Features Overview

Service Details
* Available features depend on service plan

Content Management

One of the core factors that makes the eNews Builder service unique is its built-in content management system. This allows new and existing content to be easily managed and syndicated from newsletter to newsletter, and from one edition to the next. Articles can be entered into the content management system once and then automatically formatted to appear as a plain text message or within interactive, richly formatted HTML. If you are looking for a multiple template account please check out our Campaigner Accounts.

   
Here are some of the relevant content management features:
  • Dynamic Content Management creates the ability to push specific content to people based on their profile.
  • MS Word documents are easily uploaded.
  • Content libraries and content syndication enable articles to be easily passed from one newsletter to another. These articles can also be used as the source of content for co-branded newsletters.
  • Articles organized into topic areas eases navigation through the newsletter and provides sponsorship opportunities to advertisers seeking more targeted advertising based on subject areas of the newsletter.
  • Support articles can be written in Plain Text or HTML
  • Any existing HTML document can be easily uploaded.
  • The multi-user system allows separate user accounts to be maintained for authors and editors.
  • A built-in approval process allows articles to be held for approval by the editor or publisher.
  • Layout rules determine how articles are displayed within the newsletter. This eliminates the need to update the layout every time a new edition (or Issue) of the newsletter is published.
  • Archives of all prior articles used in your newsletters are maintained. Articles can be re-purposed for other uses or can be repeated in multiple editions.
Companion Micro-Site Builder

eNews Builder includes the hosting of a companion micro site that accompanies each electronic newsletter. The companion micro site is built dynamically from the content management system. As articles and issues are added and are changed the companion micro site changes with it. A companion micro site to the newsletter has the following benefits.

  • Increased longevity for the newsletter: Subscribers can bookmark the web site and have a place to return to.
  • Increased traffic via the micro site. 2 points of contact, the newsletter, and the micro site enable the content to last longer.
  • Increased Revenue. Newsletter and any promotions within it can last longer.
  • Lower cost of maintaining fresh content. No unnecessary IT/IS expenditureq Faster delivery time. Any content change can be uploaded instantly.
  • Better understanding of the target audience and how to optimize e-marketing campaigns from the advanced tracking and reporting.
  • Build customer relationships and learn more about your customers through the interactive features. The newsletter can provide built-in interactive elements like surveys and "letters to the editor".
The eNews Builder companion web-site offers the following features:
  • Dynamic serving of content based on user profiles
  • Personalization of content based on user profiles: ex. Dear John
  • Hosting of destination and sub domains of the client
  • Advanced Reporting capabilities. Not only will the newsletter service be able to provide who opened the newsletter but will also be able to track a subscribers navigation through the newsletter in one report
It is often difficult to build web sites that reflect specific marketing campaigns. eNews Builder solves this problem by integrating all email marketing campaigns with a companion micro-site. The content for each campaign is managed and pulled from one content management system; that system then publishes the information as an email and a Web-Page. There is no easier system available. (Write Once Publish Everywhere)

Subscription Management

eNews Builder includes a robust subscriber management system that allows the Client subscribers to easily add and remove themselves to or from a newsletter list and to indicate the format in which they prefer to receive the newsletter: Plain Text or HTML.

The subscription management system includes the following:

  • List import and export - allows synchronization with the Client database.
  • Real time subscribes and un-subscribes.
  • Real time control of profiles and preferences by the subscribers
  • Duplicate protection - prevents the same email from being entered more than once.
  • Opt-out protection - remembers un-subscribes and prevents these email addresses from being re-added when the subscriber list is refreshed (e.g., imported).
  • Option to send email notification to new subscribers.
  • Option to send email notification to publisher upon every subscribe/unsubscribe.
  • Sub-list manager - allows a newsletter subscriber list to be segmented into sub-lists.
Distribution and Bounce Management

Once all of the content that makes up a newsletter edition (or issue) has been placed into the system, it is ready to be published and distributed via email.

Published as HTML
The first step before sending out the newsletter is to publish its contents to the Web. This automatically generates a well-formatted HTML document that is derived from a series of page templates.

