Using Newsletters To Communicate In Modern Times
Over the last ten years the number of paper newsletters has increased dramatically; up to ten times more in the United States than previously. The same applies in Europe and elsewhere, and even as far away as Australia and New Zealand, though of course, all with somewhat lower numbers. This has happened mainly because of the current widespread growth in ownership of personal computers
The fact is that anyone who owns, or has access to, a computer and a desktop printer can publish a newsletter with very little more skill needed than they probably already have. These home produced newsletters may be the bottom end of the market in terms of quality etc but they are nevertheless a significant factor in the new growth and distribution of paper newsletters.
The growth of e-newsletters and ezines is even more dramatic than that of hard copy newsletters. For a start nowhere near the same effort is required as is the case with hard copy newsletters and there is no printing, processing or preparation required. In point of fact, no other costs are involved at all and the whole process is quick and easy.
E-newsletters, or ezines as they are more commonly called nowadays, are more popular than ever because they are produced electronically and distributed over computer networks, including of course, the ubiquitous Internet. The rise of these types of newsletters is nothing short of phenomenal. Every subject is covered and every conceivable group that can be thought of has become a recipient. In fact, they became established as the major form of communication for special interest groups during the first decade of the Internet.
Because of their perceived permanence and the fact that they can be held in the hand, paper newsletters have a degree of authority that online publications cannot hope to match. Electronically produced media, on the other hand, is distrusted in comparison because it is still seen as too easy to do and too open to fraud. They are also seen as too prone to accidental erasure which could amount to a major catastrophe.
The truth is that the choice between the electronic and the printed format is often of no real importance. As often as not, the type of readership determines which one to go for. Obviously, if most of the potential readers are online then the electronic version would be the obvious choice. On the other hand, if only a few of them have a computer, or they live in a geographically confined area, a hard copy newsletter will be the obvious choice. Over time however, the continuing expansion of the numbers of Internet users and therefore of electronically produced newsletters, will continue to rise.
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