Patricia Lynne, Independent Author
  • Home
  • Books
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Media Kit
  • Trick-or-Treat Reads

Sleazy Author #IWSG

7/5/2017

46 Comments

 
Picture
IWSG is posted the first Wednesday of every month, but I'm posting early this month. Explanation is below with my writing goals. It is the brain child of Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh. Get your fears and insecurities out or give words of encouragement. We're writers, let's support each other!
​

This month's co-hosts are Tamara Narayan, Pat Hatt, Juneta Key, Doreen McGettigan, and ME!

Before I get into the meat of my post, I'd like to remind everyone that the #IWSGPit Twitter pitch party is July 27th. You can check out the IWSG site for more details.


Before I get to the question of the month, I'd like to air my insecurities, mainly about newsletters. This is my second attempt at one, and I've finally got ideas on what to include, but how the heck do I get people to sign up?

Look, I know it's there's not a secret trick to it. Everyone struggles to get sign ups the same way authors struggle to sell books. And I've heard the advice to offer a giveaway, and while I'm doing that next week, damn, does it feel like bribery.

So maybe it's not the newsletters that got me insecure, it's the fact it feels like to get any traction, you have to bribe people. It feels sleazy. Like my writing isn't good enough, so I have to resort to trickery. And yeah, I know that's not true, but since when do insecurities listen to truth?

July's optional Question: What is one valuable lesson you've learned since you started writing?

This is an easy answer for me: Learning to ask for help. I'm very shy and introverted and often believe no one will want to help me, so getting the courage to ask for help is always a big thing. It always surprises me when people say yes. (Of course, it's less surprising when I never hear back from someone after that first yes. >.<)

PS: You should totally sign up for my newsletter. (Had to throw it in here after talking about it. =P

PPS: Thanks for letting me host again, Alex!
Picture
46 Comments
Alex J. Cavanaugh link
7/5/2017 06:13:52 am

I know it feels like that, but it does work. The IWSG offers a free eBook to those who sign up.
Thanks for co-hosting today!

Reply
Madeline Mora-Summonte link
7/5/2017 06:48:03 am

I think most people like to get something free, a bonus, a discount, etc. I myself like a good sale and/or a good coupon. :)

Reply
Tamara Narayan link
7/5/2017 06:59:06 am

I hate asking for help as well. But I will sign up for your newsletter. Good luck finding subscribers!

Reply
ChemistKen link
7/5/2017 06:59:33 am

You're not bribing them. You're only giving them enough incentive to overcome the normal reluctance to do anything out of the ordinary. It's up to you to keep them happy with good newsletter content.

BTW, I signed up and you didn't have to bribe me or anything.

Reply
C. Lee McKenzie
7/5/2017 07:03:50 am

I suppose incentivize sounds better than bribery. Whatever works.

Reply
C. Lee McKenzie
7/5/2017 07:05:22 am

p.s. I'm already subscribed.

Reply
Crystal Collier link
7/5/2017 07:08:10 am

Building a newsletter is definitely a trick. I have heard awesome results from Instafreebie, but haven't gone there yet. Maybe one day. =)

Reply
M.J. Fifield link
7/5/2017 08:30:40 am

This is part of the reason why I have yet to start a newsletter. The other part is that I don't think I'd have anything to put in a newsletter.

But I also think that people do like to get free things, so while it may feel sleepy, it really isn't. But like you said, insecurities are notorious for ignoring the truth.

Reply
Pat Garcia link
7/5/2017 08:35:54 am

Hi Patricia,
I haven't started building my newsletter yet because I just don't have the time. I hope you start seeing results for your hard work.
Thanks also for being one of the co-hosts for this month.
All the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G at <a href="https://www.patgarciaandeverythingmustchange.com/html/">Everything Must Change</a>

Reply
Megan Morgan link
7/5/2017 08:37:58 am

I'm terrible with my newsletter. I struggle to get people to sign up, and really, I have no idea what to put in it--I'm much better at blogging!

Reply
Jacqui link
7/5/2017 08:40:47 am

I can't help you with newsletters. Mine doesn't work so well, either. But, I'll eagerly read comments to see what people suggest.

