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 

Constant Contact http://www.constantcontact.com/home.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