Having an email list of subscribers is like having a key to your neighbour’s house and the permission to go in whenever you like. You’re happy to be trusted like this but you are weary of abusing it. So you go in whenever you need to do good-neighbour deeds- which is fine. Anything outside of that, and you could lose your key. We have a few ideas on how you can get more keys- er- expanding your existing list of email clients or building a new one.
An email list when handled properly can be the result of your sustained success as an author. It’s an opportunity for your readers to connect with you beyond pages of your book. This connection will prove to be the reason why they will buy as many books as you publish. It is the fastest, cheapest, most powerful way to engage with your readers at scale.
Step 1: Reach Out to Readers
Your potential readers don’t know you exist except you become so visible that they can’t ignore you- in order words, reach out to them. We already talked about social media strategies that you can employ to sell more books. Those are also strategies for being visible.
Own a website,
Talk on social media.
Be a Guest Writer on other prominent blogs,
Host events to publicize your work, etc.
It might seem like a lot of work but the trick is to start with what you can handle and incorporate others much later. As you increase your activities, your list will grow a lot more
Step 2: Give your readers something in exchange
If you engage with content online then you already have too many emails. Your potential readers have the same problem, therefore to attract them, create or offer what’s called, a Magnet content. This is the type of content you give away, free of charge, in exchange for email addresses.
As an author, you can give out an entire book, a short story, or something you’re sure your readers want. Be sure that whatever you give out has good value for money, because it’s free doesn’t mean you should dumb down on the quality of work.
Step 3: Convince them to stay
When a person subscribes to your email list, it’s not the end of your campaign. In a way, it’s just the beginning. Now you’ve gotten people to subscribe to your email list, the real work begins, how do you make them stay? Luckily, you don’t have to do a lot to figure it out, there are email newsletter tools that help with scheduling and automating your email process so you don’t have to stress about accomplishing what they do, manually. Amongst them are; Mail Chimp, Tiny letter, Convert Kit, Get response. Some of these tools offer guidance by way of tutorials, so you’re not confused or lost in the fray. They are really helpful.
The next set of emails your subscribers receive are vital to helping them decide if they’ll stay or go.
Brian Cohen has a strategy for this:
- Check in to follow up on the magnet content.
- Ask them to connect with you on social media, too.
- Give them a sneak peak at your next book.
- Invite them to join your street team. a group of your biggest fans and advocates. These will be people that are the most passionate and outspoken about your events/music/brand, and who you trust can convey their enthusiasm and stay motivated to spread the word.
Go Big or Go Home? Not Always.
You definitely want you subscriber base to triple but be aware that having a well engaged small email list is a lot more valuable than a large list of people who don’t even know who you are because they don’t remember subscribing. Focus instead on how many people read your emails, open them and engage with the content.
Have you tried any of these processes, did they work, was this helpful? We’d like to know
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