Networking Through Your Own Ezine
Posted by the Networking Goddess in Types of Networking, Online Networking, Networking Tools, Getting Leads, General
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Networking Through Your Own Ezine
It is fairly common for successful online marketers to suggest using your own ezine to promote yourself and your business. After providing a weekly ezine for about seven months now, I have been surprised by the many avenues that an ezine can be used as a networking tool.
1. I provide one article a week that teaches networking techniques and strategies. These articles are often the very thing that causes other Editors, with both online and offline publications, to request permission to reprint my material in their publication.
I have also had more than 150% increase in publications requesting regular columns from me since I started my own ezine. I currently write for 48 other publications on a regular basis.
2. The ads in my ezine are for products or services I provide.
Often these ads lead to questions about products and services I offer. It is also a chance to run specific ads and test response rates. Ads for my products and/or services generated sales from the very first issue of my newsletter.
3. I accept reader questions in my ezine. I run two a week. These allow terrific networking opportunities- both in the acquiring AND in the answering of those questions.
4. There is a Networking Tip and a Networking Site of the week. Both of these sections allow for some of building “community”… a place where readers can get recommendations and mini testimonials about interesting URLS, as well as quick tips to improve their networking skills.
5. Then there are the testimonials about the ezine and it’s
impact on people’s businesses. It is in this area that folks get to “meet” others who think like they do. Another great “community-building” tool.
Since I write most of the material myself, it is easy to see how I would benefit from this project. But occasionally I’ll include material provided to me by my readers. Recently, I allowed a Guest Author in the spot where I usually include my own material. This was a first. The author of that article got two requests through the newsletter requesting more information.
Several times, readers have contributed Networking Tips. Every single one of them have gotten personal responses and requests from their contributions.
Although I answer the reader questions myself, I have had
readers also send me excellent answers that work in conjunction with mine. *I* have learned some great tips from my own readers.
Then there are those testimonials. So many people make connections with other folks in similar situations through those testimonials. Even if they don’t actually make a physical contact, they have had a confirmation that what they feel and experience is being felt and experienced by others.
My ezine has been a very rewarding project.. in ways I hadn’t
even imagined. If you are considering an ezine, think of ways you can use it to not only develop your business through the ezine, but to develop a sense of community. That is a very rewarding experience.
Nancy
Your Networking Goddess