[Shalini Boland]

I've seen a lot of people posting about their mailing lists and new sign ups, but I feel like I'm missing out on something. Is there some standard way of compiling them? Or do you just gather email addresses from fans/competitions etc? I have a modest list of people who like my stuff but I don't really do much with it. How can I be more organised and markety? All suggestions gratefully received 

 

[Kenosha Kid]

David Gaughran posted a really helpful blog entry on the topic recently: http://davidgaughran.wordpress.com/2013/02/07/the-author-with-the-biggest-mailing-list-wins/

It's an area I'm trying to become more competent in, too

 

[Shalini Boland]

David Gaughran posted a really helpful blog entry on the topic recently: http://davidgaughran.wordpress.com/2013/02/07/the-author-with-the-biggest-mailing-list-wins/

It's an area I'm trying to become more competent in, too

Thanks so much for the link. It's something that's been niggling me for a while, but I haven't gotten around to it yet. I think I'll make it my mission for March...

 

[Lissie]

Mailing lists are IMHO the most important tool Indie Authors have. If I email my list I know they gt my message: I can't say the same thing about an update to my FB page! Mailing lists are one of the few marketing channels that you totally OWN (the other is your self-hosted website).

I really should write a book on the topic - but David G has it pretty right on the money. Get started using a service and be prepared to stay with it long-term. The other thing is you don't need a huge list to make a big bump in sales and visibility on Amazon - it's a lot easier than say trying to getting a bump from free giveaways.

Also I find it funny that I can't find anyway to signup for his list on that blog page! I have lots of different lsits but the imporant ones are:
* people who have signed up via blogs to stay in contact - I see them as a chance to sell my books to;
* people who sign up at a list at the BACK of my books -these I do things like provide the files for my Kindle Formatting books. I also use these lists to update the actual book to people who have bought (because Amazon doesn't always), plus announcements of new books in the series

 

[Shalini Boland]

Thanks Lissie, there's some great information there. I'm ashamed to say I don't even have a sign up form on my blog - Eeeek! Feel like I'm missing opportunities all over the place.

 

[Shalini Boland]

David Gaughran posted a really helpful blog entry on the topic recently: http://davidgaughran.wordpress.com/2013/02/07/the-author-with-the-biggest-mailing-list-wins/

Wow! Just read DG's post and it's exactly the information I was after. Thank you!!

 

[RBC]

Give them a treat to sign up for the list. A short story or even a first book of series, I'd use it instead of free giveaway because it gives you permanent list of people who like your books. Of course, it would be best to communicate with them at least once a month, if not every week. Maybe twice a month etc, figure out what they like, maybe book reviews you read and liked from your genre, or new short story etc (you can set up autoresponder campaign that basically automates your emails for each new subscriber - 1st week story no.1, 2nd week story no.2, 3rd week story no.3 sent etc). You can then send additional promotion letter in between when you have the need and launch a book.

 

[Amanda Brice]

Of course, it would be best to communicate with them at least once a month, if not every week. Maybe twice a month etc,

Wow, that would be the quickest way to get me to unsubscribe from your mailing list. Seriously.

When I sign up for an author's mailing list, I expect it will be used for potentially three things:

1) To notify me of new releases
2) To notify me of special sales
3) To notify me of an opportunity for readers to enter a contest

If you're sending me long chatty newsletters once a month, twice a month, weekly for no reason other than you feel like you need to stay in contact...yikes!

Seriously, I want to know when your new book is out, and that's about it. If I want to hear from you on a regular basis, then I'll "like" you on Facebook or follow you on Twitter. Send me much more than that and I consider it spam, even if I signed up for it in the first place.

I specifically state on my sign-up form that it's for readers to be notified of new releases only, and I consider that a selling point. Nobody wants to get tons of newsletters.

 

[Saul Tanpepper]

Wow, that would be the quickest way to get me to unsubscribe from your mailing list. Seriously.

When I sign up for an author's mailing list, I expect it will be used for potentially three things:

1) To notify me of new releases
2) To notify me of special sales
3) To notify me of an opportunity for readers to enter a contest

If you're sending me long chatty newsletters once a month, twice a month, weekly for no reason other than you feel like you need to stay in contact...yikes!

Seriously, I want to know when your new book is out, and that's about it. If I want to hear from you on a regular basis, then I'll "like" you on Facebook or follow you on Twitter. Send me much more than that and I consider it spam, even if I signed up for it in the first place.

I specifically state on my sign-up form that it's for readers to be notified of new releases only, and I consider that a selling point. Nobody wants to get tons of newsletters.

Yep, same here. The points about staying in touch via FB, twitter, etc are spot on. I get a ton of junk in my email, much of it from mailing lists I've signed up for and throw in the trash without opening. If I see a rare email from an author I liked and whose list I subscribed to, I'm more apt to open it than if that author keeps sending me smatterings of incomplete stories and updates about their latest writing tribulations (or worse, their personal life). Now, having said that, I suppose a list's members evolves with the content. Members stay or go depending on whether or not the emails provide useful content to them. For my list, I make it clear that my newsletter goes out on a roughly monthly basis, though that's because that's as often as I plan to have something to announce. It's actually been two months since my last blast.

 

[Shalini Boland]

I'm only going to be mailing people with my new releases. Nothing more. I hate receiving tons of newsletters as I have no time to read them and I figure most people feel the same way.

