That’s a real understatement, actually, of the immense and growing popularity of blogging.

But this week … I was reminded that email newsletters are still a hot strategy and shouldn’t be neglected.

Here are three examples of websites with email newsletters as their primary strategic “vehicle”:

• Photojojo — a photo tips and advice site that has soared in popularlity over the last year or so, claiming over 100K email subscribers
• Authority Blogger — well-known blogger Chris Garrett started this site on the blogging topic … but powers it by an email newsletter.
• Fuego — just another example … this is a site for “busy, professional men” powered by an email newsletter

I must say … I absolutely love the strategic models of these sites.

Here’s 6 reasons why I love this model:

• EASY TO USE – Blog are awesome, but a huge majority still don’t understand how to use that big, gooey orange button called a Feed. But people DO understand email.
• STICKY AND PROACTIVE — You can see who your readers are … you’ve got their email addresses at least. And you have a powerful, built-in, permission-based way to easily invite them back to your site.
• INTEGRATES BLOG TECHNOLOGY – This model still uses blog technology, but it plays second fiddle to the email newsletter. They call the blog the “Archives.” Your email newsletters can link back to your blog posts.
• VIRAL MARKETING – Email forwarding remains a powerful force for viral marketing. Send out your newsletter filled with content that makes your reader salivate and watch what happens.
• SOCIAL NETWORKING – This model also works well with social networking … enter Digg, Del.ico.us, Reddit, StumbleUpon, etc. PhotoJojo sends their email newsletter out at 3 a.m. and saw it make Digg later that day.
• EXTREMELY AFFORDABLE – I’ve been using Aweber to power my email newsletters. I love their pricing and features (particularly unlimited emails and autoresponders) … they are the best solution I’ve seen and for less than $20 a month.

Related posts:

1. An Email Newsletter Template to Emulate
2. Using Email Newsletters & Free Offers on Your Business Blog or Website
3. How to Increase Your Blog’s Email Newsletter and Feeds Subscriptions

Let me talk generally about their role in your blogging strategy.

First, email newsletters …

The key to most small business marketing efforts are a list of current and/or prospective customers.

The idea here is to create (if you don’t have one already) an email newsletter for your business and blog that your readers can subscribe to.

Think about it: qualified customers. Ones who have “opted in” to your company’s newsletter through your blog.

In fact, one of the first things I do when starting a new blog is planning the email newsletter that will accompany it.

Every good business blog will have an email newsletter sidekick.

Let me repeat it, because it’s worth repeating: Every good business blog will have an opt-in email newsletter.

So, as you’re thinking about your business blog … also be thinking and planning on using an email newsletter.

Second, free offers …

Free offers tie in directly with email newsletters.

In fact, free offers (in the form of a PDF downloadable report on my subject) are the primary way I use to generate subscribers for my email newsletter.

Here’s how this works … you offer a free report of some kind prominently on your blog (mine is 7 Steps to Starting a Business Blog). Your customers can download this free report by subscribing to your email newsletter.

This is how you can give value to your blog/website guest … and also help populate your email newsletter.

I’ll talk more later about how to go about producing this free offer … but this free offer can be a simple checklist on “picking the right home insurance” or “7 steps to eating healthy.”

It’s one of the most affordable ways I know to demonstrate your expertise while marketing to your customers!

So get on the bandwagon … create a value-packed, free downloable report … and offer it through your value-package, pro-customer email newsletter. 

Related posts:

1. CopyBlogger’s Brian Clark on Business Blogging, Email Newsletters
2. 5 Ways to Use Your Business Website through Economic Downturns
3. Sending Email Newsletters to Twitter