What Makes A Good Casino Newsletter?

[Zarathustra]

Hi guys this is my first thread.

I am conducting some research regarding online casino newsletters. My main question is... what makes a good newsletter... what interests you, i.e. promotions, stories, winners information, game reviews, tips... etc.

Also what kind of subjects and issues interest you, what are your favourite online casino newsletters?


any feedback is greatly appreciated

Many thanks to one and all

Thus Spoke Zarathustra

[maxfalcon]

In my opinion, it all depends of the kind of audience you want to attract.

Good casino bonuses is the common thing 99% of the players like to see (I know some play without bonuses, but they are rare... ), after it is all about knowing the players that read your newsletter.

There's so much online gambling stuff around that it is very hard to come with something really unique!

[Zarathustra]

That kind of matches my conclusions, though i would like to think that players make a personal connection with the casino they play with.

I think that Bodog has a very interesting approach to its players in terms of the image and design. Golden Palace is of course very well polished as well lots of zany stories and stuff about winners.

A side note... it is evident that the big Titans of the industry are branching out and investing in their own small scale media networks, radio etc. I think this is a fascinating development. With all the competition out there, one feels that casinos somehow have to make that personal connection with people to attract and retain players. This is why i am interested in the newsletter issue- does a newsletter make you feel part of a casino, are we interested in reading them. or are they a nuisance, would we rather just have a list of promotions sent to our inbox every week, or something more meaningful...

anyways... just thinking out loud

Thus spoke Zarathustra

[Petunia]

**Hey there.
Well, it has been a while. Here are my personal and professional views on newsletters.
The days of “Spam them and they will buy” is long dead.
Gone, over with… In fact, there are laws against it now.
A good newsletter is one that keeps your interest. Stands out from the rest of the junk you sign up for, and is very specific to the ACTUAL reason why I requested it.
There are many people, with different tastes. Each person sign up to a newsletter, promotional letter or e-mail for a very specific reason.
1. To keep an eye on the competitor or market
2. Because they REALLY have an interest in the subject matter.

Now, for me, as a Black Jack and Poker Player, there is no real value in a general promotion, as it excludes these games for me. Besides all the terms and conditions, loopholes and absolutely ridiculous wagering requirement… there IS one thing that keeps me going back to a promotion or newsletter: NO BS.

Mean what you say, and say what you mean. Stop using the same ol’ same ol’ tag-lines.
“Free Money, no strings attached” – I see that, I see “We tell blatant lies”
“Specially designed to suite your needs” – Erm.. really? Then how come my buddy with the guest account received the same e-mail?

A newsletter should contain news. I like the newsletters from Bryan (for instance) because they contain NEWS. Stuff that is important. Stuff that is actually shaping the industry. IF I take up on a promotion (which will happen once in a leap-year, on a blue-moon Tuesday ONLY) it will be from a selection of the presentations as per Bryans newsletters. WHY? Well, HIS newsletter is NO BS, so subconsciously, I convince myself that the offers on them will contain no BS. They usually do, but that is not the point.

A promotion is designed to get your interest and have you part with your money. A newsletter should be designed to carry news. Personally, I hate most of the newsletters from the casinos, but I like the ones send by the webmasters. They relate to experiences, industry (GOOD OR BAD) – and carry advertising that one can safely assume was not trying to give you the impression that “It was specially designed for you”. You know the risk in taking it.

Well, those are my initial thoughts. Sorry, it is a bit long-winded. I would be interested myself in seeing if any of you could perhaps provide your own insights into this. Maybe one or two Reps participating? Petunia**

EDIT: A Newsletter should contain news. A promotional Letter should contain a promotion. Don't send promo stuff to me every day, and a million of them. GODS it frustrates me, and I ignore them. If you going to combine the two, then make sure you have GREAT planning, and don't bother me again unless it REALLY IS a "ONCE OFF SPECIAL OFFER".

[Casinomeister]

A good newsletter should have:

a) Content - something meaty whether it's an observance or something newsworthy.

b) an item that pertains to your website - you want to draw people's interest to your site - hopefully it's something unique, jazzy, quirky, or interesting.

c) a funny joke.

d) a picture of me at the bottom

http://www.casinomeister.com/newsletter.html#skip

[Zarathustra]

Petunia...

I concur with your observations on the webmaster newsletters... at the moment, if you want incisive news on the industry etc then they are a must.

Is there something that the online casinos can learn from this example, is the online casino industry in need of rethinking its approach to its players. Should online casinos stop thinking of players as anonymous, self interested gamblers, and instead view them as interested publics that would appreciate regular news, stories, commentary, opinion etc.

Why dont online casinos make their newsletters more informative, why do they seem to restrict themselves to cliched slogans and catch phrases, that as Petunia notes, are synonymous with "we are going to con you".

Do we want better quality newsletters, would they make a difference to the way we think about our online casinos... or is all this just a waste of time!

