PUBLISH TESTIMONIALS
Even if your ezine is free, you need to emphasize the value it offers to readers. The best way to do this is show what other subscribers have said about your ezine.
Have any of your ezine subscribers said nice things about it? Add their testimonials to your announcement. Be brief. Use short sweet quotes that highlight its benefits.
GIVE SIGN-UP INSTRUCTIONS
This is why you're announcing on the list - to get prospects to sign-up to receive your ezine. You need to offer detailed, simple instructions on subscribing to your list.
Give readers multiple options to suit the different categories of web surfers who will read your announcement.
If you don't, you'll lose some sign-ups. If you only mention a website, the visitor who is reading the announcement offline might not feel like going back online, firing up a web browser and filling up a form.
At the very least, you must give them:
- A webpage on which they can fill up a form to sign up for your ezine
- An email address to which they can send a message to sign up
It gives an even better impression if you set up this process to respond immediately with a message confirming the request to subscribe and offering more details about your ezine
BE BRIEF
Short, crisp, punchy, even witty writing is good. It will draw a better response than boring, lengthy, repetitive verbiage. Your words must sell your ezine to the prospect.
Think of it as writing a classified ad for your ezine - you've got ten seconds to capture the reader's attention and get him/her to take action.
A good rule to follow is to first sign up yourself to the announcement lists and read others' posts for a day or two. See how the posts are written. Identify the strong points in each. Make a list of the most powerful headlines and
descriptions. Use them in your own announcement.
FORMAT YOUR POST
Remember, your announcement will be distributed to other list members by email. The rules for formatting this message are similar to those for your ezine. In Ezine Launch , I have discussed ezine formatting issues in great depth and detail. Briefly, here are some tips:
* Limit the length of each line to 60 characters.
* Insert a carriage return (hard break) after every 60 characters.
* Bullets and numbered lists make for easier reading.
* Don't use ALL CAPITALS
* Make your links clickable. For all website links, use http:// before the actual URL e.g.
http://www.EzineLaunch.com
For email addresses, use a mailto: prefix e.g.
mailto:freezine@ezinemarketingcenter.com