How to set up and send formatted HTML emails from Outlook
A client recently asked me how to set up and send HTML emails from Outlook with a pre-formatted template. He wanted to use it to send out email newsletters.
This is quite simple to do from Outlook. I use Outlook 2003 but the principle is the same whatever version you’re using.
A word of caution though before you start using it to bulk email to your client list. If you’re sending to a large distribution list I advise against using Outlook through you ISP’s server. ISPs tend to get upset about sending a large volume of email through their servers. Also, if people complain about spam, you could be in big trouble with your ISP and lose your email account.
Read MorePower to the people
Apparently, during this summer’s riots, our lord and master David Cameron considered switching off Facebook, Twitter and Blackberry Messenger (see article here). According to the article the government was “working with the police, the intelligence services and industry to look at whether it would be right to stop people communicating via these websites and services”.
This is a perfect illustration of something that I’ve been saying for years. The government (the establishment) is scared stiff of the internet. Not because they don’t understand it. I think they do. They have enough advisors to tell them. No. The reason is that it potentially puts power in the hands of ordinary people.
Why? Firstly, because the people have unprecedented access to vast amounts of information. Until the internet came along the ruling classes essentially controlled the information that was available to the ruled classes. Freedom of the press? Forget it. The traditional media has always been controlled directly or indirectly by the Establishment.
Secondly the internet allows almost instant communication between people anywhere in the world. One presumes that it was this that triggered Cameron’s knee jerk reaction to the riots. I seem to remember a similar issue with email back in the days of the fuel protests.
Never before have ordinary people had so much power at their fingertips. The tragedy of it though is that most people don’t realize what they’ve got. Perhaps they will eventually. But by then it may be too late and governments will have figured out ways to control it.
Read MoreThe Myth of B2B
What type of business do you think yours is? Business to business (B2B), selling to other businesses or business to consumer (B2C), selling to consumers? Both of these terms are misleading and, in the 21st century world of social networking, are dead concepts.
In reality, there is no such thing as a business. A business is a notional and legal entity. Instead we have individuals. Some “businesses” are single individuals, others are collections of individuals.
A business cannot manufacture. People do. Even if most of the work is done by machines, it’s people who control the machines. Businesses don’t do marketing. People do. And when we’re talking about who we sell to we don’t sell to businesses. We sell to individuals.
Read MoreMore on Google+
Further to my previous post I found this short video that gives a quick overview of Google+. That said, however, demand for accounts on Google+ has been so high that Google have temporarily closed the site for new accounts. So, if your interested, you’ll have to wait until they open the site again.
Read MoreGoogle+ – One to Watch
We all know about Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn etc. Many of us are aware of the benefits that these sites can bring in terms of promoting our businesses online. Now there’s a new kid on the block. And, if you hadn’t already guessed, it’s from Google. Google+, Google’s answer to Facebook etc.
Will it succeed? Time will tell. Competition in the social networking applications is pretty fierce now – Facebook already gets more impressions than search engines so is there room for another one? Who knows, but this is Google and anything could happen.
My advice is don’t ignore it. Check it out now. If it does become one of the major players in social networking then it could have a much bigger influence than the current crop of applications. Integration into Google search results is almost certain to happen at some point.
Read MoreQuotations
“You get what you INspect, not what you EXpect” – Bill Johnson, Digital Equipment Corporation.
“Strategy is good tactics seen in retrospect” – Mike Brogan, Day 10 Solutions.
“Fake it ’till you make it!” – Unknown.
“It is the set of the sails, not the direction of the wind that determines which way we will go” – Jim Rohn.
“Man does not control his own fate. The women in his life do that for him” – Groucho Marx
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering” – Yoda, Star Wars – The Phantom Menace.
“Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose” – Yoda, Star Wars - Revenge of the Sith.
“Yesterday is gone for ever. Tomorrow never comes. Today is in your hands” – Unknown.
“Don’t wish it were easier, wish you were better” – Jim Rohn.
Read MoreRecommended Reading
 
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