Creating E-Blasts with KidsOutAndAbout.com
KidsOutAndAbout.com e-blasts are sent as a note from our publisher, Debra Ross, to local or national lists of readers. They are typically between five and eight paragraphs with short wide graphics stretching across the page as header and footer as well as breaks between text. The main body of the e-blast is text-based rather than image-based... that is, it's a note from us about your organization, offerings, services, or events, not "just an ad."
Once you've confirmed an e-blast with your customer care manager, you'll work with Katie Beltramo, KidsOutAndAbout.com's communications director, to put together the e-blast. You can reach her at katie@kidsoutandabout.com.
Scheduling
Your customer care manager will have reserved an e-blast send date for you based on your needs and our availability in your region(s). If you'd like to change a send date, contact Katie to request a different date. If it works for you, please plan to send Katie content by at least one week prior to the scheduled send date.
Submitting Content
Typically, e-blasts consist of approximately five to eight paragraphs of text and between two and five images, usually with a wide header at the top.
If you've sent an e-blast with us before, you can choose to make your upcoming e-blast exactly the same as or completely different from, a previous e-blast. You may contact Katie to request copies of previous e-blast if you'd like to use them as a starting point.
If you're starting fresh, please send the following content:
- Text (your prepared copy, a press release or flyer, or url to text on your site), about 4 to 7 paragraphs is great
- At least one link and an email or phone number for readers to reach you by your preferred method
- Images that are wide-but-skinny (600 pixels by 200-300 pixels is ideal) in jpg format. Providing at least 5 or 6 images allows us to alternate between text and images in the body of the email, which tends to look best on the widest variety of email services and devices. If you don’t have images that are specifically in this landscape shape, send whatever simple, engaging images that you have that are at least 240 pixels per side. If you're not sure which pictures to choose, send more than enough and we'll choose based on what's most effective with our readers.
If you have a specific format in mind that's different from this, that's fine--just let Katie know. You can find links to sample e-blasts here.
Creating and Approving the Draft
Once you send Katie text and images, she'll create an e-blast that is:
- In the KidsOutAndAbout.com editorial voice ("from Debra"),
- Easy to read quickly (without too much text, with headers and bullet points for "skimmability"), and
- Attractive and highly "clickable."
She'll send you a test draft of the e-blast, you can make any comments or corrections, and you'll work together to get it just right. Once you've approved the draft, Katie will schedule the e-blast.
More Notes on the Process
E-blasts must be paid for prior to the send date. If you are not sure if you have paid or if you need a new invoice, you can contact Katie or your customer care manager.
If you're not already a weekly newsletter subscriber (or you're not sure if you are), please let Katie know so that she can add you to the relevant subscription list. That way you'll receive your completed e-blast when our other readers do, plus you'll be able to keep an eye on e-blasts or paragraphs in the newsletter from other local organizations.
If you have any questions about this process, feel free to contact Katie.