Ezine and newsletter are two terms that are often used interchangeably between email marketers and their subscribers. On the surface, there seems to be little to no difference between the two. This is because, in general, both can be defined as an online publication that is distributed through the email system. That being said, these terms have two distinct origins and applications that set them apart.

Get to know the Newsletter

Described as a newspaper or pamphlet, the newsletter has been around for quite some time, dating back to the Boston News-Letter in the early 18th century. Traditionally, it has been used to provide news or information to groups with interests in a specific topic. This aspect hasn’t changed much as today’s newsletters are aimed at church members, students, business professionals, and various other groups of people who share interests in a particular topic. What has changed is the delivery method. While offline newsletters still exist, these publications have spread more online where they are distributed through the email system. Today, newsletters are an essential ingredient for email marketers looking to stay in touch with their target audience.

an electronic publication

The term ezine is a portmanteau of the words electronic and zine. Contrary to popular belief, the term does not originate from the magazine. It is actually derived from “fanzine”, a print publication maintained by fans of specific niche topics. These posts are so tagged because fans typically distribute them freely, doing so out of passion for the topic rather than profit. Due to the similarities and the aspect of the Internet, it is not surprising that the words ezine and newsletter are used interchangeably. Many people have their own method of distinguishing the two, but only end up describing the same post type plus or minus a few factors. However, it is the diversity of the ezine that really separates it from a newsletter.

Enter the website

There are a number of ezines online. Some of the most common examples are EzineArticles, Ezine Directory, and Amazonines to name a few. These publications typically act as article directories, providing topics ranging from email marketing and web hosting to health and finance. Many businesses, writers, and other professionals use these posts to gain exposure for their products or services and increase traffic to their website. In this sense, an ezine is nothing like a newsletter. It runs on a web server, and instead of sending content via email, it sends content from the web. So, technically speaking, when most people refer to an ezine, they are actually describing a newsletter.

clearing up the confusion

Deciphering a newsletter ezine can be very confusing and we hope we don’t make it worse. From a technical perspective, they are two different publications that offer their own unique advantages. When ultimately referred to, they are essentially one in the same. The good news for email marketers is that regardless of what you choose to call them, both can be a valuable tool that provides immeasurable benefits to a marketing campaign.