Smashing Newsletter Challenge… And Giveaway!

It’s time for something brand new and exciting on Smashing Magazine. Actually, we have quite a few things in the works, and today we are happy to reveal one of them. Over the years, we have published many lengthy articles, and now we want to write some shorter ones for a change. We want to launch the Smashing Email Newsletter and we prepared some nice prizes for our subscribers.

Every week our editorial team will work on short, entertaining and (of course) relevant articles for the upcoming issue. The newsletter will be sent out once a week, probably on Tuesdays, and will contain unique tips and tricks for designers and Web developers, written by us exclusively for our email subscribers.

The 10,001 Subscriber Challenge

And to make it a bit more interesting, we decided to create a challenge for us and our readers. Here’s the deal: the Smashing Newsletter will be published only if we get at least 10,001 subscribers. (The earliest we would send it out is next Tuesday.) So, it’s up to you to decide whether we should launch the newsletter. And you can help right away: just type in your (valid) email address, confirm the subscription (opt in) and you’re done!

Subscribe to our email newsletter now:

 

If the form doesn’t work in your RSS-feed reader, please view the article in your web browser. Sorry for any inconvenience!

Of course, you can cancel your subscription at any time. The Smashing Newsletter will always be free of charge. We respect your privacy: we will never give your data to third parties, and we will never spam you. You have our word.

Join In To Win One Of Our Prizes!

Of course, we knew it wouldn’t be as much fun without an incentive, which is why we are giving away some beautiful gadgets and books to some lucky subscribers. The winners will be announced in the first edition of the newsletter (if we meet the challenge). And here are the prizes:

Wacom Bamboo Fun Pen and Touch (Medium)
The Wacom Bamboo Fun Pen and Touch is a unique device to harness your creativity. It’s perfect if you want complete control with a pen or finger tap input. It has single- and double-finger functions, supports left- and right-handed use and has an integrated pen holder.

Screenshot

Microsoft SideWinder X8 Laser Gaming Mouse
The ultimate wireless gaming mouse, with advanced tracking, 12 buttons (7 of which are programmable), scroll wheel with tilt and full-speed USB reporting.

Mouse

Harman Kardon SoundSticks II Speaker System
The Harman Kardon SoundSticks II combines performance and an attractive visual design, a combination that always makes our hearts beat a little faster. It’s nearly perfect, save for a few design flaws.

Speaker System

Microsoft Arc Mouse Black
The Arc Mouse has the comfort of a desktop mouse and the portability of a notebook mouse. It folds to 60% of its fully expanded size for when you’re on the go. Two color options are available to match your style.

Last But Not Least, The Books!

  • Confessions of a Public Speaker, by Scott Berkum

    Screenshot

  • Decoding Design, by Maggie Macnab

    Screenshot

  • The Laws of Simplicity, by John Maeda

    Screenshot

  • Smashing WordPress, by Thord Daniel Hedengren

    Screenshot

  • Universal Principles of Design, by William Lidwell, Kritina Holden and Jull Butler

    Screenshot

Please participate only once, and spread the word about the challenge to your friends and colleagues. Thanks, and let’s get this rolling, folks!

(al)

The Smashing Editorial loves high-quality content and cares about little details. We also believe that content and design are crafts worth sharpening.

  1. 1

    good, i will subscribe.

    0
  2. 3

    Fantastic idea, I’ve signed up! :)

    0
  3. 4

    I’ll subscribe if you fix Thord’s name. :P I don’t think TDH would like being called Thor Haedengren.

    0
  4. 5

    More awesome give-aways from SM! bring it on, and a newsletter to boot?!

    0
  5. 6

    retweeting this now. i want a smashing magazine book!

    0
  6. 7

    signed up *thumbsup* (:

    0
  7. 8

    Looking forward to seeing the newsletter. I believe this is a great addition for Smashing Magazine :)

    0
  8. 9

    #187 here!
    …when I saw the post it was 132!

