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Email Newsletter Design: Guidelines And Examples

• By Chui Chui Tan
• February 15th, 2010
• Design
• 21 Comments

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The email newsletter is a powerful marketing and communication tool that has various useful functions. It reminds your users about you; it informs users about your products; it tells them what you have been up to; and it helps you build a unique relationship with them. Users like email newsletters if the newsletters bring them value.

The fundamental rule for creating an email newsletter is to give it interesting, relevant and up-to-date information that is enjoyable to read. Users sign up for newsletters hoping be informed about things that they would not otherwise be able to find out about. In this article, we%u2019ll discuss some guidelines for designing and distributing email newsletters. Each point will be accompanied by both good and bad examples.

Please notice: in this post we features both good and bad examples of newsletter design, so you can get a better understanding of the problems to avoid and good design decisions to make.

You may be interested in the following related posts:

• Design and Build Email Newsletters Without Losing Your Mind (and Soul)

[Offtopic: by the way, did you know that Smashing Magazine has one of the most influential and popular Twitter accounts? Join our discussions and get updates about useful tools and resources %u2014 follow us on Twitter!]

Signing Up For A Newsletter

This is an important step in convincing users that your newsletters are interesting and that they would benefit from signing up.

Tell Users What They Will Get

Before asking users for their details, tell them what they will receive, and identify the benefits of signing up. If you mention that the newsletters will include exclusive offers and deals, make sure to keep the promise. In addition, let users know how often they will receive the newsletter: weekly or monthly.

On the Mulberry sign-up page, the company promises to send users exclusive updates and offers. The Marie Claire UK subscription page clearly states that its newsletters include news, beauty buys, competitions and offers.

Marie Claire UK subscription page

Reward Users for Signing Up

You may want to consider giving some reward to users for signing up; for example, a free gift, voucher or discount. To encourage users to sign up for his newsletter, Jamie Oliver offers a free �25 wine voucher that can be claimed after subscribing (on the condition that users spend �64.99 or more on the wine).

Jamie Oliver sign-up page

Jamie Oliver reward page

If you will give rewards, let users know as soon as possible in the process. James Perse gives users who subscribe to its newsletter a $15 online gift card. However, the reward is not mentioned on the subscription page, and the promotion code is sent via a confirmation email only after the subscription has been received. You would not have known that until you subscribed. The company is clearly missing a great opportunity to get people to sign up for its newsletters.

James Perse subscription confirmation email

Preview Your Newsletter

One way to let users know what they will get is to give them a preview of your newsletter. Hershey%u2019s Kitchens has two different newsletters, and it offers examples of both types. The company even gives each newsletter a name and clearly indicates how often it will be sent out.

Hershey%u2019s Kitchen sign-up page

Keep Questions Short and Simple

Users avoid filling out forms and submitting their details if possible. For a newsletter sign-ups, all you need is their email address.

Hersey%u2019s Kitchens has 10 mandatory fields. MarieClaire.com has 8 fields, but only the email field is required. We have found from our studies, though, that people often miss the asterisk or do not know what it means. Users who are reluctant to fill in many details may well refuse to sign up in this case.

Hershey%u2019s Kitchen sign-up page

Content Of Newsletter

Based on our user testing, we found that people look at three things when they receive a newsletter:

1. The sender, to see if it is from someone they know.
2. The subject line, to see if it is of interest to them.
3. The date, to see if the communication is up to date.

Write an Attractive Subject Line

One way to encourage users to open your newsletter is to write a subject line that grabs their attention.

If you are offering some sort of deal in your newsletter, try to avoid generic appeals in your subject line (for instance, Game July newsletter subject line: %u201CSizzling Summer Deals%u201D). Instead, mention specific offers, such as Dorothy Perkins November Issue: %u201C25% Off Just for You%u201D. Also, be realistic about your offers, and avoid making them sound too good to be true. Users are skeptical about subject lines like %u201CGet 1000 Extra Points%u201D because they know they will often have to spend a lot to get those points.

