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I read many first-rate articles out there on the Web and try to share them with you in the six Best of Web links that appear in every issue. Alas, I can't share everything I'd like because some sites require free registration to view the article. In sending you this newsletter, I want to make it fast and easy for you to scan and read content — no barriers like registration allowed. Read this month's rant ... feature, that is on restricted content.

No doubt, you know that growing a newsletter subscription base is challenging. I can relate. I've learned two things about getting more subscribers:

1. The more frequently you publish your newsletter, the more subscriptions you get because people see it more often.

2. The higher the number of subscribers you have, the more that sign on.

I've seen newsletters that come out five and seven days a week, and these often have many subscribers, especially Early to Rise (ETR). It's an excellent newsletter, but keeping up with it daily is a burden. The other newsletter that I manage started with 80,000 subscribers and broke 100,000 in less than a year, while it took a over a year to get 20,000 subscribers for another newsletter that started very small. The best advice column provides ideas on how to boost your subscriber base.

Whew ... we’ve got a tough question this month for you. We can agree on one thing — I think — the fact experts don't agree on what makes the best subject line in an email. What do you think works best? Stuck on a marketing or writing-related problem? Ask away. As always, we value your privacy so your name won't be published, and you can even skip entering your name — but then you won't get a chance to win the cool prize, a pair of Garmin Rino 100 MP3 GPS. Too bad I don't qualify, as I have little sense of direction and can probably benefit from GPS.

October already. Wow. Halloween is almost here. I loved dressing up as a kid. Would you believe I was Darth Vader? How many girls do you know who wear that costume? But then again, I hated Barbies and loved powered-car racing (and still have a car race set at my parents' house). My six-year-old plans to wear a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle costume with the blue headband, so that makes him Leonardo.

I'm dressing up my two-year-old as a biker boy. Since I had to get him a biker jacket for my parents' 50th anniversary party in November, I figured I'd make good use out of it. I'll tell you more about the party in the next issue. As for me, I'm going in my traditional attire as Mom. I'd love to find a costume I can wear every year like Paul, my husband, who has the Big Bad Wolf costume. He's 6'4", so it's perfect. What favorites do you have? I'd love it if you share pictures (email me at meryl@internetviz.com or leave a message on my Web site). As for my "in her own little tween world" 11-year-old daughter, she hasn't decided ... but at what age do you stop trick 'r treating?

A couple of issues ago, we shortened the feedback form to two questions plus a comments box. It takes 21 seconds to do the two questions, and we value your input. If there is something you wish you could learn or read about, please share. Maybe we'll make it happen. Here's to great content! Enjoy eNJ!

Texanly yours,
Meryl
Editor, eNJ

Secrets That Send Subscriptions Soaring

We've contributed articles to other newsletters and Web sites to improve our visibility. We mention our newsletter in our bio and ensure it's easy to find when people come to our Web site, as it's our call to action. We also use a blog and let people know when a new issue is out. In other words, we integrate a lot of our content resources so they can help us gain more readers. But our subscription rates are climbing slower than a snail.

We've asked readers for feedback, and they love our content. We read newsletters like yours and follow advice. Nothing works! What can we do to get more subscribers?

— Hayden, Owner

Email newsletter experts have been going back and forth on what to use in the email subject line to get subscribers to open the email. Their recommendations are confusing, and I haven't gotten the straight dope. So I want to ask readers about their experiences. What kinds of titles are most likely to get people to open an email newsletter?