Reply
Lynn La Vita link
7/5/2017 09:22:14 am

I'll sign up for a newsletter if the content is something I'm interested in. No need to bribe me, but after looking at the other replies, I guess giveaways work.

I find folks are very willing to help if the person asking is sincere and willing to do the work. I always tell myself, if I don't ask the answer is "No." So what do I have to loose.

Thanks for co-hosting IWSG this month.

Reply
SE White link
7/5/2017 09:27:32 am

No, no, bribe away! I love a good bargain, and that's what a small freebie seems like to me. It's a transaction, in a way, something for something. Not shady at all. Thanks for co-hosting this month!

Reply
Susan Gourley link
7/5/2017 09:28:51 am

Newsletters are supposed to be very helpful to authors, but I think lots of people just delete them even if they do signup. I wish you the best.

Reply
REBECCA DOUGLASS link
7/5/2017 09:31:39 am

Oh, boy, I hear you about the newsletter! I have gotten most of my sign-ups through giveaways, but it's also true that I don't remember to promote it otherwise. And I have only sent out 2 or 3 in probably close to 2years. I need to figure out what I'm supposed to be saying. Since you say you have some ideas, by gum I'll sign up for yours and see what I can learn (about your books as well as about newsletters, of course!).

Reply
Shah link
7/5/2017 09:35:35 am

When you offer a freebie to signups they often unsubscribe soon after. I hate all the marketing requirements, but that's what they are--requirements.

Shah X
http://shahwharton.com

Reply
Anna Simpson link
7/5/2017 09:42:25 am

My suggestion is put it up in your widgets and forget about it. People will sign up when they want to. No sleaze required.

<a href="http://emaginette.wordpress.com"> Anna from elements of emaginette</a>

Reply
Loni Townsend link
7/5/2017 09:46:57 am

Giving away free things is a good way to get sign ups. The problem I struggle with is actually producing a newsletter.

Thanks for co-hosting!

Reply
Toi Thomas link
7/5/2017 10:24:40 am

Newsletters are tricky; I'm still not sold on the necessity of having one, but I do have one. I get you point about asking for help, I often feel the same way. The IWSG has help me overcome that quite a bit. Thanks for co-hosting and sharing.

Reply
Christine Rains link
7/5/2017 11:14:20 am

You and I had the same answer to this month's question. It is hard to ask for help, but I've learned to reach out. (The internet helps!) The only thing that worked for me with newsletters is going in with big group giveaways.

Reply
Christy link
7/5/2017 12:54:53 pm

I started my newsletter last August and started it off with an Amazon gift card giveaway and sign up through a blog tour to get about 400 subscribers, and recently participated in a giveaway through Ripley Patton and gained 1800 subscribers. I also put my book up for free as part of a book funnel group giveaway, so readers choose to download my book in exchange for their email, so I've gained 250 subscribers through that (and I'm only 5 days in out of 30 for that). I've had readers sign up organically too by putting my newsletter link on my Facebook page, twitter pinned tweet, and at the front and back of my books. I'm not great at the content yet, and there's always those readers who sign up for the free book and then unsubscribe as soon as they get their first newsletter, but my list keeps growing and many continue to put up with my news and blather. :) It's nice to offer a free short story, novella, or novel to send as a link when a new readers subscribes. I always need help and need to ask questions too, but I'm always here too if you need help! Don't hesitate to ask! I don't know a lot, but what I know I can offer up! Christy

Reply
J E Oneil link
7/5/2017 01:03:59 pm

I'm super shy, too. It can be so hard to reach out to people. I'm glad you were able to power through it :)

Reply
Bish Denham link
7/5/2017 02:01:38 pm

I'm shy too and I don't have a newsletter. I'm not sure I'd have anything to say... I've signed up for yours.

Reply
Liz A. link
7/5/2017 02:18:59 pm

I've heard offering a free story helps. And having a link at the end of your ebooks. Of course, it's only your true fans that'll sign up most of the time. (I know I delete more email than I read.)

