When I first started publishing books, I didn't have a newsletter. The idea of even creating one felt like one more thing that I didn't have time for, and so, I put it off. Eventually, I realized that this was an important tool for getting information to my readers.
So, do you need a newsletter? If you're a writer and have published anything, even a blog, I'd suggest you consider it. If people are interested in your work, they want to keep up-to-date. Direct contact allows you to communicate with fans about what's the latest and the greatest regarding your work. ☺️
One of the mistakes creators make is assuming that if someone is interested in their work, they will automatically check their website, go on their Facebook page, or other social media accounts to keep up to date. Unfortunately, even if people have the best intentions, we live in a fast-paced world, and everyone is busy. So as much as someone might love to read your latest blog about your frustrations with publishers or how you've finished a new book, it might not be on the forefront of their mind either. A newsletter lands in their mailbox and is there whenever they have time to read it.
So what should you put in a newsletter? Everything! Links to your latest interviews, blogs, new books, images of your latest cover, the synopsis for your novel, YouTube videos you posted, reviews, links to your social media: anything relevant to your writing career. These are some things off the top of my head, so chances are you will have much more creative ideas to make your newsletter come alive.
I also believe that newsletters should be short, sweet, and to the point. If you feel the need to write a longer newsletter, however, be sure to put your main points in bold print to catch the reader's eye in case they are skimming it. Sometimes these key points might make the difference between someone deleting or saving it to read later.
How often should you send a newsletter? There is a school of thought that you should be consistent and weekly, but I think it depends on what you're doing. I try to avoid sending them more than once a month unless a lot of stuff is going on in a short period (this tends to happen the week that a book is published) because people also get pissed off if their mailbox is full. I've unsubscribed to emails that interested me because I was tired of my mailbox being loaded to the brim every day. Also, don't be spammy or push your product too much because that turns people off and causes them to hit the unsubscribe button - and fast!
Are you ready to start your newsletter? Check out MailChimp as an example of free newsletters. There are others available that you can find with a quick Google search.
Remember that people sign up for your newsletter to keep posted. So be consistent and most of all, show gratitude for their loyalty. A simple 'thanks for your support' goes a long way. 😄
