Printing Publishing Services

Ezine Publishing - Learn How to Pick the Right Email Publishing System Provider

One of the basic tools today's on line entrepreneurs simply must have in their promotional strategy is email marketing. Following up with prospects and existing clients with email, either by using autoresponders, or by sending regularly published e-newsletters (ezines), or better yet, a combination of both, produces measurably better results than any other type of direct marketing. With the latest advances in technology, it has never been easier to prepare, publish and profit with ezines.

How fast you can expect to see results from email campaigns will depend largely on the type of business you're running. For example, if you are a life coach, it may take you months to establish a connection with your contacts, until they get to know, like and trust you enough to hire you. However, if you sell real goods, such as vitamins and supplements, your email promotions may produce results immediately.

Unfortunately, many budding entrepreneurs mistakenly think that sending email is free, and that they can simply use their own email program to send email promotions. Wrong! This type of email list management can quickly get you in trouble: with your local ISP, possibly with the law, and, most importantly, with your contacts!

As an ezine marketing coach I see this on a regular basis. People collect hundreds of email addresses from various sources, such as Yellow Pages, chamber of commerce directories, association members lists, etc., and start sending them email promotions from their own PCs. Most beginner e-marketers don't even know they can put all the addresses into the BCC (blind carbon copy) field, so that everyone's contact information is hidden from public view.

If you're thinking of marketing your business or professional practice by email, the first step you need to take is choose the most appropriate Email Publishing System (EPS), or List Management System, as they are sometimes referred to. Please notice that I am not using the word the best, but rather the most appropriate, because the best will mean different things to different people.

Just like it is with anything these days, choosing an EPS can be a bad case of "too-much-choice-itis". Because they all offer a free trial period or a money-back guarantee, you may think you're not going to lose money if you make a bad choice. However, if you're working on launching your business on line, you'll want to make your first choice the right choice. Your money may be refunded, but your wasted time can't be replaced.

Here's an overview of four major players in this area: AWeber, Constant Contact, GetResponse and 1ShoppingCart. I have hands-on experience with all of them, so this, in a nutshell, is my personal list of their best features.

AWeber

* I like their robust list-management features; absolutely the highest CAN-SPAM compliance, and very high deliverability rates.

* Of course, major feature is unlimited auto-responders, with unlimited follow ups and broadcasts, plus I like their low flat monthly fee for up to 10,000 contacts.

* In December 2005 HTML templates were introduced, however, even after the Fall 2006 upgrades to the graphical HTML editor creating an HTML email is still not as user-friendly as Constant Contact's mail wizard. However, for those who'd like to use their own HTML code, AWeber offers much greater flexibility and ease of use.

Recommended for: those who either do not sell on line, or have an e-commerce or shopping cart system already in place. AWeber connects nicely with most e-commerce solutions currently available, such as PayPal, ClickBank and 1ShoppingCart, among others.

Constant Contact

* In early 2007 they have completely revamped the email creation wizard, that puts anyone with average computer skills in the captain's seat of creating a great-looking HTML email, without knowing a bit of HTML. Using the wizard also automatically updates the text-only version of the email.

* Some entrepreneurs will appreciate the ability to import their existing lists without being required to re-confirm every single subscriber (like AWeber does). Subscribers can be re-confirmed "softly," over time.

* Their tracking features are probably the most detailed and useful out there, although, in my humble opinion, they border on being a Big Brother tool. More on this in an upcoming feature article.

Recommended for: e-marketers who have large lists of existing contacts, or for those who'd like to create their own snazzy HTML emails without hiring an HTML coder or designer.

GetResponse

* This is the lowest-priced full-featured auto-responder service that I recommend. The auto-responder feature has some very powerful options other email publishing services don't have.

* One of the unique features of this service is their GetSubscribers integrated co-registration option to grow your list with targeted subscribers (please note that they do not, however, accept leads from other co-registration services). Because the co-registration is handled by the same company as the auto-responder there's no need to confirm the subscribers that join your list. If you've tried co-reg services before, and you use double opt-in, you quickly realize that buying 100 leads usually means ending up with only a fraction of that number actually joining your list.

* Tracking features are also impressive, and can be tied-in to your sales process.

Recommended for: anyone, especially for start ups who would like to build their list effortlessly.

1ShoppingCart (a.k.a. Kick Start Cart, Auto Web Business)

* What I like best about this system is that it's a completely modular on line business system, that provides list management, autoresponders and ezines, a shopping cart with credit card processing, on line delivery of your digital products (such as PDF e-books, courses or music in MP3 format, etc.) and an affiliate program.

* They are also more friendly towards purchased leads, through various co-registration services, such as Glen Hopkins's ListBuilder.

* The system supports split-testing and ad tracking, and so many other great features. It's really no wonder that most big-name internet marketers use it.

Recommended for: new and established e-marketers who want a completely integrated turn-key system which includes a variety of tools and features all under one roof.