    0
  9. 10

    #261 !
    I can’t wait for more great articles from you guys !

    0
  10. 11

    Signed in, too. I hope, the content of the Newsletter will be (at least a bit) different to the RSS-feed and its topics?

    0
    • 12

      Smashing Editorial

      February 24th, 2010 5:30 am

      Yes, absolutely. It will be completely different.

      0
      • 13

        Great!! I’m glad it’s not just a straight duplication of content. I like how the RSS and Twitter account have “some” content overlap but are different from each other

        0
      • 14

        Hope different from other newsletters too and will not have list of **21 awesome**, **43amazing** kinda list.

        Its my trust I am subscribing, Its my love I am demanding and Its my possessiveness that I am doubting. :)

        Good luck

        0
  11. 16

    I’m so gonna make this work in my home town of Perth Western Australia – you guys are the bomb and I’ve been digging your freshness for years now and you deserve everything that comes your way – Cheers for all the inspiration over the years!!

    0
  12. 18

    Jacques van Heerden

    February 24th, 2010 5:37 am

    Subscribed. Awesome to have something new finally launched.

    J

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  13. 19

    Excellent! I signed up (even if my iPhone autofill did give me fits).

    0
  14. 20

    finally! i cant wait too read your newsletter. thanks and keep up the inspiring work

    0
  15. 21

    Wacom is awesome!

    0
  16. 22

    great idea! look forward to the first edition :)
    … and maybe reviewing it on emaildesignreview.com !

    0
  17. 23

    Bariski | TutZone.net

    February 24th, 2010 5:39 am

    I probably won’t receive “good news” after this comment.. but hey, at least I will receive a great newsletter always. Well why do you think I want to win it? I have never won anything in my whole life! and it’s a pretty cool idea I guess.. I do hope I win though.

    0
  18. 24

    Subscribed and retweeted….

    0
  19. 25

    Wow, that’s really great! :)) Wonderful idea! :)
    I’ve signed up and looking forward to the first Smashing Magazine newsletter ;)

    0
  20. 26

    I welcome the addition of the newsletter to my daily dose of SM =)

    0
  21. 27

    checked!

    0
  22. 28

    Signed up! Are you going to build a pretty one using more modern code and css principles for those of us who run up to date email clients?

    0
  23. 29

    You always inspire me so much! Love the site, the book, everything. Looking forward to the email newsletter.

    0
  24. 30

    Yup! I signed in, too. I can’t wait any longer.

    0
  25. 31

    Nice to hear that news… just cool tricks to become with email :) Thanks You Smash.mag. :)

    0
  26. 32

    Finally we may rejoice!

    0
  27. 33

    Seems something different. Subscribed and waiting for the smashing newsletter :)

    0
  28. 34

    Signed up ! very good idea

    0
  29. 35

    Julien (JaXX) Banchet

    February 24th, 2010 5:56 am

    I’m in :-)

    0
  30. 36

    Subscribed!
    I was wondering when you guys are going to start doing a newsletter! With so much excellent content – there is no way I’m going to miss the chance!

    0
  31. 37

    “Smashing Magazine doesn’t have a newsletter. And we won’t have one in the future.” => wondering why you have that on http://www.smashingmagazine.com/before-sending-an-email-please-note/ ?

    Great initiative though. As always, your tips are mighty helpful. This can only get better.

    0
  32. 38

    Subscribed and ecstatic about your new idea and look forward to interesting things ahead. Keep up the fantastic work SM!

    0
  33. 39

    Subscribed! Great idea guys…

    0
  34. 40

    This will be interesting to read. However, I hope SM doesn’t see this as another revenue stream and fill the newsletter with advertising?

    0
  35. 41

    Subscribed. Thanks for this giveaway. Cheers

    0
  36. 42

    I´m on board. Greetings from Germany :-)

    0
  37. 43

    I subscribed! :) sounds great! look forward to the first issue!!

