Ezine University LogoNew Students Welcome
FREE Tuition
Online Training
Start Today

Home | Courses | Resources | Subscribe | Student Center | Faculty | Library | EZU Tutor | About Us

E-ZINES 301: Planning and Development

Developing Your E-Zine Template

What is a template?

A template is a predesigned page format. A template will includes all the standard *non-moving* parts of an E-Zine such as the Nameplate, Masthead, Section Titles, Subscription Management information, and Contact Info.

To have an e-zine template delivered directly to your email inbox, you can request one from our autoresponder at template2@ezineuniversity.com

How do I use a template?

Open your template file and using the *save as* feature of your text editor, give the file a new name. For example, if you publish a monthly E-Zine, you will use your template to create the newsletter each month. You could name your files using this type of format:

0199ezine.txt
0299ezine.txt
0399ezine.txt

When you look at your files you can see quite clearly that these file names would represent January, February and March 1999 E-Zines. Then after you opean each file you can add the content into each issue.

Standing Elements

The essential components of an E-Zine start with the Standing Elements. The Standing Elements of an E-zine are those sections that occur in all issues. Your Standing Elements will tell your readers who you are and how to get in touch with you. Creating the Standing Elements of your E-zine is the first step in developing your E-zine Template.

The Nameplate
The Masthead
The Table of Contents

The Nameplate
The Nameplate is just what you expect it to be. Your E-Zine's nameplate "opens" the issue and should include your E-Zine's name, tag line, dateline and volume or issue number. The Nameplate is the first part of your e-zine. It belongs at the top of the E-Zine.

The Nameplate

Date and volume numbers serve as reference numbers so that you and others can identify your newsletters. You will put the issue date and the volume numbers at the top of the newsletter. What is a volume number? Volume numbers are reference tools that indicate the age of your newsletter. A volume usually covers a calendar year. So, Vol. 1, No. 1 - is the first issue of this e-zine.

The Masthead
The Masthead is the place your readers go to find out basic information about your newsletter. It should contain information about subscriptions, advertising and copyright, in addition to the name, address and phone number of the publisher. In e-zines, you will see quite commonly that the masthead is split into two parts.

One part of the masthead follows the nameplate and the rest is at the end of the e-zine. Generally, you want to put the name and e-mail address of the editor or publisher, along with subscription information, right under the nameplate in your e-zine. The purpose for this placement is to let your readers know right away who YOU are and also how to get off your mailing list if they choose.

The remaining parts of the masthead are usually at the end of the e-zine. When your e-zine is opened, the first 8-10 lines should let your readers know who you are and what the e-zine contains. Let them know right away that your e-zine is not SPAM by including your name and subscription information in the opening of your e-zine.

Masthead Part I

The other parts of the masthead include: Copyright, Subscription Information,  Advertising Info and Signature File. Each issue should contain the same information in the same location.

Copyright:  The copyright notice should contain the the following elements.

1. The symbol © (the letter in a circle), or the word "Copyright".

2. The year the work was first published.

3. The name of the owner of copyright.

Copyright Info

As the publisher of your e-zine, you are free to express your approach in handling the material in your e-zine. Some publishers ask their readers to redistribute their newsletter and pass it on to friends who might be interested.

If your e-zine is a marketing tool, you will probably want to encourage readers to send it along to their friends. Maybe one of them will want to subscribe, which, of course, is another reason you want to put subscribe information in the masthead. In this instance, you should encourage your readers to forward the whole e-zine but specify that it must be forwarded "in its entirety".

Of course, if you charge a subscription fee for your e-zine, this is not the type of behavior you wish to condone.

For more information about copyright, visit the Library of Congress Copyright Site.

Subscription Information or Mailing List Maintenance. You must make it easy for people to remove their names from your mailing list. Include subscribe and unsubscribe instructions in each issue.

List Maintenance

Classified Advertising Information: If you accept classified advertising in your e-zine, you should include information to direct your readers to the advertising rates and policies for your e-zine.

Advertising Info

Signature File:  Your e-zine should end with your signature file. A Signature File is a standard block of information at the end of an e-mail message. It can be used as your electronic business card or letterhead. It should contain your name, contact information and a marketing slogan, if you have one.

Place your signature file at the end of your e-zine to ensure that your readers can reach you. It will be visible to all customers, clients, and prospects who correspond with you electronically.  Think of your signature file as a little billboard advertisement on your e-mail messages.

Signature File

Table of Contents
The table of contents box lets your readers know what to expect and the order of the articles
in your e-zine. In a text based e-zine, you cannot refer to page numbers, so make sure that your table of contents matches the sequence of articles.

In This Issue

Remember, your Standing Elements should be produced in the same location for each issue. Start your e-zine on the right track by including these Essential E-zine Elements in every issue of your E-Zine.

Next

Return to Course Catalog

Ezine-Tips
Daily Newsletter
:

Name:
Email:

 

Web Site Essentials:

Ezine Resources

Opt-Influence.com Advertising Network

Email Industry News

Need Subscribers?

Email Lingo

Expert Ezine Reviews

Ezine Ad Swaps

Need to Sell Your Ezine?


Need Articles?

EzineArticles.com

 

 


Home | Courses | Resources | Subscribe | Student Center | Faculty | Library | EZU Tutor | About EZU

© SparkNET Corporation All rights reserved
Privacy Policy