Reply
Juneta link
7/5/2017 02:48:43 pm

I just added a freebie to mine. A desktop background I made. <a href="http://www.junetakey.com/posts/category/blog-life-happens/"> Juneta @ Writer's Gambit </a>

Reply
Victoria Marie Lees link
7/5/2017 03:48:53 pm

Wow, do I agree with you, Patricia. This seems to be my first time here, so I've followed your blog and signed up for your newsletter. Thanks for co-hosting this month's blog question for IWSG. All the luck with your writing endeavors, Patricia!

Reply
Adrienne Reiter link
7/5/2017 04:18:48 pm

I subscribed! Good luck with your launch. I hear you about the feeling hesitant. Sometimes social media gives me social anxiety. Thank you for co-hosting this month, and great connecting with you!

Reply
olga godim link
7/5/2017 04:59:59 pm

Your lesson resonates with me, all of it, every word. As for building your audience - it's not bribery to offer free stuff. It's a way to show people what you can do. I have a few free stories of mine on wattpad, and it's very rewarding to read comments. When people like your writing, free or not, it's a joy for a writer.

Reply
Chrys Fey link
7/5/2017 05:26:14 pm

I guess I don't mind bribing people because I do giveaways all the time to get more subscribers. ;)

I don't use Instafreebie to get subscribers, though. That's when they get a free eBook as they sign up. I do, however, share the link for my free book after the sign up as a thank you.

Reply
HR Sinclair link
7/5/2017 06:23:53 pm

Newsletters are hard. We are inundated with so much stuff offline and online that I think people won't even subscribe for free stuff. the newsletter just has to be something they feel they need. Does that make sense? I have 11 whole members on mine--and I'm one of them.

Reply
Angela Wooldridge link
7/6/2017 01:43:33 am

Yeah, I'm with you on the mailing list thing. I know everyone says it's the thing to do, but it does fell a bit like cold-calling, and from the other side, when I do sign up, I don't usually have time to read any, so they just pile up in my mailbox :(
I'm hoping that by the time I have to consider it, someone will have come up with a better idea :)

Reply
Ronel Janse van Vuuren link
7/6/2017 02:50:51 am

The best newsletters I receive monthly are the ones that offer something for readers and writers - and giving a free ebook as incentive for signing up for the newsletter can be good marketing of your writing too (people like to tell others if they found a nice - free - book to read and you'll build your email list). Good luck!

Reply
CD Gallant-King link
7/6/2017 07:17:26 am

People sign up to get free stuff all the time! It's just how life works.

When I was in university I signed up for a credit card to get a free hat.

Worst decision of my life. :-*(

Reply
Lynda Dietz link
7/6/2017 08:10:40 am

Asking for help is a difficult thing. I think so many of us have been conditioned to think we'll be ridiculed for asking the "stupid" question that it stops us for asking or accepting. I'm so glad the IWSG eliminates any of that.

Reply
Lidy link
7/6/2017 11:05:41 am

Thanks for co-hosting this month! Giving incentives to people to sign up to your newsletter might feel like bribery but it works. Work for a nonprofit and you wouldn't believe the amount of calls I get from upset donors who hasn't received their calculator or tote bag after making a donation to us. They really love it, getting those incentives/giveaways. So don't worry or be insecure about yourself or writing. It's just a weird, quirky human nature thing.

Reply
Jemima Pett link
7/6/2017 12:03:24 pm

Congrats on being a co-host today - I enjoyed your post as always.
As for getting people to sign up - well I mostly do that by asking them as an option in a giveaway, but you have no idea whether they really want the newsletter. Incentives to do something versus bribery - good question. I suppose bribery is something someone wants in return for something they don't want to do. I know I ask my asteroid miners whether they can be bribed in my book!

Reply
Stephanie Faris link
7/6/2017 02:20:22 pm

Giveaways can help, but often people who will enter giveaways just do so for the prizes. Signups from people who are actually interested in your work are much more valuable. I do have a friend who has a clipboard for signups that she sets out at every event. She gets quite a few signups that way.

