"Don't Bore Me! Give Your Ezine "Personality"!

All right, I confess. I'm an ezine junkie. I love 'em. All
shapes, all sizes; I subscribe to hundreds. You might say I'm
an addict. Anyway, as I scan the subject line of my precious
beauties when they hit my inbox, there are only certain ones
I'm chomping at the bit to read. Why is that? Why does one ezine
have me salivating and another reaching for my delete key?
Good question, I was hoping you'd ask.

The newsletters I can't wait to read are the ones with
"personality." Yes, that's right -- PERSONALITY. I just
love an ezine that makes me laugh, or cry, or think about
things I haven't thought about for awhile. Thought provoking.
Enlightening, heart warming.

I do have my favorites and usually those are the ones where
I feel as if I know the publisher on a personal level, which
says a lot, since I've never met any of them in the real
off-line world. So how do they do that? And more importantly,
how can you create this warm, fuzzy feeling in your own ezine?

Publishers who have perfected this technique have developed
a "unique writing style." A good writing style allows one's
personality to shine through in his words and conveys a sense
of humanity. So what's your writing style? You can convey many
feelings and attitudes through your writing. You can come
across as funny or serious, cocky or very business like.

Developing your own special writing style takes time and
practice. Ezine writers should always try to write the same
way they think and speak. Try to write as if you were speaking
to one person and she is standing in the room right in front
of you. Don't use big words; most people are not impressed
by fancy language and you'll lose those who can't read past
a 9th grade level. Talk to your readers as you would a
close friend. The genuine part of your personality will
shine through as you write. Always use short sentences and
paragraphs.

To develop a good writing style you should read as much as
possible and practice writing. Really study pieces as you
read them and ask yourself what about it appeals to you,
or doesn't appeal to you. You can learn a lot by studying
writings of others that appeal to you.

Another way to really connect with your readers is to share
stories and details about your personal life. Yes, being
personal is tough and a lot of people feel funny about it
or fear rejection by doing so. But to really connect with
your subscribers you need to share and let them see that
you really are human and have problems, wants and needs.
Some of the best ezines I read share personal anecdotes
on a regular basis and I look forward to these tidbits
on a regular basis. There are some ezines I subscribe to
where I actually know the names of the writer's dog or
spouse. Even though I've never met them, they are real to me.

Next time you sit down to write your newsletter,
try to let your personality show through. By perfecting
your style, you will attract readers who look forward
to each and every issue - and loyal subscribers for life.

Remember, keep it simple, be yourself.....and most importantly
"Don't Bore Me! Give Your Ezine Personality!"