E-ZINES 201: Preparation and Research

Men or women: Are your readers mostly men or women or evenly divided?

Age range: How old are your readers?

Geographic location:  Where do they live? Are your readers concentrated in one location? Are they all over the world?

WHAT?

What do they read? Is there any one publication that you would expect most of your readers to read? Do they read the Wall Street Journal, The Journal of American Medicine, Hot Rod Cars, Fishing Magazines, Consumer Magazines, etc.

What are their interests? Is your newsletter a hobby for them or business related or both? For example: If your business is travel related, what else would your customers be interested in? Places to eat? Shop?

What is their income level? Does your product or service tell you anything about income levels? For example: are you selling custom made swimming pool covers in Minnesota?

What is their Education Level? Is your product or service targeted at a particular profession - lawyers, accountants or doctors? Are your readers already knowledgeable about your topic? Is your product or service geared toward beginners, intermediate or advanced audiences?

What is their attitude about your product or service? Is this something they need? Want to have? Is it fun or is it work? Do they feel good after using your product or service? Example: Car maintenance - we all know it has to be done. Some people love this stuff - others (like me) just can't find the excitement in it!

Why are they unique? Is this a "rite of passage" purchase? First car? First anything?

Where is the best place to get their attention? At the point of purchase?

Where are they online? Newsgroups? Discussion Groups? Mailing Lists? AOL? CompuServe? Game Centers?

Where do they live? Is your product or service relevant only to certain geographic areas?

When is the best time to get their attention? Morning, noon or night? What day is best? Perhaps beginning of the month, middle of the month, end of the month? January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December. Is any one season better than another? Is your business seasonal? Holidays? Tax Time?

How are your readers like you? Do you have the same interests? Are you from the same part of the world? The country? The state? They city? Do you all like to wear hats? Drive the same kind of cars? Play the same sports? Eat the same foods? Well, you get the idea.

How are your readers different from you? Is your newsletter trying to persuade someone to "do" something differently from what they are currently doing?

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