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Read Parts
One,
and
Two , and
Four
Starting An Ezine Part Three: Getting Ready To Ship Out
By Donesia Muhammad
In part three of Creating an Ezine, Getting Ready to Ship Out, you will learn:
The Pros and Cons of Creating an HTML Ezine
Sites to find Free Content for your ezine
What software or list host should I use to send out my Ezine?
Out With Plain, In With Html
Once you are familiar with writing an ezine in a text based
format, you may think Hey, I want some color to my issues. I want
to make my words bold, instead of just in all caps to get my
point across. I want some pictures!!
Then it is time to learn how to create your issues in HTML
format.
The funny thing is, if you can create a web page then you can
create your ezine in HTML.
Here is one important tip that you should know. If you look at
any email sent to you in plain text then the header says:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
If you want to send out an HTML issue then the line has to be
changed to
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/html; charset=us-ascii
If you don't then your message will be a jumbled mess and then
all the reader will see is the actual code ( just as if you were
viewing the source code on a web page), so make sure you change
the headers.
Now depending on which software or list host program you use this
may be a bit easier to do with some than with others. I have not
used all the list host choices out there, so please check with
your software choice first before you send out an issue.
There are many good reasons to publish your ezine in HTML format
>> You can add pictures, banners, colors, and different fonts in
your issues, no more boring standard fonts, and plain white
backgrounds.
>> No more mailto links and http codes. Just write them as you
would a regular web page
>> If you notice, many HTML publishers don't include their full
articles in their issues, they give you a sample and then link it
to the full article on their web site. Hey complained about lack
of traffic to your site, try that method.
>> It is easier to add more interactive elements for your readers
such as polls, quizzes, and filling out forms as opposed to
having them go to your site to do these things.
>> Your advertisers can now submit their ads in the forms of
banners, and other colorful forms to make their ads stand out.
Now of course there are some good reasons not to publish an HTML
ezine, but nothing that doesn't have a solution:
>> Some email clients cannot read HTML correctly, so your
wonderful message will not be read.
Solution: Always Always offer a text version of your newsletter
or a link to an online version of your ezine.
>> Your ezine may have a long time to load due to banner ads,
graphics, and java applets.
Solution: Keep it simple. Just like your web pages. Don't rely on
graphics, banners, and various scripts for your ezine. Upload
everything to your server so your reader is not waiting for a
thousand servers to respond and send their graphics or banners.
>> You don't have the time and effort.
Solution: Well this is simple. Either organize your time and
learn how to create two different versions of your ezine or
simply stick to a text version until you are able to.
I plan on turning my ezine into a full fledge HTML ezine very
shortly but it does take time and effort to make sure that your
issues are able to be viewed by everyone. Just practice like
everything else.
>> If you are not yet knowledgeable in creating a web page you
may end up with a lot of errors to your issues, which may crash
your readers email program. Make sure you know what you are doing
first.
Solution: Test your issues by sending them to yourself. Get a
poll amongst your readers. Ask what they want, and get some help
from these sites:
http://ezineuniversity.com
http://www.ezinemarketingcenter.com/
http://www.pcvoyager.com/us/ezines.html
For some free HTML templates to make things easier to start out
visit
http://www.newsletterpromote.com/emailtemp/free.htm
Okay My Formatting Is Finished, I Need Some Places To Get Some
Content..
If you are shy about writing your own articles, there is no need
to worry because thanks to the Internet you can find a variety of
site that offer free content for you to use.
Remember, give the authors credit where credit is due. Don't
plagiarize their work. Always include their byline and/or resource box. If they request a courtesy copy of your issue, then
please do so. You can also create a good communication with the
author and will probably be on their list whenever any new
articles are available from that author.
Ezine Ad Helper
We have a growing article directory where you can find available
content for your site or ezine
(Coming Soon, under construction)
Free Sticky ( Huge resource of sites that offer free content in
all areas and subjects)
http://FreeSticky.com
Idea Marketers
http://IdeaMarketers.com
Web-Source.net
http://WebSource.net
Marketing Seek ( huge list of articles by various authors to
reprint)
http://www.marketing-seek.com/articles/submit.shtml
Article City
http://articlecity.com
Tucats-Design
http://Tucats-Design.com
Webmaster Course
http://www.webmastercourse.com/articles/
Ghost Articles
http://ghostarticles.net/
BizWeb 2000
http://bizweb2000.com
Site Tips and Tricks
http://sitetipsandtricks.com
Biz Success
http://www.bizsuccess.com/articles/
For a list of my articles available to reprint,
http://ezineadhelper.com/donesia/index.htm
To find others, just simply use some of these search words in
your favorite search engine to find free content:
Free content, articles to reprint, free articles to reprint
Sending Out Your List, Preparing For Growth
Now this is about as confusing as choosing a web host. There are
so many choices that it will make your head spin. There are some
things to look at first before you pull out your credit card.
