Comments on: 3 important email marketing truths you need to know as an author

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 13:24:49 +0000

In reply to Jon.

That’s the approach some authors use, but it’s harder to build relationships with your audience on a random, occasional schedule. For me, the absolute best part of my email newsletter is the conversations I end up having with my subscribers. Such wonderful people! I wouldn’t want you to miss out on that! And people won’t tire of a once-a-month message. If you send less often than that — say, quarterly — they’ll forget about you.

Sandy

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 13:21:57 +0000

In reply to Jon. It is totally acceptable and a great idea, Jon. Be sure to include the link where they can subscribe, and tell them that this is the only message they'll receive about it. You might want to add yourself to children's book author Jylene Morgan's list to see how she handles her email newsletter. And her opt-in gift -- her "lead magnet" -- is outstanding! Sandy

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 13:14:57 +0000

In reply to Todd Hicks. I think he did, Todd! Sandy

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 13:13:55 +0000

In reply to Birgit.

You almost have to feel sorry for him, right? Attitude is everything — in marketing and in life!

Sandy

By: Birgit

Birgit — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 07:23:33 +0000

Brilliant How-Not-To when it comes to email marketing!

I cannot believe how this person acted in the first place – simply adding people to your list without their consent will get you into serious legal trouble for non-compliance with GDPR (Germany), plus it will obviously annoy people who never wanted to be on that list anyway. But then this guy even has the cheek to complain to people unsubscribing from his unwelcome present! Something is very wrong in this person’s head. Should we hope that he figures it out before word of mouth spreads about how he treats people he knows and unsubscribers in particular? I do not think so.

By: Todd Hicks

Todd Hicks — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 06:02:29 +0000

That guy shot himself in the foot.

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 18:53:29 +0000

One more question, does it ever make sense to only use the email subscriber list to just send out updates when there is something to announce, like a new book, and not use it to send out a monthly newsletter which subscribers may tire of receiving?

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 06 Jul 2022 18:35:14 +0000

I am a new author (my first book is coming out in October, 2022) and I am still trying to figure this email newsletter thing out.

For one, I write children’s books that teach kids chess strategies by telling anthropomorphic stories about the pieces on the board. So, what I might write in a newsletter, like monthly chess puzzles, for example, is likely to be more geared to the kids of the recipients than the recipients themselves.

But on the topic of this post, is it considered acceptable to send a one-time email to your contacts to offer them a chance to opt-in to your email newsletter list, perhaps with an example of what such a newsletter might entail?

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 01:38:17 +0000

In reply to Joan Stewart. Amen, Joan! Sandy

By: Joan Stewart

Joan Stewart — Wed, 17 Feb 2016 18:11:45 +0000

One of my pet peeves is seeing email arrive from someone who has just subscribed to my publicity tips. They think that if they subscribe to my list, they have a right to put me on theirs. No so. That’s spamming. Thanks, Sandra, for pointing out this common problem and others.