5 Ways to Make More Money With Your E-zine
by Alexandria K. Brown, "The E-zine Queen"
Copyright © LeeAnn Summers
www.soul-of-a-woman.com
Have you been publishing an e-mail newsletter for at least six
months but still aren't seeing real results (read: revenue) from
it? Don't fret - you may just need a tune up. Here are five ways
to kick your e-zine income into gear this year:
1. TOOT YOUR OWN HORN MORE
The adage goes, "If you don't blow your own horn, someone else
will use it as a spittoon." If your focus is providing your
readers with useful information that enriches their lives and
businesses, bravo! That SHOULD be your focus. But now I want you
to look out for yourself as well: Take at least 25 percent of
your e-zine space and make it all about YOU.
Give promos for your services, products, books, workshops, etc.
List raving testimonials from clients and customers who LOVE
you. Weave your business success stories into your articles and
tips. Share something funny about your weekend that makes me
feel closer to knowing you personally. (For more self-promotion
tips, see my article at www.ezinequeen.com/7ways.htm
2. MAKE ME AN OFFER I CAN'T REFUSE
Let's suppose I'm one of your subscribers. Even if I realize
you offer wonderful products and services, I may need a kick in
the pants to make a move. To entice me, offer me a special,
l1mited-time deal. Examples: three months' of consultation for
the price of two, a 20% discount on your latest book or newest
service, or one of your usual offers with a few exciting bonuses
thrown in. Make the offer obsolete within a few days or by next
week. By putting a time limit on it, I'll be more apt to act now
instead of later.
Don't overlook how powerful this tactic can be. Some of my most
profitable weeks have resulted from running a limited time,
special pr0motion of this type in my e-zine.
3. PACKAGE IT AT A LOWE^R PRI`CE POINT
This is a super strategy for service professionals such as
consultants and coaches. As your subscriber, I know the way to
get the BEST service from you would be to hire you one-on-one,
but perhaps I can't afford that right now. BUT consider that I
may likely be interested in lower-priced options such as group
coaching, teleclasses, online seminars, or a manual/e-book.
This is exactly how I became an e-book author. When I started
my first e-zine, my main business was writing for corporate
communications. After I gained a few thousand subscribers, I
realized that my readers were mostly small business owners and
entrepreneurs. So I began creating products and services geared
toward them. And now I profit more from those each month than
from my corporate work.
4. PROMOTE A PRODUCT/SERVICE THAT COMPLEMENTS YOURS
Do your readers and clients often ask you about a certain topic
that's related to - but not exactly - what you offer? Then
resell a resource that you heartily recommend and would put your
reputation behind.
For example, while my specialty is e-zines, I get many
questions about creating and selling information products
online. So I continually research credible resources on this
topic to share with my readers. Many of the creators of these
products offer a handsome commission on any sales I refer to
them. (I do this myself by paying out up to 25% commission on
any referred sale.
www.ezinequeen.com/affiliate.htm)
NEVER recommend any service or product to your readers that you
haven't personally tried and wouldn't back 100 percent.
Otherwise you'll blow the trust that you've worked so hard to
build up in your readership.
5. SELL AD SPACE AS IT SUITS YOU
E-zine ads won't make you wealthy, but they can make for some
handy extra c^sh. (I call it my "margarita money.") Most e-zines
offer one sponsor ad at the top and several "classified" ads at
the bottom. Sponsor ads typically cost three to five times more
than the classified ad, but you'll see the ranges vary greatly.
Start by offering ad specials to your own readers. Then also
list your e-zine in the many e-zine advertising directories on
the Web. These services help match advertisers with appropriate
publishers just like you. (Need help? My manual gives step-by-
step instructions on how to accept and profit from ads in your e-
zine.)
Remember that you have every right to be selective about the
type of ads you accept. While your readers know these ads don't
represent YOUR business, their quality will indirectly influence
their perception of you.
REMEMBER THE *SILENT* BENEFITS OF YOUR E-ZINE
Keep in mind that even if you aren't getting direct business
from your e-zine at this time, it's still delivering many
benefits that may be less obvious. Your e-zine is helping to
establish you as an expert in your field. It's giving you
massive online exposure. You're gaining further credibility with
your current clients and customers. And it's forcing you to
package your knowledge into concise articles on a regular basis,
which you can recycle for many other marketing uses.
(c) 2000-2003 Alexandria K. Brown. All rights reserved.
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 www.certificate.net/ezinequeen.html
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