Frequently-Asked Questions

Using Home Savvy

Do I email my HSM eZine to people?

Your HSM eZine is a Web-based publication, meaning, it is essentially a "Website". As a Website, it is far too large to email. If you choose you engage in an email campaign, do so by inviting audiences to view your HSM eZine. You can do this by adding the link to your HSM eZine in your outgoing email. We also provide you with a graphical "teaser" that you can use in your emails as an option to sending just text. Your teaser is already linked to your HSM eZine, so all you need to do is copy and paste it into your outgoing email message. Once you do that, you can use the tools in your email program to enhance your email with background colors and text.

How do I copy and paste my teaser into an outbound email?

Go to your teaser page (which will be provided to you) and use to keyboard to do the following:

1. Use CTRL+A to select all teaser content on the page
2. Use CTRL+C to copy all teaser content to your computer's clipboard
3. Open your email application and start a new email. Use CTRL+V to paste the teaser contents into the text area of your teaser. Make sure your cursor is positioned inside of the text area before pasting.
4. Once you have done this, add whatever personalized information you would like above and/or below the teaser graphics. You may also want to use the "Align to Center of Page" option in your email application to align the teaser graphics and your personalized text to the center of the page.

Can I attract readers to my HSM eZine using a method other than email?

Yes. Though there are numerous ways to attract audiences, we suggest that you set up sub-accounts and utilize other people's markets by allowing them to use a self-branded version of your HSM eZine with their market and contact. Of course, you can also use traditional methods such as announcing your HSM eZine with fliers, post cards, and local ads.

Isn't it illegal to "spam" people?

It is technically not illegal to send legitimate bulk commercial email to people you don't know, but it is illegal to disobey federal and state guidelines for sending bulk email, whether solicited or unsolicited. In most cases, you can send an email to anyone as long as your email's subject line is non-deceptive, your email doesn't contain auto-installing software (especially spyware and malware), and your email does offer an electronic opt-out option. To learn more about "spam" and the federal legalities behind sending bulk email, click here. Read state laws by clicking here.

It is also very important to keep your ISP's and Web host's policies for, and against, sending bulk email in mind. Most have the policy that if someone didn't ask for your email, then it is considered spam. In most cases, it will be filtered accordingly if one of your recipients complains about it.

Can you provide email software, email hosting, or send my emails for me?

No. There are plenty of vendors who provide both freeware and payware. There are also plenty of ISPs that offer Web/email hosting suitable for "opt-in" bulk email campaigns. And, due to the possibility of legal liabilities, we simply do not send emails for any of our subscribers since we don't know who is on the receiving end. Many people also do not want their emails to be used by third-parties (which would be us), and it would therefore be illegal for us to receive those emails from our subscribers. Click here to see our bulk email application recommendations.

Is it better to send text-only email or HTML email with graphics?

That really depends on your recipient's inbox, email application setting, and ISP. Most emails sent today use HTML, so most ISPs have to allow them, though you need to be careful about the size of your email since some inboxes and ISPs won't allow large emails. HTML emails that use a lot of graphics also tend to take longer to send while using unecessary bandwith to accomplish the same thing a simply text-only email would accomplish. In the end, this is a personal decision on your part.

Can I link my HSM eZine to my Website or emails?

Absolutely! Your HSM eZine is accessible with a URL (Web address), so add your HSM link to your Website or eZine as you would any other Website link. We also provide buttons that you can use either in your Website or HTML email if you want to get "fancy".

Handshake

What is the purpose of Handshake?

In simple terms, Handshake offers you a way to generate additional revenues derived from the sale of advertising space on a designated page within your HSM eZine. We included Handshake because, like nearly all "magazines", your HSM eZine uses content to attract "eyeballs", or readers. This is of great value to companies that want to sell their products and services to the homeowners, home buyer, and home seller market that you serve. In fact, there are probably hundreds, or thousands, of companies in your area that would be interested in advertising with you. For many subscribers, Handshake can also be a lifeline of income during dry spells.

How do I find advertisers for Handshake?

You likely already know several people who want to reach your market. Ask them to advertise with you. Network from there. This is absolutely the very best way to acquire Handshake advertisers as it keeps you out of the "cold market". If you exhaust your list of "warm" contacts, then simply call relevant businesses in your area and invite them to "sponsor" your HSM eZine, or flat-out ask them to advertise with you. The best advertisers are those that serve the homeownership market. These include; landscapers, plumbers, architects, decorators, masons, builders, electricians, HVAC installation and repair companies, pest control companies, tree surgeons, inspectors, siding contractors, painters, and dozens more.