    0
  38. 44

    I joined the newsletter emediately at the front page because of the hardcore awesomeness. Then I wacthed up the whole article and saw the prices – WOHOOO!

    0
  39. 45

    subscribed… waiting for the free gift :).. Hope that will come on Tuesdays.. hehe :)

    0
  40. 46

    Sweet, this will save me checking the rss feed regularly. Straight to my email :)

    Good work guys.

    0
  41. 47

    Im in! Hello from Ukraine!

    0
  42. 48

    Subscribed from Spain!

    0
  43. 49

    Hope you meet the challenge. I’m sharing with my friends for sure.
    Also, Mailchimp is awesome – good choice!

    0
  44. 50

    i signed so everybody should sin up.

    I dont think it will take long to fill 10,000+

    I have been reading smashingmag.com for a long time and it rocks.

    Keep it rocking as you always do..

    0
  45. 51

    I’m in !!
    Haricot from France having a truly smashing day ;)

    0
  46. 52

    I am in to it too… :D

    0
  47. 53

    All signed up! Cheers!

    0
  48. 54

    Great stuff, can I ask why you chose Mailchimp?

    0
  49. 55

    Ronald | Naldz Graphics

    February 24th, 2010 6:56 am

    done :). wacom plz :D.haha

    0
  50. 56

    subscribed! Looking forward to this. 10K subscribers is a big challenge, but seeing as though it is already @ 2K I’ll be watching my inbox!

    0
  51. 57

    Like it and signed up! Why didn’t you do it before? Anyway, cannot wait until is in my inbox :-)

    0
  52. 58

    Great idea! I appreciate yours attempts to make this magazine better! :)
    Oh… and, of course, I’ve subscribed! :D

    0
  53. 59

    Subscribed :)

    0
  54. 60

    love the books :)

    0
  55. 61

    Cristiano Valim

    February 24th, 2010 7:02 am

    Signed up ;D

    0
  56. 62

    very good! i’ve got it!

    another question: is it possible to receive email updates from de smashingmagazine website. so that when a new article is posted, i get it in my mail?

    +1
  57. 63

    Great idea. Also, it think you should specify that the subjects in the newsletter will be different than those received in the rss.

    0
  58. 64

    I’ve Signed Up! Great Idea!

    0
  59. 65

    thanks a lot, thumbs up !

    0
  60. 66

    Cool, thumbs up!

    0
  61. 67

    I am ready to sign up every day for such great gifts. Anyway, I hope the content of newsletter will be awesome (like usually)!

    0
  62. 68

    This will be awesome for sure. Just subscribed. Thanx for your great work.

    0
  63. 69

    Signed in.. Pretty nervous… ;-)

    0
  64. 70

    How exciting! Thanks so much! I am looking forward to it.

    0
  65. 71

    Great idea! I subscribed, of course!

    0
  66. 72
  67. 73

    Wow! What a great idea. I too signed up. Eagerly waiting for the first newsletter. Good luck smashing magazine team. :)

    0
  68. 74

    Giles Van Gruisen

    February 24th, 2010 7:36 am

    As much as I love you, Smashing Magazine, I don’t particularly think newsletters are ever good ideas.

    0
  69. 75

    Smashing giveaway!

    Hmm, no “Smashing” book? Shame..

    0
  70. 76

    No Smashing book to win ;)?

    Ha, it seems i’m not the only one thinking it ;P

    0
  71. 77
  72. 78

    Harmen van Pelt

    February 24th, 2010 7:46 am

    I’ve subscribed! The Wacom or the Smashing WordPress book should be perfect, if I win!!

    Kind regards from the Netherlands

    0
  73. 79

    subsubsubscribering

    0
  74. 80

    Great idea guys! I’ve sined up!

    0
  75. 81

    Hello Staff!
    I am interested to subscribe to your newsletter and I wonder you why this change if you use the RSS/feed?
    Thanks and good luck.

