Are You Building Up Your Newsletter List

Are You Building Up Your Newsletter List

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Are you building up your newsletter list? If not, why not? It is probably the number one way to build up a more loyal and consistent readership. Sure, going on social media can garner you some followers and you may have a large one already. What is going to happen if that social media platform decides to change their algorithm and you get less views? Worse would be they lock your account for whatever reason then you will have no way to reach your readers.

First, of course, you must have your very own website. Then you will need to get all those social media followers to sign up for your newsletter. Yes, to entice some people to sign up you may have to offer some free enducements such as a short story in eBook format they can download, some free swag in the mail like a bookmark or even some kind of special digital product you created just for fans of your work. There are a multitude of suggestions out there and some of them can work for you, your books and are specialized for your genre. Do your research. It will be well worth it in the end.

Three Key Items for Newsletters

Then you just have to create that newsletter and have it sent out on a regular basis (minimum is once a month). The three key items to include would be:

1. An informative posting about your writing process or even one aspect of the writing business itself. You can even review other author books.
2. Some kind of article with a picture or two about your daily life, a hobby you enjoy, or a place you visited recently that inspired you. Of course, pets always are fun to add anytime.(Do not include pictures of kids such as your children or grandchildren. If you are a children’s author – stock photos are better. )
3. Always give a ‘call-to-action’ such as a link to your latest book, pre-order information about your next book with a link or even a special price offer on one or more of your previous books.

Schedule Out Your Newsletters and Blog Posts

For my website, I have my blog posts scheduled a couple of months in advance when I can. They are, in turn, automatically shared to my social media accounts when they activate on my site. They also get automatically added to my Amazon Author profile page and my Goodreads Author page. So, if my muse has me in a writing frenzy I know that my “Writing Business Duties” are already taken care of for a little while.

Local Author Events

Another way that most indie authors gain new readers is by attending festivals and an author events close to their home. Some even attend them in other states. Getting yourself and physical copies of your books in the hands of real-live humans is a slow but true way of getting more readers. This is a great opportunity to have them sign up for your newsletter as well. Just have a clipboard and pen handy for them to fill out their names and email addresses. You might be surprised at how many you might get. When you get home you can add them to your subscribers listing.

I will be at the Sunshine State Book Festival in Gainesville, Florida on January 28, 2023. If you are in the area please stop on by and say, hi! Purchase and receive an autographed copy of my book(s), sign up for my newsletter, and you might even get some free swag too!

FREE TIP OF THE DAY: Most Social Media Platforms allow you to ‘schedule’ posts ahead of time – some up to 15 to 30 items spread out over weeks or months at a time.

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If you have any questions about me, my books or writing and indie publishing in general please use my CONTACT US form and let me know.

Author: Jolene MacFadden

Single mother, retired from a normal job, was traveling around the State of Florida in an old RV. Now stationary writing new books and helping others get their self-published.

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