Provide Useful and Well-Written Content

A newsletter should contain information that users would not normally research on their own. Users take seconds to scan for topics of interest to them before deciding whether to spend more time reading the newsletter. If your newsletter, like Forrester%u2019s, shows only one or two topics, users would less likely to find something of interest to them.

Forrester newsletter

Furthermore, including links to your website in the newsletter is crucial.

Make Content Relevant to Your Readers

Make your newsletter%u2019s content as relevant to your readers as possible, whether through offers, products or images. Superfluous content will add no value and simply be ignored. You could also provide customized content. Personalization can be done in one of two ways:

1. Asking users for more (optional) information when they sign up.
2. Implicitly recording what they buy and view on your website.

For example, Amazon sends newsletter with recommendations based on what its users have purchased. Recommendation-based newsletters can be highly useful, provided that your analytics are accurate.

Amazon%u2019s customized newsletter

Offer Exclusive Deals

You could always offer subscribers special deals or freebies. There are a few ways to go about this. H&M and Photobox ask users to present their newsletters at the point of purchase in stores to receive discounts. Clinique and Airparks include a promotion code in their newsletters that users can redeem when checking out online.

H&M newsletter

Photobox newsletter

Airparks newsletter

Avoid putting these benefits so deep in the newsletter that users miss them. For instance, Clinique (above) puts its code at the bottom of the page, whereas Airparks puts its at the very top of the page.

In addition, make sure the rewards are relevant to your product and target audience. Take Inkclub, which gives out a free blusher to customers who shop via its newsletter. Not only does this item have little relevance to Inkclub%u2019s product line, but it may not be very attractive to the company%u2019s target users.

Inkclub newsletter

Newsletter Design

Design your newsletter to suit its chief purpose. If the main objective is to announce a new product or promote a particular service, you may want to focus the newsletter entirely on this product or service. Good examples are Apple in promoting its new iPhone 3GS.

Apple newsletter promoting its new iPhone 3GS.

To promote its latest exclusive offers, Ted Baker takes an easy and rather lazy approach: the whole newsletter consists merely of one big banner showing offers of 50% off, in the hope that users will click to the website to find out more. By contrast, Dabs.com showcases a number of its latest deals in its newsletter, giving users a rough idea of its product line and sale prices.

Ted Baker newsletter

Dabs newsletter

You could also adopt a catalogue style, like IKEA, or create a summary of your e-commerce website, like Audible, which teases users to visit its website with prices and a clear call-to-action button.

IKEA newsletter

Audible newsletter

Keep it Simple and Straightforward

As reported by the Nielsen Norman Group in its Email Newsletter Usability Report, the average reader skims a newsletter for 51 seconds. People never read: they scan for content that is of interest to them. So, don%u2019t overwhelm them by squeezing too much information on the page. Make sure your content gets straight to the point, and write short paragraphs and bullet points.

The main purpose of Flybe%u2019s newsletter is to present an exclusive offer on family trips to Disneyland. The value of this deal is lost among the long paragraphs. The message could be conveyed more effectively in bullet points for quick scanning.

Flybe newsletter

Make Good Use of Images, Numbers and Colors

Users are drawn first to elements that are visually simulating, such as graphics. Use images to guide users to the most important content and messages.

Numbers also grab attention. Users tend to associate them with prices and savings. Use percentages and dollar values to show concrete offers. For example, Pixmania newsletter has a big %u201C49% off,%u201D showing how much savings are available: clear and appealing.

Pixmania newsletter

Color adds interest, too. But be careful, because inappropriate use makes for a messy, confusing newsletter. Take Rimmel London%u2019s newsletter.

Rimmel London newsletter

Tailor the Layout to the Content

A newsletter can be designed in a one-column or multi-column layout or a mixture of both. A one-column grid is easier to skim but might take up more space and increase the length of the newsletter. While people do skim email newsletters, that%u2019s no reason to make them overly lengthy. However, some exceptions are the Design Hotels newsletter, which is long but well organized. Hotels are shown based on location, with attractive photos and deals.