>> How large do I want my list to be and will my list host be
able to handle it? Will you cut me off at 1,000 subscribers?
>> Can people easily subscribe and unsubscribe on my site as well
as each issue?
>> Will I be able to upload any existing lists?
>> Can I send out either HTML or plain text ezines, preferably
both?
>> Can I search for a particular address to find out when they
subscribed or when they unsubscribed?
>> Can I ban an email address or a particular domain name if
suspected of being a bad address?
>> Will the host handle bounces, over quota addresses?
>> Can I personalize each message, will your list be able to send
out a welcome message automatically when someone subscribes?
>> Will I receive notification when someone subscribes or
unsubscribed?
>> Who can I contact by phone, email or hopefully both if there
is a problem?
>> Is the price right or will I go broke trying to use it?
These are just a few questions that you need to ask yourself
before you decide. Now there are various free hosts that you can
use and free software that you can use for the time being. I say
for the time being because they are just like free hosts, good
for beginners, not for professionals.
Hey don't forget FREE never lasts forever.... so prepare
yourself.
Topica
http://topica.com
Yahoo Groups
http://groups.yahoo.com
Your Mailing List Provider
http://yourmailinglistprovider.com
Cool List
http://coollist.com
Free Lists
http://www.freelists.org/
If you are knowledgeable with installation of cgi scripts then
there are a variety of mailing list scripts available at
Hot Scripts
http://hotscripts.com
Cgi-Resources
http://cgi-resources.com
Add2it pro or free version ( recommended)
http://add2it.com
Not sure how to install cgi scripts? This ebook will show you
how in no time at all.
Click here for immediate access:
http://www.roibot.com/r_cgi2h.cgi?R37349_020307affil
Selecting a list host is a gradual process. Just as how you
progress from free web hosts to paid web hosts, and from affiliate programs to your own products, the same applies to a
list host. If you choose to use software to send out your list
instead of using a list host. Here are some options:
Group Mail ( I use Group mail for my smaller lists)
http://www.infacta.com/gm.asp
Postmaster Direct ( free trial, but not cheap)
http://www.post-master.net/rs/cebird/
Autoreponse Plus ( resides on your web hosts server, worth the
price)
http://www.autoresponseplus.com/?hop=cynted.autoresp
Opt-in Lightning
http://hop.clickbank.net/?jantd/lightning
Paid List Hosts
Vertical Response ( more useful for smaller lists, or can get
pricey)
http://verticalresponse.com
Email Marketing from Constant Contact
http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp
Rapid Reply ( this is the list host that I have used for the past
three months, even though I have recently changed list hosts,
this one is highly recommended plus at a great rate)
http://rapidreply.net
Aweber ( This is my new list host. More professional features as
my list is growing and need reliable service)
http://www.aweber.com/?69409
Subscribe Me Lite or Pro version
http://www.cgiscriptcenter.com/subpro/index2.html
Topica Publisher ( highly upgraded version of the free version)
http://www.topica.com/tep/
Note: Most web hosts come with a mailing list installed but may
not be the most reliable. Check the software out first before you
send out your issues.
As you can see, the list can be endless. I will soon have reviews
from different publishers about the service or software they use
to send out their lists and that will help you decide which is
right for your ezine.
Like I have said before, please don't try to keep up with the
Internet Jones's and spend money that you don' t have to use a
high powered system and you have less than 1,000 subscribers.
There are some great ezines who have used Topica and yahoo groups
for years and don't plan on changing. It's not about the list
host it is about the quality of your content.
Part Four: Conclusion and quick tips for the surviving Ezine
Publisher
Read my original article on what it is like to be a newbie
publisher.
Trials and Tribulations of a Newbie Publisher
Read Parts
One, and
Two
Copyright (c) 2002 Donesia Muhammad
Donesia Muhammad is an aspiring Netpreneur. Visit her
site
http://EzineAdHelper.com
for help with your internet business and ezine advertising.
This article may be freely distributed as long as the above
byline is included
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