You can also do a quick survey on your site visitors or e-zine subscribers. Give them a list of topic and ask them to cast votes. Give them an incentive to vote. Offer a gift after they respond to your survey. Do a random drawing at end of survey and award a prize -- an e-book, a freebie, a special report, special access, etc. -- to winning respondent. Based on their votes, you'll have an idea of what e-mail workshop topics will be useful for them and profitable for you to develop.

However, if you decide to create easy topic first, you can use it to your advantage: use that easy topic to generate interest for more difficult topics you will develop into e-mail workshops later.

What about workshop length or duration?

Generally, it's best to conduct e-mail workshops no more than 4 or 5 weeks. You have to take into consideration how many workshop participants you can take in one run and how much time you will be able to devote to guiding and being available to them.

The length of your e-mail workshop will depend on your topic and outline. Unless you want to offer an intensive and in-depth course that could stretch for 12 weeks, it would be better (and easier on you and your participants) to offer shorter workshops that you can conduct anywhere between 3 to 5 weeks. Break down a big workshop into smaller workshops, or make your workshops progressive (e.g., beginner, intermediate and advanced e-mail workshops on same topic). Your participants can take succeeding workshops if they're interested to learn more.

7. LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, DON'T SHOUT IN YOUR EMAILS!!!! Emails should be written way you would hold a conversation. If you were a brick- and-mortar business, would you really introduce yourself and your product to customers with "HI! I'M JACK AND I HAVE A GREAT DEAL FOR YOU!" You're not a used car salesman in seedy part of town. You're a legitimate business. Emulate type of communication you would expect at a Land Rover Dealership.

Ways to Build Buzz

1. Create a professional signature line that explains who you are and what you (or your business) do.

2. Spread your expertise around. Join related discussion lists and DISCUSS. Don't spam or incessantly write about how wonderful your product is. For example, I forward relevant writing jobs to lists I belong to every chance I get. This is where signature line comes in: I get at least 5 subscribers from each list I forward information to, every time I forward information. Many discussion lists will also allow you to forward a copy of your newsletter if it is on-topic.

3. Find something newsworthy about yourself or your product -- and write a professional press release. Create a list of industry- specific places -- magazines, newsletters, and other publications that you will send it to. (Use a search engine if you are not familiar with them!)

4. Offer to write articles for other publications--and write them well or outsource them to a ghostwriter. Link to your articles in newsletters you send out and add recent publication links to your signature line.

5. Get reviewed -- no matter what you sell, there's somebody out there who wants it free and is willing to review it if they get it for free. This method will provide you with some genuine testimonials, specific to your business. You can also get your newsletter reviewed by websites. Send a short query offering review copies to websites that are aligned with your interests.

6. Make friends and influence people -- "meet" people in your industry online through their websites, sign their guest books, and send them appreciative emails. Give them tips on promotion. Ask them questions about what works for them. Trade secrets and advertisements once you've established an online relationship.

These are just a few tips on killing hype and getting buzz. I hope you use them well -- happy buzzing and many sales to you!