Mailing lists? Good or bad idea?

[Sean]

I've seen some authors use mailing lists as a way to spread news and updates. Do any of you put mailing lists to use? If so, are they effective? What do you all think?

[Dee, Group Creator]

I personally do not like being on an unsolicited mailing list.

On the other hand, I have signed up for several newsletters and look forward to their arrival each week, or month :]

I too would be curious if anyone else uses mailing lists as a way to promote their novels.

[Yvonne]

I use mailing lists. I usually ask first before I send newsletters. I want my audience to not consider it spam.

The focus for me is to inform my audience with interesting topics, do some suggestive selling and keep the intended audience remembering me.

Regards,

YvonneW
Author Assistant

[Susan]

I don't presently have a mailing list. I'm on several that I signed up for, and I enjoy receiving those. On the other hand, one author regularly includes me in unsolicited mass mailings, which I regard as spam and delete immediately. I wouldn't mind them so much if the author had a new book out, but as they all relate to a book that's been out for some time and that I'm well aware of, I find them irritating.

[J.C.]

I've been debating this myself...I've been looking into these opt-in mailing list sites and the results seemed mixed. Some believe they don't work, others swear by them.

I just don't know...

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