Homebuz: Hi Ponn, I just read you interview with Hailil. You name is unique and I like the meaming of it. What is the origin of the name Ponn?ponnsabra: Hi! Thanks so much!
Ponn is Thai in origin . My Daddy is from Thailand, and I'm first-generation born.
Homebuz: I just started an ezine call Home Business Series (http://www.homebuzseriez.com). You have your own ezine as well. What is some advise in starting and operating a successfull ezine.ponnsabra: This is an *awesome* question!
I just gave some tips on this very topic, and feel like I have some great insights on this very topic:
1. I'm proud to share that since my blog move from blogger to WordPress on March 15, 2007, I have a 0% unsubscribe rate for my ezine. In June I had approximately 230 subscribers, and my web developer just reported that I now have nearly 1500!
So, here are my tips:
a. Practice what you preach.
Do *not* share your list with anyone.
b. Honor your word.
I promote my ezine as a "monthly" ezine. I send one email a month. I have sent more emails before, but since March, I've only sent one per month.
c. Treat them Special!
I write one unique article for my ezine, that I do *not* publish anywhere else. Not on my blog, and I have not yet sent any of my ezines since March to article directories either.
d. Be Unique!
My ezine's title is "Empower ME Now Tips". I give them thought-provoking, empowering tips in my own voice, tone and format. I have not strayed away from this format; and each and every month, I've received personal emails from my subscribers expressing thanks, sharing how timely my advice was, or how they look forward to my "unique" tips.
e. Don't grow to Sell Out!
This is one of my biggest discussion points I'm presently sharing with fellow internet marketers colleagues of mine.
First, if you promote and review products, services etc. on a regular basis; and send out daily, weekly ezines from the very start when your list is small; then to continue when you are big should not be an issue.
If however, you're growing your list with the above stated tips; and once you're list is big; and then feel it's a "good time" to start promoting and "selling" every single program you can to get a cut of the affiliate check; it'll be an obvious and most likely not appreciated.
Again, with everything online you need to 'test' and 'track' every marketing action you participate in.
This is a touchy situation, because I became an instant amazon.com best-seller with my debut book "Empowering Women to Power Network". I feel indebted to reciprocate the favor if and when asked.
It's those who abuse this powerful marketing tool that gives ezines a bad wrap some times.
f. Offer a great incentive to join your ezine.
Presently, I'm running
my unique partnership with PRWeb.com of a free $200 Premium Press Release.
g. Give a free eReport.
There are ton you can get for free, but if you can write one yourself the better for your brand!
Interestingly, many people sign-up for the free PDF, but many will not even open them.
f. Hook 'em with a great sample of your ezine.
Offer a 7-day eCourse autoresponder. Online copywriters have tested this, and 7-days is the optimal size.
g. Market, cross-promote, and joint venture partner within your niche/target market!
This will help the online buzz go on!
Homebuz: 95% of online businesses fail.Based on your expertise, why do you think 95% online businesses fail?ponnsabra: Poor marketing!
More specifically, they do not define what their
"Internet Brand " is, what their USP (unique selling proposition) and don't utilize the various internet marketing strategies that support their Internet Brand as an online entrepreneur/small business owner .
There's a difference between making money online and making a living online; yet both (the short and long-term goals) demands dedication, motivation, tenacity, risk-taking, a massive-learning curve, and much more--namely, "Action"!
Homebuz: Your business is about empowering women. What are some examples that you write about on you blogs and ezine to empower women?ponnsabra: Most of my most popular "empowering women" articles are online business how-to's; but, I beleive you want some more personal examples, therefore I'll list a few:
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Dream Meme - Only Big Dreamers Dare Apply -
The Ultimate Guide to Productivity - Wanna Share One-Big Secret? -
Changing the World: Part 1 How we can write/blog together. -
How to make Your dreams come true 
