ProloguePrologue

The apostrophe was curved the wrong way, y’all.

As in, not an apostrophe at all but an opening single quotation mark.

This: ‘, not this: ’

And I didn’t realize it until AFTER hitting send.

The HORROR.

The MORTIFICATION.

The… meh, oh well.

Typos suck. But they don’t define you. And at some point we just need to live with them and move on.

Especially if we’re sending them in newsletters.

I remember the dawn of digital media.

It felt so comforting to realize that, after years and years of trying to achieve perfection for print, we could just log back into a CMS and correct an error. An entire industry of overly anxious editors collectively exhaled.

But, in email, that pressure is back on. I’d accidentally miscurved(?) my apostrophe, and I’d need to live with it. I mean, I did go back and correct the web version, but the damage was done.

Or was it?

Here’s the thing: Somewhere along the way I’ve learned to own my typos.

They’re inevitable.

I give myself grace as long as they’re not so prevalent that they detract entirely from my goals: sharing good advice and building relationships. And they haven’t, yet.

We can’t catch them all.

Not that we shouldn’t try.

But do yourself the favor of speeding through the emotions and forgiving yourself soon after you realize what you’ve done.

Mine are almost always the result of not looking closely enough and using the wrong quick keys.

You see, my eyes are… nearly blind.

I can’t see the big E on the eye chart.

It’s a hazy mess that glasses and contacts are able to correct except in the mornings, when my vision is its most blurry.

A bit of transparency, here: I wake up early on Thursdays, edit and “Ashley-fy” all the curated commentary Samantha helps with, and then race the clock to draft the Opt In Weekly Prologue in attempt to send by 9 Central. I typically have no idea what I’m going to write about until I open a blank Google Doc around 7:30 or 8 and force something to flow out my fingers. Adrenaline rush, maybe?

It’s as if my eyes need time to wake up, but I’m all “It’s fine. I can totally drive impaired.”

—------------------------

Flashback to first grade when I respectfully asked my teacher why the spelling words on the chalkboard were misspelled.

I distinctly remember “iny” posing as “any”.

She chuckled as she drafted a note to be sent home to the town eye doctor. It read, “Dr. Nichols, your daughter needs her vision checked.”

—------------------------

So what am I getting at, besides the fact that newsletter typos happen?

It’s more than preaching typo forgiveness.

I want to challenge you to consider your metaphorical typos.

That time you sent the wrong person the wrong email.

That time you dropped the wrong message in the wrong Slack channel.

That time you put your foot so far in your mouth you could practically chew on your ankle.

If your intentions are good, you can overcome it.

If your intentions are good, people will forgive you faster than you forgive yourself.

If your intentions are good, the people you’ve established rapport with will empathize and help you realize the goof up didn’t impact how much they value you.

Newsletters foster incredibly strong writer / reader relationships.

Build something a typo can’t crumble.

Ashley Guttuso  

Newsletter Tips

The State Of Newsletters

We are years into the current rise of newsletters, but will it continue? What should we as newsletter creators do to prepare? Here are a few answers and tips to apply.

 


Marketing


Do You Follow Jacalyn Beales On LinkedIn?

Jacalyn Beales is killing the content marketing game on LinkedIn and I promise she’s worth a follow. Twice in the past week her posts made me stop and think about how I can apply what she’s sharing to my own content.

First, she shared this advice about how to make dark social work for your company.

Then, in this post, she explained how people consume content for the end result… not for the actual information. Revolutionary, I know! How do you change your content accordingly? She offers 3 tips, plus what to avoid.

 


Writing

Publishing

Did You Know?

Sometimes, it’s just good to be informed. This week’s Publishing Insights looks at trends, reports, and articles that may help you make better decisions moving forward.

 

Money Matters

Curated News Curated News

Send New Subscribers To A Custom Subscription Pending Or Subscription Confirmed Page

Hey, everyone. Seth with Curated Success here.

Did you know you can send new subscribers to a custom subscription pending or subscription confirmed page once they subscribe to your newsletter? By default, new subscribers see a “pending” or “confirmed” message on your publication’s website after they subscribe, but you can choose to send them to a custom page that you host.

Here’s how to do this in Curated:

  • Go to your Curated Settings page
  • Scroll down to the Hosting, Subscriptions, and Publishing section
  • Select Subscription Messages
  • Enter the URL of your custom subscription pending or confirmed pages in the corresponding text boxes

If you have double opt-in enabled for your newsletter, new subscribers will land on the “subscription pending” page. Once they confirm their subscription, they’ll be taken to the “subscription confirmed” page. If you don’t have double opt-in enabled, they’ll immediately land on the “subscription confirmed” page after subscribing.

This feature lets you completely customize what your subscriber sees after subscribing and is a great way to give them easy access to other content you’ve created or learn more about you and/or your business.

If you have any questions about this feature, let me know!

 


New to Curated? Make a copy of this Getting Started with Curated Checklist to help launch your newsletter (public, private, or paid).

 

Opt In ChallengeOpt In Challenge

Like this newsletter?

Let me know. Reply, email me at Ashley[at]optinweekly.com, or find me on LinkedIn to hit me with some feedback. I’d love to know what you think.

Happy newslettering,

Ashley Guttuso