| Five
years ago, there were 1500 different newsletters in this country. Today there are well
over 10,000, with new ones being started every day. It's also interesting to note that for
every new one that's started, some disappear just as quickly as they are started - lack of
operating capital and marketing know-how being the principal causes of failure.
To be successful with a newsletter, you have to specialize. Your best bet will be with new
information on a subject not already covered by an established newsletter.
Regardless of the frustrations involved in launching your own
newsletter, never forget this truth: There are people from all walks of life, in all parts
of this country, many of them with no writing ability whatsoever, who are making
incredible profits with simple two-, four-, and six-page newsletters!
Your first step should be to subscribe to as many different newsletters and mail order
publications as you can afford. Analyze and study how the others are doing it. Attend as
many workshops and seminars on your subject as possible. Learn from the pros. Learn how
the successful newsletter publishers are doing it, and why they are making money. Adapt
their success methods to your own newsletter, but determine to recognize where they are
weak, and to make yours better in every way.
Plan your newsletter before launching it. Know the basic premise for its being, your
editorial position, the layout, art work, type styles, subscription price, distribution
methods, and every other detail necessary to make it look, sound and feel like the end
result you have envisioned.
Lay out your start-up needs; detail the length of time it's going to take to become
established, and what will be involved in becoming established. Set a date as a mile stone
of accomplishment for each phase of your development: A date for breaking even, a date for
attaining a certain paid subscription figure, and a monetary goal for each of your first
five years in business. And all this must be done before publishing your first issue.
Most newsletter publishers do all the work themselves, and are impatient to get that
first issue into print. As a result, they neglect to devote the proper amount of time to
market research and distribution. Don't start your newsletter with out first having
accomplished this task! |