Author Topic: New Idea - Email Newsletters  (Read 12764 times)

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Offline Kinderchick

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Re: New Idea - Email Newsletters
« Reply #19 on: September 27, 2012, 01:22 »
Thank you for answering all of my questions, TPC. :-* Just a few more for clarification... So are you saying that if & when you put out a Newsletter, you would no longer answer any questions that folks might have on your Manitoba Falcon Forum?

Would you then be eliminating the "Ask the Peregrine Chick" board? What if folks on the Forum have questions about peregrine falcons other than the Manitoba PF's. Would you answer questions about other Peregrine falcons?

I would be disappointed if you we're to eliminate the "Ask the Peregrine Chick" board as I think it might still be helpful & useful to many. Just my opinion. Of course, I don't want to make more work for you but you have such a treasure trove of knowledge about peregrine falcons and other species of birds, etc. that I would hate to see the board that I have mentioned eliminated.

Offline dupre501

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Re: New Idea - Email Newsletters
« Reply #18 on: September 26, 2012, 13:07 »
Looking forward to it!

Offline The Peregrine Chick

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Re: New Idea - Email Newsletters
« Reply #17 on: September 26, 2012, 11:56 »
I should reiterate that the annual cost for a newsletter would be minimal - just need to cover the cost of the newsletter service and processing online payments.  If I do offer newsletters, I want to make it easy and economical for every/anyone to receive!

I think what I will do is put together a year-end report on at least the Radisson and McKenzie Seeds sites and then folks can get an idea of what I'm talking about.  These reports will be free so don't start sending me cash folks  ;D ;)

Offline transplanted maple

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Re: New Idea - Email Newsletters
« Reply #16 on: September 26, 2012, 10:18 »
TPC, as you know, I ask alot of questions, as a newbie about the birds, your care in getting the info out is great and all the forums and links that you have sent me to read has answered just about all the questions and now I can sit back and enjoy them.
If you love birds it does not matter where you call home. Falcon newsletter is like putting a family tree together, they move around all the world and great to know where they got started off from.

Offline susha

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Re: New Idea - Email Newsletters
« Reply #15 on: September 25, 2012, 15:07 »
Great idea.  I'd be on board and would pay whatever it would take (within reason of course).

Offline The Peregrine Chick

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Re: New Idea - Email Newsletters
« Reply #14 on: September 25, 2012, 14:39 »
TPC, I love the forum. The organization of it is wonderful.

Your new idea for the email newsletter is also a great one and I would subscribe as well.

May I make a suggestion?

Most email newsletters also allow links to web pages. Perhaps at the end of each newsletter have a standard section for frequently asked questions?
  • What do peregrines eat and drink?
  • Where do they nest and what does a nest look like?
  • Do peregrines migrate and where do they go?
  • etc. (you know better than I the FAQs)
  • For answers to these and other FAQs please visit our FAQ site ....
Then have a link to a section in the forum covering those questions. (Might I also suggest a new "read only" section under "The Classroom" for these FAQs?). This way in the email newsletter (and on the forum) you are not always repeating yourself, and there is a handy reference for new people at all times.

I know you patiently answer all our questions, but this could save you a little time.

We could definitely add links to the Forum, the webcams, whatever since its an electronic document.  And depending on the length of the newsletter and the focus of a particular issue, we can be quite creative with "extras" - and a FAQ is definitely a good link or segment!

Offline dupre501

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Re: New Idea - Email Newsletters
« Reply #13 on: September 25, 2012, 13:22 »
TPC, I love the forum. The organization of it is wonderful.

Your new idea for the email newsletter is also a great one and I would subscribe as well.

May I make a suggestion?

Most email newsletters also allow links to web pages. Perhaps at the end of each newsletter have a standard section for frequently asked questions?
  • What do peregrines eat and drink?
  • Where do they nest and what does a nest look like?
  • Do peregrines migrate and where do they go?
  • etc. (you know better than I the FAQs)
  • For answers to these and other FAQs please visit our FAQ site ....
Then have a link to a section in the forum covering those questions. (Might I also suggest a new "read only" section under "The Classroom" for these FAQs?). This way in the email newsletter (and on the forum) you are not always repeating yourself, and there is a handy reference for new people at all times.

I know you patiently answer all our questions, but this could save you a little time.

Offline The Peregrine Chick

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Re: New Idea - Email Newsletters
« Reply #12 on: September 25, 2012, 10:43 »
Nice questions Kinderchick  :)

Would the Newsletter just be about our Manitoba peregrine falcons and their nest sites?

Primarily, though I don't have problems adding in notes about Manitoba peregrines elsewhere.  Could have a separate issue of the newsletter once maybe twice a year that focusses on Manitoba peregrines nesting elsewhere.  The advantage of the "paid" service is there isn't a limit on the number of different issues, just on the number of subscribers.


What is the e-update list that you refer to in your Preamble?

For folks that aren't on the Forum but who want to get occasional updates via emails, I have the e-updates list.  If you are a member of the Forum you already know about anything that goes into an e-update - so-and-so is home and on eggs at such-and-such a location, the webcam will go live on such-and-such a date, special edition teeshirts are ready for order, that kind of thing.  Only do about 3 a year just because its so labour-intensive, but it's enough to keep non-forum folks in the loop.