Design Hotels newsletter

A two-column layout is common for newsletters. Narrower columns is usually used for the table of contents and upcoming events, while the main content is given a wider column. Etsy uses a two-column design for its newsletter, but both columns contain photos and links, and the sections have no prominent divisions. The design makes the page look messy and it lacks focus, making it hard to figure out where to look on the page. By contrast, iStockphoto%u2019s clear division between sections and grid design help guide the user%u2019s attention to the left or right column.

Etsy newsletter

iStockphoto newsletter

Be Creative

Creativity in a newsletter is always welcome. Both First Great Western and Southern present their content using fictional characters, Bob and Loco respectively, who users can easily relate to.

First Great Western newsletter

Southern newsletter

Giving each edition of your newsletter a different layout or design is okay as long users can easily recognize your brand. Despite STA Travel using various styles for its weekly newsletter, certain elements follow their branding guidelines, allowing users to quickly identify it.

STA newsletter, issue #254

STA newsletter, issue #255

Unlike the rather uninspiring Tripadvisor newsletter, Top Gear gets creative with its hand-sketched design, which makes the newsletter fun to read and explore.

Tripadvisor newsletter

Top Gear newsletter

Be Wary of Table of Contents

Some newsletters include a table of contents at the top of the page, which can help users quickly scan for items of interest. A table of contents can be especially helpful in lengthy newsletters that have a lot of content, such as the one from MoneySavingExpert.

MoneySavingExpert newsletter

Previous experience tells us, though, that some users do not understand that the links in the table of contents navigate within the newsletter. Assuming that the links take them to a website, they avoid clicking them altogether. One solution is to avoid placing the links in the left or right columns, as Foodepedia does, which is where external links and ads are often found.

Foodepedia newsletter

Be Wary of Ads

If you have to include ads in your newsletter, make sure they blend in with the content. A good example of this is Lastminute.com, and a bad example is PCMag.com which merely copies Google AdSense code directly into its newsletter, making the page look messy and the content unconvincing.

Lastminute.com newsletter

PCMag.com newsletter

Tools And Features

Make it easy for users to unsubscribe, but don%u2019t remind them how to all the time. Also, tell users how they can change their email address, view the newsletter in a Web browser and quickly share the newsletter with their friends. Other useful features include: %u201CFollow us on Twitter,%u201D %u201CBe Our Fan on Facebook%u201D and %u201CWatch Us on YouTube.%u201D

After Sending Out The Newsletter

After sending out your newsletter, use an email marketing tool and list manager to track, monitor and measure the performance of your campaigns. Many email service providers are out there, such as MailChimp, iContact, Mailvivo, Mailing Manager and Atomic Email Tracker. The majority of them also provide templates to help you create your newsletter if you don%u2019t want to get your hands dirty.

Showcase

MacHeist%u2019s Directorate newsletter grabs its readers%u2019 attention with the price of its iPhone apps (�0.99). Then, it tells them what MacHeist does in a short paragraph and presents its features in a clear and appealing way via icons. Simple, interesting and effective.

Headscape%u2019s newsletter with large headlines and nice illustrations.

Muji%u2019s newsletter has a tidy layout that allows for quick scanning. Each section is accompanied by nice product images and prices.

Howies might have a bit too much text in its newsletter. However, it organizes the content into different sections with big clear headings.

Apple%u2019s Christmas newsletter has a photo-related theme promoting its digital photo organizer software, iPhoto, and its photo books and calendar printing service.

HQhair.com gives its users an exclusive offer with a code. It not only emphasizes the word %u201CFREE%u201D but makes good use of the model to draw attention to the offer.

Bluefly cleverly divides its newsletter into two sections: %u201COffers%u201D (the main section) and the right navigation section, using beautiful imagery in the process. Also, notice how it emphasizes the 80% offer and word %u201COFF%u201D (in large font).

Ambiance San Francisco takes a creative drawing-based approach to encourage users to shop with it.

Disney Adventures%u2018 newsletter is another good example. Its beautiful picture gives users that holiday feeling.