  • HTML layout is easily modified through an online layout editor.
  • A special Web address is assigned to each newsletter so that it can be read online and easily linked to any other Web site.
Distributed by Email
Once the newsletter is published to the Web, a formatted email message can be composed and delivered. The distribution process then begins:
  • Automatic email composition generates a plain text email, AOL email, and an HTML email from the same content.
  • Email is personalized based on profile information including name, title, and content areas of interest.
  • Auto-format sensing uses the best formatting option that is supported by the subscribers email client: text or HTML.
  • Unique email is sent to every subscriber with embedded tracking information.
  • Instant unsubscribe is added to the bottom of every message.
  • A link is added to allow the subscriber's format preference to be easily changed from the bottom of the email.
  • External links are identified and code that allows clicks on the link to be tracked by the reporting system automatically inserted.
  • The header is customized to allow automated processing of bounced email.
  • Scheduler that allows delivery of newsletter to be triggered at select date/time (e.g., 6 AM) is set.
Bounce Management
Once the newsletter is distributed, the Bounce Manager is used to collect the automated notifications of undelivered messages. The Bounce Management system:

  • Collects 99% of bounced emails.
  • Classifies bounces into four categories: Bad Email Address, Mail Box Full, Vacation, and Unknown.
  • Allows subscribers with bounces to be automatically removed from the subscriber list.
  • Acts on criteria such as the number of bounces (e.g., Remove subscribers with 2 or more "Mail Box Full" bounces).
  • Allows all subscribers with bounces to be identified and selectively removed from the list.
  • Enables specific subscriber records that have bounced to be edited and corrected.
Reader Tools

The newsletter pages that are generated by the eNews Builder service are well-organized, elegantly formatted documents that provide interactivity and other tools that attract readers and retain their interest in your publications.

These tools can be classified as Profile Builders, Viral Tools, or Ease of Use tools.

Profile Builders
The interactive elements that can be used as profiling tools are:

  • Stories and topics read
  • Surveys
  • Questionnaires
  • Letters to the Editor
These profile tools can be used to generate incremental revenue by providing a base level profile of the interest of the reader as well as new sponsorship opportunities for advertisers.

Viral Tools

  • Tell a friend
  • Subscribe box
Viral tools help to promote the growth of a newsletter's audience. The Tell a Friend feature provides an easy way for people to refer the newsletter or any page within the newsletter to one or more friends or colleagues who can then use the embedded Subscriber Box to add themselves to the newsletter's distribution list. New subscribers/readers equate to more impressions and more revenue.

Ease of use tools

  • Printer friendly version
  • Easy navigation
  • Access to archives
Ease of use tools build affinity. Once a reader receives the newsletter, it is important to deliver the information in a way that keeps the readers reading. Readers will leave or unsubscribe if the newsletter is difficult to read or uninteresting. The eNews Builder service is built on templates and techniques that provide a very user-friendly interface. For example, the "Printer Friendly Version" is a feature that allows every article in the HTML newsletter to be immediately reformatted upon request so that it can be printed in a clean, easy to read format.

Reporting and Analysis

The eNews Builder service includes a robust tracking and reporting system. Individual subscriber behavior is recorded, and enables detailed segmentation and analysis of subscribers. Integration back to subscriber list management allows for new sub-lists to be formed based on the results of these reports and for subscriber acquisition and retention to be determined. The data captured in the reports can also be used to fine-tune the content offering.

The available reporting for each newsletter includes:

Activity Reports

  • Total page views
  • Total page views for each article (i.e., which article is read most)
  • Total clicks to articles and other external Web addresses
  • Total clicks for each newsletter link
  • Email addresses (subscribers) that are the most active (in order by number of page views).
  • Email addresses (subscribers) that viewed a particular article.
  • Email addresses (subscribers) that responded to a particular survey and how they responded.
  • Links clicked by each email address (subscriber).
  • Total tell-a-friend referrals made.
  • Total tell-a-friend referrals for each article.
Subscriber Reports
  • Number of active subscribers
  • Number of new subscribers
  • Number of removed subscribers
  • Number of subscribers whose email was not delivered (bounced)
Some items above include a procedure that allows subscribers who are part of this report to be automatically added to a sub-list. See "Profiling" below.

Survey Reports Number of responses to each multiple-choice question and the percentage it represents of the total number of responses.

Profiling

eNews Builder can profile readers by logging their actions in detail and then matching their behavior against the content. This information can allow the newsletter editorial to evolve and to be segmented according to the major interests of the readership. In addition, these profiles can be used to form new subscriber lists and provide a more detailed analysis of member preferences.

Detailed Reports

eNews Builder provides detailed reporting mechanisms. These reports can then be used by the salespeople to learn more about their clients' behavior. Once a behavior is understood content can be optimized to increase sales.