On the Fast Track with…
NotePad

Just what in blazes is "NotePad?"

Well, we're going to need a word processing program to write our ads, aren't we?  The most commonly used word processing program is Microsoft Word.  No doubt you having been using Word for years, without even thinking about it.

However, when you are writing and formatting ads for use in emails you should NOT be using Word!

What you SHOULD be using to write your ads is a program called "NotePad"

NotePad is a little program that comes pre-bundled in ALL Microsoft operating systems, but very few people even know it's there, and even fewer people have ever used it.

So why are WE using it?

The reason is that NotePad is what is called a "Plain Text Editor"

You would never know it unless you do a lot of email advertising, but Word is NOT a "plain text editor."

Huh?  Wazzat mean?  Just what IS a "plain text editor?"

Well, whenever you type anything into a blank Microsoft Word document, it looks just fine.  IT'S ONLY WHEN YOU COPY AND PASTE THAT DOCUMENT INTO ANOTHER APPLICATION THAT "WEIRD" THINGS CAN HAPPEN.  And obviously we're going to be doing a LOT of copying and pasting of our ads into other applications (applications like mailing programs - the CHIP's, for example), aren't we?

Y'see, Word invisibly reconfigures certain characters "behind the scenes," so to speak.  You never see this reconfiguration until you copy and paste it into another application, and then you STILL don't see it.  However, when that message is emailed to someone, those invisible reconfigurations now become visible.  Certain email programs (like those some of your prospects have) DO display these reconfigurations, and it can completely destroy the effectiveness of your ads!

Let me show you what we mean...

Let's say you have a line in one of your ads that reads...

It's the greatest thing since sliced bread!

You copy and paste that line into another application (like one of the C.H.I.P. mailing programs), and it STILL looks fine.  It looks just like it did before...

It's the greatest thing since sliced bread!

But!... now comes the problem.  Your prospect's email program often DOES read those Word reconfigurations that until then are completely invisible and "hiding behind the scenes."  So, instead of the line reading, "It's the greatest thing since sliced bread!" it comes out looking like...

It&#@s the greatest thing since sliced bread%%~

Can you imagine trying to read an entire ad that has those spurious characters in it?  Kinda destroys the effectiveness of your ad completely, doesn't it!?

NotePad, on the other hand is a PLAIN text editor.  NotePad doesn't have all the frills and bells and whistles that Word has, and when you type an ad into a NotePad document, "what you see is what you get" - ALWAYS!  (In other words, NotePad is what is called a WYSIWYG - pronounced as "wissy-wig" - editor.  Cute, huh!)

Now, then, let's "find" and configure your NotePad program...

Step 1:

If you don't know where your NotePad program is, in the "Type Here to Search" area in the lower left corner of your computer screen, simply type in the word notepad and click to find your NotePad program.

A blank NotePad document will appear in the center of your screen, similar in appearance to a blank Word document (but MUCH simpler, with far fewer options to confuse you!).

Step 2:

In the simplified menu bar at the top of your blank NotePad document, you will see five items:  File, Edit, Format, View, and Help.  Click on "Format."  On the drop down menu that appears, first of all make sure that "Word Wrap" is UNchecked, and then click on "Font."

On the pop-up window that appears, to the left is a menu giving you numerous options for the default font you want.  Find the font called "Fixedsys" and click on it to highlight it.  Font style should be "Regular," and size should be "12"  Now click on the rectangular gray "OK" button to the right.

Your NotePad program is now properly configured for writing email ads.  Simple, huh!

You may now close your NotePad program.  That's all you need to know for right now about NotePad, but we'll be coming back to it later.

(Note:  Each of the companies in the CHIP program are independent entities.  As such, the owners of these companies may change the directions on how to use their program at any time.  If you find that the directions on the website deviate from those in this Fast Track Guide, please inform the Big Dogs Home Office at Stan@BigDogSecrets.com so that we may update the Guide.)

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