Would the subscription fee pay for the e-mail service? I think this is a good idea, given the labour intensive and time consuming task it would be for you, or anyone, for that matter, to maintain a mailing list.

Yes, these newsletters would only be available to subscribers via email.  The newsletter service handles all the mailing list details (additions, changes, removals) and handles the actually emailing of the newsletter.  I put the newsletter together and then give it to the service for delivery.  Each account is private and the service is automated so email addresses given for the purposes of these newsletters are not available to anyone except the Project and we don't share, sell or rent our lists.


When you speak of distributing the Newsletter to folks who work near the Radisson or are guests of the Radisson, are you referring to an e-mailed Newsletter to these people or a hard copied Newsletter?

Email newsletter, just like others.  So for example, someone who works in the Trizec Building is only really interested in the Radisson peregrines and doesn't want to get lots of emails but would like to get a couple of updates on just the Radisson birds.  One of the things this service can handle is different mailing lists - all newsletters, just Radisson or just end-of-year reports or whatever combination we want to offer.  Because the service is based on subscribers, the rate would be per person rather than per newsletter - so same rate to receive all the newsletters as to get just one. 


Would the Newsletter also include information about the Brandon birds?

Short answer is yes.  Longer answer would be that there will something like 8 issues per year, most in the nesting season and each issue would have information on all the sites so long as there is news to report.  For the Radisson, West Winnipeg and McKenzie Seeds, since they are pretty solid sites, we would have updates every issue.  For others sites - Brandon Tower, Selkirk and elsewhere - if they are occupied, we provide regular updates.  There would also be less frequent special issues (ie year-end) that just focus on the Radisson, McKenzie Seeds, Manitoba Peregrines elsewhere that would provide summaries of those specific sites.  Might even have a special issue that's for school teachers or for pest-control companies or or or, you get the idea.


Would you also continue to answer questions on the Forum that peregrine falcon fans might still have?

I don't think so, the idea is really to provide information rather than have another place for questions-and-answers since we have the Forum.  Having said that, if non-Forum folks started inundating me with questions I would need to rethink it and maybe have a special Q&A issue or maybe one question per issue.  It wouldn't come out each week, so the questions would be a wee bit stale before folks actually saw an answer.  My inclination is to stay away from yet another place to have to answer questions in addition to the Forum and the CBC site, but we'd have to see but I wouldn't encourage it.

Offline Kinderchick

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Re: New Idea - Email Newsletters
« Reply #11 on: September 24, 2012, 22:59 »
I would be interested in receiving a Newsletter, TPC and I certainly wouldn't mind contributing a minimal fee to the cost of a subscription. Just have a few questions...

Would the Newsletter just be about our Manitoba peregrine falcons and their nest sites?

What is the e-update list that you refer to in your Preamble?

Would the subscription fee pay for the e-mail service? I think this is a good idea, given the labour intensive and time consuming task it would be for you, or anyone, for that matter, to maintain a mailing list.

When you speak of distributing the Newsletter to folks who work near the Radisson or are guests of the Radisson, are you referring to an e-mailed Newsletter to these people or a hard copied Newsletter?

Would the Newsletter also include information about the Brandon birds?

Would you also continue to answer questions on the Forum that peregrine falcon fans might still have?

I realize that I have left you with many questions and I apologize for that. Just trying to understand the whole thing. You have left us with lots to think about. ;)

Offline transplanted maple

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Re: New Idea - Email Newsletters
« Reply #10 on: September 24, 2012, 15:09 »
I like the idea of a newsletter, but I feel that 5 dollars is a little low, you can`t even buy a fast food meal for least  10 dollars. Maybe, those that just want the newsletter pay higher. Then others that are donating and buying items that is helping the bottom line. Just a thought....

Offline GCG

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Re: New Idea - Email Newsletters
« Reply #9 on: September 24, 2012, 14:31 »
 :) this is a wonderful suggestion. I would love to subscribe to this project. Please add me to your list. $30.00 a year is well worth what you would share with us.  :-*

Offline MayShowers

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Re: New Idea - Email Newsletters
« Reply #8 on: September 24, 2012, 13:25 »
I think this is a great idea and I would support it with a subscription purchase.

Offline irenekl

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Re: New Idea - Email Newsletters
« Reply #7 on: September 23, 2012, 21:33 »
I would be interested and support it with a subscription purchase of $5.00 easily (or more!)

Offline Gingerlee

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Re: New Idea - Email Newsletters
« Reply #6 on: September 23, 2012, 20:59 »
Very good idea.  It would help keep those not on the forum advised as to what has been or could be happening during the off cam season, with minimal work for you.  Yes I too do keep up on the forum but would be willing to pay a subscription fee for the newletter.

Offline Saoirse

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Re: New Idea - Email Newsletters
« Reply #5 on: September 23, 2012, 19:33 »
TPC, I honestly don't know how you have time to come up with new ideas . . . having said that, I really like this one! Yes, I'd be interested in receiving a newsletter as you've described and would be willing to pay for a subscription, even if the cost went a bit higher than your estimated $3-5.