E-ZINEZ is an e-mail newsletter published for E-Zine and Newsletter publishers by a woman named Kate Schultz from Coronado, Col., USA. You can review their archives and subscribe on the Web or via e-mail. It's a classic, in terms of presenting information in a newsletter format on both interfaces --- without a lot of superflous graphics and bells and whistles on the Web site.
From the archives issues I looked at, this lady usually has lots of information to offer each time. She even provides content for other e-zine and newsletter publishers if you subscribe to her service. She does a tutorial on some aspect of managing and promoting your e-zine or newsletter that is informative and well-written. As she states, she's writing for "the average business-owner." That's the upside.
What I found distracting about this site was the emphasis on cross-promotional messages. A little cross-promotion is good, because this is a medium based on linkages. But it can also be over-done, as we see when visiting Web sites that a little more than "free-for-all" links lists. I click away from those in a Tokyo minute.
So I had a problem with this newsletter for some of the same reasons. Here's an excerpt of what I'm talking about:
"What are the best ezines? Check out what Scott Owen has to say at http://www.bestezines.com
"Don't miss Gary Knuckles' new site for his Promote! Weekly Announcement List. http://www.promotefree.com
"Brian Alt has done it again! Visit his newly remodeled site at http://www.ezineseek.com and then join his list EPUB! The Email Publishers discussion list, a moderated group of over 300 publishers. To subscribe, send a blank email to mailto:
"E-target.com has taken a new and exciting turn for this year . E-target is now an E Zine warehouse offering list owners the opportunity to generate revenue from their opt-in subscriber base. Visit e-target today for details! http://e-target.com/listowners.htm
"LifeStyles Publishing It just keeps getting better! The best of all worlds for E-zine Advertising. Do you sell advertising in your e-zine? Make sure you are listed in this database. Are you looking for the right Ezine to place your advertisements? Lifestyles Publishing is all you need. Visit: http://www.lifestylespub.com/cgi-bin/ezines.cgi?10310 ..."
A good 40 percent or more of the newsletter was devoted to these kinds of promotional blurbs when I read it. I couldn't handle it.
I'm aware that at least one person here at Andover News Network advocates this type of "classified advertising" approach to Internet publications... But not in my e-mail box, thank you very much.
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