Ever since blogs became such a powerful marketing tool for communicating, people have been asking about newsletters:
- Should I keep doing my ezine?
- How should the content that I email be different from my blog content?
- If I’m new to online marketing, which is more important, a blog or an ezine?
I’ve been asked to contribute to a book about networking tactics for business success, in particular for a chapter on newsletters. The author, Liz Lynch asked me for some examples of ezine success. So I asked people on my list.
Wow, did I get a barrage of emails from colleagues and clients who claim huge successes due to sending out a newsletter. I think we can clearly state:
Ezines are alive and thriving!
Here’s how a few people answered my question, "Have you had success with your newsletter?"
Hi Patsi!
You bet. My entire business is fueled by my twice monthly newsletter. I’ve never spent a cent on advertising (other than sponsoring my son’s little league team, which believe me, is not a good use of $300) and I do zero outbound prospecting. I publish the newsletter and wait for the phone to ring. Been working great for eight years!
Michael Katz | Blue Penguin
—————————————————-
Patsi,
My ezine is my #1 revenue generator.
I can talk about many facets of the NL, but particularly interesting is how I create a "Best of" ebook at the end of each year, plucking out the best two dozen tips from each year’s NL.
I compile them into an ebook, load it up with product page links and affiliate links, and offer it as a free Christmas gift to my readers. You can see three examples at the top of this page:
www.publicityhound.com/publicity-products/free.html
I encourage them to "regift" the book. And using an Ad Tracker link, I can track how many sales come from it.
Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound
—————————————–
Hi Patsi,
I have had lots of success with the ezine. This includes requests and contracts for:
- Training/workshops
- Speaking engagements
- A recent request to write a monthly column for a well known & respected state-wide business newspaper
- Self-confidence that I "had something to say" and could actually get it down on paper – leading to the point above.
The bimonthly newsletter articles will form the basis of a book that I am currently working on (writing the bimonthly articles, with a deadline to do so, kept me "on task" in getting this done.)
Let me know if you’d like to talk.
Mary Jo Asmus
Aspire Collaborative Services, LLC
—————————————–
Hi Patsi,
I do consider myself as a success with my newsletters and my websites. I have built my niche decorating newsletter to over 10,000, and because of my online presence I am the home decorating expert for LifetimeTV.com.
–Kathy Wilson, The Budget Decorator
—————————————–
There are more, but I’ll share them tomorrow.