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! 
46 Comments
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. 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. :) 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! 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.
C. Lee McKenzie
7/5/2017 07:03:50 am
I suppose incentivize sounds better than bribery. Whatever works.
C. Lee McKenzie
7/5/2017 07:05:22 am
p.s. I'm already subscribed. 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. =) 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. 7/5/2017 08:35:54 am
Hi Patricia, 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! 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. 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. 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!). 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 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. 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! 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! 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.
I guess I don't mind bribing people because I do giveaways all the time to get more subscribers. ;) 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. 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 :( 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! 7/6/2017 07:17:26 am
People sign up to get free stuff all the time! It's just how life works. 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. 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. 7/6/2017 12:03:24 pm
Congrats on being a co-host today - I enjoyed your post as always. 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. 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 :) 7/6/2017 05:07:48 pm
Don't think of it as bribery. Think of it as attracting the right audience. 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.
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! 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. 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. 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! 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. Leave a Reply. |
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