With all the options for book promotion out there, it’s hard to figure out what to spend your time (and sometimes money!) on. I’ve got the answer for you today: your mailing list.
Picture this….
You’ve just hit the publish button over at KDP after months of work on your new book. You’re elated to finally have it out! But then it hits you, you have to sell it. So you head on over to your mailing list account, put together a new release email and send it out your list. Then you take a well deserved nap!
Two days later, you’ve topped the best seller lists in your category and are heading for the top 100 on Amazon.com because your readers opened your email, clicked the link and bought your book. (Oh and they forwarded it to their friends as well.)
The return on investment for email marketing is nearly $40 for every $1 you spend. Crazy, right? But it’s true! If you don’t have a list (or you aren’t using the one you have), it’s time for a change.
Here are some tips for success:
Use a Reputable Provider
If you want your emails to land in your subscriber’s inbox, you need to use a reputable provider like Aweber. Aweber helps you build your list with all the forms, templates, how-to videos (or step by step visual tutorials) and one-on-one support that you need. They also have an awesome blog to help you grow your list. (You can give them a try for just a $1 here.)
Slow and Steady Wins the Race
Building a good list takes time which is the main reason you should start now even if you haven’t released a book yet. Whether you have 3 people on your list or 3,000, send out monthly updates about your books and host a gift card giveaway regularly so that people look forward to your emails and want to open them. Then, when you send a new release email, you can be sure readers will open it.
Give Away Something in Return for a Signup
Come up with a free ‘treat’ you can give your new subscribers. This gesture of goodwill starts you off on the right foot with your subscribers and gives them an idea of what they can expect from you through your emails. Make sure your treat is unique to you and your work. Some good ideas would be an exclusive short story, missing chapter or insider world building details about your novels. You can set up an auto-responder that will deliver your gift to your new subscriber immediately, no matter what time of day they sign up.
If you’ve ever wondered how authors shoot to the top of the best seller lists on Amazon with a new release, now you know. Building an email list is a long term investment in your career as an author. So don’t wait another moment to start a list!