Create an Ezine to get people back to your site

Author: Richard Lowe, Jr.
Contact Author: articles@internet-tips.net
Web Address: http://www.internet-tips.net

I know you've worked hard on your website. I know it looks pretty
good - in fact, it's fantastic. However, you are facing one huge
problem - getting people to come back.

Look at it this way: if you are serious, you should be updating your
web site on a regular basis. While not everyone can update their site
several times a day like I do, you should at least add something
relatively significant on a weekly basis. If you have any doubts
about that time frame, remember, the web is huge and people who surf
the web need (require) constant changes. Nothing will die faster than
a stale site!

Okay, so you are updating your site every single day (or weekly or
whatever). So how do people know this? You can (and should) do a
number of things, including specifying a "what's new" section on your
index page, referencing the changes in editorial columns and so on.

However, the most important task you can do is create a regular
newsletter which let's people know what's changed.

Do NOT send this newsletter out to everyone on the planet - that's
called SPAM. What you want to do is sprinkle sign-up buttons and
links throughout your site. Put at least one link on every single
page of your site. Use buttons, blink it if you have to, but get your
visitor's attention to your sign-up links. Some sites even offer a
free give away (an ebook, report, shareware program or something) if
you simply sign up for the newsletter.

Why is this important? Because no matter what your site is about,
commercial or home page, if you can get someone to sign up for your
newsletter you've found someone who is interested in what you've got
to say. They gave you a way to contact them, willingly and without
being forced, and they gave you permission (by virtue of signing up)
to send them information.

These people are the most valuable people you can get as visitors.
They liked what you had to say. They actually want you to tell them
when something new happens so they can come back.
Take advantage of that - send them a content filled newsletter.
Include something special in each issue, something more than just
some links or a few useless words. I like to include an article, a
list of new or changed information on my site and a few useful links.
ALWAYS include a way to opt-out - at the bottom of the newsletter is
the traditional place (do not make your readers search for this).

An ad or two in the newsletter is fine, but be careful - do not
include more unless you specify that in the signup page. You do not
even want to have any appearance of spam.

Remember your goal - get them to your web site. If you've got
something to sell, do it on your web site. People do not generally
like to receive ads (even willingly) in their emails, but they love
articles and useful tips and even jokes. But more than a couple of
ads are tacky. And please, avoid advertising your affiliate or pay-to-
surf programs in your ezine. Many spam filters will delete any
messages containing that junk right away (mine deletes them sight-
unseen).

So get your visitors to sign up for a regular newsletter, and send it
out as often as you can. You will be rewarded with a steady stream of
return visits.

About the Author

Copyright (c) 1999-2001, Richard Lowe Jr And Claudia Arevalo-Lowe
Richard Lowe Jr. is the webmaster of Internet Tips And Secrets. This
website includes over 1,000 free articles to improve your internet
profits, enjoyment and knowledge.
Web Site Address: http://www.internet-tips.net
Weekly newsletter: http://www.internet-tips.net/joinlist.htm
Daily Tips: internet-tips@GetResponse.com

Claudia Arevalo-Lowe is the webmistress of Internet Tips And Secrets
and Surviving Asthma. Visit her site at http://survivingasthma.com