Good Life Garden%u2019s newsletter effectively uses the word %u201CFree%u201D to grab the user%u2019s attention. The design is simple yet visually pleasing. Unfortunately, the content is repeated in the same newsletter.

Bite Card%u2019s newsletter has festive background imagery to evoke the winter season. It is simple, with a big banner at the top showing the product price, followed by cocktail choices and ingredients.

The Squawk%u2019s newsletter attracts users with the beautiful book cover on promotion for that month.

Cauldron%u2019s newsletter also has a tidy layout and clearly defines the purpose of each section. It tells users the subject of its next issue in the %u201CComing Next Month%u201D section at the bottom, a nice tease.

Mango%u2019s newsletter makes good use of bright, attractive colors.

iStockphoto%u2019s uses a gallery to present its top eight photos of the month: neat and easy to scan.

Threadless%u2018 newsletter offers %u201C$10 per tee%u201D in big clear type at the top of the page.

Further Resources

You may also be interested in these additional resources:

• Beautiful Email Newsletters
• 25 Impressive Email Newsletter Designs for Your Inspiration
• Design and Build Email Newsletters Without Losing Your Mind (and Soul)
• A Guide to Creating Email Newsletter
• Strengthen Your Email Marketing Performance

About the Author

Chui Chui Tan is a User Experience Consultant at cxpartners, UK. She loves being creative. Chui Chui has spent over seven years conducting user evaluations and designing usable and accessible user interfaces. She previously worked as a Mechanical Designer and received her doctorate in Human Computer Interaction. You can follow Chui Chui on Twitter.

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Chui Chui Tan

Chui Chui Tan is a User Experience Consultant at cxpartners, UK. She loves being creative. Chui Chui has spent over seven years conducting user evaluations and designing usable and accessible user interfaces. She previously worked as a Mechanical Designer and received her doctorate in Human Computer Interaction. You can follow Chui Chui on Twitter.

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By RICHARD GREENWALD

Welcome to the age of going solo.

The Journal Report

See the complete Small Business report .

Today, with unemployment rates hovering at 10%, and all our worries about the job market rooted in the moment, we are in danger of failing to see an important longer-term trend: More Americans are working as consultants or freelancers, either having given up or been forced out of the salaried world of 9 to 5.

It's a trend that began after the economic downturn of the late 1980s, as many laid-off professionals became consultants. Then it seemed temporary, though, tied to bad times. Evidence now suggests that this is our new economic condition. Today, in fact, 20% to 23% of U.S. workers are operating as consultants, freelancers, free agents, contractors or micropreneurs. Current projections see the number only rising in coming years.

The implications for the American workplace are profound. Imagine one in four workers, of all collars, working on a contingent basis. Whole career paths and professions have shifted from stable full-time jobs with definable career ladders and benefits to almost completely contingent work forces that shift from project to project.

We can rightly bemoan the loss of security, the shifting of economic risk from institutions to individuals. But crying foul will not change the circumstances that many Americans find themselves facing. Righteous indignation will not turn back time. We can, however, better prepare ourselves for the future.

The image of the freelancer is too often that of the struggling journalist or writer, who needs to wait tables to pay the rent. No doubt there are many such examples still out there. But there also are plenty of consultants and freelancers who are earning real income and enjoying real success in their careers (as well as redefining what it means to be a success).

So, what do these thriving solo artists have in common? What is the recipe for their good fortune? My research points to five ingredients to keep in mind.

Think Long Term

Too many freelancers see their condition as only temporary%u2014one that will go away as soon as economic conditions improve. It's just a stage between jobs, they figure.

View Full Image

Jean-Francois Martin

Some of them may be right. But the odds are that most are wrong. They're going to be on their own for a long time. So freelancers need to think in terms of the long haul, preparing for a marathon, not a sprint.

Understand: This isn't easy. Many of these people have known only 9-to-5 jobs, and it can be scary to think of freelancing as all there will be.

Scary, but necessary. Because if a freelancer views the condition as temporary, it's almost a guarantee that however long it lasts, it won't go well. Unless you think about it as a job itself%u2014requiring time, investment, thought%u2014you won't get much of a return. Waiting for business to find you is not something successful consultants do. Clients know a halfhearted attempt when they see one.

