An ezine has become on the most effective marketing tools on the Internet today. Unlike a traditional magazine or newsletter, the ezine is an easy to put together publication that’s only available through the Internet via email or a website. This eliminates the costs associated with traditional magazines such as printing and distribution.

If you do a search about any subject online you are going to find that you have the opportunity to join hundreds of ezines on various targeted subjects. Since the development of an ezine is a perfect method to build an opt-in list of potential clients for your products and services, it’s imperative that you develop your own online publication. Otherwise you’re only leaving potential sales on the table.

So what are the steps to developing a successful online ezine?

The truth is that with a simple piece of software and knowledge on a certain subject, you can start your own ezine and start adding people to your subscriber database in a matter of minutes.

Here are the four steps to creating your ezine and getting it online.

#1 - The first thing you need to do is choose a name for your ezine that describes the content you will be providing. Obviously you want to create an ezine that relates to the products or services that you are going to be selling. For example, If I have a product or service I’m promoting that deals with weight loss & nutrition I might name my ezine the following, “Lose Weight Safely – The eZine Dedicated To Safe and Effective Weight Lose Techniques”. The main thing is to make the name of your ezine exciting and let the subscribers no exactly what they are subscribing to.

#2 – After you create the theme and title of your ezine, the next thing you will want to do is add an opt-in form to your website so people can subscribe to receive your publication. The reason you want to do this before you actually create your first ezine, is that you need subscribers to send information to. You might as well be building your database while you develop a quality publication.

In order to add an opt-in form to your website you are going to need an auto responder service such as Aweber. An auto responder is an email marketing and database tool that allows you to build an opt-in list and then email that opt-in list your ezines and email promotions. The auto responder service you choose will give you a snippet of code you can add to your website, blog, MySpace page, etc. that will allow visitors to subscribe to your new ezine.

#3 – After your opt-in forms are added to your web properties it’s time to start encouraging your visitors to subscribe to your new ezine. You can do this by offering your visitors extra freebies simply for signing up for your publication. Some good ideas are free eBooks, discounts on products, vouchers, reports and audios. The important thing is to add on the value a person will receive when they sign up and make them an offer they just can’t refuse. By doing this you can drastically increase your opt-in rates and build your subscriber base at a lot faster rate.

#4 – All that’s left to do from here on out is produce a quality publication to send to your subscriber base. When writing your ezine newsletters it’s important that you continually offer valuable and relevant information about your selected topic. This will ensure that you will retain your subscriber base and avoid having people “opt-out” of receiving future information.

Make sure you keep your advertising to a minimum and work in your products and services into the subject you are writing about. Giving someone a subtle suggestion about a product or service often works way better than blatantly advertising to them.

In closing, you now have the formula for successfully creating your own ezine. While most web publishers worry about creating the perfect ezine before they start building their opt-in base, you will grow your database much quicker by working in reverse and then writing quality content as your subscriber base grows.

Watch a video about this technique below:

Networking events take place all over the country. From small towns to big cities, networking is a part of any business model on the planet. Perhaps the biggest part of networking is convincing yourself to be social and not just a wallflower. The next time you attend a networking function consider the following tips to help you become more successful and bring in more business

What to do before a networking event.

Before you attend the event write down what your strengths, attributes and special skills are. This way you will know exactly why someone should be interested in what you have to offer. Keep these strengths in your head in order to boost your confidence and remind yourself of why people should be talking with you and listening to what you have to say.

Another great idea is to picture the room in your mind and picture yourself shaking hands and talking with people. By visualizing everything you will be doing it can really help even they most shy individual. Visualization is a powerful tool used by many successful people whether it is in business, sports or entertainment.

What to do when you arrive at a networking event.

When you finally show up make sure you have a confident posture, a controlled walk, a smile on your face and a firm handshake to those you meet. And never forget to make lots of eye contact. Then be sure to use the immediate environment to start a conversation such as the venue or the host. This will help you to find a common bond and to keep the conversation going. Always start with small talk before you get down to business.

What to do during a networking session.

When you need to get down to business have some questions prepared to ask people in order to find out what their needs are and if your services will help people. You don’t have to be pushy, rather soft sell yourself and build interest. This will make people more receptive to be helped by you.

Talking is only half of the event. When it comes your turn remember to repeat the individuals name back to them, actively listen to what they have to say and keep a mental database of as many details you can about the person to whom you are talking. If possible always get a business card and don’t be afraid to ask for it. The best time to ask is usually after they have talked about what they do and then you can offer yours in return.

What to do after a networking event.

Then when you return home be sure to write out information on the back of the card or a sheet of paper that can be stapled to the card. This way you can maintain and build and rapport for a future meeting, email or phone call.

Everyone likes a person who remembers them. Within twenty-four hours be sure to email everyone you met and say you enjoyed meeting them. It’s also good to mention a detail you remember and suggest that they keep in touch with you.

By incorporating these simple tips and strategies into your next networking event not only will you enjoy yourself more but also bring in more customers to your business.