    0
    • 82

      bodhi, the newsletter is a small but new publication with fresh content. it’s completely different from the news feed.

      0
  76. 83

    Subscribed, waiting impatient

    0
  77. 84

    Hi Smashing. I suggest you do some testing on your email sender. Both the “plesae confirm” and the “subscription confirmed” were marked as spam by SpamAssassin. You really want to do everything you can to make sure that spam filters don’t think your messages are spam. There are a lot of useful web checklists, SPF guidelines, etc. that you can google that should help.

    0
  78. 85

    Here, i give thee my mind,
    I give thee my heart,
    and I give thee my soul,
    &
    I give these to my love.

    LOVE YOU SMAAAASHING MAGAZINE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    0
  79. 86

    Subscribed!

    0
  80. 87

    10.001???

    too easy!
    you’ll reach it in a wink, blokes

    waiting for it impatiently

    0
  81. 88

    Bryan McAnulty | Velora Studios

    February 24th, 2010 8:11 am

    Surprised that there wasn’t a newsletter until now. Subscribed :]

    0
  82. 89

    that’s great, and I am specially interested to know how you are going to deal with the newsletter issue, on a “marketing” point of view at least ;)

    0
  83. 90

    Subscribed!! Now can I have my soundsticks :D

    0
  84. 91

    what is mobile format?

    0
    • 92

      redfoot, The Mobile version is a smaller HTML version that is run through specific mobile browsing software. This is what the mighty Mailchimp told us.

      0
      • 93

        Hey Sven, I hope you get the chance to read this. Do you have to make a different design for the mobile version or is it the mighty Mailchimp’s job/code that makes it mobile-able? :D
        I’m just wondering as I love to ‘know’ :)
        + Subscribed

        0
  85. 94

    Handrus Nogueira

    February 24th, 2010 8:24 am

    Subscribed, will make sure all my friends see this post! Also, cool prizes!

    0
  86. 95

    Count me in!

    0
  87. 96

    Dag Einar Monsen

    February 24th, 2010 8:27 am

    Sweet! I love this site <3

    0
  88. 97

    Newsletter = glorious! Thanks ya’ll – I’m a Smashing junkie. I’ll be crossing my fingers to be a winner – I could totally use that tablet ; )

    0
  89. 98

    Excited for this. I have my eye on that Wacom. ;)

    0
  90. 99

    I love Wacom & all smashing people (¡Me apunto!).

    0
  91. 100

    Signed up!! Yeah!

    0
  92. 101

    Oscar S. | Lumbre Creative

    February 24th, 2010 8:42 am

    Smashing, great job. As someone previously mentioned, I don’t have to check my RSS feed as much, since it will be going straight to my inbox. Keep up the good work.

    *salud*

    0
  93. 102

    Lets hope mail chimp use a template less than 610 pixels wide! I hate scrolling.

    0
  94. 103

    Great idea, can’t wait for this!

    0
  95. 104

    Done & done.

    0
  96. 105

    Bit few give-aways for 10k people, dont u think?

    0
  97. 106

    just signed in…excellent idea!!

    0
  98. 107

    OK, done.

    0
  99. 108

    Smashing idea. <– I thought of that all by myself.

    0
  100. 109

    Im gunning for the Wacom Bamboo Fun Pen and Touch.

    I’m trying to get my mom, who was an illustartor in her early 20′s, into illustarting on the computer. She was just laid off from a crappy job at Carson Pirie Scott working in the home good department.

    Her fear of computers is great, hopefully something like that will bridge the gap!

    Also, can’t wait for the news letters! I still have to read the Smashing book, ive got a week off in June that’s got its name all over it

    peace

    0

  1. 1

    very good! i’ve got it!

    another question: is it possible to receive email updates from de smashingmagazine website. so that when a new article is posted, i get it in my mail?

    +1

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