One recent consultant in the financial-services industry told me that the day he was fired, he got a new set of business cards, launched a basic Web site and got a new cellphone for business. He already had a home office and had started making lists of contacts. He knew that he might be consulting for many months, and he decided to prepare for it as a profession%u2014not something he would do on the side to get by.

The preparation has paid off: His consulting income has already reached 80% of his old salary.

The consultants and freelancers who are most successful offer a technical skill or expertise that is too expensive or infrequently used for companies to keep in-house. Perhaps it's a short-term technical project, such as implementing new accounting software, or a temporary graphic-design project. Such consultants demand greater salaries, and since the demand is only temporary, it is more efficient for the firm to hire this talent short term.

Most important, finding the next assignment cannot be done at the expense of retaining and enhancing these skills. Cutting-edge expertise is vital to long-term professional health. Successful consultants don't let their skills coast, even for a short period. There are simply too many consultants waiting to take their work.

Typically, consultants keep their edge by attending workshops or training courses. But the most successful often add another key element to their training: They teach%u2014whether at a regional business college, through university continuing-education programs or through workshops given by professional associations.

At first, it sounds counterintuitive to train others to do what you do. After all, you're creating more competition for yourself in the very community in which you work. But teaching offers four big positives for consultants.

First, it provides some income, though admittedly not much. Second, it's a way to network, because sometimes students can become clients or lead to clients. Third, the teaching looks good on a r�sum�, giving consultants credibility in the marketplace and a way to stand out from the crowd. And fourth, if you're going to teach somebody the latest skills, you better have those skills yourself. So teaching forces consultants to stay current and sharp themselves.

I talked to one consultant who is an expert in change management. He teaches in a continuing-education program for a local university, and says it is time-consuming and pays poorly. But he says that when companies are looking for a consultant, they often take the fastest route: They search for someone who is teaching at an area college or university, figuring that person must be reputable.

So, he looks at his time teaching as the equivalent of advertising. In addition, he says, sometimes his students go back to their companies and are in a position to hire a consultant. And he gets the call.

Join a Network

The image many of us have of the lonely consultant toiling on his or her own is touching. And dated.

Most successful consultants are in a network or community of consultants. These networks are important sources of new clients; most consultants, in fact, say they get as many clients from these networks as they do from client referrals. What's more, an increasing number of consultants share work, taking on bigger projects that require more hands. In this way, teams of consultants can function like a small boutique firm.

One former public-relations vice president, now a crisis-management consultant, shares an office with three other consultants. They all operate on their own, but she says in many ways they also function as a traditional office. She even refers to them as a "federation."

Recently, one of her office mates was consulting for a company that was concerned about the possibility of a minor scandal. So her office mate recommended her as a crisis-management consultant. She was hired. And while the scandal blew over, the company now will come to her in the future if they need crisis public relations.

Beware, though: You don't want to cross a network. These communities of freelancers often have their own unwritten rules, and too often consultants find out about these rules only when they break them.

One network, for instance, had an informal rule about using only those in the network for all referrals. One software consultant ran afoul of that rule when he referred work to someone outside of his network, because he felt it required expertise that none in his circle had. Suddenly, his own referrals within the network dried up.

The lesson: With social networking and the constant contact of email and texting, word of a perceived violation spreads rapidly. While we assume there will be office politics in the traditional workplace, we should not be surprised that it exists in these networks. Freelancers are free from much of the 9-to-5 world, but apparently not the personalities of colleagues.

Have Your Own Space

We have long been told that one of the joys of working on your own is being able to putter around in your pajamas and bunny slippers. And such flexibility is, no doubt, an attraction of consulting.

But there's a limit, and successful consultants say that having a work space separate from your living space is crucial. Clients do not want to have an important phone conference interrupted by a nagging two-year-old, a TV in the background or the sounds of street traffic. Most freelancers I spoke to have a space in their home that is solely for work%u2014a bunker, as it were.

