Secrets of Successful Email Newsletters

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I often sign up for newsletters, but also unsubscribe many times.  Why?  I do not want to be bombarded with daily messages – and I do not want to read promotional stuff only.  With every sign-up I hope to get really important tips, news (that’s why it is called newsletter) and exclusive information.  There are only a handful of email newsletters I am looking forward to receive – for years.  The reason to write this blog post is to help you in creating a successful way of communicating with your readers.

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Do you get in touch with your readers through email? Why not? Would you like to let your readers know about your book launch, book cover reveals, new blog posts or your book signing events? Maybe even articles relating to your books content? There are more possibilities to contact your readers than just Social Media – more customized I must add: newsletters via email. Email newsletters drive 1350% more traffic than social media and outperform other marketing channels. They help to stay connected with your readers, not only at times of a book launch.
If you’re new to email marketing, or simply need to re-think your marketing strategy, start with the following tips!

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What are the Benefits of Sending Your Readers An Email Newsletter?
Lori Taylor wrote in an article: “Ask any serious blogger the biggest blogging mistake they have made. All of them will tell you the same thing. Their biggest regret is failing to set up an email list as soon as they started their blog. Money is not an issue – nor is it difficult to set up a list. MailChimp.com is free – if your email list is under 1,500 email subscribers, while you can try out AWeber.com for just $1. Adding a sign up form to the side bar of your blog is simply a case of copying and pasting some html code.
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How Do You Grow Your Newsletter Email List?
Nothing easier than this:

• Ask your Social Media followers and friends via tweets / posts
• Add a sign-up form to all your blogs / websites
• Create an opt-in link in your e-book
• Invite readers at book signings to opt-in for your newsletter

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When and How Often Should I Send My Email Newsletter?
Your readers or customers don’t want to hear every day from you – unless you send them just a link introduction to your daily blog post. Every two or four weeks is sufficient – if you have valuable content, news or tips for them. For example, include exclusive information behind the history of a new book and talk about its unique features which appeals to book lovers.

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How Long Should An Email Newsletter Be?
People don’t read on the Internet, they just scan if there is an interesting word or sentence that catches their eyes. And they barely scroll down to see if there is more.
So, keep your content at a one-page-reading size, not more than 500 words if possible, or direct your readers for more to your website or blog. Online content is not just about words. When you write for the Internet, think “presentation”. Print content is formally written and a passively read. Online content is informally written, interactive and dynamic.

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How Do I Write A Good Subject Line & Structure My Newsletter?
Your first words matter! They are the one’s that will be seen so make ‘em count. Create fantastic headlines with lists: “The five best …”, “The secret of the most successful …”, “Seven ways of telling ….”. You get the point? Another way is “How-to”
Litmus has a “Subject Line Checker” that lets you preview your subject line across a range of email clients and devices instantly. You can also see how your email will appear in the notification box.  More great tips on how to write for the web can be found at Twelveskip.

Don’t forget to write a caption and ALT text, maybe even a description for any images or visual content in your email newsletter. Some readers opt for HTML text only without images and this way they get all the information an image would content. Not to speak about best SEO (Search Engine Optimization) practices too.
Learn how to write for the Internet.

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Conclusion:
Your email newsletter should serve as the voice or spokesperson for your books. All exclusive information should be delivered through this medium to your readers. Don’t wait to start your newsletter email list. Sign-up today with any of the email newsletter services (often for free).
Important before you click “send”: are you really providing value added content? You can ruin all of your built up store of good will with just one entirely self serving message.
And don’t forget: You need to have relevant permission from your readers to send them regular newsletters and also the inclusion of an un-subscribe link in your newsletter. Let your readers know that they, as the readers of your email newsletters, are the only ones receiving special deals or coupons.

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More Resources:

Find statistics how emails drive 1350% more traffic than social media and which errors to avoid:
http://blog.referralcandy.com/2013/01/02/do-you-make-these-6-email-newsletter-mistakes/
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Email Newsletters – How To Get Them Opened With Great Subject Lines
http://marketingartfully.com/2012/11/12/email-newsletters-how-to-get-them-opened-with-great-subject-lines/
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Great tips by the most successful blogger Darren Rowse: “How I Use Email Newsletters to Drive Traffic and Make Money”
http://www.problogger.net/archives/2009/10/31/how-i-use-email-newsletter-to-drive-traffic-and-make-money/
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Why Email Marketing Benefits Your Book’s Sales and How to Optimize them
http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/5837/The-First-Step-in-Email-Marketing-Optimization.aspx
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A list of email providers.
https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/06/10/why-email-marketing-benefits-your-books-sales/
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How to Reduce Email Spam Complaints
https://savvybookwriters.wordpress.com/2013/07/31/how-to-reduce-email-spam-complaints/

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Biggest Regret: Failing to Set Up an Email List

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Get an Email List Already. That was the tenor of the article “Why Email Marketing Benefits Your Book’s Sales“. Did you install an email opt-in list in the meantime?  Lori Taylor wrote in a recent article:  “Ask any serious blogger the biggest blogging mistake they have made. All of them will tell you the same thing. Their biggest regret is failing to set up an email list as soon as they started their blog.  These days, you can’t hide behind any excuses. Money is not an issue – nor is it difficult to set up a list.  MailChimp is free if your email list is under 2,000 email subscribers, while you can try out AWeber for just $1.  Adding a sign up form to the side bar of your blog is simply a case of copying and pasting some html code…
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When it comes to reaching your readers, and creating a relationship, absolutely nothing is as cost-efficient as email marketing. Email provides you the most direct line of communication for conversion to sales. Unlike other forms of communication that are difficult, and often inconvenient to personalize, email newsletters are a breeze. If you use a professional email marketing service provider, you can automatically add the recipient’s name to every newsletter for that extra bit of warmth.

