For years my husband, oldest son and my best friend tried to get
me to start an online magazine, or ezine as it is also known. I
laughed them off. I felt it would be to complicated and
expensive to get into.
At the first of the year, I believed that God was dealing with me
on that issue. I woke up one morning feeling as if He had
promised me it would not be as expensive or as complicated as
I had previously believed. He was right, but isn't He always?
The hardest part was finding a name for my ezine and the
companion web site. I wanted a name that would reflect that my
ezine was about heart-touching and inspiring stories. For days, I
wrote down every name I could think of and the ones other
people suggested. I had two and an half sheets of legal paper
covered with ideas. When I would check on the names I really
liked, they were taken. Finally, I told God that He would have
to give me the name. The next morning I woke with Write 2 the
Heart on my mind. When I did a quick check to see if
www.write2theheart.com was available, I found it not been
taken.
To find out if your idea for a name is available, go to
www.networksolutions.com. There, you will find a box to type
in your idea for a name. They will do a free search and let you
know right away if it is taken or not. Before you do a name
check, know what you will be writing about in your ezine. You
wouldn’t want to call it Touch-Down and discuss only kitchen
ware. It is always best to write about something you love.
You do not need to have a web site, but as you grow, you will
look much more professional if you do. If you wait until you
think you need it, someone else may take your name. If that
happens, your ezine will be advertisement for their site because
people will always type the name they know and remember in
the address bar. You can "park" a domain, which means you
pay a yearly fee to acquire it in your name so no one can take the
name you like, but not make a site. Parking a domain is around
$10.00 to $20.00.
Your biggest expense will be software to use to create your site.
If you have a friend who can do this for you that will help. The
software can start at $99.00 and go up even higher than $250.00
If you decide to build a web site, you will need a web host. The
web host is a gateway to get to your site. The web host you
chose can and will register your domain name for you, usually as
a package deal. You will have to renew your name each year.
Your
domain name will be the similar to your site name. My domain
name is
write2theheart.com. My site name, which is really my address is
www.write2theheart.com. Prices vary depending on the host
and the services you chose. Expect to pay from $7.95 to
$19.95 a month
for hosting fees. I have just moved to Christian Web
Host. The package I chose cost me $8.95 per month. With this
comes
200MB of storage and 200 email accounts. I prepaid for a
year, I can upgrade if I need more storage. I handled the entire
transaction on their site with a credit card.
I would recommend that you do a search for web host on a
search
engine and compare various web hosts. I prefer
www.google.com,
they still do a true search and not just a search through
subscribers
who pay to be included on their search engine like many are
doing now.
You will need a host that fits your budget, provides more than
one email address and includes storage on your site. Storage is
important if you will be archiving your back issues for people to
find. More than one email address helps you to keep organized.
I use
moderator@write2theheart.com to send out my issues
and to receive submissions. I use
subscribe@write2theheart.com for new subscribers. I use
remove@write2theheart.com for people to unsubscribe. I use
cheryl@write2theheart.com for personnel correspondence.
You get the picture.
You do not have to go the web-hosting route; you can use
Topica or Yahoo Groups as a list server. A list server acts as
a middle man. Subscribers sign up for your ezine through them.
If
a person is browsing through their site, they may find your ezine
name
and sign up. It is similar to how you found "The Writer's Niche".
Listing
you on their site is all the promoting they do for you. As of this
writing, Topica and Yahoo Groups do not cost. You set up an
account,
and email your ezine to them. They will email it to your
subscribers.
Both will add advertising to your ezine. Sometimes it may be
something
you would not chose to have on it. They will also archive your
issues. If someone complains about your ezine, be warned there
is a good possibility that Topica will shut you down without
contacting you to find out if the complaint is true or not. I saw
this happen to someone who had been with them several years.
Even if you do have your own site, you may want to use a list
server. Many people feel they cannot handle a large mailing list.
This is true with most mail programs that people are familiar
with. I use Pegasus Mail. It can be downloaded free at
www.pmail.com. With this program, I can mail my subscribers
very easily using the distribution list. Just remember to back up
and save your list frequently. A computer crash could wipe out
your list of subscribers.
Here are a few things you should know. Never send your ezine
to anyone who did not ask for it. Unsolicited email is frowned
upon. If enough people complain to your web host, they will
shut you
down. Do not print the cute and sweet stories that are floating
around the web, you know the ones that friends forward to you.
By printing these stories from unknown sources, you may be
infringing on someone’s copyright. If the owner of the copyright
finds out, they could complain to your web host or list
server. It is best that you accept original work as sent to you by
the author.
Once you start an ezine, you will have to promote it. Make
business cards and brochures. Hand them out everywhere you
go. Include them in your correspondence and envelopes when
you pay bills. Place them on free bulletin boards. Create a
signature about your ezine to add to the bottom of all your email.
Check your email program for a signature option.
This is mine:
****************************************
WRITE 2 THE HEART
The FREE emag of heart-touching stories
To subscribe, send email to:
subscribe@write2theheart.comhttp://www.write2theheart.com*****************************************
Swap articles that include your information with other list
owners. Your best advertising will be word of mouth and the
forward button on your subscribers mail program.
You can use your ezine to promote a business web site. It
is a good way to keep customers coming back. You can sell
advertising in your ezine. It can also be used to alert your
readers when you have a new book published. Some ezines
are going to a paid subscription only. These are some of the
ways
to make it pay for itself.
Most of all enjoy it. You will meet many wonderful people and
create new and lasting friendships.
****************************************
WRITE 2 THE HEART
The FREE emag of heart-touching stories
To subscribe, send email to:
subscribe@write2theheart.comhttp://www.write2theheart.com*****************************************
