How to get more mailing list sign ups?

1682 Views 23 Replies 17 Participants Last post by 41413, Dec 31, 2012

Sharebear

Discussion Starter · Dec 30, 2012

Since I was reading the review thread I was thinking of changing some of my back matter.
How do phrase your "Sign up for my mailing list please" statement?
I used to have a lot of sign ups, and then... they stopped. I changed nothing, so now I think I need a change.
Thanks in advance!

1 - 20 of 24 Posts

41413

· #2 · Dec 30, 2012

Add a link to your mailing list in your author bio so that it's on every book page as well as your author page. When I did that, I started getting exponentially more signups.

Also, goat sacrifice, naked pictures, etc.

Patty Jansen

· #3 · Dec 30, 2012

Which author bio? You're not allowed to add off-site links in your Amazon pages as far as I know.

dalya

· #4 · Dec 30, 2012

Chloroform.

Vera Nazarian

· #5 · Dec 30, 2012

Dalya said:
Chloroform.

You beat me to it.

Seems like every time I refresh the Writer's Cafe topic list, I see these two topics together...

*snortle*

41413

· #6 · Dec 30, 2012

Patty Jansen said:
Which author bio? You're not allowed to add off-site links in your Amazon pages as far as I know.

My bio on OKCupid?

No, on Amazon. The TOS restricts that, but I've discussed it with support before, and they have no problems with it. The link's been in my bio for well over a year without issue.

Patty Jansen

· #7 · Dec 30, 2012

OK, it's not a live link. That's probably why I missed it before.

Might try that.

Cherise

· #8 · Dec 30, 2012

smreine said:
Add a link to your mailing list in your author bio so that it's on every book page as well as your author page. When I did that, I started getting exponentially more signups.

Also, goat sacrifice, naked pictures, etc.

Thanks for this tip. I just added my sign-up url to my Amazon bio.

John Daulton

· #9 · Dec 30, 2012

Run a contest: Sign up for my newsletter and be entered to win an autographed copy of XYZ.

Jill James

· #10 · Dec 30, 2012

I recently participated in a Blog Hop and had a giveaway of a necklace on my blog if you signed up for my newsletter. I doubled membership in 4 days.

41413

· #11 · Dec 30, 2012

John Daulton said:
Run a contest: Sign up for my newsletter and be entered to win an autographed copy of XYZ.

Jill James said:
I recently participated in a Blog Hop and had a giveaway of a necklace on my blog if you signed up for my newsletter. I doubled membership in 4 days.

Personally, I don't recommend giveaways or similar promotions to incentivize mailing list enrollment. The quality of these sign-ups tend to be markedly less than those who enroll solely because they want to know when your next book is out. I did a lot of incentives in the early part of my list, and I can see a huge difference in the number of opens/clicks from the first 1/3 of my list versus the most recent 1/3.

This is important because mailing lists do indeed cost money, eventually. You want to make sure you're getting the most bang for your buck. A high-quality list is much more important than a big list.

Soothesayer

· #12 · Dec 30, 2012

Does God consider it idolatry if I pray to the Muse?

Sharebear

Discussion Starter · #13 · Dec 30, 2012

Thanks for the tips!

vlmain

· #14 · Dec 30, 2012

Maybe offer some special perks that only members of your list get. Promo codes for a special discount on new releases, or an occasional free short story not published elsewhere. Even if they share the story with non members, it could lead to a few new fans.

sweetcrabhoney18

· #15 · Dec 30, 2012

Place a link to your mailing list sign up page within the last page of your book. Also place on that page a reminder for people to review the book. If they choose one of the other; you benefit from both.

Make sure that before you start building your list ... you PLAN. It's not easy and it takes time. So make sure you know what you will be sending them and how often. Write the content early and use an autoresponder to speed it all up and make it nearly hands free.

Good luck!

matthewturner

· #16 · Dec 30, 2012

smreine said:
Personally, I don't recommend giveaways or similar promotions to incentivize mailing list enrollment. The quality of these sign-ups tend to be markedly less than those who enroll solely because they want to know when your next book is out. I did a lot of incentives in the early part of my list, and I can see a huge difference in the number of opens/clicks from the first 1/3 of my list versus the most recent 1/3.

This is important because mailing lists do indeed cost money, eventually. You want to make sure you're getting the most bang for your buck. A high-quality list is much more important than a big list.

I echo this. Be wary with giveaways and such. Although I think it's a great to offer something to those who are loyal (and lets face it, many people need a little incentive to join), it will result in people signing up, taking the freebie, and then being very unresponsive.

A good mailing list tends to take time, but if you make it easy to find and sign up, good things tend to happen

I personally have links in the back of my book, and in prime locations on my site. It certainly takes some time though

Matthew Turner

AnitaDobs

· #17 · Dec 30, 2012

smreine said:
Add a link to your mailing list in your author bio so that it's on every book page as well as your author page. When I did that, I started getting exponentially more signups.

Ooohh, you gem you!

You just earned yourself an Amazon author page Facebook like! Don't spend it all at once!

41413

· #18 · Dec 30, 2012

AnitaDobs said:
Ooohh, you gem you!

You just earned yourself an Amazon author page Facebook like! Don't spend it all at once!

I'd return the favor, but alas, I liked you and your Independence Gay weeks ago. And now Fifty Shades of Gray Tentacles! Such a shame that I only had one author like to give.

Andrew Ashling

· #19 · Dec 31, 2012

Oh My Goat… brilliant tip. Thanks.

AnitaDobs

· #20 · Dec 31, 2012

smreine said:
I'd return the favor, but alas, I liked you and your Independence Gay weeks ago. And now Fifty Shades of Gray Tentacles! Such a shame that I only had one author like to give.

Ah! You were the one! Thanks

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