I Love "Squeaky Wheels"!

You know the old phrase "the squeaky wheel gets the grease." No where is that more true than in publishing. I publish a newsletter that goes out three times a week, and I pack it with as much information, tips, help, and fun as I possibly can. I work on this as if I'm up for a Pulitzer. I'm always "on the lookout" for items that I think my readers will find useful or interesting.

I spend a lot of time sifting through the free ads to delete the duplicates, and spread them out through the newsletter for maximum exposure. I send and re-send the newsletter to myself looking for mistakes and poorly written text (I spend a lot of time doing this - don't laugh!). I'm finally satisfied, and send my issue out with a fond smile, and misty eyes, then wait breathlessly for return mail.

And wait.

Whoo hoo! I got "feedback"! Two people actually sat down and wrote me something. Wow!

Why am I so excited? The feedback could be a complaint, or a question as to why they couldn't find their ad or any number of things.

First, it's proof positive that your pride and joy just got read. How many times have you either skimmed quickly through an e-zine and not found anything that caught your eye - DELETE. Or looked at the subject line: "So-and-So's Newsletter" and DELETE. Every publisher's goal is (or should be) to provide a newsletter that their subscribers want to read So, ANY feedback means that your newsletter is being read.

Second, without feedback, I'm operating in a cold, black void. Do the reader's like the humor column I put in this time? Or do they consider it "fluff" and would just as soon have another meaty article to chew on? My newsletters are long (There's always so many new and innovative or important topics/programs/information on the web, I have a hard time leaving anything out), are they too long? Or, is their enough in the newsletter that interests you?

While I do get some feedback from my reader's, there are only a few who consistently provide me with feedback. You already know how I benefit from that, but how about these readers? For one thing, I get to know them. (Ok, I consider that my benefit too) If you get to know the publishers of the e-zines you subscribe to, you'll find an incredible support system. Most e-zine publishers LOVE to help and offer suggestions (maybe no one takes our advice offline, even though we are SO good at giving it - ha).

The publishers will also go that extra mile for you. Why? Just because we know you.

You also help determine the direction the newsletter takes. If those few people that provide me with feedback that they like a new feature: Baby, it's IN! If they don't, Goodbye! The vast majority of the subscribers may feel differently about it, but I can only use the feedback I actually receive in my inbox, that whole mind-reading thing gives me a headache.

That last point is really the most important paragraph of this article. With a just a few e-mails, you can help insure that the newsletters you subscribe to are interesting to you!

Heidi Moore is the Publisher of the ForFreedom Ezine: The ONLY Ezine that GUARANTEES income!
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