How much do I charge for a Handshake ad?

That's up to you, and it really depends on your marketing strategy such as whether or not you are sending bulk emails, acquiring sub-account holders, or if you just plan on organically growing your readership base through a Website link. In most cases, you should start at about $200 for a six-month placement per advertiser. If you have a significant number of email contacts or Website visitors, you may want to increase your rate.

Who collects my advertiser's money?

You do. We never see your advertiser's money, and you keep 100% of it.

What do companies need to provide to me if they want to advertise?

You will need their artwork (JPG or GIF file) if you are allowing them to use an ad graphic. Remember, your Handshake page editor allows you to insert either grahics or text, so what your advertisers provide to you ultimately has to be what it is that they want appearing on your Handshake page. If you are allowing ad graphics, then the ad should be no bigger than 420 pixels wide by whatever height you choose (420px Wide by 183px Tall is a common ad size). Click here to learn more about Handshake ad requirements.

I don't want to charge for ads. Do I have to use Handshake for advertising?

No. You can also use you Handshake page for link exchanges with other businesses.

News & Blogs

How do I use my News & Blogs page?

Your News & Blogs page should be used primarily for one of three purposes: (a) to post news and current events related to your company or industry, (b) to post blogs (i.e., Web Logs), which are essentially your thoughts and editorials about any topic, and (c) to post relevant and timely articles and editorials about issues that concern, or are relevant to, your readers.

You can also use your News & Blogs page as for link exchanges if you want to keep your Handshake page for paid ads. Be sure to ask us to change your New & Blog's super button and article header to reflect this change.

Sub-Accounts

What is a sub-account?

A sub-account is an extension of your HSM eZine that you allow others to use. It contains the same article content but does not allow the sub-account holder to edit any pages (such as Handshake and News).

How would a sub-account be of value to me?

Sub-account help you to solve a problem, and that problem is 'how to get your name in front of more people'. By offering a sub-account to another business that markets to the same market you want to reach, you are using the collective reach of others to put your name in front of a marketplace which is more likely to need your products and services. In other words, sub-accounts allow you to duplicate your efforts, compress time-frames, and increase your efficiency.

How do I acquire sub-account holders?

Basically, any business that understands the value of maintaining brand exposure to the marketplace is a sub-account candidate. For example, if you are home inspector, then real estate agents would be excellent sub-account holders. Simple 'get good' at inviting businesses to explore your HSM eZine, then invite them to get their own sub-account.

What do I need from businesses that want a sub-account?

All sub-account holders will need to provide you with a 320px by 320px panel ad (JPG or GIF file format). We also need a 200px Wide by 168px Tall block ad (JPG or GIF file format). The block ad can be used either by your sub-account holder or you since it is essentially "extra" ad space. We will also need basic contact information for your sub-account holder such as their name, company name, business phone numbers, email address, and Website address.

Who designs the sub-account holder's ads?

You or they can provide us with finished artwork which we will load free of charge. If you need us to design a panel ad for any sub-account holder, we charge a $45 wholesale ad design fee to you. In turn, you can charge your sub-account holder up to $75 for the ad and pocket the $30 fee for managing the ad sale (which can be used to pay for subsequent sub-accounts). Of course, you don't have to charge your sub-account holder anything and just pay the $45 fee out-of-pocket as an "investment" to reach the sub-account holder's market.

How many sub-accounts am I allowed to have, and what do they cost?

Your account includes five free sub-accounts (not including the cost of designing ads). Each additional block of five sub-accounts cost $59 simple to cover our bandwidth consumption. (We earn zero profits from sub-account set-up and hosting. We reserve to change our rates and policies for sub-accounts at any time.)

Account Maintenance

How many issues of HSM are published per year?

Twelve.

How do I get technical support?

First, use this Website to answer your support-related questions before contacting us. If you have a question that is not answered on this site, then we'll be more than happy to walk you through a solution. Just make sure you are in front of your computer and can log into your account. If you simply want a support question answered by email, send your question to support@homesavvymagazine.com. If you need to make a support call, our hours are Monday through Friday, 9AM to 5PM. You may to leave a message that will get answered by the first available technician.

Are there any fees involved for receiving technical support?

We do not charge any technical support fees though we do reserve the right to charge fees for modifying your account in any way. This includes graphics development and editing text copy. In most cases, we will not charge a fee for simple edits, but we always change a fee for graphics work outside the scope of our normal terms.