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