Welcome to the Ezine Template Guide for your HTML Newsletter.
The purpose is this template is to provide you with a starting point to get to grips with how to construct an HTML Ezine. On the right you can see the actual Ezine layout (horizontally spaced more generously than would usually be the case). On the left the sidebar provides comments and feedback about everything that's going on in the right panel.

WARNING: Since this is an HTML Ezine Template, you can take advantage of many of the richly featured benefits of HTML. However my advice is not to go throwing colors, fonts and graphics at the Ezine. It won't improve the overall look and it will certainly confuse your reader.

Don't forget, no template will ever include every possible permutation and there are lots of options out there. Use this as a basis and keep an eye out for good practise examples you see in other Ezines, you can always incorporate these features into your own newsletter at a later date.

You may be able to use the template directly, by highlighting the right hand column with your cursor and moving down to the bottom of the page, then cut-and-paste what you've copied into your HTML layout program. I use FrontPage but there are dozens out there. If you're not a wizard with HTML then use a What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) editor or email package.
 

Comments in Sidebar

Actual HTML Ezine Layout

GUIDELINE OR HEADING
You don't need  to restrict yourself to 60 - 65 character width, but still draw up guidelines for HTML Ezine. First, not everyone has a large computer monitor + many people will set their display mode to no more than 800 wide x 600 pixels deep, or less. The other reason is that it is uncomfortable reading wide lines of text on your computer screen. So keep it narrow. The width in this templated example is just 487 pixels wide. The width of the banner on the right. I would suggest not much more than this. This HTML newsletter heading is courtesy of Helmut Renner, Editor of Marketing & Design Newsletter.
 

TAG LINE
Remind your readers what the thrust of your Ezine is all about. This is the way that the  Marketing & Design Newsletter introduce themselves.

ISSUE OR VOLUME INFORMATION
It is a good idea to state today's date and some volume or issue information. An ISSN number (which are available free) provides a lot of credibility. This is how the 250,000 subscribers plus Ezine DEMC run there Volume information.
 

REMIND THAT YOU’RE NOT SPAMMing!
Once your Ezine is very established you might drop this wording, but when starting, remind all readers why they’re receiving this email from you. Also always remind people that they are at liberty to unsubscribe when they want to.

FULL HYPHERLINKS
Don't forget that one great advantage of an HTML Ezine is that you can make all the links truly live and clickable. This is less predictable with a plain text email. You can even make the link display some information when you rollover it. Put the mouse on my email address over to the right. (Note: will not work in all email packages or some older browsers).

SEPARATION LINES
You can use the full range of graphics and effects to separate one section from the next. This is perhaps the most basic example, it's a standard "horizontal line".

TOP AD OR SPONSOR AD PLACED HERE
If you are already accepting ads, then the Top Ad or Sponsor Ad goes here and receives a high profile. Here's an example of an Ad that I sometimes run for my Newsletter Editors Toolkit. Typically you'll limit the top ad to just a few lines. One of the biggest and most successful email Ezines DEMC limits to just 5 lines for their 'Feature Sponsor'.

CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
You should give your reader a taster of what follows in your Ezine. Here's how Webmaster Resources Directory WebmasterGate handles this important section. Your aim should be to give the reader the feeling of familiarity. Your proving that your Ezine is well thought and and constructed. How do we know this? It has a Contents Section!  With the added ability of HTML you can make the bullet points truly stand out. Bullets are a very useful marketing technique as they draw the readers eye and provide a quick overview.

EDITOR'S CHANCE TO SPOUT OFF
Here's where you get your opportunity to get your readership loving you. This is one of THE most read sections of your newsletter, so use it wisely. Remember you need to build loyalty, trust and belief, so don't squander this opportunity and never abuse your position as editor. Hit the right note from the outset! If you haven't read it already, please take a look at my article Why Your Newsletter Must Get Itself A Personality Today.

FEATURE ARTICLE (MAYBE FROM GUEST)
Now comes the main feature article, which is frequently written and supplied by a guest feature writer. You'll find more about how to receive loads of guest article submissions in the main eBook manual. People like to read how others have made a success in their particular field. So select your articles wisely. There are an abundance of feature article writers out there. Some are not up to much, whilst others are great, but have been published to death elsewhere.

FEATURED CLASSIFIED ADS
These are small 4 or 5 line ads ranging from $2 to $45 in cost, depending on the size and quality of your readership.

RESOURCES
This is a great opportunity for you to do some research and provide the fruits of your work back to your subscriber base. Now this is also a good opportunity to earn some extra revenue by being an affiliate of the links you recommend, but again make sure that you've checked out the resources you're including, because it is your reputation on the line.

CLASSIFIED ADS
These are small 4 or 5 line ads ranging from $1 to $45 in cost, depending on the size and quality of your readership. Similar to feature classified ads but usually sold at lower prices since these ads appear further into the newsletter.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Here's where you ensure that your readership knows where to get in touch with you. This is a great moment to invite feedback and response from your readership. Why's that important? Read this. Here's how the owner of the popular Ezine Enchanted Wealth handles the Contact information with plenty of ways to get in-touch.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Inevitably it may be almost impossible to prevent someone else from stealing your best ideas, but a good copyright notice will act as a deterrent, so always include this important statement. It will never do you any harm and it will make you appear to be a more professional organization.

DISCLAIMER NOTICE
You don't want to be held liable for something that one of your advertisers offered that didn't work for your reader. This is a standard disclaimer clause.

AFFILIATION NOTICES
You can let your audience know who you're affiliated to. In some cases this will earn you an advantage in being listed in return by the directory that you mention. Here are a couple of examples.

SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
This is important. Don't confuse your reader by not letting them easily find out which email they used to subscribe. Often people have various email addresses.

UNSUBSCRIBE INFORMATION
Don't ever be tempted in burying this information in the hope that people won't bother to unsubscribe. It won't work! Not only will they unsubscribe anyway, but they'll get annoyed with you in the process. It's more or less proven that being upfront about your readers ability to leave and join at will is more than likely going to keep them happy and with you. After all, why unsubscribe today, when they always know they could do it with ease some other time!

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Editor's Spiel
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Feature Article
High quality feature articles reflect well on your own newsletter Ezine, but bad articles with typos and spelling errors will do the opposite. So be careful when you select which articles to publish!

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