Although HTML newsletters are becoming more and more popular, I still opt for good, old-fashioned text format. If you want to offer HTML newsletters to your subscribers, that's cool. Give them option. But if they're using an older e-mail client that doesn't support HTML, you might as well delete your message before you send it, because they won't be able to read it.

I recommend formatting your e-mail newsletter as a text file. Do not use word processing functions, such as bullets, bold face and italics, because formatting is lost if your reader's e-mail software doesn't support rich text.

Instead of MS Word, I use a text editor called NoteTab Light to format my E-zine. It's a free download and works great because you can set your margins to 65 characters (or whatever you choose) and NoteTab Light does line breaks for you with a few keystrokes.

To download NoteTab Light, visit http://www.zdnet.com/downloads/stories/info/0,10615,24530,00.html

NoteTab Light is highly customizable. To change your user settings, click on View > Options >. Take a look at all of settings and configure to your liking. To configure column wrap, go to Documents, check "Wrap to Column" and put 65 in box. Then when you close out of there, click Document > Update Column Wrap, and, poof, your document will be correctly formatted at 65 character per line. (Note: You may need to make minor revisions to your layout, but it's easier than retyping.)

Once you have a format that meets your specifications, I recommend that you set up a template to use in NoteTab Light for future issues. It'll make your job much easier and quicker. I use templates for everything, including my e-mail newsletters.

For more information about e-publishing, visit following resources on Web:

Email Publishing Digest http://epdigest.com/

Ezine-Tips.com http://ezine-tips.com/

After writing your own articles syndicate them http://www.linkcounter.com/go.php?linkid=184827

Then 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 http://www.linkcounter.com/go.php?linkid=184828 or try Marty Foley's List Builder Service at http://www.linkcounter.com/go.php?linkid=184830 I've used both of 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 difference.

If you're interested in a great free e-book that will teach you how to grow your list download "Ezine List Builder" http://www.netwoozy.com/freeebooks/ it's in PDF format.

or try this one...not free but worth money:

"WebSite and Ezine Promotion Made Easy" http://www.linkcounter.com/go.php?linkid=184831

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 very beginning. This will give you an idea as to types of people that subscribe to your ezine and will be helpful to ad buyers who will want to know what "target market" your ezine hits. If you set up a short form asking basics like "sex", "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.

A few sites that will help you to sell your available space:

http://www.Ezines-Ads.com http://www.Opt-Influence.com (must have 5,000 subscribers) http://www.linkcounter.com/go.php?linkid=189476

Publishing an ezine is most important tool you can have when it comes to promoting your website. An opt in list of people who want to hear from you on a regular basis is priceless and actual process of writing your own ezine 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 lines of communication between yourself and potential clients.

Don't let this marketing tool pass you by....by following steps in this three part series you'll be well on your way to publishing an ezine that will pay you back in more ways than you can imagine- and that's an online marketing tool fact.

So what are you waiting for? Get busy!