"Putting the YOU in Your E-zine"

by Alexandria K. Brown, "The E-zine Queen"

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.

In the traditional sales world, they call this the "know, like, and trust" factor -- I abbreviate it to "KLT".

I was amazed to find that once I began sharing a bit about ME (the real Ali) 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 w0n 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." (His business has changed, so unfortunately 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: Last year I bought a new VW Beetle convertible, and in my e-zine I asked my readers who had owned convertibles to share their tips on how to care for them.

You wouldn't believe how many people wrote me back, telling me about their own cars, how much they love them, even sending me photos, and giving me some great tips on "topless" driving! I was delighted with the response.

Readers also love quick polls that allow them to give you their opinion. For multiple choice answers, I have used www.SurveyMonkey.com. It's free for up to 100 responses, and reasonably priced for more. For a single question and open-ended answers, use www.AskMyEzine.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.

Unless you're ugly as a toad, a decent photo will only help your sales. (Remember you're building the KLT factor.) 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. (I post mine at a personal blog which is FREE to create at www.blogger.com.) 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!"

After taking my course, one client of mine decided to share a photo of his pet pug, and he said his readers went NUTS! They wrote him back with photos of their dogs and it opened up a new level of communication for him with his subscribers.

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!

© 2003-2005 Alexandria K. Brown

WANT TO SEE MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE?
See Alexandria's Small Business Marketing Blog.

Online entrepreneur Alexandria K. Brown, "The E-zine Queen," publishes the award-winning 'Straight Shooter Marketing' weekly ezine with 17,000+ subscribers. If you're ready to jump-start your marketing, make more money, and have more fun in your small business, get your FREE tips now at www.EzineQueen.com

Your Own Home-Based Business: It's All in the Family

Balancing work life with family sure can be challenging in this
day and age. Most of us are working harder and longer just trying
to keep up with the bills and the overall cost of living. The cost
of everything keeps going up: food, utilities, gasoline, insurance,
and day care, just to name a few. It's hard to keep up and still
spend quality time with your children. As a result, more and more
people are choosing to start their own home based businesses.

While it's true that working from home can keep you closer to
your family, it also requires a well-organized and consistent
approach in order to meet the needs of both your business and family
life. To be successful, you must find ways to put in the hours
necessary to start and grow your business without being detoured by
family matters. You will need to manage your tasks and optimize
your time. If you or your spouse hold a regular job, then
conscientious time management will be even more crucial. By
establishing boundaries and through careful planning, you can manage
your time and priorities so that your family can be an asset to your
business rather than a distraction.

First, think about how you could divide business specific
tasks between you and your spouse. Plan your work, then work your
plan. For example, while one spouse is at the workplace holding
down a conventional job, the other can stay at home and spend time
working the business by writing and posting ads, doing research,
ordering product, and so forth. In the evenings when the spouse
returns home from the office, that person can take over duties such
as answering emails and making phone calls for training and
prospecting purposes, while the other attends to the children and
household tasks.

Also, consider recruiting your children into your home
business. They may be able to help with certain tasks. Perhaps
your oldest child can babysit the younger siblings during certain
times of the day or evening. Children may also be able to help by
preparing items for mailing, cleaning your office, and organizing
and filing paperwork (don't be shocked, however, when you get asked
to raise their allowance!).

Talk with your family and come to some agreements about the
importance of your home business. Make them aware of the demands it
places on each member as well as yourself. Gain their understanding
and cooperation. Restrict personal use of the telephone to specific
times so that your line will not be tied up during your business
hours (or better yet, consider having a second phone line installed
to be used just for business). Lay down the law that family must
stay out of your office area during working hours. To make it
easier for them to adhere to your rules, try to coordinate your work
schedule with family activities, and schedule some non-business time
during crucial times of the day, such as when the kids get home from
school and at mealtimes. Be sure to discuss your business schedule
with extended family members and friends. Inform them of your
working hours and ask them not to drop by or call you during those
times when you are working on your business.


Work hard and fast to build your home business, and keep
going! Make the whole family aware of what you are doing and what
you need from them. You'll probably find that they are all willing
to help however they can. The rewards will be worthwhile, and you
and your family can reap the benefits for years to come.

Chuck and Michelle Tourtillott are entrepreneurs in network
marketing with the Robert Allen Team and USANA Health Sciences. You
may contact them at chuckandmichelle@usana.com or visit their web
sites at www.robertallenroadtowealth.com and
www.chuckandmichelle.usana.com