Mailing Lists

[Denae]

Two questions, for the authors and the readers.
As authors, how many of you have a mailing list, and does it work? I want to try one, but I see that (if I go through Mail Chimp, anyway) I'd need to provide a physical address, which means I'd want a PO box, and that sounds like a hassle. Is it worth it?
As a reader, I'm signed up for, like, 3 authors' mailing lists. I find it more worthwhile to follow them on Goodreads, Facebook, and Amazon. As readers, what have you found to work for you?

[Phyllis]

I have recently started using MailChimp for my mailing list. I already use a P.O. Box, so that wasn't an issue for me.

I find that a monthly newsletter seems to elicit more positive response (ie., more sales) than posting on my Facebook or goodreads or Twitter pages. But I try to cover all the bases, just in case, as I know that every reader is different.

[Pam]

Denae wrote: "Two questions, for the authors and the readers.
As authors, how many of you have a mailing list, and does it work? I want to try one, but I see that (if I go through Mail Chimp, anyway) I'd need to..."

I started looking into this and in the UK it worked out as a minimum of £210 a year and for that you had to go to the depot to collect any mail; more to have it delivered to home, so I've held back on doing it. Looked at other companies, but a lot have T&C saying you must comply with legislation, so took that to mean the same CAN-SPAM that Mailchimp was talking about.

[Justin]

I actually wrote a blog post about this very question. I had been wondering the same thing last month and after almost a year of trying to figure out what a mailing list was and whether or not it was for me I finally decided to buckle down, look into it and try to get one going.
You can check out my post about it here:

http://jbienvenue.webs.com/apps/blog/...-

As for MailChimp I was also skeptical of giving them my physical address but I don't plan on using it so it's just used as a way for you to use the MailChimp service so I wouldn't worry too much about it. I will say that I'm about a month and a half in, created a landing page and haven't gained any followers. I'm going to try a more aggressive approach.

[[deleted user]]

I have a blog signup, too, on my website. So far, after nearly 2 years, only one person has signed up, so I suppose I'm not as aggressive about it as I should be. On the other hand, I'm not sure that a mailing list would be all that beneficial to me, anyway, though I've heard others tout it constantly. It probably works for some, especially the very prolific authors with a fan base.

[Justin]

Ken wrote: "I have a blog signup, too, on my website. So far, after nearly 2 years, only one person has signed up, so I suppose I'm not as aggressive about it as I should be. On the other hand, I'm not sure th..."

I hear ya Ken. I had my original blog signup and that's actually where I got most of the people I have for my current mail list. However since deciding to focus on establishing a list using a Landing Page and MailChimp, I've failed to get one new person but like you I haven't really posted it any where to make it a focus. My initial plan is to use Facebook to create an ad letting people know about my landing page, where they can sign up and what stuff they get for free by signing up.

It's definitely a process and from what I've heard you really need to spend time with it, it's not one of those things you do every once in a while.

[Justin]

E.J. wrote: "Ken wrote: "It probably works for some, especially the very prolific authors with a fan base."

That's sort of what I discovered. Perhaps I approached it wrong, but I ran into this catch-22 of a ne..."

They say it's good to build an e-mail list and a following but that isn't the easiest thing to do.

[Pam]

Justin wrote: "I actually wrote a blog post about this very question. I had been wondering the same thing last month and after almost a year of trying to figure out what a mailing list was and whether or not it w..."

It's not so much that you have to give Mailchimp your address, it's the fact that the address has to appear in every email that gets sent out. As anyone can sign up, you don't really want your personal address sent out in this way. Hence Mailchimp's suggestion that you get a post office box, except that PO boxes cost quite a lot of money on an ongoing annual basis.

[Justin]

I've never noticed if it shows your address..I don't think it does..and I'm sure if it does you can get rid of it.

[Owen]

We set up a mailing list after we released the 3rd book in our series. The only way to join is thru our blog. We have gotten some people to join but not a huge number. We mainly use it to send out pre-release sample chapters of our upcoming book. According to the stats, these are read by the majority of people on the list.

As the question: is it worth it? I can't say. We have gotten essentially no feedback from anyone on the list. We cannot tell if it is creating or sustaining interest in our fourth book. The number of people who have signed up is small compared to our total readership. After an initial burst of people joining, very few new people have joined, so it appears that new readers are not joining in substantial numbers.

I tend to conclude [in common with others] that once an author has a strong following, a mailing list might be a viable way to keep existing readers involved and perhaps reach a few new ones. But I doubt mailing lists aid new authors in building readership.

Of note [perhaps]: We don't advertise our list and we avoid social media. Our list is directed at keeping existing readers informed of our progress and offering free samples of ongoing work. So the focus is on keeping readers, not get new readers. In our genre, getting new this way is not terribly effective and our readers are not an "interactive" bunch.

In a different genre, where the readership is more socially oriented, list may work better, but I still suspect only after an author has become well established and built up a high degree of credibility in their market.

[Owen]

Justin wrote: "I've never noticed if it shows your address..I don't think it does..and I'm sure if it does you can get rid of it."

On mail chimp, it does show your address, in the footer, and no, you can't remove it. It may be a legal requirement. It certainly is a requirement to use mail chimp.

[Christina]

Owen wrote: "Justin wrote: "I've never noticed if it shows your address..I don't think it does..and I'm sure if it does you can get rid of it."

On mail chimp, it does show your address, in the footer, and no, ..."

Can't you? I know Ann uses Mail Chimp for the SIA newsletter and she's had no problem removing the address.

[Owen]

Christina wrote: "Owen wrote: "Justin wrote: "I've never noticed if it shows your address..I don't think it does..and I'm sure if it does you can get rid of it."

On mail chimp, it does show your address, in the foo..."

