Cut the chatter
Wondering how to improve your email newsletter? Make it shorter. Information overload is decreasing the effectiveness of all forms of communication.

Alternatives to lengthy prose:

• Highlight a tip of the week/month
• Create a checklist instead of a column about a checklist
• Offer makeovers! Ask clients to send in photos, copywriting, plans, or other items related to your business and offer (brief!) makeover tips.

E-newsletters are not dead but many could be reinvigorated. Help yourself by talking—less.

Enter by Friday, 11 Sept to win 2 tix to Lotus!
In honor of our upcoming eighth anniversary celebration, we’re holding our annual giveaway: one pair of Lotus World Music Festival tickets to a lucky client! The tickets are for the showcase concert on either Friday, 25 Sept, or Saturday, 26 Sept (the winner decides).

This contest is open to any current client, but we need to know you're interested! Contact us and we’ll enter you in the drawing to be held on Friday, 11 Sept. This is our way of saying “thank you” for helping to make our business a success!

This month's winner: Beth Moses!
Our champ wins a digital print featuring this one-of-a-kind design. Have a favorite quote or saying? Send it in! If your quote is chosen, you'll receive a digital print of your custom design, suitable for framing! Check out your competition.

Give the money back
A northwest Indiana bank scored big branding points when they returned a deposit.

A patron tried to deposit two $1,000 bills into her savings account. No one in the American Savings bank had seen bills of that denomination before, so they did some sleuthing.

It turned out that the circa-1934 bills were worth between $3,500 and $4,500! What did the bank do? Gave the money back.

"We explained it would be to the best interest of everybody if the customer picked up the bills and sold them to get a higher return," bank president Mellon said.

Imagine the positive press this generated! Plus the bank will likely receive a larger deposit when the bills are sold.

When faced with a situation where you'd receive small monetary compensation or big payback in your brand, it's almost always best to give the money back.
Source: NWI Times