Others have started using shared spaces that provide a quiet space and a cubicle or desk to call your own. These spaces, called co-offices, often have other incentives. They give freelancers a place to go, which helps them keep schedules. They usually also provide a receptionist service, so someone always answers calls. And they provide a sense of workplace that is something many consultants complain about missing.

One financial adviser who lost his job about three years ago became a financial consultant. He worked from home. But, because he had a small apartment and young children, he found himself increasingly working in the Starbucks around the corner. He quickly discovered that clients wanted a level of professionalism that did not include the buzz of an espresso machine.

He subsequently began to share a suite of offices with a lawyer and mortgage broker. They share a receptionist and a conference room, and split expenses for a fax and copier machine, as well as broadband Internet access. He has his name on the door, and a place to meet clients. What's more, the lawyer has recommended his services, so he has new clients.

Think Like an Entrepreneur

Here's probably the most important ingredient that distinguishes the most successful consultants: They think like entrepreneurs.

Too often, freelancers drift from project to project. That's a mistake. They need to have a business plan or mission statement. If all they do is take everything that passes over the transom, they will be viewed as a nonspecialist in a world of specialists.

Consultants are known for the work that they do, and this often means the work they don't do. With a mission statement and business plan, they can decide if a certain job is worth it. Sometimes the short-term gain in income becomes a long-term loss in reputation.

This doesn't mean you should starve: Sometimes, any work is good. But too many consultants say yes to anything that comes along, so when the perfect project arises, they might be too busy to take it. What's more, in this competitive world, prospective clients want to know what projects you're working on. If they aren't impressed, they may not hire you. So being able to say no to certain work, referring it to someone else, is a sure measure of a certain level of success.

In interview after interview, I was also shocked by how unprepared so many new freelancers were in organizing their businesses. Few used even simple invoicing software to track their billing, while many mingled their personal and business finances, and didn't keep good records for taxes or expenses. They did not think of cash flows, future investments or downtime. They lived in the moment, which for a business is a recipe for disaster. Developing a mission statement and code of values, something businesses do regularly, will help consultants develop a better sense of what they value, and then they can steer their business toward their goals.

%u2014 Dr. Greenwald is a professor and dean of the Caspersen School of Graduate Studies at Drew University in Madison, N.J. He can be reached at reports@wsj.com.

Every now and then I wake up in a crappy mood, feeling totally unmotivated and not wanting to do anything or see anyone. It could be due to something bad happening the previous day, or it could be due to nothing at all. I just feel crabby for no reason. Weird, I know. But, I'm sure you know what I mean. Everyone has experienced dreadful waking moments in the past.

In fact, it is not really surprising that a lot of people nowadays feel bad the moment they wake up. If you are bombarded with negative news like the recent airplane crotch-bomb threat and the Haiti earthquake, it is little wonder that you'd feel the world is all doom and gloom.

However, it is worth noting that you can actually make your day better no matter what situation you have in life. So, in order to overcome that awful feeling to make my day a rich and beautiful one, I apply a few or more of the following tips throughout the day.

Here are 50 tips to set you on your way to a better day. Do yourself a favor and don't try more than a handful of these in a single day. In fact, put these ideas in a hat and pick one randomly the next time you get in a funk.

1. Think Positive Thoughts Before You Sleep
   The quality of sleep you get the night before can affect your mood the next day. Thus, if you want to create a better day tomorrow, you have to make sure that you think only positive things before you go to bed at night. Do not fret about your mortgage problems or dwell on the bad things that happened to you during the day. You need a good night's rest in order to prepare your mind and body for the busy day ahead.

2. Tell yourself That Today is a Better Day
   The first thing that you should say to yourself the moment you wake up is that today will be great and marvelous. Know that you have control of what kind of day you will have. Telling yourself that today is going to be a great day will give you a positive attitude and a winner's outlook. The power of the mind is strong so feed your mind with positive things.
   
   
3. Wake Up a Few Minutes Earlier
   If you want to get out of bed at 6AM, set the alarm for 5:45 and then allow 15 minutes for your body and mind to adjust and wake up. At 6, hop out of bed! Waking up late and rushing through things will increase your heart rate and simply stress you out. On top of that, you'll inevitably forget to do something and then stress about that too!