Interesting. I tried unchecking some options and fiddling with the footer and the address was put back in anyway. From what I read on the site, it sounded like a requirement.

To be clear, I didn't want to remove the address, we want the address on the emails. It was actually another bit that gets added to the footer I wanted to get rid of, but I also curious to see if I could.

So perhaps I'm mistaken. I guess I should sign up for the SIA Newsletter.

[Justin]

Hmm...so I just noticed the address. The reason I never noticed it is because it's at the very bottom. Definitely not a fan of that...I'll be looking to find a way to get rid of it for sure the next time I send out an e-mail.

[S.A.]

Hi. I use Mail Chimp and it was always my understanding that including an address in the footer of each campaign is their requirement. I opened a post office box (very affordable) for this purpose to avoid having to use my street address.

Sue

[[deleted user]]

I did remove my address. How? I have no idea, it's been so long ago. But I know it can be done. Sure, I may be hauled up in front of the U.N. and prosecuted some day for international crimes, but, hey, I like to walk on the wild side.

[S.A.]

Ken wrote: "I did remove my address. How? I have no idea, it's been so long ago. But I know it can be done. Sure, I may be hauled up in front of the U.N. and prosecuted some day for international crimes, but, ..."

Wild, indeed. ;)

[Ann, Supreme Overlord]

You can delete the address out of the footer as you're designing your newsletter/email. You just have to click to edit the footer in the design screen before sending.

They do require you to have an address but you don't have to include it in your actual newsletter :) If you need screenshots, let me know!

[Owen]

Ann wrote: "You can delete the address out of the footer as you're designing your newsletter/email. You just have to click to edit the footer in the design screen before sending.

They do require you to have ..."

Thanks for the info, Ann. I tried editing the footer the first time, but it didn't take. I didn't do something right, then. I was actually trying to remove the "monkey rewards" link (or whatever they are called), but think that can only be done for paid accounts. It's nice to know it can be done, even though we want our address there.

[S.A.]

Libby wrote: "On mailing lists in general, they're indispensable for me, even at this stage. I release covers early, and keep readers up to date about once a month. Some never answer, others are very chatty, whi..."

I agree. My mailing list was vital in providing that initial burst of sales when I released my book.

[[deleted user]]

Tamara wrote: "So, how do you build your mailing list when you are unknown?"

I'm wondering the same thing... I only have maybe one or two people who regularly read my blog as it is...

Also, what kind of things do you include in your mailing lists? I'm not currently signed up for any so I can't check others to see what they are doing...

[Alp]

A mailing list, like a Twitter account or a Facebook page, will take time and energy to build and maintain if it is going to be successful.

I tried a mailing list but it didn't gain much traction - Twitter works for me much better.

Personally, I loath mailing lists, never sign up and will never try it again - but every author's experience is different, and a mailing list is worth a try for 6 months.

I used Mailchimp and I thought it was a pretty good product.

Alp

[Ann, Supreme Overlord]

In order to build a mailing list, you usually need to be giving something away for free in order to persuade people to give up their email address. :) It might be entering them into a free book giveaway, a short story of yours, etc. (at least that's how my marketing husband gets his email addresses)

[Christina]

Anyone heard of or tried Flashissue? It's apparently an add-on that allows you to build a newsletter within Gmail. I'm researching the possibility of using this for the SIAFBB events reminders.

[Owen]

Tamara wrote: "So, how do you build your mailing list when you are unknown?"

Strictly speaking. I don't think an author does build a mailing list. I think an author's work does. With a mailing list, you're asking for something and offering something in return. Readers have to feel what they are getting in return is worth what they are being asked to give for it. That means the author's work has to have some value to them and the author has to have credibility with them.

Building up credibility typically takes a long time. But it is the thing that matters most, and mailing lists cannot provide it. So setting up a mailing list before credibility is established is unlikely to do much good.

As a side note: this is true of just about everything we authors do, that isn't actually writing.

[Pam]

Justin wrote: "I've never noticed if it shows your address..I don't think it does..and I'm sure if it does you can get rid of it."

To comply with the legislation, you have to include your physical address in every email you send out. The penalty for non compliance is $16,000 PER EMAIL.

Here's the link to Mailchimp Terms of use which includes it, but to quote it says You must include your contact information inside every promotional email that you send, including a physical mailing address or PO Box where you can receive mail. (Not a website or email address.)
You may not falsify your contact information or subject line.
Even if you are outside the US, our servers live in the US. We have to make sure all US standards are observed.
We require that your emails comply with the US CAN-SPAM Act. If you break the rules, you could be liable for hundreds of dollars for each recipient that you sent non-compliant messages to.
In addition to CAN-SPAM rules, you must comply with the anti-spam laws of the countries your recipients live in. So if you're sending to UK residents and US residents, check the UK spam laws to make sure you're also UK compliant.

[Pam]

Libby wrote: "The address will still display even if you delete it from the emails - it's the next screen when someone signs up to your mailing list. It's fairly unmissable during the sign up process.

My under..."

The Mailchimp page references the laws that apply to the US, but yes there are European equivalents.

[[deleted user]]

Owen wrote: "Tamara wrote: "So, how do you build your mailing list when you are unknown?"

Strictly speaking. I don't think an author does build a mailing list. I think an author's work does. With a mailing lis..."

I've had some success with my email list, even at this early stage (one novel out for five months) probably because I used it to promote free copies of the ebook. I did not ask for reviews in return, so the book was a pure gift. I also added a line at the end of the promo, telling the recipients to notify me by reply if they wanted to be dropped from the list. I think that helped keep the list whole--no one opted out. A few made comments, a couple asked me to specifically notify them the next time I offered the book for free. I have had one five star review posted from that list of folks. I don't use mail chimp--it's a small list, under fifty names, so I can manage it from my email account.