|
Easy steps to start your own
E-Zine
by Merle
PART-I
It seems like everyone and his dog
is publishing an e-zine these days, and from what I've seen, the dog's may be
better than most. So why -- if there are so many e-zines out there -- do you
need to publish one? The answer is simple: If you have a Web site where you are
selling goods and/or services you need to establish an opt-in list of visitors
to your site.
The majority of people who visit
your site won't buy from you the first time, but by offering them a chance to
sign up for your e-zine you get a chance to extend your communication with them,
establish a relationship and possibly turn them into a customer sometime down
the road.
Right about now you're scratching
your head saying to yourself "But I don't know the first thing about publishing
a newsletter; where do I start?" That's where I come in. I'm going to lead you
down the primrose path and show you exactly what you need to do and just how to
do it.
Step No. 1
The first step is to decide on a
title for your new e-zine. You may want to incorporate your business name into
it or choose something related to its theme. For example, if your company name
was "Bob's Automotive" you may choose something like "Bob's Automotive Press."
Speaking of themes, your e-zine's theme needs to relate to your site. If your
site is a pet supply store then your e-zine should be on animal care and tips,
or training. If your site sells your services as an online marketing consultant,
your e-zine should center on teaching people how to market and promote their own
Web sites.
Step No. 2
Now that you have an e-zine name and
you know what the theme is, you need to decide where your newsletter will live.
This is often referred to as list management. Your best bet is to outsource it
or check with your Web host to see if it supplies list-hosting services as part
of your account. Don't think for a minute you can manage an e-zine with just
your e-mail program. A list can grow to a substantial size and you need to
prepare in advance for this from the very beginning.
If you're trying to save money, I'd
highly recommend you sign up with one of the many free list host services
available. They work great, and make it easy for people to subscribe and
unsubscribe at will. The only trade off to using a free service is the
advertising they will place at the very top of your e-zine for the privilege of
your free account. But remember, they are hosting your list for free so they've
got to get something in return.
Here are some list hosts you may
want to try:
Yahoo Groups
http://groups.yahoo.com
This is my personal favorite and the
one I use for managing all three of my e-zines. I've been with them since the
old days when they were called EGroups (before Yahoo bought it). The service
works great and is free in exchange for a banner ad they place at the top of
each issue. You can also have the ad removed for a nominal fee. Make sure you
set your list up as "moderated." This keeps outsiders from posting to your list,
which is something you'd only want if you were setting it up for two-way
discussion.
Cool List
http://www.CoolList.com
Another free mailing service similar
in functionality to Yahoo Groups.
Topica
http://www.Topica.com
Another online leader when it comes
to list hosting. It is free to set up, offers easy step-by-step instructions and
they have excellent customer service.
Group Mail Software
http://www.Infacta.com
If you are daring enough to want to
download some free software to manage your list you won't find anything better
than Group Mail. It's an excellent tool for handling and mailing to large groups
of people. There are also some free handy plug ins you can download that will
increase its versatility.
Now that you have an e-zine name, a
theme and a place for your list to live, what's next? Getting subscribers. You
need to make sure you add a subscriber sign-up box on every page of your site to
encourage sign ups. Some people resort to adding a pop-up box, but I wouldn't as
most people say they find them very annoying. If you do decide to go the pop-up
route, create one that only pops up when the visitor exits your site.
As far as how often you should
publish, you want to shoot for two to four weeks. If you go longer than one
month between issues, your subscribers will forget who you are and if you
publish weekly it may become overkill. But whatever you do, pick a publishing
schedule and stick with it. Consistency is key. If you say your e-zine will be
published on the seventh and 23rd, then you need to do your best to get your e-zine
out on those promised dates.
Publishing an e-zine is an essential
step in any online marketing campaign. By following the simple directions I've
outlined above you'll be well on your way to building your very own opt-in list
-- and that my friend, is worth its weight in gold.
PART-II
In Part 1 of this series we
discussed how to start your own newsletter. Now we move on to the nitty gritty:
formatting and finding content.
Formatting Text e-zines vs. HTML
format is a highly debatable subject. At this time, most e-zine publishers stick
with text, and I strongly recommend you follow suit. Many people are still using
e-mail clients that cannot read HTML messages; others prefer the speed, ease and
security of receiving their e-zines in text format. It is safer to use the
format that is compatible with the largest number of users.
