Newsletters: Your "E-zine 13" -- A Formatting Checklist

Your "E-zine 13" -- A Formatting Checklist

Written by Alexandria K. Brown

If you're not already publishing an e-mail newsletter or "e-zine," then you should! E-zines are a simple, inexpensive, and VERY effective way to promote your business, attract new customers, and encourage repeat sales. While sending out a text e-zine may seem like a piece of cake, there's more to it than you may think. *Good formatting* is repparttar

name of

game.

Here's a handy checklist I use to make sure each of my issues is in great shape BEFORE I send it out. Please be my guest and use it for yourself!

1. Are all lines 65 characters or less?

More than that and your missive may come through looking messy to many subscribers. End each line with a hard return by pressing repparttar 124369 "enter" key.

2. Have you made sure there's no auto-formatting, such as bolding, italics, or underlining?

These features don't translate well in e-mail and can come out looking mighty strange on repparttar 124370 other end. Instead, emphasize words or phrases with *asterisks,* "quotation marks," or ALL CAPS ... sparingly. While words in all-caps make an impact when used occasionally, they're extremely hard to read and can come across as "screaming" to your readers -- not a good thing.

3. Are all sections neatly separated?

Use underscores (_____), asterisks (******), another nifty symbol ($$$$$, %%%%, @@@@), or a combination thereof (<<==>>) to help define each area and help your readers skim your issue more easily.

4. Do all Web links include "http://" before them?

Some e-mail programs won't automatically hyperlink a URL in your text without this prefix. So don't take a chance -- make it easy for your readers to click and link, especially to YOUR site!

5. Do all e-mail links include "mailto:" before them?

Same idea here: Some e-mail programs won't automatically hyperlink an e-mail address in your text without it. Be sure to leave no space between repparttar 124371 colon and repparttar 124372 first character of repparttar 124373 address.

6. Is your masthead at repparttar 124374 very top?

The masthead, or "nameplate," typically features your e-zine name, your name, your e-mail address, your Web address, and repparttar 124375 correct date, volume number, and issue number. Make it repparttar 124376 FIRST thing your readers see. Do NOT put an ad first -- your readers may mistake your e-zine for spam.

Refine Your Company's eNewsletter to Increase Its Viral Potential

Written by Jerrilynn B. Thomas

Just as your business can't be everything to everybody, you should structure your company's enewsletter following repparttar

same rule. It is your most powerful PR and marketing tool. Unleash its viral potential by providing your readers with information worth passing on to their collegues. I recently gave my enewsletter a makeover. Give your publication one by following these simple tips:

~ Relaunch it to create a buzz.

~ Give it a striking new name.

~ Refocus repparttar 124367 content to reflect repparttar 124368 products and services that your company provides.

~ Write short problem solving articles that feature your products and services to demonstrate their usefulness.

~ Provide powerful supplemental resources and tips that enhance repparttar 124369 usefulness of your products and services.

~ Eliminate unnecessary ads. Your publication's main purpose is to promote YOUR business. Subscribers should not have to scroll through

~ 3 or more ads to read your publication's content. It is total turn off.

~ Create a "What's New" section. Inform your subscribers about your new products, services and company events. Create news to keep your subscribers excited.

~ Create a special discount or free trial offer every month. Set a 5 to 7 day deadline to redeem it to encourage quick action.

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