I have had the pleasure of designing Constant Contact newsletter templates for many of you, many of which are Stampin' Up! demonstrators. However, after I design a template for you, many have asked "How do I edit it?" so I wanted to address that here.  But if you get stuck don't hesitate to ask.  These instructions apply to any of my customers, non-Stampin' Up! demonstrators as well.

• Login to Constant Contact.
• Then click the little link that says “View all emails”.
• Then you will see the Newsletter Template I designed.
• Click on the button to the left (which is COPY).
• Then give the newsletter a name, such as “Customer Monthly Newsletter” or whatever naming convention you use (this is NOT the title your customers see, but just how you name your newsletters).
• Then click Save or OK.
• Then the newsletter will open in editing mode.
• In any section, click on the 1^st icon above it (pencil/square) – this is to open that section for editing.
• Such at the Title Block where you now see Month/Year (such as August 2010). You will need to edit that each month and change the Month and Year.
• Then click on Save (which will appear once you are in “edit” mode) when finished with changes to  that section.
• Then continue clicking the “edit” button in each “section” you want to edit (one at a time).
• Such as for an Article Block, click on Edit and then modify the Article Header, such as announcing a promotion.
• Then you can delete or enter an Article Subheader.
• Then simply replace the text there and write your own.
• For the picture, right-click on the image placeholder and click on Change.
• Then, you have to enter the image URL (if you use images from Michelle Laycock for example, www.laycockdesigns.com, in the HTML code she provides for demonstrators you will see <img src=”……..”>  it is that path (in between the quotation marks) which is the Image URL.  Copy it from her site and paste it in.  Then enter in the URL to go to when the image is clicked – such as a Stampin’ Up! PDF or your store page on your DBWS or wherever you want them to be directed.  Then click on Insert Image.
• If you are not a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, you can store images for FREE on Photobucket (www.photobucket.com).
  • Use are using Image URL so you don’t have to upload a bunch of images to Constant Contact…since you only have 5 as a default and will have to pay an extra $5 a month (or more) for additional image storage.
  • Or you can open a free Photobucket account, www.photobucket.com, and upload images that you create for each promotion there. Then after you upload an image, click the Save. Then you can get the Direct Link to the image and use that as the Image URL.
• When you are done with the Article section, click on Save.
• When you are done editing “everything” or even occasionally as you are developing your newsletter, click the orange SAVE button at the top.
• Then you may also click on Preview to see the newsletter as your customers will see it and send a test email to yourself.
• Then when you’re done, click on Next, and continuing clicking next and you’ll select which list to send it to and when to schedule it, etc.

If you get stuck, let me know – heather@blogsbyheather.com or blogsbyheather@att.net

If you'd like a custom newsletter designed using Constant Contact, the fee is $40 and you can find more information here.

In general:

• I create the Constant Contact banner and color scheme that coordinates with your existing blog or website.
• In a sidebar area,
  
  • Table of Contents
  • Contact Me section (with your pic or logo, email, phone or other contact info),
  • Quick Links section (with links to your blog, website, events, specials etc.)
  • Featured Project or Product area
  • Populare Services (links to them if that applies)
• Main Body area,
  • Introduction area
  • Specials/Article blocks set up
  • Monthly Tip area
  • Coupon area

If you're interested, please feel free to contact me.  Please note, it may a week or so for me to reply depending on my current work load. And right now coming off vacation it's a busy week (LOL). Thank you in advance for your patience.

Heather Wright-Porto
Blogs By Heather
www.BlogsByHeather.com