Free Marketing Tip #2: Publish an Ezine

There are many ways to start getting the word out about your
products and services - that's all marketing is after all -
getting the word out to the people you think would be
interested. The people you would love to have as clients.

And yes, there are many ways to get the word out for free, or
very little cost.

One of my favorites is Ezine Publishing.

What's an Ezine? It's an electronic newsletter you write and
distribute via email.

Here are 10 steps to help you use Ezine Publishing to market
your small business:

(1) Ask yourself, "What am I am expert in?" or "What do I
know a lot about?"

(2) Research other businesses in your same area of
expertise to see if they are publishing an ezine. Subscribe to
all the ezines you find in your same area of expertise.

(3) Find a unique spin or approach that no one else is
using and that you feel your ideal clients would be interested
in. For example, will you publish a quick weekly tip, recaps on
industry news and happenings or how-to articles?

(4) Decide if you want to publish a text ezine (looks
like a normal email) or an html ezine (includes graphics and
color).

(5) Find an email marketing/list management program to
help you publish your ezine and automatically manage your list
of subscribers. There are free and paid services you can use.
You'll find a few options at
http://www.10stepmarketing.com/helpfullinks.htm

(6) Put an opt-in box for your free ezine on every page
of your website. Include a reason why someone would want to
subscribe to your ezine - give it a little promotion.

(7) Offer a free gift to anyone who chooses to subscribe.
This could be a Special Report, a small e-book or any other
no-cost item you create, and gives them more reason to subscribe.

(8) Decide how often you're going to publish. Weekly?
Biweekly? Monthly?

(9) Schedule a regular time to write and publish your
ezine each week, or month.

(10) Get your ezine listed in ezine directories on the
web to help you generate subscribers. Search for "ezine
directories" on Google to find places to submit your ezine.

An ezine gives you the opportunity to build a list of people who
are interested in your expertise and what you have to offer. It
also gives you a captive, targeted audience to market your
products and services to. And it can be done for free, or for
very little cost.

 (C) Copyright 2006 Debbie LaChusa, 10stepmarketing