like you will get more from it but it's not too heavy.

Karen

[Michael Chris]

Originally Posted by Daniel Flower

Michael,

The idea is that after they have received the initial sequence they will carry on receiving emails from me (although less often)

Dan

Okay, then I think you just proved my point.

Mini-course seems to indicate you will stop sending them email at some point in the near future. I am just saying don't box yourself into a corner unless that is your intention.

You could use Free e-Course.

Whatever you do, let them know you will be following up in some way after the mini-course is done.

My previous example was just to show a way to get them on the list. You are presenting it as something they will be on long term, but offering them a free mini-course to start.

It covers all the bases.

The mini-course isn't even a separate list... it is just the first set of messages in your autoresponder series. Then, when you get more messages written, you can add them in to sequence and broadcast them to the current list.

-Michael

[VegasVince]

This entire thread is yet another example of what's flawed about the entire IM mindset.....but allow me to answer your question......

Based on your OP...the answer is none of the above. Cuz my integrity wouldn't allow me to answer a flimsly limp post like this OP's.

Cuz I don't know what the hell you're actually "selling".....and apparantly that aint too important to you either...or you'd have clued me in. Capiche. Obviously it aint too important to anyone else who has responded...or they would have asked.

And this thread is another example of the utter arrogance of IM'ers who truly believe window dressing trumps product. Another example of someone who thinks they're selling the "means"--- rather then the "end."

People don't buy the means...they buy the end. And I'd love someone to tell me I'm wrong! And why!

Shame on everyone who responds to a thread like this without asking the basic question that no one seems to give a **** about anymore: what are you selling home boy???

Because without that information.....how dare you'se people offer this OP any advice????

Even my main man Steve W.....got it wrong...cuz how do we determine what is right or wrong when we don't have a clue what this dude is selling????

Cuz it seems to me.....that's sorta important...but maybe I'm old school. Maybe I'm past my prime? Maybe all it requires to sell **** now days.....is a good RSS feed???

Ya know what....I'll take my chances sellin' **** people want....cuz that doesn't require fancy window dressing....or OP's that ask questions that a good product answers for itself!

Where I come from...you make money selling something. Yeah...I know that's outdated, old school ****.

But it remains a winning forumula....even for a guy like me who wont ever be as smart as some of you'se broke rocket scientists....hiding behind your fancy jargon....and utter lack of why people bang credit cards, or send in their checks! True.

Where I come from we give advice based on the whole picture...not bull**** rhetoric like what's better a mini course or a newsletter.

Mini Courses....might be right for widget A. And newsletters might be right for something else....and the fact is....a lot of millionaires have been created with newsletters....typed off a damned raggety pawnshop typewriter.....and they sold--- cuz they HAD CONTENT!

See...in the end...the peopel that make it in this business and get rich...actually get rich...cuz they deliver real content...that delivers. No one gives a **** what you call it.

xxx Vegas Vince

Bitter

[wordwizard]

Hi Dan,

Here's another vote for Mini Course, for all the reasons given above, including that it sounds more serious and more substantial in terms of educational content, and, well, it seems to reflect much better what you're actually planning to do.

I do have a comment about e-course though... I used that on an opt-in page and received some very upset emails by someone who had expected an ebook.

So I went back and wrote it out -- email course, and added an explanatory note at the bottom of the page... Oh well...

Good luck with your mini course!

Elisabeth

[Josh Anderson]

Neither... I recommend using something more descriptive like "x part insider training on ____" and that's pretty generic too... but I am sure you can come up with something more creative that actually creates perceived value in the prospects mind and compels them to seek it.

Ezine - blah
Mini course - blah that connotes work and it sounds like it lacks substance... give me a big mac course that fills me up and makes me rich!
auto responder series - blah robots!
Newsletter - blah we subscribe to too many of those.

Get creative.

[VegasVince]

Brilliant responses here. NOT!

No one knows what he's selling.....mind you...but the world comes out to say which is better: a mini course or a newsletter.

Un---fu##ingbelivable.

No clue as to what the product is...but the advice flows...cuz afterall....the product don't matter, right?

Sad. Shame.

xxxVegas Vince

[Daniel Flower]

Vince

I think it is very unfair of you to assume that what I am offering doesn't offer value. I look after all my subscribers, and always offer high quality above everything else. I go out of my way to give fantastic content, and with all due respect, the niches I am working in are nobody's business but my own (many niches, but I'm not going to list half a page as to what this applies to.) I am offering an autoresponder series of valuable content on how to do something specific within my niche, and having thought about it with the help of other people I think that course is the best way to describe it. I don't think your patronising tone is helpful to anyone. I asked for some advice, and people have kindly given it to me. I definitely DO care about the content I am offering.

Thanks again for the advice guys.

[Asher]

I think you've got your answer Daniel Flower!
Mini-course over Newsletter by everyone =D

Couple of people did mention about using something
else but why try to reinvent the wheel - unless
you're doing testing.

[Frank Donovan]

Daniel

I don't think Vince was patronising. The fact is your content/product should determine the description.

There's a world of difference between a newsletter and a course - one implies teaching and the other informing. But you seem to be searching for the better "cosmetic" description without any reference to the actual content.

Both formats have made people a ton of money over the years.

I'm not pre-judging your product/service/whatever, but no matter what it's labelled, if it's crap I'm cancelling after the first issue.

Frank