1. Win sales with white papers and application notes
2. Nothing says you care more than an online help system
3. Improve the success rate of your emails
4. Tip: Environmentally safe window cleaner
5. Recipe: Breaded pork chops

We're Hsuan-min Chou and Blythe Howard-Chou, founders of Jumping Bean Communications. Do you know someone who can use our marketing writing or technical writing services? Forward this newsletter to a friend or colleague, or point them to www.jumpbean.com.

1. Win sales with white papers and application notes

Brochures and Flash movies are cool, but when you get right down to it, they are rarely top on the list of "must-haves" when courting new customers. What are the "must-haves"? White papers, application notes, anything that truthfully tells customers what to expect when buying your product or service.

With nine years experience developing intellectual capital for businesses, Jumping Bean can help you solidify your sales. We have written white papers and application notes for:

• Catbird Network
• Learning Insights
• Novarra
• Open Port Technology
• Stellent
• SPSS
• Universal Access

For more information on how we can build your intellectual assets, visit www.jumpbean.com/assets.

If you missed that issue on blogs, just visit the Archives page. You can find that, plus all past issues of "bean news!"

2. Nothing says you care more than an online help system

Sure, you can sell products with only a hard copy manual. But today's users don't necessarily keep their hard copies on their desks. And in large companies, all of your manuals are housed in the IT department—which may be as far away as India!

Help your customers by creating an online help system. Simply pressing the F1 key launches a help system which asks users what they want to do (Can I substitute images for my bullets? How do I reset auto-numbering? Where is the junk mail filter stored?).

Plus, with online help, your users don't have to bother the onsite IT staff (who probably are trying to keep the email system running and don't really care about your bullet problems!).

Jumping Bean can develop online help, user guides, and other support materials for your products or services. Several companies have taken advantage of our technical documentation services, including Ameritech, Bank One, Catbird Networks, CFA Software, and Cleversafe.

Learn more about our extensive technical writing services.

Shout outs: A shout out to Photoplay Design and Sir Speedy Halstead for creating and printing our snazzy new business cards!Thank you!

When your permission-based emails are blocked by spam filters, it's time to change the way you write your messages.

At Jumping Bean we create emails that won't get sucked up into anyone's spam filter. Since 1998, Jumping Bean has been creating successful emails by:

• Focusing on the subject line
• "Front-loading" the message
• Tightening up the body
• Avoiding spam triggers
• See a few of our email samples

Learn more about improving your email success rate by reading Larry Baltz' article "8 Tips to Significantly Improve Your E-mail Response."

Do you want to advertise your business/service on Bean News? Take a look at our client list, and you can see the industries we cater to. Send an email, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

4. Tip: Environmentally safe window cleaner

OK, don't worry, we're not "going all eco-crazy" on you. But in celebration of Earth Day 2007 (April 22), Jumping Bean would like to do its small part in keeping our environment clean and safe.

Not too long ago, Blythe and I attended a small workshop sponsored by the Chicago Conservation Corps. We learned about some simple actions that reduce waste and pollution. One easy solution, which we've been using for a few months, is an eco-friendly window cleaner that doesn't pollute our indoor air.

Remember the movie, "Heathers," when Winona Ryder slipped window cleaner into her rival's drink (causing here to vomit in amazing Technicolor and die)? That's what normal, store-bought window cleaners can do. Plus, they also release harmful chemicals into your home.

Below we show you how you can make a window cleaner that is inexpensive, effective, non-toxic, and best of all, easy on your indoor air quality.

Window Cleaner

Ingredients:

• 1/2 tsp. liquid soap
• 2 oz. apple cider vinegar (or just regular vinegar)
• 16 oz. water

There is one caveat: It streaks a little. But with just a little extra elbow grease, your windows will look crystal clear (and smell like vinegar, not chemicals).

Related Links
For more information on Earth Day and the environment:

• Al Gore testifies in Congress (3/22/07) - CNN
• Earth Day - http://earthday.org/
• Earth Day Facts - http://familyinternet.about.com/od/earthday/

Make your day run more smoothly and efficiently with our timesaving tips. Got a tip? Send it to tips@jumpbean.com. You might see it in the next issue of "bean news!"

5. Recipe: Breaded pork chops (My goodness, these are good!)

Last week I went to Paulina Meat Market for the first time. If you've never been there to purchase your meat, what have you been waiting for? Blythe's reaction when she came home? "It's just beautiful in there."

The butcher at the market was very friendly and helpful. When I asked him if he knew a good, easy recipe (for a dinner party later that night), he offered me the following:

Ingredients

• 4 or 5 pork chops, bone in
• all-purpose flour
• egg wash (beaten egg and milk)
• bread crumbs
• spices

FULL RECIPE

Related link
Paulina Meat Market

Expand your culinary world by trying one of our recipes. If you have a favorite recipe you'd like to share, send it to recipes@jumpbean.com, and you just might find it in the next edition of "bean news!"

ADV: 5-star rated Transtastic Auto Repair "has definitely made loyal customers out of us," says Liz T.

For quality oil changes and other car maintenance, call Steve at (773) 661-5100. Tell Steve you saw this ad on Jumping Bean.

New Clients
Active and Able
Motorola
Specialty Services
Spencer Stuart
Walgreens

You are doing a wonderful job!! You'll have to let me know "who" gets this positive feedback so you can have good referrals going forward!!

S.G., Manager
Motorola

Thanks...for your work in the short time you were here. We'll certainly keep you in mind... for additional freelance help.

T.G., Manager
Corporate Branding and Creative Services
Discover Financial Services

Play and Feed a Hungry Person!

Did I overhear right that you were leaving after today? Bummer... You were a great help.

B.S., Copywriter
Walgreens

You did a wonderful job and I know The Beloved Community appreciated it!!!

J.R., Account Director
Taproot Foundation

Hsuan-min's writing style is approachable and easy-to-read—quite an accomplishment when writing about software and technology concepts!

Carolyn Calzavara
Director, Global Marketing
Decisions Made Easy

Excellent product, packaging, and shipping. Would gladly do business again.

eBay buyer: gravyshoes

Amy has definitely expressed her positive feedback with your work and is impressed with your strategic copywriting abilities!

Recruiter
Visa Account
Direct Mail Agency

Nice work. I really like the tone [of your catalog copywriting].

VP New Business
Specialty Store Services