EzinesWhat's an Ezine and what can it do for you.
Read Ezines of Interest
Read: Putting the YOU in Your E-zine by Alexandria K. Brown, “The E-zine Queen”
Most Commonly Asked Questions About Ezine Publishing
© 2003 Terri Seymour
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Getting so many emails as I do about ezine publishing, I thought maybe an article covering the most asked questions would be useful to some of you who are thinking about or just starting your own ezine.
* What is an Ezine?
An ezine is simply an electronic newsletter or magazine mailed periodically to a list of opt-in subscribers. Opt-in means that these subscribers have signed-up for or requested to receive your ezine.
A good ezine will contain lots of useful information and resources for the subscribers.
* Who Do I Send My Ezine To?
You obtain a list of subscribers by advertising and promoting your ezine in several ways.
Announcement lists - Follow guidelines for posting and get some fr~e exposure!
Writing Articles - Definitely something you want to get into. Very powerful method of fr~e promotion!
Ad swaps - Running other publishers' ads in exchange for them running yours is a great way to get a lot of fr~e ezine advertising, plus you get to make new friends as well! ;-)
Discussion Lists - Similar to announcement lists, but get involved in the discussions as often as possible.
Message Boards - Similar to discussion groups. Establish yourself as an expert who is there to help.
Joint Ventures - Exchange thank you page ads with other publishers, participate in group pop under windows, swap publisher ads in your welcome letters to your subscribers. Be creative with joint ventures to dramatically increase your subscriber list!
* How Do I Mail My Ezine?
There are several ways you can mail out your ezine.
Autoresponder - A favorite of many publishers because you are able to send out several follow-ups.
Email Server - When you are first starting using your email server is an easy and inexpensive way to mail our your newsletter.
Mailing List Manager - After your list grows, I recommend you purchase an easy and effective mailing list manager.
Web Host - When you buy your domain, you also get a mailserver from which you can send out your ezine. Your subscribe address would be something like: mailto:newsletter-subscribe@myowndomain.com
Yahoo and Topica, etc - Fr~e mailing list managers like these are a good way to get started on a tight budget.
* What Do I Put in My Ezine?
Lots of good resources, helpful information, a little fun, motivational stories, original or guest articles, product or affiliate program reviews, freebies, etc. You must also add your personality to your ezine. That is what makes your ezine special! Write an editorial so your readers can get to know you and can interact with you. Let your ideas flow and make your ezine interesting and unique!
* Why Should I Publish an Ezine?
Publishing an ezine is important to your business because it enables you to keep in contact with the people who are interested in your website, your product and you. You can build a solid foundation of trust and respect on which to base your business success!
Answering all questions in detail is quite impossible in one article, but I hope I have covered some of the main points that you might be curious about.
To learn step-by-step how to publish your own quality ezine using powerful methods and surefire strategies click here: MOE Ezine Manual
Putting the YOU in Your E-zine by Alexandria K. Brown, “The E-zine Queen”
I get many e-zines in my inbox every week, and they all offer useful information. But there are some I enjoy more than others.
What do they have in common? They feel like they come from a REAL person. These publishers put some heart-and-soul into their e-zines. They share information about themselves. And because I feel like I know them personally, I'm more likely to buy from them at some point.
So, how can YOU put more you in your e-zine? Very easily. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
What's Going on With YOU?
Quick: Think of three things going on in your life right now that you could share with your readers. Have you won an award? Were you mentioned in a national newspaper? Did you pull a hamstring doing Tae Bo? Are you teary-eyed because your daughter's wedding is right around the corner? These are all events your readers can relate to and will appreciate you sharing.
One e-zine I always get a chuckle out of is Dave Balch's "Big Bucks in a Bathrobe" (http://www.thestayathomeceo.com). In each issue, Dave not only shares useful information on running a profitable business, but also hysterical stories about "life on the ranch." Dave and his wife own many animals, including horses, dogs, and "the parrot that just won't die." Whenever I see Dave's e-zine in my mailbox, I read it right away because I know it will brighten my mood.
Reach Out for Help
Have a question you'd like answered? Why not ask your readers for help? Example: My husband Gary and I recently moved, only to find that during the process we lost those little screw-tops to all our lamps. ALL of them. Because we're both domestically challenged and had no idea where to find new ones, I shared the story with my readers and asked them for ideas.
You wouldn't believe how many people wrote me back, telling me that I could easily find them at a lamp shop or hardware store. It was delightful to get that many responses (while somewhat embarrassing since it seemed everyone knew this but us. ; ))
Give Us the Picture
Photos help your visitors and your e-zine readers feel closer to you instantly — it's as if they know you better than before.
In one issue I mentioned to my readers that I had a new "glamour shot" taken and would love their opinion of it. Hundreds of people clicked through to see the photo, and many of them wrote me to say they thought it was great! (It's still there, by the way.)
Unless you're ugly as a toad, a decent photo will only help your business. If you publish an HTML e-zine, put your photo in your top banner if you have room.
Also don't be afraid of sharing photos of your family, pets, business associates, etc. You'll be surprised how often your readers will click-through to see them. Example: "Click here to see me in action at my first swing dancing competition!"
Don't Be Afraid to Have Opinions
Real people have real opinions. So voice yours, and people will perk up. I've found that my readers often respond best when they're provoked and encouraged to see things in a new light.
If some don't agree with you (and some won't), their response can lead to a brand new discussion or article topic. Remember, if someone takes the time to write you back to disagree with anything you've said, be happy. It means they're actually reading your e-zine!
Where, and How Much?
A great place to put this personal information is at the beginning of your e-zine in an "editor's note" or "welcome message." This welcomes the reader with a warm greeting from you and is the perfect spot to share these positive, personal tidbits.
Once you get the hang of giving more YOU to your readers, you'll come to enjoy the art of sharing and the increased reader-interaction it brings. Just make sure that it doesn't take over your e-zine. The bulk of your content should still be your main article, list of tips, etc. Think of your personal information as the introduction that leads up to the main event!
(c) 1999-2002 Alexandria K. Brown
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alexandria K. Brown, “The E-zine Queen,” is author of the award-winning manual, “Boost Business With Your Own E-zine.” To learn more about her book and sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her site at http://www.ezinequeen.com.
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