I am a sucker for good email programs, partly because they have always been a part of my job.

Believe it or not, they are still hard to come by. Many still spamming their customers and prospects, others not sending often enough or with content that matters.

I signed up for the 7Gen Newsletter from Seventh Generation a few months ago and have to say it is one of the best newsletters out there right now.

Why is this email newsletter a notch above the rest?
1. Content. The email provides a good number of promo paragraphs (8 in the last one) satisfying a broad range of interests. This makes the click-through rate better since there is a little something for everyone.
2. Navigation. They provide the same navigation and/or areas of the site as part of their design. This is good to engage those that find no interest in the content but have a need to go to the site.
3. Sharing capabilities. I really like how the newsletter inserts "email" and "comment" as part of every promo paragraph. These links are typically found on the site, but incorporating it within the email design makes it easier for those that can't be bothered to click-through.

I never used to visit websites on my blackberry unless I absolutely had to. They look terrible on my bb. With my Touch and Mark's iPhone, I visit only those I really need to...afterall, I am still not accustomed to the small screen.

I wrote about online registry back in February but after reading this post on The Bride's guide regarding registry etiquette - I couldn't help but provide an additional two cents.

If you are going to provide an online registry:
1. Thank the registrants for registering with your store. Afterall, they are bringing you business. Offer a discount on items that were not purchased off of the list.
2. Make sure that your inventory is in check and update the registry. I had a few incidents where items that I only wanted one of, I got multiples (no one wants the drama of returning a gift). Other times, people have told me that they didn't have the item in stock.
3. Allow the sender to have the option to have the gift wrapped with a personalized card. Date of delivery would be nice too since some may want to send it earlier than an event.
4. Send a confirmation to the sender that the shipment was received. You can also use this chance to include marketing messages and a discount to them.
5. Send an updated list of items purchased to the person who set up the registry. This may give them another chance to add additional items.

I am woman, hear me roar!

While combing through my Twitter (@mtampoya) and RSS feeds, a lot of great articles popped up regarding women.

If you are building an online strategy aimed at women or mothers or looking to build your management team - here are some great articles to browse through.

- RT @CBCNews - More women in senior roles boosts finance performance
- RT @guykawasaki - Working moms use technology.
- Etsy Success During a Recession
- Women Online Twice as Likely to Use Blogs over Social Networking Sites As Trusted Sources of Info.
- Europe Invests in Women Leaders
- Mommy bloggers one of the latest blogging trends.

I love fellow foodies, especially Alexa Clark. She knows her food in my hometown of Toronto and she is a social media guru. What's not to like?

As editor and publisher or Cheap Eats Toronto, she knows how to provide the right content for her readers and above all, how to interact with them on a daily basis.

One of my favourite tactics to keep her audience engaged is the use of Twitter (@ceto) for readership chat. She poses a question like "What is your favourite ice cream flavour" and the community can chime in anytime with their answers. Her audience is so engaged they will even tell you where the ice cream can be found (because one flavour is never the same in another location)

The chat is posted to the Cheap Eats blog where those who don't use Twitter to communicate can read it. If you are really interested (like an ice cream shop), you can subscribe to the chat via RSS and/or look up the Twitter hashtag (#ceto and #icecream).