Thanks to all

Thus spoke Zarathustra

[Petunia]

** Zara, the problem is that the casinos are having a hard time to be 'nice' about their promotions, because of bonus abusers, and players are having a hard time accepting bonuses, because the casinos are looking out for their own interests. It is a catch 22.
Bryan... Meaty. Yes, that is what I'm saying too. Give me something I can sink my teeth into, chew and spit out or digest. (That sentence could have gone horribly wrong! )

I have two suggestions:
1) PPLE relate to PPLE, not newsletters. The newsletters merely bridge the gap. That is why newspapers have survived. Reporters are real; they express THEIR opinion, even if it is 'biased'
2) Combine your promo and your newsletter, without it being a complete drain on the readers mind.

Just my opinion, again. Use it, don't use it. **

[spearmaster]

1) PPLE relate to PPLE, not newsletters. The newsletters merely bridge the gap. That is why newspapers have survived. Reporters are real; they express THEIR opinion, even if it is 'biased'

This is very true. At the end of every Got2Bet newsletter, there is a Thought of the Week - which, loosely translated, means "Spearmaster's Soapbox".

Although I used to always write something about gambling, there were times when I just had nothing interesting in my head related to gambling - so I would write about things like current events, the opening of my coffee shop, the tsunami, the dog ate my newsletter, etc... and I know that this human interaction, albeit mostly one way, works wonders.

Sometimes I get responses telling me where to put it (or what to do with my dog) - but more often than not, these responses always express some sort of appreciation or merely relaying the sender's abilty to relate to a particular situation. Never had a complaint saying "Why aren't you finding me huge bonuses" or "What's that crap you're writing about, has nothing to do with gambling". In fact, the only complaints I ever had were that my newsletter was in HTML and not easily read by some email programs (like AOL). And even then they were nice, and usually complimentary (after all, who would complain about not being able to read the newsletter if they weren't interested in it in the first place?)

One thing for sure - I have well more than the three readers I claim - and I know they know I'm human, and most of them can always find some way to relate to me.

It's this virtual bond that makes a newsletter successful - otherwise, you're practically no better than spam.

[Zarathustra]

Hmmm... interesting reply, and quite inspiring at that.

It is good to hear a seasoned pro relating their experiences. I would like to think that players do appreciate that personal touch...

I think one of the difficulties of producing a newsletter for a casino is the fact that anything interesting that happens at a rival casino has to be ignored, as that would only mean publicity for the competition.

I suppose, it is the writer who maybe must make a change of approach. Maybe it is the writer who must begin to think of his audience as an interested and engaged one. But then again, there is only so much a writer can do if company pressures restricts them.

Do players like to hear about, or make connections with other players out there, this might sound like a stupid question to post on a forum which serves exactly that purpose, but away from forums... does the average player like to hear or read about or know about what other players are doing and winning?

In producing newsletters I suppose there is the added complication which has already been mentioned in the above posts, namely that one must cater to a diverse audience, which generally shares only one common interest... gambling. But can a newsletter move away from strictly gaming related features and bonuses etc, towards more lifestyle, current affairs based articles... and still remain interesting to its subscribers...

with regards with this i would like to hope that spearmaster's opinion is accurate.

Many thanks

Thus Spoke Zarathustra

[Petunia]

**Z - Gambling is such a diverse topic to begin with. I don't think that for one moment, anyone actually sugested that there should be 'gossip' going around about other casinos and their doings.
I did mention that one of the reasons one would subscribed to a casino newsletter is to 'keep an eye on the compitition/industry' but here, if you are stuck for topics are a few things that would keep me keen on reading.
(I would like to see maybe a list or two from some of the other members)

1. Events and oportunities where one can 'meet and greet' certain representatives of the favourite casino - [this pertain to your question, and to answer your: Yes there are many instances where webmasters, players and industry leaders get together to 'show their faces' and sort out a few things (over a couple of drinks).

2. USEFUL information - such as [perhaps] a status report on certain 'issues'.
i.e: There was a security feature messing with the installation of the MGS computers. Was it resolved, can it be resolved etc. When Neteller acted up for a month, HOW to deal with the situation, what to do and who to contact.

3. Direct communication informatio in the event that your e-mail is not answered in x number of days - please contact so-and-so.

Oh, and maybe, just ONCE introduce your 'forum rep' via a newsletter, with relevant experience and information details. It helps build that 'face to the name' thing, or at least another line of communication.

4. I am NOT a technical person in most regards, but there are small technical issues that crops up every now and again - relate that information in your newsletter (It took me AAAGES to figure out how to turn the stupid 'bling' sound off, without having to turn my computer's sound off)

These are all 'service orientated' ideas, but slip in a 'and wait, we have a bonus/promotion' and you have a well-rounded service. Me thinks.

5. I love humour. I enjoy wit, cheek and the odd 'oh my word, he did not say that' in my newsletters! Not everyone does, but then agian, you cannot please everyone. Like Spear said, he was told 'what to do with his dog' - BUT, still, the individual took the time to read, AND RESPOND.

These are, again, a few Ideas. How many of you care for the 'flashing banners' and the 'perfectly presented html' images? How many of you still care to see the "You have won" tag line (not even the bonus hunters care for those anymore I think)

I like reading, I sign up with newsletters to get 'news'.
Who's been 'spotted' at the MGS Conference?
What happened at the Vegas Affiliate get-together
Why NOBODY recognise your casino rep in Montreal
What are your affiliates doing? DO YOU HAVE affiliates?

I'm rambling again. Maybe because I'm bored. I have no good newsletters to read tonight. **