Any thoughts on making the tip more useable?

Former_MSE_Andrea

MARTIN, THERE ARE TOO MANY TIPS - I would have to give up my full time job in order to absorb the weekly bulletin!!

This is one message received quite regularly. The aim of the tip is that you scan it and pick what’s good for you. Hopefully it’s easy to scan.

If you have any thoughts on how the tip can be made more useable click reply.

wirm

I like the tips, I just do as you said - scan through them and if there is something that looks interesting I click on it.....

Does seem to be a lot but then whats not suitable for me could be useful to someone else!

divadee

no problems from me at all i just normally scan and see if anything of use, but being on here far to much ;D i have normally seen the tips before they are sent out anyway ;D

but if someone where just receiving the tips mail and not coming on here i would have thought it was fine the way it was.

sdibbs

No problems from me.

I would rather have the info available to scan through and click on if required then not have it at all.

Finishrich

No problems from me.  

I would rather have the info available to scan through and click on if required then not have it at all.

here here!

Tony_H_3

The only sensible option if changes were to be made would be to have catagorised TIP Emails that we would then be able to opt in/out off.

You would have to create a poll to establish how to catagorise the TIP Emails if this is the direction you choose to take.

KG

Martin

I send many, many email bulletins as part fo my job. On all of them we catagorise the news and make sure each item has a heading. These headings are clearly defined by using graded colouring - i.e. a H1 is a dark blue, a H2 is a royal Blue and a H3 is a grey or light blue.

It is amazing how a set up like this can really help users scan for the information they want.

We then have a contents list at the top of the bulletin which (on the HTML versions) people can click on to go directly to the item.

When we switched to HTML bulletins some people were dubious of this method, thinking that people would end up disregarding 90% of the bulletin.

In practice our tracking stats have shown that the 'clickthroughs' on links from each item are just as stable as they were before introducing this method,

It's about preferences really. I never use contents lists on email bulletins, but scroll through them and read everything. Other users use them religiously to help them most efficiently use their limted time. Having a contents list doesn't make it more difficult for the first group to gain the information, but does make it much easier for the second group.

KG

Popsie_2

I like all the information I get from you Martin, as some of it I wouldn't even have thought of looking at. If I don't examine every tip each week, at least I know at the back of my mind that you have touched on something, which I can then refer to later when or if I need it. I wouldn't change anything, otherwise I'd be wary of missing something.

r.mac_2

Martin,

I just wanted you to know that I love the Tip's e-mail that you send every week. I don't think that it contains too much info. I mean - is there a limit to saving money? ;D I believe that it gives me a taste/update of where the hotest offers are and what has been going on in the last week.

I regularly check certain areas of the website, and don't deviate too often to other areas unless I have a specific question. This is where the e-mail comes in. It jogs my memory that there are other sections beside the 'grab it while you can' board and promts me to tackle important areas such as utility bill savings etc.

If people feel it is too long, then they should try scanning it. And not all the tips outlined are ones which need immediate action. It might be worth remembering that. i know i sometimes get carried away the minute the e-mail arrives and forget I am meant to be doing my job! ::)

Thank you so much for all your tips and e-mails.
Rhona x

B4UgoZzz

Please don't reduce the number of items in your newsletters.....they're excellent.

rcollins_2

I agree with the above the layout and amount of information is just right.
Read through and pick out the bits relevant to yourself