Next week — June 22nd, if you’re counting — marks the one year birthday of my “learn something new every day” email newsletter.  One of the common questions I get asked is “why an email newsletter? why not a blog?”  To date, I’ve avoided answering that.

A few years ago, noted serial entrepreneur Jason Calacanis shuttered his blog and instead introduced the equivalent content in what he now calls his “Jason Nation” newsletter.  The content is roughly the same, if not identical.  Today at the ReadWriteWeb 2Way conference, Calacanis explained why: he was tired of getting dozens of worthless comments and no well thought out feedback.  He believed, correctly it turned out, that switching to an email newsletter would fix that.

I write for, mostly, the same reason.  Email is a much more personal, intimate medium than blogging.  When you write a blog post, you are putting it out in public, intending to set it free as if a manifesto, to be read by anyone — with no real definition as to who the intended audience is.  But when I write the newsletter every day, I write it for the people subscribed.  

The results have been astounding, honestly.  Every day. I get replies to the email, without regard to what I wrote about.  I can mention virtually anything in the personal message I include atop each email and it will get clicks and (as replies via email) comments.  

Blogs can’t do that — or, don’t any more.  Email does.