But there are other readers who
appreciate the design quality and visual appeal of an HTML newsletter. So what
can you do to please both sides? You can always publish a text version and
include a link to an HTML version online. This is what I do and it seems to make
the majority of my subscribers happy. It does call for twice the amount of work
since you'll have to make two versions of your e-zine, but in my opinion it's
well worth the extra effort.
So what is a text e-zine? Basically,
it's just an e-mail with some special formatting applied to make sure it's
readable by everyone, no matter what e-mail client they may be using. You'll
want to stick to a fixed width font like Courier or Monaco, and you'll need a
plain text editor like Notepad or Textpad. One drawback with Notepad is it has
no built-in spell checker, so I'd advise you to download Textpad or something
similar. Many free text editors can be found at download sites such as Jumbo.com
and http://www.Download.com.
You'll need to set up a template for
your e-zine so its look will be consistent, issue after issue. This should
include your e-zine name, date and issue number at the very top, followed by a
table of contents. If you're not sure on how it should look, you can obtain some
free e-zine templates by sending mailto:template1@e-zinez.com.
At the very end of your newsletter
template you'll want to include a paragraph on how to subscribe and unsubscribe,
copyright information and advertising information. It's vital that you include
unsubscribe information in each and every issue. Do not hold people hostage by
making it next to impossible to get off your list, it won't be appreciated and
is not only considered unprofessional, but it could get you into real trouble
with Spamcop.
When typing in your text you need to
keep your line length at 65 characters per line and hit a hard return at the end
of eachand every line. This is imperative. If you allow the words to wrap
automatically, the e-zine your readers receive may have lines chopped off
mid-sentence and will look terrible. By using the hard return you'll be ensuring
that your newsletter will be readable and attractive in the majority of e-mail
clients. Never type your e-zine in all caps, as this is equivalent to screaming.
Content
I highly recommend you write at
least one original article a month for your newsletter; more if you can. It's OK
to include work by others on an occasional basis or for filler, but your e-zine
will carry more weight if you take the time to write your own material.
When you do need outside content,
here are some excellent sources:
http://www.ezineArticles.com
http://www.IdeaMarketers.com
http://www.Certificate.net
You may also download the free
e-book "400 Articles You Can Use in Your e-zine" at
http://www.web-source.net/web/Free_Ebooks/Writing_Publishing/ You'll also
find other very handy e-books for publishers at the above site you may want to
download as well.
Another idea for getting original
articles to reprint in your e-zine is to go to Egroups and subscribe to article
announcement lists like http://www.website101.com/freecontent.html or
http://www.web-source.net/articlesub.htm They will supply you with a steady
stream of new articles you can publish on a daily basis.
Don't forget to visit this site
which is a fantastic resource for online publishers:
http://www.worldwidelearn.com/ezine-publishing.htm
As you can see, there are many
online sources that exist solely for the purpose of helping e-zine publishers
succeed. With the massive amount of information available to you, there's really
no reason you haven't started your own e-zine.
PART-III
In this final installment in a three-part
series on e-zine publishing, we turn to the nitty gritty of finding
subscribers and selling your valuable ad space.
Now that you have a terrific looking e-zine and interesting content, where do
you find subscribers? I was hoping you'd ask. In order to grow your subscriber
base you'll need to promote your e-zine every chance you get.
The first thing you need to do is include a sign-up box on each and every page
of your Web site. And if you can, offer a free sample copy by autoresponder. To
set up a free autoresponder check out www.GetResponse.com.
Some publishers swear by pop-up boxes to increase their subscriber sign ups. If
you go this route, I encourage you to opt for the kind that pop-up upon exit,
not upon entering. You'll find some software to help you with this at
www.codelifter.com/pop5index.html or look at www.DynamicDrive.com for some free
scripts.
The next step is to get your e-zine listed in as many online newsletter
directories as possible. You'll have to do your homework by searching the
engines for directories where you can add your listing for free. This is an
important step because many people look to these directories when looking for
newsletters. Some of them are:
http://www.Lifestylespub.com/mcp/
http://www.E-zinedirectory.com/
http://www.Webscoutlists.com/signup.epl
http://www.Zineconnection.com/
http://www.ezine-universe.com/
http://www.ezinelocater.com/
http://www.ezinesplus.com/
Remember, many of these online directories will allow you to post your ad rates
as well -- a double bonus that allows you to pick up new subscribers as well as
advertisers.
