| For many people Newsletter or Ezine creation is | | | | systems canread HTML. There are many |
| shrouded inabsolute mystery. | | | | considerations and you mightwant to ask about your |
| How do I know? | | | | specific newsletter on a helpfulforum like my |
| Well listen to this story... | | | | whereother more experienced newsletter editors will |
| The other day I was contacted by a lady who | | | | be ableto provide you with personalized advice for |
| wanted to knowwhich authority she had to apply to | | | | yoursituation. |
| in order to obtain her | | | | Q. SHOULD MY NEWSLETTER BE PRINTED IN |
| Newsletter Editor's License. | | | | COLOR? |
| Wait a minute....did you say "NEWSLETTER EDITOR'S | | | | A. If you're printing your newsletter, then your |
| LICENSE"? | | | | biggestchoice will be the use of "color", "black & |
| Yep - that's right - I was being asked where the | | | | white", orwhat's known as "spot color" printing. This is |
| average Joeshould go to apply to be given the right | | | | largely acost consideration, but don't forget how |
| to publish theirown Newsletter (or Ezine for that | | | | important designcan be to creating the right |
| matter). | | | | impression. I've seen lotsof EXCELLENT black and |
| Oh...and also...how much would it cost them? | | | | white printed newsletters! |
| Hmm...now before you roll about the floor laughing, | | | | Q. HOW WILL I FIND READERS FOR MY |
| justthink about this for a moment. | | | | NEWSLETTER? |
| While most people do realize that you don't actually | | | | A. That's partly dependent on your subject matter of |
| requirea license to write whatever the heck you like - | | | | course,but if you're trying to attract readers via the |
| I'vegotta tell you - that's NOT the first time I've | | | | web, thenthere are a whole host of tactics that you |
| been askedthat exact same question. | | | | should employ. |
| Now in my view, if you're asked the same question | | | | Subscriber buttons, popups and exitpops are just |
| by morethan one person within a short period of | | | | some ofthem, but all the most sought after |
| time, then there'sprobably an army of others who | | | | newsletters actuallyoffer a gift to new subscribers |
| think the same thing, butjust haven't plucked up the | | | | too. This can be a freereport or something else of |
| courage to ask the question! | | | | value. |
| Now obviously the answer is that you DON'T require | | | | Q. SHOULD I ACCEPT ADVERTISING FROM DAY |
| a licenseto publish your own Ezine or Newsletter - at | | | | ONE? |
| least not inthe free world. | | | | A. Advertisers are usually looking for a good |
| ...But the question is a revealing one, as it points to | | | | subscriberbase, before they'll pay you to advertise in |
| thefact that a lot of people out there are still | | | | your Ezine. |
| confused abouthow to become a successful | | | | So concentrate on getting the basics right before |
| Newsletter editor. | | | | youconsider opening up advertising space. Remember |
| So now, based on actual questions asked by the | | | | to putyour reader first at all times. |
| public, I'vecompiled my TOP EIGHT questions asked | | | | Q. CAN I RECOMMEND ITEMS THAT I'M |
| about newsletters. | | | | AFFILIATED TO? |
| And here goes... | | | | A. Yes. But don't do this unless you really are in LOVE |
| Q. SHOULD I PUBLISH ON OR OFFLINE? | | | | withthe product you are recommending. Check it out |
| A. Only you can answer this question. Broadly | | | | foryourself first and be faithful to the needs of |
| speaking anonline Ezine - delivered by email or via | | | | yourreadership, by only recommending relevant items. |
| your website -has a big cost advantage of being | | | | Q. WILL I NEED A LICENSE TO PUBLISH MY |
| near free to produce. | | | | NEWSLETTER OR EZINE? |
| But an offline printed newsletter has greater impact. | | | | A. Absolutely not in most parts of the world. It's |
| Q. WHERE DO I ACTUALLY START WHEN | | | | good oldfree speech and you can write what you |
| CREATING MY NEWSLETTER? | | | | like! |
| A. Start by sitting down and creating an outline plan | | | | Best withes with your own Newsletter or Ezine, |
| foryour new newsletter. How many articles and | | | | Michael Green |
| features willyou require for example? Then sketch | | | | Michael Green is known as THE newsletter guru. He's |
| out a rough formatbefore you do anything else. | | | | createdtwo toolkits to help YOU create your own |
| Q. SHOULD MY EZINE BE IN PLAIN TEXT? | | | | newsletter or Ezine |
| A. Conventionally Ezine publishing has been done in | | | | And for an Ezine... |
| plaintext, but increasingly many people's email | | | | |