The Top 10 Tips for Getting Your Top Ten in a Top Ten Ezine

Originally Submitted on 8/14/2003.

If you've ever thought about contributing your Top Ten tips to the TopTen.org database, I hope this will help. Not all Top Tens in the database are distributed in our ezines, but here are some practical tips for raising the chances of seeing your Top Ten here. For more information about submitting Top Tens, email editor@topten.org or visit www.topten.org.

1. Be concise.

Keep sentences and paragraphs brief and to the point. If your Top Ten becomes lengthy, you might think about how your information can be divided into two or more Top Tens.

2. Be timely.

Submit holiday or seasonal material a few weeks in advance. This increases its chances of appearing in the ezine on time.

Also, keep in mind that some nuggets may be re-published over time. A "timeless" nugget may be more re-publishable than one that is tied to a specific event.

3. Use an informative tone.

Avoid using hyped language, all-caps, or exclamation points. Promote your business and/or website in the space provided at the end of the form, not in the Top Ten itself.

4. Check links.

Also, check back from time to time to update your URL and email address.

5. Include 10 points about your theme.

Top Tens with fewer than 10 points won't appear in ezines, and may be deleted from the database.

6. Be positive.

State your case in a positive way.

7. Be inclusive.

Top Tens reach men and women, world-wide, of all ages, religions and races. Avoid stereotypes, jargon and slang. Use gender (he, she, his, hers) in a balanced way.

8. Be original.

Write about something new. Or write with a new slant on an old topic.

Some contributors have written two or three Top Tens in a "series" on one topic. This is great when you have a lot to share on one topic, or more than one slant on the topic. Limit a "series" to two or three Top Tens per topic.

9. Write to a general audience.

Top Ten ezine subscribers come from all walks of life. To increase your Top Ten's chances of appearing in an ezine, consider expanding your audience. For example, replace "ways to keep good coaching clients" with "ways to keep good clients." Or replace "financial tips for dentists" with "financial tips for small business professionals."

10. Be yourself.

Let your personality shine through your Top Ten. Be personable, relax and enjoy the process!

Questions? Email editor@topten.org

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About the Submitter

This content may be forwarded in full, with copyright, contact, and creation information intact, without specific permission, when used only in a not-for-profit context. For other uses, permission in writing from CoachVille is required. Questions: email topten@coachville.com

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