What is an ezine? It's a newsletter sent out via email.

How is ezine pronounced? There was actually a poll on the VA Networking Association forum... Mostly it was pronounced 'e-zeen,' like electronic magazine, but there were a few responses for 'e-zine' like 'pine'.

What is the purpose of an ezine? There are many purposes of an ezine. First, it keeps you in front of prospects and clients by providing meaningful, helpful and informative content. Your ezine counts towards those 6 to 12 contacts it takes to make a sale. For your clients, it helps them remember you, and hopefully even provide referrals to you.

Next, it helps your prospects see you as an expert in your field because you are providing 'meaningful, helpful and informative content'.

You can build your prospect list by providing a sign up on your website. Very seldom does a potential client 'buy' from visiting your website the first time, and you have no way to follow up with those visitors. But if you offer an ezine, your prospect can subscribe to your ezine and allow you to work on those 6 to 12 contacts. You can even offer a bonus for subscribing, like a special report or other valuable information they can't get anywhere else.

An ezine can also be used to drive prospects to your website. There are numerous websites geared towards article marketing and ezine publication. Both provide more exposure for your website, thereby driving more traffic to your business.

So, you're thinking, 'Yes, I need to be publishing an ezine, but how often? What will I write about?' The 'how often' is up to each individual. I've seen some quarterly, some monthly, some twice a month, some weekly. I was, however, on a recent teleseminar with Alexandria Brown -- a/k/a The Ezine Queen -- who said if you're only doing it once a month, then it's a waste of time. And really, if it takes 12 contacts to close a sale, would you rather close that sale in 6 months or 12 months?

Now, 'what will I write about?' I have to admit, some weeks I do have difficulty trying to figure out what to write, but it has always seemed to work itself out. Some articles come easier than others, and some are better than others. Don't be afraid to publish an ezine because you're afraid you won't be able to come up with the content... You will be able to. It's amazing how, when you put your mind to something, it happens. You just want it to be related to your field. You wouldn't want to receive an ezine from me full of recipes or horse training tips. Make sure your ezine is relevant to your industry.

Author: Jama St. John

About the author:
Virtual Assistant and Online Business Manager Jama St. John of Gulf Coast Office Support publishes a biweekly e-newsletter with tips for office efficiency. To receive your subscription, go to www.gulfcoastos.com.

Article source: Free Public Relations Articles.