What would get you to open our e-newsletter?

In reply to Adrian_Thompson:

So you'd rather have hundreds of MB of photos in your inbox than a link to a site where someone else took that bandwidth hit? Not saying you're wrong, but why?

jg

You know for tech tips and DIY stuff, there is a lot already available on the internet and recreating that content is a bit silly:

http://www.homemadetools.net/

http://hackaday.com/

http://www.instructables.com/

http://makezine.com/

http://www.ehow.com/

http://www.wikihow.com/

and many more. Much of it is likely marque-specific or specific to a particular issue, so it might be tricky to keep it generic enough to keep people interested. Perhaps reach out to one or more of the above sites to share some of their content? What about a contest to get GRM'ers to submit their own content to one or more of their sites with special recognition for published items?

I know the RacingJunk.com stuff failed miserably, but that wasn't your fault, more just an issue with the racingjunk.com site being, well, junk. No reason why it can't work with another, well-established site. At least that is what it seemed like to an outsider, I don't know the "behind the scenes" info.

I do like the "behind-the-scenes" or "cutting room floor" ideas. I guess, ultimately, the duplication of content gets old for those of us who read the forums, the magazine and your Google+ or Facebook feeds. Unfortunately, for the people who only read one of the above solutions, it could be easy to miss content.

JG Pasterjak wrote: In reply to Adrian_Thompson: So you'd rather have hundreds of MB of photos in your inbox than a link to a site where someone else took that bandwidth hit? Not saying you're wrong, but why? jg

he's wrong. (Well, I'd rather have the link)

JG Pasterjak wrote: In reply to Adrian_Thompson: So you'd rather have hundreds of MB of photos in your inbox than a link to a site where someone else took that bandwidth hit? Not saying you're wrong, but why? jg

I think he's saying to have the link to the picture embedded in the email, many modern email solutions will allow embedding pictures in your email (though that is a bit of a security risk, so you might need to enable it for specific addresses)

JG Pasterjak wrote: In reply to Adrian_Thompson: So you'd rather have hundreds of MB of photos in your inbox than a link to a site where someone else took that bandwidth hit? Not saying you're wrong, but why? jg

Good point. A link to the photos that I can scroll down and look at. I absolutely hate links to sites where everything is a thumb nail or you have to look at them in a slide show. Most image hosting sites are crap. I'd much rather be able to scroll up and down.

I actually open and read them now, but I'm addicted to GRM and will do almost anything to get my fix.

I ran across this superb article yesterday: http://www.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/2013/10/27/south-china-sea/

Topic aside, it really hit me that THIS is exactly what an e-based GRM content needs to be. The seamless transition from short videos to text to pics was really slick, and really made the story much more interesting than just in print.

Imagine an expanded UTCC article done like this with a video from inside a car, a paddock tour, and a flyby all embedded within.

25-30% off coupon from HF would get me to look at the newsletter.

^^^^

I too am partial to coupons with large percentage numbers for racing related advertisers, especially those who sell consumables for race cars.

For instance... I'll open anything that says "30% off any order over $100 at Summit Racing!".

I'd just put the e-newsletters all in one thread here that gets bumped to the top with new issues. I delete them honestly. Too much noise in my email already. I love you guys. I enjoy your paper mag, I enjoy your forum, I enjoy you on facebook, but that is as much time as I can give you.

No embedded pics for me, please. My bandwidth can't handle them. Coupons would be cool. Also, not so busy. A mini-magazine in the inbox is not what I typically like to go over. One or two cool story teasers.

Send it to us in paper form free with a 2 year script instead of a t shirt????....

Javelin wrote: http://www.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/2013/10/27/south-china-sea/ Topic aside, it really hit me that THIS is exactly what an e-based GRM content needs to be. The seamless transition from short videos to text to pics was really slick, and really made the story much more interesting than just in print.

Quite possibly one of the worst examples of web content I've ever seen. It's literally a time warp from an early 2000's digital Encyclopedia Britannica article, right down to the scrolling map background and short videos overlaid with text. Unexpected autoplaying content is often the kiss of death for holding onto a visitor's interest, not to mention the logistics of loading that into an email...

Newsletters need to have one main thing: easy to digest content with links to similar content taken in-depth. Compliment and supplement! Some teaser pictures with links to albums. Short little tech tips.

On that level a back-to-basics GRM approach would be great. I don't really even enjoy what the mag has evolved into these days: sponsored goods being installed by professionals. Where's the grassroots? LeMons builds, used parts, and elbow grease, please!

Javelin wrote: I ran across this superb article yesterday: http://www.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/2013/10/27/south-china-sea/ Topic aside, it really hit me that THIS is exactly what an e-based GRM content needs to be. The seamless transition from short videos to text to pics was really slick, and really made the story much more interesting than just in print.

I have the exact opposite feeling about that.....I REALLY disliked it. Stuff should not autoplay when I open a link, and I should be able to read the text without having to watch a video

Wow, I just read Osterkraut's response....pretty much the same feeling I have about that NYT stuff. If I want TV on the web, I can find it. Don't surprise me with it. I have sometimes opened the newsletter.....that will definitely not happen again if it is going to be a media rich thing that autoplays at me

Great ideas, guys. Thanks. We are really trying to make our E-newsletters like another publication. And if we have your email address, and you haven't expressly asked not to get them, we send them to you every month.