Should You Publish a PAID E-zine?

Many of my clients ask me whether they should publish a paid e-zine instead of a free one. My answer is the classic consultant's answer: "It depends."

First of all, what do you want your e-zine to DO for you? Once you know the goal of your e-zine, the answer will be clear.

If you want to promote your current business and sell more of your products and services, a free e-zine is your ticket to success. If you plan to build a new business around making money from subscription fees, of course you'll want to charge. However, publishing a paid e-zine is no small task! Here are some important points to consider...

  • You should only charge for your e-zine if you feature information that is hard to find elsewhere. If you try to pass off paid information as exclusive, but your readers can find it anywhere on the Web for free, you're not only going to fail, but you're going to tick people off.


  • A fee-based e-zine takes many, many hours of work to keep afloat -- much more so than for a free e-zine. The publisher of one very successful paid online publication admits he spends over 100 HOURS each month to develop the leading-edge content his readers paid for and expect.


  • You will never grow as large a list with a paid-subscription e-zine as with a free one. This is obviously because less people will sign up if they have to pay versus if it's free.

    Now, if you had visions of making big money with a paid publication, don't give up just yet. There ARE many successful paid pubs on the Web that are making their owners very rich. However, you should note that most of these e-zines continue to publish a free e-zine to gather prospects and then convert them into paid subscribers.

    So, YOU decide. Can you create content that's so valuable and special that we can't find it anywhere else? Are you ready to invest a huge amount of time and effort to publish an extremely high-quality publication?

    If not, you're better off publishing a free e-zine that provides great value. The key to building a large and valuable list of prospects (who are likely to buy from you in the future) is to offer useful, quality content for free. It's the proven model that works over and over.
  • (c) 2003 Alexandria K. Brown

    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://EzineQueenTutorial.com/

    In The News:

    table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/smartfocus-digital-brings-customer-insight/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B1DCFAC67-EA94-4B6D-9EF3-958184510690%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1257254153ei=rKXzSOH4Jo_u6gO6pdiEAQusg=AFQjCNHK7xRmIK1Pg-VRPn56UebYxZbqoAsmartFOCUS DIGITAL Brings Customer Insight to Digital bMarketing/b b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr7 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1LAS VEGAS, Oct 13, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- smartFOCUS DIGITAL, a leader in bemail/b and digital bmarketing/b software, today announces the immediate worldwide b.../b/fontbrfont size=-1a href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/meritdirect-adds-smartfocus-customer-knowledge/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257B26621009-3C59-4AE2-8B40-9D92505F7192%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1257254153ei=rKXzSOH4Jo_u6gO6pdiEAQusg=AFQjCNGG4aaiXbaxCD18DnvZjd0AzP3FfwMeritDirect Adds smartFOCUS Customer Knowledge Solutions to MeritBase/a font size=-1 color=#6f6f6fnobrMarketWatch/nobr/font/fontbrfont class=p size=-1a class=p href=http://news.google.com/news?sourceid=navclientie=ISO-8859-1rls=GGLG,GGLG:2005-22,GGLG:enncl=1257254153hl=ennobrall 21 news articles/nobr/a/font/div/font/td/tr/table
    table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/whatcounts-amp-message-systems-join-forces-with-powerful-email-marketing-solution,576421.shtmlcid=1257293846ei=rKXzSOH4Jo_u6gO6pdiEAQusg=AFQjCNGbZv5kzkjRAZCP4l7PTeP3TmCR9QWhatCounts amp; Message Systems Join Forces With Powerful bEmail/b b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fEarthtimes (press release),nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1It will also provide the real-time APIs for transactional and triggered bemail marketing/b campaigns as well as the built-in monitoring, audit and security b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
    table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/ipost-presents-case-study-next/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BCB5354CC-AC97-46EB-ABD1-D4250CF336E5%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1257369508ei=rKXzSOH4Jo_u6gO6pdiEAQusg=AFQjCNFLapGcdUWECpLcXbpAwi3OZEKbXwiPost Presents Case Study of Next Generation of Predictive b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr38 minutes ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The case study reviews how Autotarget#39;s advanced behavioral targeting yielded a dramatic improvement in the impact of bemail marketing/b for Eastwood, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
    table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.responsesource.com/releases/rel_display.php%3Frelid%3D42392cid=0ei=rKXzSOH4Jo_u6gO6pdiEAQusg=AFQjCNHNnr-FYEwxeAZ3PSkYC7ipnYkz3gGet better results from bemail marketing/b – Win an bEmail/b Worth £500/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fResponse Source (press release),nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr3 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1You can send the bemail/b from most bemail marketing/b software or as branded stationery from Outlook. “Our website also has bemail/b case studies with actual b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
    table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/retailers-can-generate-29-million,576179.shtmlcid=1257255452ei=rKXzSOH4Jo_u6gO6pdiEAQusg=AFQjCNHL0w4Sju5TjjWO0Nf9ZhRk6YWysgRetailers Can Generate $2.9 Million in Additional Revenue With b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fEarthtimes (press release),nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr7 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The study, which draws on an extensive survey of bemail marketing/b executives, also finds that companies employing a dedicated commercial on-premise system b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
    table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.clickz.com/3631137cid=0ei=rKXzSOH4Jo_u6gO6pdiEAQusg=AFQjCNF8NtlQHFCf4ARugXgTpsUl-sXq0wA Love/Hate Affair With bE-Mail Marketing/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fClickZ News,nbsp;NYnbsp;-/font nobr17 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1I thought this was a very interesting statistic and could possibly be a reason that be-mail marketing/b is still such a successful medium for us today! b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
    table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/sequel-sold-out-sales-20-conference/story.aspx%3Fguid%3D%257BA6AED1E3-27B8-44C6-907A-604CEFAAA223%257D%26dist%3Dhpprcid=1257272189ei=rKXzSOH4Jo_u6gO6pdiEAQusg=AFQjCNECGtMlYWB1AaU0aPWAA6BnR1iEtgSequel to Sold-Out Sales 2.0 Conference Planned for March 2009/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fMarketWatchnbsp;-/font nobr6 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Genius.com is a Sales 2.0 leader, with over 500 corporate customers using Genius.com#39;s unique technology to automate bemail marketing/b and lead generation b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
    table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.sourcewire.com/releases/rel_display.php%3Frelid%3D42368cid=1257218561ei=rKXzSOH4Jo_u6gO6pdiEAQusg=AFQjCNGCQZdWeYgxqZldb-zaAl--e3o9agNewsmax Media Adds Alterian’s Data Discovery and Visualization b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fSourceWire (press release),nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr9 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Newsmax currently uses Alterian Messenger as the cornerstone for its bemail/b direct bmarketing/b activities. Through its use of Messenger, Newsmax can determine b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
    table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.digitalresponsemedia.com/news-1-email-marketing-news/emails-are-not-just-for-marketing-366.aspxcid=0ei=rKXzSOH4Jo_u6gO6pdiEAQusg=AFQjCNF-3nPX3ebovVkCkE875T80I1KyLwEmails #39;are not just for bmarketing/b#39;/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fDigital Response Media,nbsp;UKnbsp;-/font nobr9 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1bEmail marketing/b executives would do well to remember that messages are not just for promotional purposes, one expert has said. Writing on the bEmail/b Insider b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
    table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.ibtimes.com/prnews/20081013/retailers-can-generate-2-9-million-in-additional-revenue-with-transactional-email-according-to-new-a.htmcid=0ei=rKXzSOH4Jo_u6gO6pdiEAQusg=AFQjCNESyGmLFYXrNR3SE47mHoKW5UQ3MwRetailers Can Generate $2.9 Million in Additional Revenue With b.../b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fInternational Business Times,nbsp;NYnbsp;-/font nobr7 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1The study, which draws on an extensivesurvey of bemail marketing/b executives, also finds that companies employing adedicated commercial on-premise system for b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
    email marketing - Google News