I've already posted a request to my Facebook pages and the email addresses are coming in. Can't believe I never did this before - Duuurrr!!!

 

[heavycat]

<--- was on Internet around the time the term "spam" was coined.

Spam is not "anything I don't want to read."

Spam is:

1. Commercial
2. Bulk
3. Unsolicited
4. Off-Topic

It must be all four or it is not spam.



The best way to run a mailing list is to make sure you don't write books that anyone under 13 likes. Otherwise you will find yourself in a bureaucratic nightmare that will make the appellate transcript of New York Times v. Sullivan look like an 8th grade book report.

 

[Lissie]

Interesting discussion RE how often to email a list.

RE the Spam stuff -i'ts not spam if you are using a decent email provider and users have done the double opt in thing (where when you sign up you have to confirm sign up by clicking on a subsequent email).

My lists get very different updates.

My blog is only irregularly updated - so I send a newsletter once every month/6 weeks to  tell people what they've missed on the blog.

My book buyers lists get updates if something happens to add to or  update the content of the book - thats once every few months for the Kindle Formatting peeps.

What none of my stuff is EVER is off-topic or personal. If it's my travel list I don't talk about writing. If it's my self-publishing list I don't talk about my travels.

None of my lists get personal stuff - why would they care.

You need to make sure that you are adding value to your subscriber.

Also I prune my lists - if someone never opens my emails they get deleted after a few months - no point in having dead wood

 

[Shalini Boland]

Also I prune my lists - if someone never opens my emails they get deleted after a few months - no point in having dead wood

So how do you know if they've opened them or not? Is that the type of information you get from Mailchimp?

 

[William Meikle]

I agree on using a giveaway as a carrot... I got a hundred new signups last week through offering a freebie to new signups through a Facebook tab. ( The offer's still open if anyone is interested )

 

[Shalini Boland]

Thanks RBC and William - I'm liking the idea of a giveaway to get new signups.

Gosh, it's a whole new marketing world. And I already felt like there weren't enough hours in the day.

 

[RBC]

Wow, that would be the quickest way to get me to unsubscribe from your mailing list. Seriously.

When I sign up for an author's mailing list, I expect it will be used for potentially three things:

1) To notify me of new releases
2) To notify me of special sales
3) To notify me of an opportunity for readers to enter a contest

If you're sending me long chatty newsletters once a month, twice a month, weekly for no reason other than you feel like you need to stay in contact...yikes!

Seriously, I want to know when your new book is out, and that's about it. If I want to hear from you on a regular basis, then I'll "like" you on Facebook or follow you on Twitter. Send me much more than that and I consider it spam, even if I signed up for it in the first place.

I specifically state on my sign-up form that it's for readers to be notified of new releases only, and I consider that a selling point. Nobody wants to get tons of newsletters.

First, you won't even be remembered if you only email them once in 6 months. Freshness matters. People will mark you as a spam if they don't remember where you came from. Mailing short story a month is not spam. If I like your writing it's VALUE, not spam. I suggest sending useful stuff that contributes to your followers and is entertaining, or otherwise valuable. Not saying send personal rants. Look at Paulo Coelho's blog, take some notes on his strategy on blogging and send similar stuff to email newsletter weekly. The more often I see you the more closer I feel. If you email me once I year I don't know you.. Seth Godin blogs daily! For years now.. and writes ton of books. His following is humongous..

Problem with Facebook or twitter is that you don't own it and that's the whole point of your platform and email list, to own an asset, ,a way to reach your audience without anyone else. If you build FB following you might lose them anytime.. better use Facebook to drive people to your website and giveaway. FB is a layer to add to your platform, not your platform.

I get ton of newsletters too, I'm not talking out of thin air... If I sign up for authors list I want ORIGINAL content and updates on release/sales. If you send me exclusive short stories I might read them, no reason to unsubscribe.

Frequency doesn't hurt if you provide value! Just helps.

 

[Lissie]

So how do you know if they've opened them or not? Is that the type of information you get from Mailchimp?

I don't know mailchimp - but Aweber certainly allows you to segment your subscribers by when they last opened anything - if ever - you can then email that segment specifically or delete them

I would assume mailchimp does the same - but if it doesn't I wouldn't use it!

 

[Monique]

If I'm signing up for a newsletter for big news and new releases that's what I want. I don't want informational blog posts. If I want informational blog posts, I sign up to get those. It's about expectations. Make sure you set them and meet them.

 

[Pauline Creeden]

great info on mailing lists here - I've had pretty good success so far using MailChimp -what service do you all use?

 

[Carol (was Dara)]

Wow, that would be the quickest way to get me to unsubscribe from your mailing list. Seriously.

When I sign up for an author's mailing list, I expect it will be used for potentially three things:

1) To notify me of new releases
2) To notify me of special sales
3) To notify me of an opportunity for readers to enter a contest

If you're sending me long chatty newsletters once a month, twice a month, weekly for no reason other than you feel like you need to stay in contact...yikes!

Pretty much all of this. I too used to feel I needed to include a lot of misc stuff just to keep in touch and fill the space but I've since realized when I sign up for an author newsletter I really only do it for info on new releases or contests. That's pretty much all I want to hear from the author. One page is a nice length.

great info on mailing lists here - I've had pretty good success so far using MailChimp -what service do you all use?

Mailchimp for me. It's the only service I've tried.