4. Take It Easy
   Take things easy. Breathe deeply and slowly. If you are feeling rushed, take a deep breath and remind yourself that in the big scheme of life, being a minute late is pretty small.
   
   
5. Keep a Mental Note of the Things You Need to Do
   It is always a good thing to try to keep a list of the things that you ought to do or accomplish for the day. If you are forgetful, you should write these things down. Aside from the things that you need to do at the office, you also need to remember those that you need to do for your family or friends. Write them all down so that you can manage your time wisely throughout the day.

6. Get Some Inspiration
   Do not expect manna to come down from heaven. If you want to create a better day, you have to make a conscious effort to achieve things. Give yourself a boost with some inspiration. Be sure to read, listen or watch something that can perk your day up. Sometimes, just seeing your child laugh is enough to make your heart smile.
   
   
7. Eat a Healthy Breakfast
   Your mood for the day can actually be affected by the things that you do and eat. In order to jump start your day and prepare your mind and body for the busy day ahead, you need to have a power breakfast. Make sure that you eat something healthy. Whole grains, protein, and fruits can surely give you the nutrients that you need to do the things that you need to accomplish for the day.
   
   
8. Some Stretching Will Do You Good
   Stretching and exercising your muscles will also help in jumpstarting your system. If you wake up sluggish, you need some exercise and stretching to perk up your day. Besides, stretching and exercising can also prevent muscle cramps and other aches that can ruin your mood for the day.
   
   
9. Pay Attention to your Hygiene and Appearance
   One of the things that people are conscious about is their appearance. To ensure you won't feel insecure, make sure to take a bath, wear clean clothes and pay attention to your face and grooming. If you know that you look presentable, you will feel empowered and confident.

10. Compliment Yourself
    Say good things about yourself. Do not be afraid to compliment yourself once in a while. However, be careful not to be conceited because people hate narcissistic individuals.
    
    
11. Adopt a Positive Attitude
    Before you step out of the house, make it a conscious effort to be positive in all things you do. Tell yourself that you will stay positive throughout the day.
    

Exert Some Effort to Smile
Studies show that smiling, even if there is no reason to do it, can lift up your mood. Besides, a smile can make you look even more attractive.

Try Not To Be Reactive
There is a tendency for men to react to everything negatively, especially on the road. Thus, you should try not to be reactive, especially when you are driving. If somebody cuts you on the road, just let it pass and think that the other guy may be having a bad day. Or just be please that you are not as rude as that individual.

Count to Ten to Keep You from Exploding
If you think that you are going to get mad, count to ten to calm your nerves. This will let some steam out.

Think before You Act
Many people end up feeling remorse after they have done nasty things without thinking. To prevent feeling guilty and remorseful, think first before you do something.

Don't Take Things Too Seriously
Not everything that you hear people say about you should be taken seriously. Some people just like being nasty so you should not get affected with what they are saying.

Be More Attentive to People
In order to minimize altercations or misunderstandings, it would really be a good thing to listen attentively to what others are saying. Being attentive will also help you come across as being sincere, thus making you more likable. Of course, don't do it for the sake of being likable. Be genuine in it.

Look at People and Situations in a Positive Light
You really can't prevent bad things from happening. Sometimes shit does happen. In order not to let these things ruin your day, try to look for the silver lining in everything.

Give Compliments to Other People
Make a conscious effort to compliment other people. This will help build better relationships. Just make sure that you are complimenting them genuinely.

Manage Your Time Wisely
A good day can turn bad if you feel stressed out. Thus, manage your time wisely to ensure that everything that you need to do can be accomplished with time to spare.

Take a Break
To prevent being burned out, you should take a break once in a while. Try walking around the office or doing some stretching while you are in your desk every time you are feeling a bit drained.

Deal with Things the Mature Way
Do not be petty and do not act like a child. You are an adult so try to do things maturely.