Announcement lists are also good for promoting your e-zine. Search at
groups.yahoo.com for lists that exist for the sole purpose of announcing new
lists. You'll also want to participate in online discussion boards with a good
signature line that mentions your e-zine. You'll find some great boards to post
to at www.DiscussMarketing.com
Other great ways to grow your subscriber base include swapping ads with other
publishers and writing articles to submit to other publishers for possible
publication in their e-zines. Again, a strong signature line is imperative. Try
some of these sites for swaps:
http://www.BizPromo.com/e-zineTrades.htm
http://www.ezine-Swap.com
Free Software to keep track of your swaps:
http://www.nowsell.com/pages/ad-tracker.html
Other e-zine Publishers you can swap ads with:
http://www.alacarim.com/adex/
Free directory of e-zines and other helpful resources for today's e-zine
publisher:
http://www.FreezineWeb.com/
The handbook of e-zine publishing:
http://www.e-zinez.com/
EP
Digest offers many helpful resources:
http://www.EpDigest.com
Submit your articles to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/article_announce
If
you don't mind paying for opt-in subscribers you can pay a small fee for them at
World Wide Lists or try Marty Foley's List Builder Service. I've used both of
the above services extensively and they're truly remarkable for growing your
list quickly. These are opt-in list builders, not spam techniques. Make sure you
know the difference.
If
you're interested in a great e-book that will teach you how to grow your list
try "Website and Ezine Promotion Made Easy", which is not free but worth the
money.
Once you reach a minimum of 1,000 subscribers you'll be able to start selling
text ads. Do not include too many ads in your newsletter or you'll lose a lot of
subscribers before you even get started. You need to make sure you're including
useful content and not just a billboard of ads, or your subscribers will be
reaching for that unsubscribe button in a hurry. It's really a balancing act,
good content with a few ads mixed in.
If
you can, it's a smart move to start collecting demographics from the very
beginning. This will give you an idea as to the types of people that subscribe
to your e-zine and will be helpful to ad buyers who will want to know what
"target market" your e-zine hits. If you set up a short form asking the basics
like gender, age and occupation, and ask new subscribers to fill it in upon
subscribing, you'll be amazed at how easy it is to actually collect this type of
information.
Here are a few sites that will help you to sell your available space:
http://www.ezines-Ads.com
http://www.Opt-Influence.com
Publishing an e-zine is the most important tool you can have when it comes to
promoting your Web site. An opt-in list of people who want to hear from you on a
regular basis is priceless, and the actual process of writing your own e-zine
and connecting with people is an inspiring experience in itself. It's a genuine
way of building a sense of community around your site and opening the lines of
communication between yourself and potential clients.
Article by Merle of EzineAdAuction.com, where some of the best
deals in E-zine advertising are made. Buy & Sell Ezine Ads in a live auction
setting! Publishers sell off your excess inventory and Buyers pick up some
Fantastic bargains.
If you are new to
ApnaKaorbar and want to learn
more, I recommend you to
subscribe to our newsletter and receive more important tips and article for
starting and promoting your own internet business. One more thing, if you have
not read our previous articles,
click here to read them.
|
.
Web Hosting
Linux Based Web Hosting packages
(with .com domains) starts from Rs 750/- per year
Click Here
for details
Windows Hosting
Windows / NT Based Web Hosting
packages (with .com domains) starts from Rs
2,500/- per year Click
Here for details
More Ideas
Get more ideas to start & promote
your business. Read more articles of S. Najam Aziz Ahmed
Click Here
Subscribe for FREE
Our subscribers receive important
articles and tips that help them start their own small or medium-sized
internet business. Existing businesspeople get free tips to maximize your
sales. Click Here to subscribe.
Search Engine Marketing
Drive new customers to your Web
site by listing your URL at TOP position on Top search engines &
directories (like Yahoo, Google, MSN etc).
VMarketU is one of the best ways to
channel qualified traffic to your business.
Pakistan's Email Directory CD
Do you have a product or service
that want to market to a large targeted audience at a minimum cost?
Pakistan's Email Directory CD could be just what you need!
Smart-Boy Email Marketing Solutions
Accept
Payments by Credit Cards
Instant credit card processing
services accounts for merchants with internet businesses. Only $ 49 Set Up
Plus Transaction Costs.
Click Here
to start selling online now!
