One of the biggest challenges for any business is customer retention. Finding new customers can be a time-consuming and expensive proposition whether you use direct mail, trade shows, or cold calling. Keeping the customers you've worked so hard to find can be one of the most important factors for business success. So, how do you keep them coming back?

You probably use Microsoft Office daily for correspondence, e-mail, and more. But did you realize it can be a powerful ally in your campaign for customer retention? Staying in touch through frequent communication a very effective method for retaining customers, and sending your customers a regular newsletter with important information can be a valuable tool for customer retention.

Show them you care by offering valuable information such as tips on how to utilize your products and services more effectively, event announcements, information on upcoming new products and expanded services, and special discounts on existing ones. And to keep costs down, why not send it by e-mail?

The value of an e-mail newsletter

Utilizing an e-mail newsletter can be an effective, low-cost method for staying in touch with your customers. Because there are no mailing and printing costs involved, it's gentle to your bottom-line. Another benefit is the almost instantaneous delivery e-mail affords you. You don't have to worry whether the post office will get the newsletter to your customers in time for them to take advantage of a special offer. And to give you a head start on your newsletter, use one of the e-mail newsletter templates from the Microsoft Office Online Web site.

Word gives you all the tools you need to quickly create an e-mail newsletter with powerful visual impact and to send it to your customers with a few simple keystrokes. Just follow our step-by-step guide, and soon you'll be creating and sending your own e-mail newsletter.

Next step

Step 1: Develop your mailing list