USE YOUR PERSONAL CONTACTS
There is so much information that you can email, but the messages should be targeted to the right audience. Consequently, you will need to develop numerous email lists.
You will certainly have a "personal" email list with a mixture of family, friends, former co-workers, networking pals and social acquaintances. You can send these people newsy emails about your business.
For instance, if your local paper or a trade publication publishes a story about your company, it is the perfect opportunity for you to send an upbeat email to this personal list. Tell everyone briefly about the story, how the person could get a copy of the publication (or better yet, attach a copy) and what it means for your company.
Basically, this email is a chance to toot your own horn and remind everyone that you have a small business and need their support. Include all of your contact information as noted previously. The key is to keep the message informative and short.
At the end of your email include a closer paragraph that says something like, "You can help me spread the good news about my company by forwarding this email message to five or 10 people who would be interested in our puppy and dog product line. I'm sure that you know many people who are canine lovers. Please do this favor for me today."
You don't have to have a story published about you or your company to write this type of email. How about using a milestone as the subject matter -- perhaps you are celebrating your first year in business or the first half-year. Maybe you just made some significant changes to your website or will be showing your products at an expo, convention or show. Whatever the news, share it.
See what happens when you ask everyone you know to forward it to five or ten people (or more). You will soon get the power of email working for you.