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

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 an interest in a specific topic. This aspect hasn’t changed much as today’s newsletters are geared toward church members, students, business professionals, and various other groups of people who share an interest in a particular topic. What has changed is the delivery method. While offline newsletters still exist, these publications have become more widespread 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 tagged as such because fans typically distribute them freely, doing so out of passion for the subject rather than profit. Due to the similarities and the look 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 just end up describing the same type of post plus or minus a few factors. However, it is the diversity of ezine that really separates it from a newsletter.

Enter the website

There are a number of online ezines. Some of the most common examples are EzineArticles, Ezine Directory and Amazines to name a few. These publications generally 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 publications 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 does so from the web. So, technically speaking, when most people refer to an ezine, they’re 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 they are ultimately referred to, they are essentially one in the same. The good news for email marketers is that no matter what you choose to call them, both can be a valuable tool that brings immeasurable benefits to a marketing campaign.