Inside
The Trii-Zine:

Your Trusted Source for Internet Business and Marketing Information
The Official Ezine of TLC Promotions
ISSN: 1555-2276

What is an Ezine?

An ezine is a periodical publication, an electronic magazine, typically distributed via e-mail. There are as many formats, sizes and styles of ezines as there are magazines on a real world newsstand. The newest format for the distribution of ezines is none other than RSS Channeling, using an XML feed. This delivers the information directly to the desktop of the subscriber, rather than to their inbox. Subscribers are not even required to provide an email address to subscribe. No email - No spam.

Aside from the method of delivery, the major difference between real world magazines and an ezine is that most ezines are free to read and subscribe to. Most, but not all.

Every ezine should have a theme, a major topic that it serves, just as a magazine has a specific audience. When subscribers sign up to receive a publication, they are doing so because they expect it to be relevant to their particular interest. Dog lovers read dog magazines, cat lovers read magazines on cats. The same holds true, or should anyway, for those advertising in ezines. If you're selling designer cat collars, you're not going to advertise in an ezine targeted to bird-watchers.

For most publishers, an ezine is either a direct or indirect source of income. Even if there is no charge for subscribing, the publisher's intention is to generate some kind of cash flow. This is usually done in one or both of these ways:

Promotion of the publisher's own products, programs or services Advertising sales

What better way to advertise your own deal than to set yourself up with your very own audience? As an ezine publisher, you now have X amount of subscribers that want and expect to hear from you on a regular basis. As they say, "...the money is in the list." If you don't slam your readers with junk, they will keep reading you.

That brings us to the next topic: A publishers responsibility to the reader

With all of the power that comes with being a publisher, (it is a powerful position to hold) also comes responsibility. You must not become a tabloid, throwing garbage out to your subscribers, unless of course, you're trying to steal readers from the National Enquirer. Your readers trust that you will provide them with content relevant to their lives. This means that you must supply them with information they can use, the option to comment, a way to opt out, and a little humor never hurts either. Just because they have opted in, doesn't mean they won't opt right back out, if you do them the disservice of sending them an ad sheet. An ezine is not a series of solo ads. Publishing an ezine is not a license to spam either.

Ezine advertising is a process...

Learn to do it right!
First you need to go to a directory or look in ezines you already subscribe to and find a list of recommended ezines. Decide how much time you have to devote to your ezines. I would suggest beginning with 5-10 and once that is organized then you can add and delete to your list.

It is best to have a good email management program to filter your ezines into a folder for scheduled reading. And yes, to best utilize your ezine advertising you will need to READ the ezine. Set up a good file system too. Each ezine should have it's own file as each ezine guidelines are different.

You will want to keep the welcome letter that is sent by each owner with the valuable information about that ezine. Copy and paste the advertising guidelines, and put into your folder along with the email address or the URL of submissions.

Set up a folder with at least 10 headlines and 10 ads for each headline. Formatting your ads is important, as most ezine owners will not format your ads for you. Use a text editor such as NoteTab or EditPad for formatting.

Preparing your ads in advance will save you time, and you can just copy and paste your ad at advertising time. ezines offer a lot of ways for you to advertise other than the free classifieds. You can pay for top sponsor ads, or exclusive solo ads. Many ezines have contests to win advertising.

Read your ezines, gather the information you need, learn to write articles, sales letters, and participate in the ezine community. You will find some ezines that you do not like...simply unsubscribe.

DO NOT file spam complaints. If you can subscribe, you can take the time to unsubscribe. Find the ones you like and learn, and participate.

Email the owner/publisher and ask questions to learn about their community and their offerings.

We are a great community and we value our subscribers...most of us are in the business of helping our subscribers to succeed.

Advertising Considerations:

1) Free Ads For Subscriptions:
As a way to build their subscriber base, many ezines offer free ads in exchange for your subscription. However, you should not just subscribe to every ezine available, just to get your free ad. Why? Not every ezine is going to be geared toward your particular promotion. You don't want to go advertising your pet grooming service in an ezine that targets home business. Equally true, you would be wasting your time advertising a home business in an ezine directed at llama ranchers. Furthermore, you should subscribe to publications that have more to offer you than free ads. Read them and absorb the information they offer. You can learn a lot by reading ezine articles, and the information is free.

2) Posting Rules...
Always pay attention to the specific rules each zine has in regard to posting your ads. If you are allowed 3 lines, then only submit 3 lines. Most editors will not modify your ads to fit their criteria, and you risk deletion if you don't comply. If you are allowed one ad per week, do not submit more than that. With the volume of free ads that publishers receive, they don't appreciate those that over post.

3) Paid Ads & Solos...
If an ezine has a good-sized subscriber base, you should take advantage of their paid advertising and solo deals. When you purchase a sponsorship ad, you are placed higher up in the zine; therefore, getting read is more likely. (Free ads are usually located toward the bottom of the zine.) Readers often take those who pay for their ads more seriously as well.
Solo ads are a great way to get your message in front of the masses, without the competition of other subscribers on the same page. Your ad is all by itself, with just a few words from the publisher. Like with safe lists, you avoid spam complaints and reach a high volume of people. Finally, solo ads are not typically limited in length, so you can say what you have to say with as many words as you feel you need.

4) Writing Ads...
Try writing your own ads whenever possible. That way your ads are fresh and different from others promoting the same product/program. If you're not a proficient writer, consider having someone else write your copy for you. Click Here

One trick you can use is to take the pre-written copy supplied by your program, and mix it up a bit. Use it as a template and re-write it yourself. Make sure you proofread your copy to clean it up. Don't submit ads that contain misspelled words, or poor grammar. More than likely, your ad will get published that way, and if your ad looks unprofessional, it won't be read. Editors have plenty to do, just getting ready for publication, they don't need the added chore of editing your submissions.

Trii's Ad Tips:
1. Consistency... You have to mail to the post ads as often as possible. For best results, do it daily.
2. Headlines... Your headline must capture the attention of the reader, without misleading, and with as few words as possible.
3. The Ad Body... Your ad must be well written. To the point. Don't ramble.
Problem + You = Solution (This is the formula I use when writing an ad.)

** Forget the HOT WORDS you hear tell about. All those words will do for you these days is get you tagged by the spam filters, and we don't want that.