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Benefits of email marketing:

• It’s simple and easy to use.
• Can be personalized.
• It’s low cost.
• Functions round the clock.
• And produces much faster response.
• Quicker, wider reach
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I often sign up for newsletters, but also unsubscribe many of them: When email addresses are solicited to receive a “free” e-book or report. However, when I get from then on a “newsletter” every dayto my mail box, containing no news at all, just soliciting books or other products, then I regularly click on unsubscribe.
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However, some people don’t click on unsubscribe, they click on SPAM …

Why do people mark legitimate email messages as spam?  After all, they subscribed for it in the first place … Some of these email subscribers will click “spam” whether they signed up for your list or not. Maybe it’s because they think the email messages are not interesting, or they don’t have time for shopping, or they have got dozens of emails to read and respond right now.|
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Use double opt-in
Or you have used single opt-in instead of double opt-in. Single opt-in will accept new subscribers immediately after the form is submitted. Double opt-in lists include an interim step, which usually involves an email being sent to the subscriber’s email address first. Once a link in the email is clicked (confirming that the email address is valid), the subscriber is added.
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So, how can you avoid to have your newsletter/email put into the spam filter?  Author Pam Neely gives these tips in her blog:

• Use double opt-in
  Double opt-in has been proven to reduce spam complaints. It’s also been shown in sev.eral email industry reports that double opt-in will increase click-through rates.
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• Don’t email too often to your subscribers
  Two emails a month should be enough, unless you send out daily deals to your readers, e.g. for free books.
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• Make it easy to unsubscribe
  A time-pressed subscriber doesn’t want to have to hunt for the hidden unsubscribe link in an email message. They definitely do not want to fill out a survey about why they’re unsubscribing. Make it a one-click unsubscribe.
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• Segment your recipients
  Segmentation works best when it is based on past purchases, but it doesn’t have to be that complex. Even asking for basic product category interests at sign-up can help. Asking people whether they prefer text or email is also easy to do.
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• Fulfill the promise of your sign-up box
  You know that the #1 reason people sign up for emails is to get freebies or discounts. A free chapter, free report or list of valuable links?.

Read more at Pams blog:
http://pamneely.com/category/emailoverload/#sthash.KrLLsW0J.duf

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If you would like to get help in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites: We offer all this and more for only $ 159 for 3 months. Learn more about this individual book marketing help: http://www.111Publishing.com/

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Please feel free to check out all previous posts of this blog (there are 820 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Chime.in, Facebook, Tumblr and to StumpleUpon.Thanks a lot for following:

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Why Email Marketing Benefits Your Book’s Sales

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Have you included e-newsletters and mobile-friendly email in your marketing plan? No?
What do you do after you have sold your novel on your website or during a book signing? Instead of waiting for readers to get in touch with you, newsletters offer you a way of interacting with ‘dormant’ readers. When it comes to reaching your readers, and creating a relationship, absolutely nothing is as cost-efficient as email marketing.

Unlike other forms of communication that are difficult and inconvenient to personalize, email
newsletters are a breeze. If you use a professional email marketing service provider, you can automatically add the recipient’s name to every newsletter for that extra bit of warmth.
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Benefits of email marketing:

• It’s simple and easy to use.
• Can be extremely personalized.
• It’s low cost.
• Functions round the clock.
• And produces much faster response.
• Quicker, wider reach

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Send out at least a couple newsletters each year and keep in contact with your readers.  Make sure there is a way for people to remove themselves from the newsletter so you are in compliance with anti-spam laws. Definitely make use of your email distribution list to announce the pre-sale and sale of your next book.
The next time you have a new release of a service or product, wait no longer than the click of a
button to let customers and prospects know about it. That’s because of the power of bulk email.
With your own company newsletter, you can reach millions of customers across the world.
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How to build an email list
After you have sold someone your novel, sell them the next one by building a relationship with them. The easiest book customer is the repeat customer. To do this, build an email list.
Anyone who emails you, write them back and add them to your emailing list. When you start out,
you can do individual emailings to your friends, followers and readers, but as this address list gets bigger than, say 30-50 people you should have an opt-in email list. You can collect email addresses from people at bookstore signings if you buy a little $10 bag of fine truffles and have a drawing, no purchase required. Get a fish-bowl and use it to collect email addresses / opt-in cards at every event you attend.
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Collect email addresses whenever you take part in book events
At all in-person events, display a guest book with a request for names and email addresses that
is clearly labeled with an invitation to subscribe to your blog or your newsletter. Be sure to let folks
know you won’t share their email address and display a clear “opt-in,” a.k.a. what you will be using the email for – book news? blog? If the venue provides Internet access or Wireless, open a browser and pull up your website so guests can subscribe on the spot.

