As an author, you’d love to publish your book and have people buying it right out of the printing press. However, things hardly pan out this way. This is why building a base of loyal fans through email marketing is important.
We explore the benefits of email marketing for authors in this article. In addition, we offer tips on adequately structuring your email marketing for the best results.
Why Authors Need to Use Email Marketing
If you think you don’t need email marketing as an author, you will have a rethink after reading the points below. Let’s get right in.
It’s an easy and cost-effective way to reach out to new readers, build relationships with existing subscribers, and grow your business. It can be done quickly and easily with the right tools and strategies.
You Reach Out Directly to Readers
Email marketing is a great way for authors to reach out directly to their readers.
With other forms of advertising, you’ll be hoping that your content reaches as many people as possible. Email marketing allows you to reach people directly in their inboxes.
Wider Reach
One of the biggest benefits of email marketing is that it allows you to reach a much wider audience than other types of marketing. This is mainly because almost everyone has an email address.
You can target specific groups of people based on their interests or demographics. This allows you to tailor your message to those who are most likely to be interested in what you have to say.
How to Start Email Marketing for Authors
Authors looking to make the most of email marketing can benefit from a well-thought-out strategy. This can help them reach more people and grow their fan base faster, with the potential for unlimited rewards.
Email marketing is not only great for promoting new books or book launches. It’s also a creative way to engage with readers on a deeper level than other forms of communication. Below is a step-by-step guide that details how to start email marketing for authors.
Create a Contact List
First, create a list of contacts. You may already have a mailing list if you’ve been collecting emails at events or via social media. However, if you don’t, consider joining an email marketing platform such as MailChimp to easily add subscribers to your list.
Start by Saying Hello
You’re probably eager to get down to business and promote what you have. But you shouldn’t do that. Instead, you should welcome your subscribers with a welcome sequence.
An excellent welcome sequence sets the tone for a fruitful relationship. You gain your subscribers’ trust, and they will be more willing to read your subsequent messages.
Decide the Type of Message You Want to Send Out
Next, you’ll need to think about what kind of messages you want to send out. Make sure to keep your content clear and concise.
Your aim should be to provide value in each message rather than just saying something interesting. That way, your readers will look forward to hearing from you every time they receive one of your emails.
There are different types of content you can send out to your readers. You can send out periodic newsletters to keep in touch with your audience. In addition, you could try promotions where you give them exclusive or first access to books.
Promotions help you show your audience how much you appreciate them. Your message could also come as updates about your new book or a survey to hear back from them.
Make Your Writing Easy to Read
You’re a writer, and you understand the importance of readability. You should apply this to your emails too. Write in a way that your subscribers can easily understand. Avoid long walls of text because they can make your message hard to follow. Instead, break up your content into small chunks that are easier to digest. Use headings and subheadings, so readers can quickly scan the text and find what they need. In addition, use a simple font style, size, and color for maximum readability.
To get started, create a contact list of people who may be interested in your work, then start by saying hello. Decide the type of message you want to send out, ensure it’s easy to read, and include links to your website or blog.
You can also ask people to sign up for your email list, follow you on social media, or click through to purchase your book.
Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.