Register a Domain
Register your .com,
.net & .org domains for Rs 399/-
Click Here for details
Register .com.pk
Register your .com.pk,
domains for Rs 2,000/- for 2 years Click
Here for details
Web Hosting
Linux Based Web Hosting packages
(with .com domains) starts from Rs 750/- per year
Click Here
for details
Windows Hosting
Windows / NT Based Web Hosting
packages (with .com domains) starts from Rs
2,500/- per year Click
Here for details
More Ideas
Get more ideas to start & promote
your business. Read more articles of S. Najam Aziz Ahmed
Click Here
Subscribe for FREE
Our subscribers receive important
articles and tips that help them start their own small or medium-sized
internet business. Existing businesspeople get free tips to maximize your
sales. Click Here to subscribe.
Search Engine Marketing
Drive new customers to your Web
site by listing your URL at TOP position on Top search engines &
directories (like Yahoo, Google, MSN etc).
VMarketU is one of the best ways to
channel qualified traffic to your business.
Pakistan's Email Directory CD
Do you have a product or service
that want to market to a large targeted audience at a minimum cost?
Pakistan's Email Directory CD could be just what you need!
Smart-Boy Email Marketing Solutions
Accept
Payments by Credit Cards
Instant credit card processing
services accounts for merchants with internet businesses. Only $ 49 Set Up
Plus Transaction Costs.
Click Here
to start selling online now!
Register a Domain
Register your .com,
.net & .org domains for Rs 399/-
Click Here for details
Register .com.pk
Register your .com.pk,
domains for Rs 2,000/- for 2 years Click
Here for details
Web Hosting
Linux Based Web Hosting packages
(with .com domains) starts from Rs 750/- per year
Click Here
for details
Windows Hosting
Windows / NT Based Web Hosting
packages (with .com domains) starts from Rs
3,000/- per year Click
Here for details
More Ideas
Get more ideas to start & promote
your business. Read more articles of S. Najam Aziz Ahmed
Click Here
Subscribe for FREE
Our subscribers receive important
articles and tips that help them start their own small or medium-sized
internet business. Existing businesspeople get free tips to maximize your
sales. Click Here to subscribe.
Search Engine Marketing
Drive new customers to your Web
site by listing your URL at TOP position on Top search engines &
directories (like Yahoo, Google, MSN etc).
VMarketU is one of the best ways to
channel qualified traffic to your business.
Pakistan's Email Directory CD
Do you have a product or service
that want to market to a large targeted audience at a minimum cost?
Pakistan's Email Directory CD could be just what you need!
Smart-Boy Email Marketing Solutions
Accept
Payments by Credit Cards
Instant credit card processing
services accounts for merchants with internet businesses. Only $ 49 Set Up
Plus Transaction Costs.
Click Here
to start selling online now!
Register a Domain
Register your .com,
.net & .org domains for Rs 399/-
Click Here for details
Register .com.pk
Register your .com.pk,
domains for Rs 2,000/- for 2 years Click
Here for details
Web Hosting
Linux Based Web Hosting packages
(with .com domains) starts from Rs 750/- per year
Click Here
for details
Windows Hosting
Windows / NT Based Web Hosting
packages (with .com domains) starts from Rs
2,500/- per year Click
Here for details
More Ideas
Get more ideas to start & promote
your business. Read more articles of S. Najam Aziz Ahmed
Click Here
Subscribe for FREE
Our subscribers receive important
articles and tips that help them start their own small or medium-sized
internet business. Existing businesspeople get free tips to maximize your
sales. Click Here to subscribe.
Search Engine Marketing
Drive new customers to your Web
site by listing your URL at TOP position on Top search engines &
directories (like Yahoo, Google, MSN etc).
VMarketU is one of the best ways to
channel qualified traffic to your business.
Pakistan's Email Directory CD
Do you have a product or service
that want to market to a large targeted audience at a minimum cost?
Pakistan's Email Directory CD could be just what you need!
Smart-Boy Email Marketing Solutions
Accept
Payments by Credit Cards
Instant credit card processing
services accounts for merchants with internet businesses. Only $ 49 Set Up
Plus Transaction Costs.
Click Here
to start selling online now!
Register a Domain
Register your .com,
.net & .org domains for Rs 399/-
Click Here for details
Register .com.pk
Register your .com.pk,
domains for Rs 2,000/- for 2 years Click
Here for details
Web Hosting
Linux Based Web Hosting packages
(with .com domains) starts from Rs 750/- per year
Click Here
for details
Windows Hosting
Windows / NT Based Web Hosting
packages (with .com domains) starts from Rs
3,000/- per year Click
Here for details
More Ideas
Get more ideas to start & promote
your business. Read more articles of S. Najam Aziz Ahmed
Click Here
|
