Building a mailing list as an independent author is a great way to connect with your readers and promote your work. Self-published authors have to take their marketing efforts into their own hands. Read on to see why you should build author mailing lists, and what it takes to make an effective mailing list that converts.
Benefits of building a mailing list
Drive book sales:
A mailing list gives you the platform to regularly promote your work. You can drive more sales and increase the reach and visibility of your work through your communications.
Direct communication with readers:
A mailing list allows you to communicate directly with your readers, which can help you build a loyal fan base. Customers enjoy a personalised experience, if you have a direct point of contact to customers they are more likely to feel valued. With personal connections and increased trust, conversions should follow suit.
Building a community:
A mailing list can help you build a community of readers who are interested in your work and can provide valuable feedback and support. This means you can satisfy reader needs in future works.
Cost-effective marketing:
Email marketing is a very cost effective method of promotion. It also is simple to use for people without any experience in marketing. Most mail services will allow you to optimise your communications simply, as well as design professional emails cheaply.
Better targeting:
With a mailing list, you can segment your audience and target your marketing efforts to specific groups of readers. This leads to better results. You can create different lists for readers who have purchased your books in the past, or for readers who are interested in specific genres. This can help you create more effective marketing campaigns that are tailored to the interests of your audience.
How to build your mailing list
Offer an incentive/lead magnets:
To best build author mailing lists consider offering an incentive, such as a free chapter excerpt from your book,.This encourages readers to sign up for your mailing list. You could also allow a free download of an e-book as it will not cost you anything. This gives a reader something for free that incentivises future purchases. Allowing the download of e-books can be done through Payhip. (https://bookvault.app/payhip/)
Network and collaborate:
Network with other authors and collaborate on projects such as guest blogging, cross-promotions, or joint giveaways. This can help you reach new readers and attract them to your mailing list.
Promote your mailing list:
Let your readers know about your mailing list by promoting it on social media. You could also promote it in your book, or through your website or blog.
Be consistent:
It is important to be consistent with your mailing list. Send out regular updates and newsletters, and make sure to respond to your subscribers’ messages and comments in a timely manner.
Use email marketing tools:
Use email marketing tools such as Hubspot (https://www.hubspot.com/products/marketing/email) or Mailchimp to help you manage your mailing list, create professional-looking emails, and track the success of your campaigns.
Finally, remember building a mailing list takes time and effort, but it is a valuable investment that can pay off in the long run. By following these steps and being consistent, you can build a large and engaged mailing list of readers who are interested in your work.
