From Wilted to Wonderful
How to take your newsletter from limp to lush

I was 20-something when I first moved to Boston.

Exploring Pier 1 Imports to decorate my apartment, I discovered wicker and wonder from India, Mexico, and warmer climes. The store was a way for me to capture the tropics and bring them home. Swashbuckling pirates had done all the world travel for me. They stole the riches these exotic destinations had to offer. And now all I had to do was choose from the colorful booty.

• What if I chose the wrong style?
• What if it didn't go with the things I already had?
• What if these things were the wrong sizes?
  

All these questions drove me to the same place: Indecision.

I chose not to choose. I would come back to paradise another day when I'd had more time to consider things.

However, it wouldn't hurt to sink my feet into the sand and do a little beach combing.

I could explore for now, gather ideas, go back to my ship (I mean apartment) and plan. I'm a planning pirate. I can't help myself.

Suddenly, I spied two plants in the clearance section, and thought, "Hmm, palm trees would be a nice addition to my picture perfect island paradise." But these were only about a foot and a half tall and they were mighty scraggly. The leaves were droopy and starting to brown. Definitely not the primo palms that I would like in my stylin' bungalow. Barefoot and tan, an island native, otherwise known as the manager, wandered by. With a grin, he said, "I'll give you those for $.99 cents each."

Sold!


Who says I can't make split decisions?! Come to Mama. The palm trees were coming home.



When I got them back to my place, I realized that these plants might not make it. They were in pretty bad shape. But what could I lose? They were such a great deal. I cared for them weekly. I watered them and gave them sun. They looked pretty sickly for a while, but slowly and surely they came back. The fronds got more vibrant. They grew taller and stronger. After about a year, they had doubled in size!

From that day forward, I vowed not to make snap judgments about greenery. Even though a plant looked sickly, it might just be dormant. In fact, in many cases, believing in the possibility meant that there was promise. I could plant the seeds of hope.

I know that some of you have things in your life that appear to be just hanging on. But in the roots, there's a reason.

If that describes your E-Newsletter, read on. (If that describes an aspect of your life, we should have coffee or tea!)

Here's How to Make Your Enews Garden Grow:

Fertilizer

A small investment of a little nourishment for your newsletter can make a huge difference. Infuse some new ideas to reinvigorate your content. Add some island spice.

Sun or Shade?

Plant your newsletter in the right spot. To thrive, you need to put it out at the right time of day. Do your subscribers read your stuff when the sun is bright or when the moon is white? Is your newsletter getting the attention it deserves or is it being overshadowed by the competition?

Weeding

Have you added things to your E-Newsletter that steal the ground from your original objectives? Are you trying to be too much to too many? Stay focused. Weed out those items that you don't really need. K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Silly). Weeds may look green and lush, but they will suck the nutrients from your plants.

Take what you've got and spruce it up. Your plants have good roots. All they need is your attention and a little grooming and they will grow.