Laugh a Lot
Laughter can pick up your mood. Just do not laugh at other people's mistakes.

Consider Inputs from Other People
Take time listening to the suggestions and inputs of other people. Even if you are the manager or head of your department, you need other people's contributions too.

Grab Fruit Instead of a Bar of Chocolate
Fruits can surely wake you up in the middle of the day, whereas a bar of chocolate will just give you energy spike for a few minutes. So, you will end up feeling even more tired and sleepy.

Always Do Your Best
You will not have regrets if you know that you have given your all in everything that you do.

Don't Wallow in Sorrow and Defeat
Nobody is perfect and sometimes you need to experience losses and defeats to learn. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, use these negative things to make you a better person.

Stay Away From Negative People
Negative people can just pull you down so there is really no point in spending your time with them. Stay away from them whenever possible. If they happen to be your mates, seek to inspire them. If that won't do, perhaps it's time to find yourself new mates.

Be Courteous and Kind
Doing other people some good will give you a warm and fuzzy feeling. And also make you more likable.

Build Bridges and Develop Friendships
Having enemies can surely drain your energy, whereas building friendships can make your support team bigger and stronger.

Be Careful with What You Say
It is often hard to take back the bad things that you say, so you need to be careful with your words.

Take Time to Stop and Smell the Flowers
You can enhance your mood by counting your blessings and seeing the good in other people, things or situations.

Learn to Pace Your Energy
You need to be careful with energy bursts and crashes. Try not to exhaust yourself in the morning because you will surely have a nasty and tiring afternoon if you do.

Incorporate Exercise Throughout the Day
Exercise can give you a %u201Chigh%u201D because endorphins are released after a good workout.

Wear Comfortable Shoes
It is very hard to stay positive if your feet are hurting. I've seen too many of my female friends wear heels that hurt their feet just because they look good.

Drink Plenty of Water
Dehydration can cause lethargy. So avoid it at all costs.

Pay Attention to What You Eat
Eating junk food can contribute to mood swings. So eat moderately.

Go Easy on the Coffee
Too much coffee can make you nervous and fidgety.

Treat Yourself
Be sure to give yourself small rewards every time you did well. We all need to give ourselves a nice pat on the shoulders to give ourselves a little encouragement.

Plan the Next Day before Going Home
Before you head home, make a list of the things that you need to accomplish in the office the following day.

Spend Quality Time with the People You Love
Don't take anyone for granted. Sustain your relationships. Spending quality time together is the best way to keep and improve relationships.

Keep in Touch With Friends and Family
If you live alone, calling your loved ones or just dropping by to say 'hi' can lift your spirit as well as theirs.

Have a Hobby
To keep your mind off your work, do something that you love outside your office work.

Have No Regrets
You cannot go back in time so you cannot undo the things that you have done. Instead, make a conscious effort to make things better in the future.

Keep a Journal
Writing things and ideas down can help you to keep track of your goals and remember things you've learned and observations you've made. And it can also help you figure out new directions for your life and then guide you as you go.

Take a Relaxing Bath
After a stressful day, a relaxing bath can help you go to sleep comfortably.

Prepare the Things You Need Before You Go to Sleep
This will help make tomorrow less stressful because you won't feel at a lost of what to do. Being prepared always help you to stay focused and assured.

Get in the Mood to Sleep
Do the things that can help you go to sleep early because a restful sleep can help you improve your mood for the next day. Reading a book before bed or listening to soft music helps me to sleep better.

Make Love
Making love can also release endorphins and help you have a good night's sleep. Plus, it helps to improve your relationship. Of course, I don't expect you to do it every day.

Go to Bed Early
Try to go to bed early and get enough sleep to prepare yourself for the day ahead tomorrow. You don't want to wake up the next day feeling like a zombie.

Do you have a tip to help us create a better day? Please share with us in the comment section below.

Written on 2/5/2010 by Mark Foo. Mark shares how you can achieve all that you want in life in his FREE eBook The 77 Traits of Highly Successful People. Claim your free copy now at http://www.77successtraits.com.

Photo Credit: Joe M500