Growing your author email list is hard. But it can be even harder to figure out what to do once you have the email list up and running. Beyond the technical piece, what should you be sending your subscribers? What goes in an author newsletter?
After all, no one wants to read a weekly email about how you should really, really, REALLY buy this book.
But at the same time, if you’re an author, writing a newsletter can be the scariest thing ever. You’d rather be writing your memoir or novel or business management book, not trying to figure out email marketing.
The answer to this problem is creating email sequences!
It’s pretty common sense to plan ahead and stop reinventing the wheel when it comes to so many other professional tasks, but for some reason, we don’t always think that way about writing. There’s a feeling, especially with authors, that your newsletter needs to be something you write fresh every time, and that doing otherwise sacrifices something.
But I’m here to tell you that’s not true! Using well-planned email sequences, you can communicate your authentic voice and speak directly to your readers with urgency!
Why are email sequences so great for authors?
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- You’ll still be using your real author’s voice, even if it’s not a spontaneous or time-driven email.
- The more you offer value to your readers, the more likely they are to stick around, and a good email sequence mixes great information with calls to action for the readers.
- Email sequences help you communicate more regularly, and regular communication leads to better open and retention rates for your email list. (All of which will impact your book sales, your author platform and your business!)
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- With an intelligent sequence, you can truly take the time to introduce yourself to your newest readers.
- You can create a true journey for your readers, bringing them into your business, your book and your media appearances in ways that are strategic for you and that feel holistic to them.
- You can always alter the sequence, or add another one to meet a different goal. For example, you can create a sequence specifically for people who have expressed interest in a new book or a new business enterprise!
- A good email sequence can be used again and again to save you time and effort writing, which is a great thing when you have another book to get to!
If this sounds like exactly what you need to make your author’s life easier, check out this workshop I did with my friend, email marketing expert Brittany Long. It’s available on-demand, and offers some great advice on how to make sure you’re getting everything you can out of the efforts you’re putting into your email marketing!
