Part 2 - "How to Format Your Ezine and Where to Find Free Content"

Written by Merle


In Part 1 of this series we discussed how to start your own newsletter. Now we move on torepparttar nitty gritty: Formatting and finding content.

1. FORMATTING

Text ezines versus HTML format is a highly debatable subject. At this time, most ezine publishers stick with text, and I strongly recommend you follow suit. Many people are still using email clients that cannot read HTML messages - others preferrepparttar 124370 speed, ease and security of receiving their ezines in text format. It is safer to userepparttar 124371 format that is compatible withrepparttar 124372 largest number of users.

But there are other readers who appreciaterepparttar 124373 design quality and visual appeal of an HTML newsletter. So what can you do to please both sides? You can always publish a text version and include a link to an HTML version online. This is what I do and it seems to makerepparttar 124374 majority of my subscribers happy. It does call for twicerepparttar 124375 amount of work since you'll have to make two versions of your ezine, but in my opinion it's well worthrepparttar 124376 extra effort.

So what is a text ezine? Basically, it's just an email with some special formatting applied to make sure it's readable by everyone, no matter what email client they may be using. You'll want to stick to a fixed width font like courier or Monaco, and you'll need a plain text editor like Notepad or Textpad. One drawback with Notepad is it has no built-in spell checker, so I'd advise you to download Textpad or something similar. Many free text editors can be found at http://www.Download.com.

You'll need to set up a template for your ezine so its look will be consistent, issue after issue. This should include your ezine name, date, and issue number atrepparttar 124377 very top, followed by a table of contents. If you're not sure on how it should look, you can obtain some free ezine templates by sending mailto:template1@e-zinez.com .

Atrepparttar 124378 very end of your newsletter template you'll want to include a paragraph on how to subscribe and unsubscribe, copyright information, and advertising information. It's vital that you include unsubscribe information in each and every issue. Do not hold people "hostage" by making it next to impossible to get off your list, it won't be appreciated and is not only considered unprofessional,but it could get you into real trouble with Spamcop.

Newsletters: Your Readers and You

Written by /"Wild Bill/" Montgomery


One ofrepparttar Hottest Commodities on or offrepparttar 124369 Internet is "Information". In this age of technology people more than ever want to know and they want to learn. I imagine you yourself are reading this in hopes of clicking away with more than you started with. My job as a writer, publisher and editor is to see that you do.

Newsletters provide you with an outlet to a specific group of people, who subscribe and read your publication because they want to gain specific information. It could be Business, Humor or Travel, but nevertheless they are reading your words for a reason. Your job is to supply your readers withrepparttar 124370 information they are looking for. This my friend is sometimes a painstaking job, with little or no pay and long hours to boot!

This is not a venture to be entered into lightly. Newsletters are not overnight successes. It sometimes takes years to build a respectable subscriber base. Cash flow is almost non-existent atrepparttar 124371 beginning and for much ofrepparttar 124372 time after that. Your newsletter is an investment in relationships, or better-called "networking". You must earn, gain and keep a certain amount of trust and loyalty from your readers.

Mistake: If you think that you own your newsletter, I here to tell you that you are wrong. Running a newsletter is much like being in a political office. You would not be there if you did not serve your constituents to their satisfaction. They will directly or indirectly dictate to you your requirements in serving them. If you fail so does your newsletter.

Hint: Live up torepparttar 124373 responsibility you have taken on. When your readers bestow that trust in you, there is no better way to condemn your newsletter than to violate that trust.

Your job is not necessarily to be liked, but to keep your content up torepparttar 124374 standards that your subscribers have come to expect from you. Keep your information content high and your advertising and "noise" levels low. The subject of your newsletter will of course dictaterepparttar 124375 personality of your newsletter.

As for your Personality in your Newsletter, every newsletter will take on a life of its own. You must controlrepparttar 124376 personality that it portrays. Be careful what personality traits you give your newsletter and how much personality you give it. Remember that your primary goal is to supply information. Saverepparttar 124377 bulk of your thoughts for welcome messages and editorials. Be careful how you convey your personal thoughts in your newsletter. What could be meant as an editorial thought could be a disastrous mistake that costs you subscribers.

Cont'd on page 2 ==>
 
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