Start your email list NOW
Even if you don’t have plans of sending out emails soon, it doesn’t hurt and it doesn’t cost
anything to add this opt-in feature to your website. (WordPress.com blogs don’t allow it, but
WordPress.org with your own domain name). Professional mailing companies help you
customize your sign-up form to match your brand, so you can share it on your website and
integrate it into your Facebook page. Tip: Put a clickable link to your mailing list at the back of all
your books; it should be one of the first things that readers see when they finish your book.
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Opt-in form for EMAILS
Do you have an email list of followers and friends? No? Be smart and start it immediately!
People who are signing up / opt in to receive emails (contain it to not more than once a month)
are really interested in getting your emails. New books, awards, new 5-star reviews … all
reasons to send emails out and remind people of your books. Reward them for signing up with a free short story or a free chapter or a report.
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Professional email marketing providers
Most mass email providers offer trial periods of a month, and have very moderate fees or they let
you send out certain amounts of emails / certain amount of subscribers for free. MailChimp.com
for example you can send 12,000 emails a month to a list of up to 2,000 subscribers. They also
allow Amazon affiliate links, so you can earn around 7% extra on any books sold via your email
blast.
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Carol Ann Quibell gives in an E-zine Article these tips:

• “Keep it simple, with a clear message / call to action
• Not more than 500 – 800 words in length
• Articles should be informative & create an interest in you and your books.
• Give your readers information they will use and want to keep on file for future reference”
• Easy to use HTML email templates
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Use free templates to design your newsletter
Almost all email marketing providers offer hundreds of pre-designed templates, so you won’t
have to worry about sending out something less than professional or to worry about html-coding.
Choose background color, font type and size, insert images, videos or surveys. Call contacts by
name in your emails.
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5 Steps in your email campaign:

• Sign up with your provider (see list below)
• Study their instructions / videos carefully
• Get the code for your opt-in list & set it up on your website / blog
• Copy/paste or drag/drop your text & attractive images into the email template
• Create a compelling headline
• Click the button: publish / mail and hundreds, thousands or ten-thousands of your readers
• receive your email.
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Give readers added value
The key to a successful email campaign is, to give readers an added value that they can’t get on
your website. For instance, include exclusive information behind the history of a new book and
talk about its unique features and appeal to book lovers.
The email newsletter should serve as the voice or spokesperson for your books. All exclusive
information should be delivered through that medium, reinforced with notions of exclusivity.
Additionally, don’t be afraid to share special offers with this specific group of customers. Let it be
known to them that they, the readers of your email newsletters, are the only ones receiving these
special deals or coupons.
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Sample of Email Marketing Providers:

http://www.MailChimp.com
http://www.AWeber.com
http://www.benchmarkemail.com/email-marketing
http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp

Get even more tips here:

http://www.copyblogger.com/email-landing-page/
http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/08/why_email_marketing_is_king.html
http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/5837/The-First-Step-in-Email-Marketing-Optimization.aspx
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See also a review and price comparison of the top ten mailing service providers here and here, and read this useful article “How to reduce spam complaints” by Pamela Neely, author of 50 Ways to grow your email marketing list, available on Amazon Kindle.
And here are great tips by the most successful blogger Darren Rowse: “How I Use Email Newsletters to Drive Traffic and Make Money”.

Jeff Bullas gives more good reasons for email marketing in his blog:

• The average Facebook post only makes its way to 16 percent of your audience, while most people will at the very least see the subject line of your email when you send it to them.
• Then there’s the fact that Facebook and Twitter make up just 0.2 percent of the emails sent every day, and that total search engine traffic is just a hundredth of total email traffic. Email is also more personal. Conversations aren’t taking place in public, and people aren’t afraid that you’ll start spamming their friends if they give you their email address.
• About 91 percent of people check their email every day.

“Remember, giving somebody your email address is psychologically equivalent to paying for something. If you want somebody to give you their email address, you need to offer them something worth paying for. That’s how good it needs to be. And believe me, it will be worth it.  Repeat visitors are a must if you want your blog to succeed at retaining visitors and boosting lifetime value.”
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If you would like to get help in all things publishing, have your book heavily promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites: We offer all this and more for only a “token” of $1 / day for 3 months. Learn more about this individual book marketing help: http://www.111Publishing.com/seminar

To advertise your new book, specials, your KDP Select Free Days or the new Kindle Countdown Deals visit http://www.e-book-pr.com/book-promo

Please feel free to check out all previous posts of this blog (there are 780 of them : ) if you haven’t already. Why not sign up to receive them regularly by email? Just click on “Follow” in the upper line on each page – and then on “LIKE” next to it. There is also the “SHARE” button underneath each article where you can submit the article to Pinterest, Google+, Twitter, Chime.in, Facebook, Tumblr and StumpleUpon.

Thanks a lot for following:

@111publishing

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http://bit.ly/VmtVAS 111Publishing @ Google+

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