Putting the YOU in Your E-zine

I get many e-zines in my inbox every week, and they all offer useful information. But there are some I enjoy more than others.

What do the ones I love have in common?

They feel like they come from a REAL person. These publishers put some heart-and-soul into their e-zines. They share information about themselves. And because I feel like I know them personally, I'm more likely to buy from them at some point.

I can also share with you that once I began sharing a bit about ME in my e-zine, my response rates increased dramatically. More readers wrote me back, more clicked on my links, and more bought my products and services.

So, how can YOU put more you in your e-zine? Very easily. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

What's Going on With YOU?

Quick: Think of three things going on in your life right now that you could share with your readers. Have you won an award? Were you mentioned in a national newspaper? Did you pull a hamstring doing Tae Bo? Are you teary-eyed because your daughter's wedding is right around the corner? These are all events your readers can relate to and will appreciate you sharing.

One e-zine I used to get a real chuckle out of was Dave Balch's "Big Bucks in a Bathrobe." (Unfortunately, his business has changed so he no longer publishes it.) In each issue, Dave not only shared useful information on running a profitable business, but also hysterical stories about "life on the ranch." Dave and his wife own many animals, including horses, dogs, and "the parrot that just won't die." Whenever I saw Dave's e-zine in my mailbox, I read it right away because I knew it would brighten my mood.

Reach Out for Help

Have a question you'd like answered? Why not ask your readers for help? Example: I recently began shopping around for a convertible, and I mentioned it in my e-zine a few weeks ago. To help me with my decision, I asked my readers who owned convertibles to share their experiences with me.

You wouldn't believe how many people wrote me back, telling me about their own cars, how much they love them, and what new convertibles they recommend! I was delighted with the response.

Readers also love quick polls that allow them to give you their opinion. For a fun survey mechanism, try www.SurveyMonkey.com.

Give Us the Picture

Photos help your visitors and your e-zine readers feel closer to you instantly -- it's as if they know you better than before.

In one issue I mentioned to my readers that I had a new headshot taken and would love their opinion of it. Hundreds of people clicked through to see the photo, and many of them wrote me to say they thought it was great!

Unless you're ugly as a toad, a decent photo will only help your business. If you publish an HTML e-zine, put your photo in your top banner if you have room.

Also don't be afraid of sharing photos of your family, pets, business associates, etc. You'll be surprised how often your readers will click-through to see them. Example: "Click here to see me in action at my first swing dancing competition!"

Don't Be Afraid to Have Opinions

Real people have real opinions. So voice yours, and people will perk up. I've found that my readers often respond best when they're provoked and encouraged to see things in a new light.

If some don't agree with you (and some won't), their response can lead to a brand new discussion or article topic. Remember, if someone takes the time to write you back to disagree with anything you've said, be happy. It means they're actually reading your e-zine!

Where, and How Much?

A great place to put this personal information is at the beginning of your e-zine in an "editor's note" or "welcome message." This welcomes the reader with a warm greeting from you and is the perfect spot to share these positive, personal tidbits.

Once you get the hang of giving more YOU to your readers, you'll come to enjoy the art of sharing and the increased reader-interaction it brings. Just make sure that it doesn't take over your e-zine. The bulk of your content should still be your main article, list of tips, etc. Think of your personal information as the introduction that leads up to the main event!

(c) 2003-2004 Alexandria K. Brown

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alexandria K. Brown, "The E-zine Queen," is author of the award-winning manual, "Boost Business With Your Own E-zine." To learn more about her book and sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her site at http://EzineQueenTutorial.com/

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Google News Updated : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 01:08:02 GMT Bush pushes US-India nuclear deal - The Associated Press Washington Post Bush pushes US-India nuclear deal The Associated Press - 47 minutes ago TOYAKO, Japan (AP) - President Bush defended a languishing deal his administration negotiated to sell India nuclear fuel and technology, saying he reassured India's prime minister that the pact was important for both countries despite heavy opposition ... India Singh to Seek Vote Before IAEA Approval on Nuclear Accord Bloomberg UPDATE 1-India says relations with US in good shape Reuters UK Washington Post - Voice of America - AFP - Reuters India all 986 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:20:36 GMT Alcoa beats the Street - CNNMoney.com HispanicBusiness.com Alcoa beats the Street CNNMoney.com - 49 minutes ago The aluminum producer and Dow component kicks off the latest round of earnings reports by saying that higher volume and prices offset rising commodity costs. UPDATE 3-Alcoa's profit lower but tops Street forecasts Reuters Alcoa's Second-Quarter Net Fell 24% Wall Street Journal MarketWatch - Bloomberg - Forbes - The Associated Press all 225 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:18:45 GMT War Powers Act needs fixing, bipartisan panel says - CNN William and Mary News War Powers Act needs fixing, bipartisan panel says CNN - 5 hours ago WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States needs a new law requiring that the president consult with Congress before going to war, a blue-ribbon panel led by two former secretaries of state said Tuesday. Video: Panel Calls for New War Powers Legislation AssociatedPress 'War Powers' Plan Faces Steep Odds Washington Post Reuters - The Associated Press - BBC News - ABC News all 601 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:10:08 GMT Fed may extend Wall Street lending - Reuters ABC News Fed may extend Wall Street lending Reuters - 2 hours ago By Patrick Rucker ARLINGTON, Virginia (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Tuesday the US central bank may keep an emergency lending facility for big Wall Street firms open longer than it initially intended, a signal the Fed is ... Bernanke says Fed may extend bank discount rate guardian.co.uk Bernanke Says Fed May Continue Lending Into Next Year (Update3) Bloomberg CNNMoney.com - Forbes - MarketWatch - Bizjournals.com all 1,278 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 08 Jul 2008 22:34:02 GMT Cipro joins the 'black box' club - Los Angeles Times KSFY Cipro joins the 'black box' club Los Angeles Times - 1 hour ago The club may not be as elite as it once was -- or perhaps, in an ideal world, should be -- but the Food and Drug Administration has decided Cipro and its ilk deserve to be members. UPDATE 3-Antibiotics can harm tendons, US FDA warns Reuters FDA orders 'black box' label on some antibiotics CNN Wall Street Journal - The Associated Press - Atlanta Journal Constitution - KRDO all 552 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:12:01 GMT InBev seeks summary judgment in court - Reuters ABC News InBev seeks summary judgment in court Reuters - 33 minutes ago PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - InBev NV (INTB.BR: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) on Tuesday asked a court to make a summary judgment on its lawsuit over the possible removal of all 13 directors of Anheuser-Busch Cos Inc's (BUD. Anheuser-Busch sues InBev Bizjournals.com Busch sues InBev over takeover attempt guardian.co.uk New York Times - Wall Street Journal - MarketWatch - Bloomberg all 1,185 news articles Publ.Date : Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:34:28 GMT Church divided: Women bishops an obstacle to unity, Vatican warns - guardian.co.uk Telegraph.co.uk Church divided: Women bishops an obstacle to unity, Vatican warns guardian.co.uk - 2 hours ago The Vatican yesterday criticised the Church of England's decision to press ahead with the ordination of women bishops, saying it presented a "further obstacle" for reconciliation between Canterbury and Rome. Vatican 'regrets' female bishops CNN International Vatican angry over women bishops BBC News The Associated Press - Reuters - New York Times - AFP all 2,159 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:02:59 GMT RSS Software Increase Online Traffic

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