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Questions to Help You Design Your E-zine |
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Articles, How-To's and Interviews -
DIY and How-To's
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Written by Maria Marsala
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Questions to Help You Design Your E-zine
Are you looking to grow your business one member at a time? Then
start your own e-zine. Be careful to decide just what you want
your e-zine to be and be consistent in sending it out. If you
don't enjoy writing, there are "article banks" (http://www.coachmaria.com/articles/articlebanks.html) and
other options that provide you the opportunity to use other authors'
articles on the Web. For original content or expression of your
ideas, consider hiring a ghostwriter to write it! Below are some
questions to ask yourself before you start.
1. What is motivating you to write an e-zine?
2. What type of e-zine are you looking to produce? Tips, newsletter,
ideas, URLs, etc.
3. What will you include in your e-zine? Such as: quotes, short
or long articles (how many), someone else's articles (guests
or through http://www.coachmaria.com/articles/articlebanks.html),
a contest (how often, what is the prize), questions for readers
to respond to, a challenge for the week, summary and a link to
a Web site for more information, links to other resources, book
reviews, teleclasses, in person classes, etc. For an excellent
checklist of what you can put into your e-zine, go to: http://www.ezineuniversity.com/courses/ez201/201-03.html
4. Will your e-zine be text only? Simple HTML (colors, bold,
italics)? Or HTML (fancy with pictures)?
5. How often will your e-zine be published? (minimum once a month)
6. What day/time of the week/month will you send it out?
7. What company or service (listserv) will you use (see e-zine
choices)?
8. Will you write all of it, part of it, etc.?
9. Will you be the primary administrator of your newsletter or
will you hire someone else to "format and send" such
as a virtual assistant, copywriter or ghostwriter? http://www.coachmaria.com/business/virtual.html
10. Will you accept ads from others? Will they pay for the ads?
Will it include ads be ad swaps? NOTE: it is easier to make money
from ads after you reach 1000 subscribers.
11. How will you publicize your e-zine?
12. Is your ideal client on the Internet or would an in-print
newsletter reach them better than an e-zine?
13. Will this be a discussion group or newsletter (sometimes
called an announcement only list)?
14. Will the messages be approved (also called moderated) before
its sent out?
15. Will the moderator approve all new members before they are
allowed to join the list (also called moderated)?
16. Will the membership list be available to the public, list
members only, or the moderator only? Will the messages be viewable
to the public, list members, or only the moderator?
17. How do you want your readers to send your e-zine to others?
In its entirety or can they send a link or an article to someone
as long as copyright information is included? Decide this and
let your readers know your rules, up front.
© 2003 Maria Marsala, Business Growth Specialist. Helping
business owners leverage their services and products by
designing, packaging and promoting their business with
ezines. Author of the most comprehensive ezine marketing
program on the Internet. Since 2000! Learn more now.
Visit http://coachmaria.com/events/ezineclass.html
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