Four fantastic strategies to help you jump-start your ezine!

by Gail Hornback

You've decided. You know it is critical to your online success, and you are ready to jump in and become an Ezine Publisher. Good for you! You are headed in the right direction.

No doubt, the biggest hurdle you'll find along this road is simple getting started. The easy part is actually developing your idea, setting up your format, deciding on your content, how to mail it out, etc. That's a breeze. No problem.

The challenge comes after that is all finished. Now you need to start enlisting subscribers.

Get ready to work!

First of all, you MUST face the facts. Some recent statistics tell us that there are AT LEAST 300,000 ezines out there. And every one of those ezine are competing for the same subscribers!!

So, are you one of those that, when faced with those kinds of facts, promptly gets discouraged? Then, maybe you need to face another fact: You may be in the wrong business! But if you're one of those who is motivated by a challenge, then read on.

First of all, building a successful subscriber list IS a challenge. But it is NOT impossible, if you know what you're doing, and also what everyone else is doing.

If you're willing to work harder than most ezine publishers, you will get your share of the subscriber market. One reason? A large majority of new ezine publisher, create their ezine, place a subscribe form on their site, submit it to a handful of ezine directories, and proceed to sit back and wait for the onslaught of sign-ups. NOT!

Building a subscriber list is a multi-tasker's dream!

The secret is in the numbers. Number of places you get your information, number of different methods you use, numbers, numbers, numbers! ( Work, work, work.)

But, we're getting ahead of ourselves. Let's get back to just getting started. That was the hurdle we were talking about. If you are stuck in that overwhelming land of "I don't know where to start", then here are 4 ways you can jump start your subscriber list. Start here, and I promise, the ball will start rolling.

1. Submit to Ezine Directories and Announcement Lists.

EVERY ONE YOU CAN FIND! Remember, numbers. Here are a list of some of the best ones to get you started. Do a search for Ezine Directories.
https://www.bestezines.com/
https://www.ezineaction.com/
https://www.ezineadvertising.com/
https://www.ezine-dir.com/
https://www.ezinelibrary.com/
https://www.ezinelocater.com/
https://www.ezine-marketing.com/
https://www.ezinesearch.com/
https://www.ezinesplus.com/
https://www.ezinestoday.com/
https://www.ezine-swap.com/
https://www.ezine-universe.com/

Most will ask for a description of your ezine. A well- written description can make all the difference in whether folks choose to subscribe. As you're looking at these directories, make note of the descriptions that catch your eye.

You might want to check out a great piece of software called Ezine Announcer. Takes most of the pain and tedious-ness out of this submission process. https://wetrack.it/eza/af.cgi?47

2. Join an Ad Co-op.

An Ad Co-op is a service (free to publishers) that sends you subscribers, in return for running their classified ad.

These folks have agreed to subscribe to your ezine. You have agreed to run their classified ad.

Two of the best of these are:

2Bucks An Ad https://hop.clickbank.net/hop.cgi?webworks/paaads

10Dollars20ads.com https://hop.clickbank.net/?webworks/cashgalore

Note: The subscribers you get from these programs are not quite as valuable, percentage-wise as the ones that choose to sign up from your site, or from an ezine directory. Many use yahoo and hotmail addresses to collect the ezines, and may never see your issue. BUT, once again, it is all in the numbers. You WILL gain some loyal subscribers from these.

[Editor's Note: Subscribers who never read your zine are worthwhile only if you're selling ads based on circulation--and not all that useful even then, since they will lower your click-through percentages. Far better to go after people who will avidly read your newsletters and pass them on to their friends.]

3. Install a Popup.

Yes, we know, there is a lot of muttering about popups around the internet. BUT, facts are, we, and many others have seen the largest increase in subscriber sign-ups after installing one. They don't have to be intrusive. A well- done popup can get some amazing results. (Especially when combined with #4 below!)

Installing a popup is somewhat of an advanced technique for your site. But we do have an article with instructions. If you would like a copy, just send an email to: mailto:gailh@cmymtc.com?subject=popup

4. Give away a gift for Subscribing.

Giving away a gift to your new subscribers can work for you in more than one way. First of all, it can obviously work as an incentive to subscribe, if you are providing a gift that has value and usefulness. Secondly, if you are giving away a gift (ebook or software) that contains information about you and your site, then you are doubling its marketing value.

Ultimately, you want to work toward the goal of creating your own unique give-a-way product. One you can give away, AND provide to others to give away. (This is called Viral marketing.)

But, realistically, if you are just getting started as a publisher, you may not be ready for this. So, give away someone else's product! There are many available that allow you to insert your site information in a prominent spot on the front page, or screen. (Called Co-Branding.)

Here at CMYMTC we offer our subscribers a series of Ebusiness Easy Guides, which are also co-brandable. (https://makemoneyhowto.com/brandform.htm)

There are many other ways that you can add to the numbers game of ezine promotion. These few mentioned here will give you a jump-start on the whole process. Take things a step at a time. Learn the ropes as you go, and keep adding more to your numbers!!

An ezine publisher's job is never finished. If you can accept that challenge, then you will be successful!

Gail Hornback is owner of WebWorksAtHome.com, https://webworksathome.com/ and partners with Michael Smith in Coyote Marketing, (CM/YMTC), where you can get your own 4-page customizable e-business website for pocket change. Learn how to launch your own e-business, not someone else's mirror site! https://cmymtc.com/index1.htm

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