Interesting stuff really this electronic commerce. I find it
really fascinating as each day I learn an abundance of things
that I can readily apply to my business. However since it is
the information superhighway one should be able to pick up
copious amounts of info on ones favourite topic fairly easily.
This is no problem but how do you decide which is worth reading
from the crap that is just re-manufactured in masses???

When I first immigrated online I subscribed to some good
quality weekly zines that gave me the info I was looking for. I
wanted good, meaty cyberspace marketing info. Since most
marketers were advocating list building abundantly Darren
decided to jump on board and find out what the big deal really
was. As a direct result, at least in part, since about June last
year we have experienced an ezine onslaught. There are more
ezines online about almost every subject than you could poke a
stick at. So, now instead of having to go looking for the info
we so desperately want to enrich our lives it's available in
such great quantities that the sheer amount of paper, had it
been written on papyrus as in the ancient days, it would be
sufficient to fill many of the Great Pyramids.

Naturally with so much info available at our fingertips it can
almost become a case of information overload, which is almost
as bad as having to go searching high and low for the elusive
material one seeks. From a reading point of view it always makes
sense to take the recommendations of those whom you know and
trust. For example if you were really enjoying this ezine and
you were looking for something with an equal amount of value
then you would probably listen to me when I would tell you that
I really enjoy Terry Dean's, "Web Gold" and Jim Turner's, "Web
Profit Tips" (check recommended reading at the end of this
article).

In addition to this you may opt for checking out some of the
many ezine lists that are cropping up all over the place.
My favourites are: Lifestyles Publishing from Ruth Townsend
at http://www.lifestylespub.com and http://www.lizst.com

However since you are only using an ezine list you'll need to
subscribe to those that sound interesting first before you
really know as you won't be drawing on the experience of others
as with following recommendations as just mentioned. This may
suit you this may not.

If you want to see my top 10 ezines then I have printed them at:
http://topliving.com/noframes/ezine_list.htm I enjoy these
ezines that much that I even have them connected up to their
relevant subscription addresses.

Anyway the main focus of this article is for those who are
looking to commence their own ezine. You already know that it's
a good idea as anyone who's anyone has suggested it in their own
publication as a wonderful way to stay in touch with your target
audience. I must say a truer word has never been spoken. I love
this form of marketing. You, too, enjoy this form of marketing
making it win-win for us both. If you aren't winning from this
then you simply unsubscribe. It's that simple. Not often do I
write marketing articles as it's not the main focus of "AAvenues
2 Your Success". But I've been around long enough to have learnt
a few things and I'm going to share some with you now.

Your ezine must do many things; however, today we'll be touching
on niché marketing. Earlier I mentioned how popular the ezine
craze has become. Quite simply you can't afford to become one of
the masses. you have to establish your niché. You have to rise
above those who have already set up in your field of interest.
You need to offer them something that they really want. I don't
mean an article which was published 12 months ago and has been
regurgitated 50 times. It has to be something which tells
someone when they've finished reading that they got something
really worthwhile from it.

This part can be uncomfortable for many. In fact it's
uncomfortable for virtually all ezine publishers. At least at
first. I find it imperative that you write your own material.
The only exception to this would be if you were in a partnership
or a larger business where the duties could be shared. At any
rate the personal touch of original material must really come
from within. It's a direct link between you and your audience.
If you continually use other people's articles then it is
quite possible that your reader numbers will dwindle (especially
if they have already read the article elsewhere). This form of
information sharing will conform you into mediocrity. I guess
one exception to this would be to pay someone to write
exclusively for you - but this is not going to be cheap and the
writer is the nexus between you and your audience when really it
should be yourself.

Are you a writer? Neither was I. To be honest with you I failed
High School English (I learnt English not American English in
case you find some interesting forms of spelling). You need to
have confidence in what you're doing, confidence that you are
knowledgeable with what you are about to share is in demand and
above all else, confidence in your own convictions and dreams to
make it all happen. You will be quietly surprised by how you can
develop this art when you put your mind to it.

Of all the ezines I recommend and undertake joint venturing with
100% of them are written personally by the publishers
themselves. It shows a greater commitment to their business.
It's their business, it's their livelihood. It's this sort of
attitude that separates many success stories from many that
don't even get started. Getting started is the hardest thing and
it will be well and truly worthwhile to nip this in the bud at
the beginning.

At the beginning you'll be looking for good ideas, formats,
layouts, styles of writing etc. What gave me a good headstart
was analysing many good ezines and using them as a template
for my own. Over time you develop with your audience, your
style will change as you adjust to what suits you better. Then
before you know it you've got your own personal marketing tool
that only really needs to be well publicised and marketed to get
you into full swing.

Check out Greg Schliessman's Ezine Marketing Centre at:
http://www.jvmarketer.com Do this only if you are dead set
serious about creating an electronic publication that will
achieve those goals most important 2U. This site is imperative
4U if you are.

Darren

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Written By: Darren Roberts
Publisher - "AAvenues 2 Your Success"
Marketing Consultant - Topliving Consultancy
URL: http://topliving.com
Email: mailto:darren@topliving.com

Subscribe to Darren's popular "Success and Self-Motivation"
Weekly publication, "AAvenues 2 Your Success". It's packed
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Email: mailto:join-aavenues-2-your-success@lists.dundee.net
Online: http://topliving.com
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