I received the following question yesterday: "How do I get started publishing and marketing my ezine?"

While the question is broad enough to warrant its own seminar, let's discuss the "How do I get started publishing?" question this week and the "marketing" of it next week.

Before you start publishing an ezine or e-newsletter, you want to know your reason "why".

WHY are you going to publish an ezine/e-newsletter?

Is it:

*to become recognized as an expert in your industry?

*to get more clients?

*to sell informational products and services?

*to spread the word about a great cause?

*to stay in touch with your shareholders/investors?

*a combination of the above?

You get the idea: There are any number of reasons to have an ezine and you must know *your* why in order to reach your goal.

Once you know your "why", you need to determine the "how" to make it happen:

*In the beginning, will YOU be sending your ezine out? If so, are you comfortable with technology? or

*Do you have a virtual assistant who can send out your ezine for you? If so, does she know html?

Once you know the answers to the above, you'll have a better idea of "how" to make it happen.

A few of the most popular options include:

*Using a shopping cart such as KickStart Cart for your ezine publishing, autoresponders and sales (some html knowledge needed). Cost = $99.00/month for professional version which allows you to sell ebooks.

*Using Constant Contact for your ezine publishing and Paypal for your sales (no html needed). Cost for Constant Contact can be as low as f.r.e.e. and Paypal takes a percentage of your sales.

*Using a service such as Aweber for your ezine publishing and autoresponders. Cost = $19.95/month.

These are just a sampling of the many options out there. My recommendation is to go with the option that suits where your business is GOING, not where it is today, provided you can do so without overwhelming yourself (or your finances). This will save you a lot of growing pains in the future.

Coaching Challenge:

If you aren't yet publishing an ezine, it's because you don't have a big enough "WHY" to do it. Now's the time to quit talking and start doing!

Determine your *why* and then research the best *how* to get it done. If you are publishing an ezine, take a good look at the results you're getting from it -- is it meeting your "why" for publishing it in the first place? If not, now's the time to freshen it up some -- add a new section, take one away. Send a survey to your list and ask them what THEY want to see.

Remember. . .generating income quickly and consistently requires that you implement quickly and consistently. :-)