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CONTACT: comp@e-kinetic.com
Re-evaluating The Purpose of An E-Zine
by Dan J. Fry, c. 2003-2004, All
rights reserved.
With all of the push these days to publish an E-Zine as
an online
marketer, deciding whether to accept articles and
paid
advertising is becoming nothing more than a quick second thought.
As
E-Zines are increasingly turning into mere tools to generating
sales, people
are turning more to pre-written content. Are E-
Zines loosing their aire of
freshness as an outlet for true
discussion?
I personally subscribe to
numerous E-Zines just to see what
others are writing about. Most simply
circulate the same articles
written by a chosen few without writing any
original content
themselves. Coming up with clean fresh ideas truly takes
work,
but don't you owe it to your subscribers?
Times are busy and
life is rushing by. People simply do not have
the time to sit and read every
article, commentary, or
advertisement that passes their eyes. As the
commercial
marketplace becomes increasingly saturated with hype after
hype, people are developing a keen sense about worthwhile articles. Focus
on delivering high value content and not using your E-Zine strictly as a
marketing tool.
I like to think of my weekly E-Zine issue as a get
together with
your closest friends over coffee, wine, a beer, or whatever
they
wish to entertain. Would you repeat the identical conversation
week
after week?
When just starting out with your E-Zine, your relationship
with
your subscribers is analogous to a first date. It is the same
for
authors who publish in other E-Zines or for inclusion of outside
ads
in your publication. Subscribers just don't know anything
about
you.
Why not build a relationship with your subscribers? They came
to you wanting information. Don't simply give them "cut and paste". Give
them you. Add freshness. Add your insight. Your humor. Your perspective. If
you honestly talk to them they will listen. Your friends would. Wouldn't
they?
I don't pretend for one minute that building this
relationship
will be easy, only fruitful. There are a few guidelines that
will
maximize the strength of our subcriber relationship.
(1) Be
honest and let it come across in your writing sent to
your
subscribers.
(2) Send your online publication on a periodic basis at
the
same time and on the same day. This is the begining of trust.
People want to know when to expect receiving correspondence from
you.
(3) Give weekly updates as to what they can expect in the
future issues. No surprises builds trust. Moreover if you
focus on
content and write captivating articles your readers
will sit in
anticipation of the next discussion. Tell them
that the list is tentative
to leave yourself a bit of
flexibility.
(4) Refrain from
advertisements or sales copy when building
your list.
After you
take time to put yourself into your E-Zine, then decide
if you want to let
anyone else in. Don't be tempted by the
quickness of using someone else's
content and profits from paid
advertising. Develop first a high content
electronic publication.
Self satisfaction, praise, and the esteem of others
will result.
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About the
Author:
Dan J. Fry is an independent researcher and owner
of
e-Kinetic.com, a site devoted to providing resources for small budget
home businesses. He has a PhD in Physics and is married with two daughters
and two cats. Subscribe to his free E-Zine on home business resources at mailto:e-kinetic@GetResponse.com or
by
visiting his site at http://www.e-kinetic.com . He can be
reached at mailto:comp@e-kinetic.com
.
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