Conclusion With monthly fees for these services ranging from $15 to $29, and a wide variety of features and capabilities, one of these service providers should fit both your budget and your requirements. Defining your requirements before you go shopping for an Email Service Provider will save you time and aggravation in the long run.

Copyright ? 2007 by Boris Mahovac

Boris Mahovac of http://YourEzineCoach.com, is creator of the Contacts2Clients? Ezine Blueprint System.This step-by-step self-study course is the most complete guide to preparing, publishing and profiting with ezines. Your Ezine Coach also offers coaching and consulting to help entrepreneurs and small businesses market themselves on line and off line. Sign up for my free biweekly ezine.

MORE ARTICLES:

More About Publishing and Publishing Companies
Publishing is a process of distributing and producing books or forms of literature There are numerous varieties of publishing such as self-publishing, vanity publishing and so much more

Leading Self-Publishing and Book Marketing Company Improves Full-Color Publishing With Additional Sizes, Styles
Outskirts Press, the fastest growing full-service self-publishing and book marketing company, today introduced three new paperback trim sizes -- 5.5" x 8.5" and 7" x 10" and 8" x 10" -to its full-color Pearl publishing package.

How to Publish a Book: Key Differences Between Publishing and Self Publishing
For many authors just starting out, it can be a confusing and overwhelming decision whether to self publish a book or to seek out a traditional publishing house. It is important to know that the decision you make can have a huge impact on the success, or the failure, of your book.

Dorrance Publishing Company Celebrates 90 years
In 2010, Dorrance Publishing Company is celebrating 90 years of providing author services to individuals. Colonel Gordon Dorrance, a member of the distinguished Main Line Philadelphia family that owned Campbell's Soup Company, originally founded the company in 1920. Throughout its history, Dorrance has had only five owners; all have held the company for long periods of time and were committed to its mission of offering excellence in publishing opportunities to authors, most of who have been new and unknown, and who believe in their work and wish to exercise their rights of self-expression.

Author Solutions Signs First 13 Partners to Use DIY Publishing Platform
Dozens of Printers, Publishers, Organizations, and Online Communities Lining Up to "Monetize Their Communities" with Flexible DIY Publishing Tool from Author Solutions.

Cold Tree Publishing Launches Moorsgate Press in Response to the Proliferation of Subpar Self-Publishing
Moorsgate Press launches this month with one main goal in mind: to combat the influx of unscrupulous "self-publishing" companies that have flooded the publishing industry.

Olympian Shane Hamman Signs Publishing Contract with Tate Publishing
Tate Publishing and Enterprises, LLC, is proud to announce the recent signing of Olympian Shane Hamman to a publishing contract.

Bowker Reports "Staggering Growth" in On-Demand Publishing Amid Flat Growth in Traditional Publishing Industry
Author Solutions Brands Expected to Publish One of Every Eight Titles in Fast-growing Publishing Segment

Self Publishing Era: Digital Publishing Tears Down Walls
Since the birth of publishing, authors have been forced to deal with the middlemen of this industry; the publishing houses. Often some of the best authors are turned away at the door because they are not "recognized" enough.

Tower Publishing Acquires Publishing Rights of Maine Law Book Company
Tower Publishing, a growing legal publishing house, has acquired the publishing rights of the venerable Maine Law Book Company. Founded by Harvard Law Professor Peter Murray, the Maine Law Book Company is best known for its practical legal treatises, including Basic Trial Advocacy and Maine Evidence.

Little Known Pitfalls of Traditional Publishing Industry
As many small-time authors and self-publishers have discovered the hard way, the traditional book publishing model is fraught with problems that conspire against an individual author/publisher making a decent living from their work.The traditional model normally involves two basic choices: 1) use a commercial publisher, or 2) self-publish.

Songwriter/Producer Dapo Torimiro Signs Exclusive Worldwide Co-Publishing Agreement With Walt Disney Music Publishing
Dapo Torimiro's latest track, "No Parade," written and produced along with an Oscar-nominated writing team, is receiving early buzz on Jordin Sparks' latest album, BATTLEFIELD.

Equinox Publishing Wins Award at 2008 Asian Publishing Convention in Singapore
Indonesia's largest English-language publisher, Equinox Publishing, received the award for "Best New Business Model for Book Publishing in Asia" for its latest title, Indonesian Odyssey, at the 2008 Asian Publishing Convention at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel in Singapore on Friday 15 August 2008.

New Authors Publishing Options
All your publishing options are as follows:--Conventional publishing--Vanity or subsidy publishing--Print-on-demand publishing--Self-publish yourself--Get help with self-publishingLet's compare the publishing options.How to get in the publishing process and how long will it take to see your book printed?Conventional publishing optionIt is a very long and difficult process to get a publisher even if it is at all possible for a new author.

Writing, Publishing, Self Publishing, Website Promotion, Blogging, Internet Marketing
Are You Ready For The Publishing Revolution?Writing has traditionally been considered a solitary craft. You wrote you article or book in seclusion.