Reply
Sharon Himsl link
7/6/2017 04:09:07 pm

Hi, I think others here have given some great advice and wish you well with the newsletter!! Admittedly, I balk at the time factor involved, both reading and writing one. It's all I can do to keep an active blog and write when offline. There are days I wish I could clone myself :)

Reply
Lynda R Young link
7/6/2017 05:07:48 pm

Don't think of it as bribery. Think of it as attracting the right audience.

Reply
Erika Beebe link
7/6/2017 07:53:03 pm

I feel your lesson on help. I don't like to ask for it either and yes, like you I am learning to just do it. Quit fighting my thoughts and what to say and just say what I need to :) I wish you luck.

Reply
Stephen Tremp
7/6/2017 08:26:16 pm

Yeah I'm introverted as well. But that doesn't keep people like you and me down!

Reply
Cherie Reich link
7/7/2017 12:08:54 pm

It can be difficult to get newsletter subscribers, but you do want to offer them something of value. For me, I created a sampler of my work that a subscriber gets for free. Once I have more books out, I'll likely offer a first in the series book or two. It's a good way to get your work in front of new people. Quite a few authors use Instafreebie too to gain more subscriptions.

Reply
Gina link
7/7/2017 02:09:39 pm

I'm thinking about starting a newsletter, but I'm not sure if I have the time.

Reply
Michelle Wallace link
7/8/2017 01:33:16 am

I think that a freebie makes people feel that they're a part of something... like they're special.
Newsletter experiences? I've heard so many different author stories with regards to newsletters? Some stories good and some not so good. I don't know what to think...
But some authors swear by it!

Thank you for co-hosting the IWSG this month, Pat!

Reply
Nick Wilford link
7/8/2017 03:05:17 pm

Starting a newsletter is also on my list of goals. I think it would help to just think of a giveaway as something fun that builds interest... Another good idea is to offer a free story that's exclusive to subscribers. Obviously I have no personal experience of what works yet, but a lot of marketing feels like fumbling blind! Sometimes you just need to give things a go. And I've also been constantly surprised by how much people are willing to help, though I still struggle with asking!

Reply
J.H. Moncrieff link
7/10/2017 10:14:06 pm

I'm sure others have already suggested this, but have you tried one of those list-building giveaways? They're supposed to work wonders if you go with a reputable one, and they don't cost very much.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Follow Me

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Newsletter Sign up
    Follow

    Enter your email:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Blogspot Archive

    ►  2012 (77)
    ►  2011 (180)
    ►  2010 (20)

    Tags

    All
    Abducted Life
    A To Z Challenge
    Being Human
    Blog Hop
    Book
    Book Review
    Celebrate Small Things
    Friday Quick Fic
    Giveaway
    Green Day
    Guest Post
    IndieBooksBeSeen
    Influence Series
    IWSG
    Leaves Of Fall
    LGBT
    MIParaCon
    Mistakes Of The Past
    NaNoWriMo
    New Adult
    Newsletter
    Non Writing
    Path Of Angels
    Patreon
    Snapshots
    Speculative Fiction
    Story Dam
    Tempting Friendship
    Trick Or Treat Reads
    Vampires
    WriteMotivation
    Writing
    Writing Prompt
    Young Adult

    Blogroll

    * Marie Landry
    * Rainy Kaye
    * Story Dam
    * IWSG
    * A to Z Challenge
    * Alex J. Cavanaugh
    * Larry Kollar
    * C. Lee McKenzie
    * A Book Lover's Playlist
    * Cherie Reich
    * M. Pax
    * MJ FiField
    * Melissa Barker-Simpson
    ​* Christine Rains
    * Heather M. Gardner
    * George McNeese
    * Lexa Cain
    ​​* L.G Keltner
    * Sarah Foster
    * Chrys Fey
    * Liana K
    (Youtube)
    Picture
    Picture

    ​​© Patricia Lynne 2010- 2018 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.

    Newsletter Sign Up

Subscribe to Newsletter
​​
© Patricia Lynne 2010- 2018 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.
Privacy Policy
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Books
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Media Kit
  • Trick-or-Treat Reads