Overview
Email newsletters, sometimes known as e-newsletters, online newsletters or ezines,
fulfill exactly the same purpose as their hard copy equivalents in the 'real world'. They
are (usually) regular bulletins sent to a well-defined group of potential readers that
contain news, information and/or written coverage of events relevant to that group. They are
extremely popular online due to their potential as an acceptable form of communication in an
environment where strict unwritten rules exist that prohibit many forms of unsolicited
contact by email (known as spam). Email newsletter publishers overcome the spam problem by
inviting potential subscribers to 'opt in' to their newsletter's mailing list, usually by
means of a form on a website, thereby allowing them to legitimately be contacted by email on
a regular basis. As mentioned several times elsewhere on this site, a newsletter is almost
always the best way of getting announcements and regular messages across to any group of
people who share an interest.
Types Of Email Newsletters
Plain Text
There are two main types of email newsletters: plain text and HTML. Plain text files are
created using a text editor, such as Notepad, or an email client configured to produce
'text-only' emails. All the popular email clients, such as Outlook, Outlook Express,
Thunderbird, Eudora etc can do this and use ASCII, the built-in language that all computers
use to produce the symbols, characters and numbers represented by the keys on a keyboard.
There are a number of pros and cons to using plain text but the most noticeable disadvantage
to most people is that plain text is just that—plain. In other words it cannot be
formatted to display different font sizes, styles or colors and doesn't allow the inclusion
of graphics etc.
HTML
HTML, on the other hand, is fully configurable and can also utilize hyperlinked phrases
that hide the actual URL (such as 'Click Here'). This allows the list owner to create
attractive and appealing emails that look and respond in exactly the same way as webpages,
and can do everything that they do including the display of graphics. This is not surprising
as HTML is the language of the World Wide Web. The downside is that they also contain the
same security holes. This makes HTML emails a particularly attractive communications media
to those with malicious intent since, unlike a website owner, they can easily spoof someone
else's email address as the sender and cover their own tracks.
Our Newsletters
101 Newsletter Answers
A monthly (approx) online ezine or webletter that focuses on meaningful content and associated topics for
communicators who use newsletters, as well as tips for SOHOs (Small Or Home Offices). In
this ezine we try to cover the subjects widely enough for people from all walks of life to
find it informative, even though the focus is primarily (but not solely) on small business
and the self-employed.
Subscribers include information executives, consultants, retailers, tradesmen, managers,
and private individuals from all over the world.
- For more information click here
- To subscribe (free) send a blank e-mail to subscribe (see Important
Email Information below) with 101 Newsletter Answers in the Subject field.
Text Newsletter Templates
This free service is available to all who want to publish a newsletter of their
own but, for whatever reason, haven't (or possibly, can't) get it going. If you want your own newsletter, be it an ezine or
hardcopy version, but don't have one because of a problem such as lack of time, lack of
confidence, lack of experience, or any of a host of other factors, then this service is
designed for you. For more information, click here.
Mailing Lists
101 Content Answers
An Announcement List that is used as a platform for announcements about Internet
'content' and similar resources that might be of interest to content users such as webmasters, newsletter publishers etc. To
start your free subscription send a blank e-mail to: 101AnswersCT-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
. Or for more information click here.
101 Writing and Publishing Answers
Another moderated Announcement List which features announcements about Internet resources that might
be of interest to readers, writers, publishers and their suppliers. The list is used to
announce resources, find out about resources and keep abreast of developments. To start your
free subscription please send a blank e-mail to subscribe at the domain 101writinganswers.com with Writing and Publishing
on the Subject line. For more information click here.
Important Email Information
To lessen the chances of email addresses falling prey to address harvesting software (as
used by spammers) we avoid showing them in full. Instead, we only show prefixes (what
comes before '@'). Please be sure to add the @ and (usually) 101newsletteranswers.com.
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