    Email Marketing - Building A Mail List

    Millions of people use their computer everyday as a form... Read More

    Twelve Tips for Successful Opt-in E-mail Newsletters

    An opt-in e-newsletter is one of the most effective marketing... Read More

    4 Tips On Taming Your Email

    I remember when I was first introduced to email. I... Read More

    20 Ways To Increase Your Traffic And Sales Using Free Follow-Up Autoresponder Courses

    An autoresponder course is a group of articles or information... Read More

    How Autoresonders Can Put Your Business On Autopilot

    Owning your own online business is a lot of work.... Read More

    Ten Tips for Email Marketers

    Here are the ten most important tips to ensure you're... Read More

    Six Easy White-Listing Ways... Stop Losing Important Emails!

    Are you dead sure about receiving of all the important... Read More

    How to Structure Your Follow-Up Sequence for Maximum Profit

    Before I do this, let me describe how autoresponders work.... Read More

    How to Laser Your Email Messages

    If you're in business and use email, you've likely learned... Read More

    Raid Your Autoresponder Attic For Content

    Why you need new website content.Finding or creating good content... Read More

    Reports of My Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated -- Email Marketing

    Recently, there has been a lot written about email and... Read More

    Three Phases to Email Sensitivity

    The neurophysiological dynamics of understanding each email message are very... Read More

    Dont Be Viewed as Rude!

    All too often otherwise nice folks come off as terse... Read More

    Free Mailing Lists: Good Or Bad?

    Advantages of the free mailing listsThe free newsletters are a... Read More

    5 Things You NEED to Know About Your AOL 9.0 Subscribers

    In Fall 2003, America Online (AOL) released its brand new... Read More

    Just Write an Email

    How did you sell your last product? Imagine that I... Read More

    Email Etiquette V

    Further to my previous issues this subject continues ? as... Read More

    10 Netiquette New Years Resolutions

    Happy New Year! New attitude? New habits? How about 10... Read More

    NCOA for Email - Is Your Email Address List Clean and Up-To-Date?

    Introduction Shrewd marketers devote a great amount of attention to... Read More

    Dont Attach That!

    The topic of sending attachments by e-mail is not one... Read More

    Build Your Opt-In List Today

    There are many services available to help your with building... Read More

    Stop Buying Email Lists

    The saying "Quality, not Quantity" is applicable even to the... Read More

    E-Marketing Deliverability Issues

    Does it seem to you that when you view "openings"... Read More

    One Great Way To Generate A Lot Of Cold Hard Cash From Your Opt-In Email List

    I bet you want to know what that one great... Read More

    Why Autoresponders are an Absolute Must

    With autoresponders, you never have to lose money advertising again!... Read More