Formatting
Newsletter
If you're looking for a formatting newsletter article/how to
list, we've got it for you! Read the article below for 13 tips from
Alexandria K. Brown.
Your E-zine 13 — A Formatting Checklist
by Alexandria K. Brown, “The E-zine Queen”
While sending out a text e-zine may seem like a piece of cake,
there's more to it than you may think. *Good formatting* is the name
of the game. Here's a handy checklist I use to make sure each of my
issues is in great shape BEFORE I send it out. Please be my guest
and use it for yourself!
1. Are all lines 65 characters or less?
More than that and your missive may come through looking messy to
many subscribers. End each line with a hard return by pressing the
"enter" key.
2. Have you made sure there's no auto-formatting, such as bolding,
italics, or underlining?
These features don't translate well in e-mail and can come out
looking mighty strange on the other end. Instead, emphasize words or
phrases with *asterisks,* "quotation marks," or ALL CAPS ...
sparingly.
3. Are all sections neatly separated?
Use underscores (_____), asterisks (******), another nifty symbol
($$$$$, %%%%, @@@@), or a combination thereof (<<==>>) to help
define each area and help your readers skim your issue more easily.
4. Do all Web links include 'http://' before them?
Some e-mail programs won't automatically hyperlink a URL in your
text without this prefix. So don't take a chance — make it easy for
your readers to click and link, especially to YOUR site!
5. Do all e-mail links include "mailto:" before them?
Same idea here: Some e-mail programs won't automatically hyperlink
an e-mail address in your text without it. Be sure to leave no space
between the colon and the first character of the address.
6. Is your masthead at the very top?
The masthead, or "nameplate," typically features your e-zine name,
your name, your e-mail address, your Web address, and the correct
date, volume number, and issue number. Make it the FIRST thing your
readers see.
7. Have you reminded your readers right away that this is a
*subscription* publication?
Don't let them forget that they *asked* to receive this! Something
like this right under your masthead will do: "You've received this
e-zine because you subscribed to it! If you wish to unsubscribe,
please scroll to the end for more information."
8. If you have a table of contents (TOC), do its listings match this
issue's articles and features?
For example, if your TOC says your second feature in this issue is
an article on Web site marketing, make sure it's right!
9. Have you included a copyright notice?
At the end of your content, before your contact info, post '(c)'
immediately followed by the year and your name or your company's
name. You should know that a copyright notice does not protect your
ideas — instead, it protects the way you express them.
10. Are the correct advertisements in place?
Keep track of all your ad swaps and purchases in one main document
to make this easy to look up each time. I use an Excel spreadsheet,
which works great for me.
11. Do you give clear subscribe and unsubscribe instructions at the
bottom?
Include subscribe instructions, because your e-zine will likely get
passed on to others who'd like to sign up. The unsubscribe
instructions are just BECAUSE — it's plain courtesy, and the law of
the land. : )
12. Does your subject line include both the name of your e-zine and
the issue topic?
By seeing your e-zine title, your recipients will know the e-mail is
not spam. And by seeing the issue topic, they will know what's in
store for this issue. Example: "Sara's Cash Flow Tips: Increase Your
Income Today!"
13. Have you sent a test of the issue to yourself or an associate?
Make sure it comes through reading well and looking great! (Check
for any strange symbols that magically appear, odd breaks in the
copy, inactive links, etc.) And this is a GREAT time to give it a
final proofread.
(c) 2000-2003 Alexandria K. Brown. All rights reserved.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alexandria K. Brown, “The E-zine Queen,” is author of the
award-winning manual, “Boost Business With Your Own E-zine.” To
learn more about her book and sign up for more FREE tips like these,
visit her site at http://www.aliceseba.com/ezinequeen.html
