I have a newsletter because people insist that authors have one. I don’t see value I it… dont think my most faithful readers are on it. I am going on 9 yrs as a published author and my list is under 2K. I get more Unsubscribes every time I send a newsletter. I started a weekly podcast where I say all the stuff I’d say in a newsletter. Even fewer subs but I’m sticking with it. IMO readers don’t really care to hear about anything that’s isn’t a free book and that makes it hard for me to dedicate time to writing a newsletter.
I think it's sometimes hard if a newsletter gets built on a free book giveaway not to have those readers who are just there for the free things. If they drop off the list, they weren't really your readers anyway. (I've found it helpful to turn off the unsubscribe notifications. They're disheartening. One person may unsubscribe and we focus on that instead of the 1999 people who stayed on it.) I don't do giveaways in my newsletter at all (except for the initial free download of a reading journal) and so maybe that's helped select readers who aren't there for free books. But if you don't enjoy writing the newsletters, then maybe the announcements only kind could be a low-investment way to at least hold onto people's email addresses in case the social media where you reach them blows up or changes something that makes posts not show up for them.
I do announcements only. If I participate in a promo I am required to send out a newsletter so I haven't dumped it. For the most part I use the podcast as a weekly newsletter to talk about reading and writing.
I never really gave up on my blog and post to it occasionally. I'd say it's less "scheduled" than my newsletter. It's usually for things I want to share, but don't feel "newsy". General thoughts, what I'm up to, etc. It doesn't see much traffic, but I always want there to be something somewhat recent when a reader visits my website. Speaking of which... Off to update my blog!
Yeah, that's a great point too--always having something relatively fresh on your website if a reader stops by. Glad I'm not the only one still blogging! :)
Really something to think about. I'm a big fan of newsletters and have been doing them for years. I had a blog but abandoned it when I started Substack. I think the problem is getting my head around Substack-is it a newsletter/blog hybrid? That's what it feels like to me, but then I don't get people coming to my Substack, scrolling around for hours, reading all my content like they did on my blog. And I know my blog readers didn't really follow me over here-except for the die-hard readers (who I love!).
From what I've learned, the statistics back up what you said.
I need to create a website--I have a domain. I also have a substack. I think I just need to get over the fear and make the investment in myself.
You can do a really simple website where it just has a home page, an author bio page, and page for your books.
Thanks.
I have a newsletter because people insist that authors have one. I don’t see value I it… dont think my most faithful readers are on it. I am going on 9 yrs as a published author and my list is under 2K. I get more Unsubscribes every time I send a newsletter. I started a weekly podcast where I say all the stuff I’d say in a newsletter. Even fewer subs but I’m sticking with it. IMO readers don’t really care to hear about anything that’s isn’t a free book and that makes it hard for me to dedicate time to writing a newsletter.
I think it's sometimes hard if a newsletter gets built on a free book giveaway not to have those readers who are just there for the free things. If they drop off the list, they weren't really your readers anyway. (I've found it helpful to turn off the unsubscribe notifications. They're disheartening. One person may unsubscribe and we focus on that instead of the 1999 people who stayed on it.) I don't do giveaways in my newsletter at all (except for the initial free download of a reading journal) and so maybe that's helped select readers who aren't there for free books. But if you don't enjoy writing the newsletters, then maybe the announcements only kind could be a low-investment way to at least hold onto people's email addresses in case the social media where you reach them blows up or changes something that makes posts not show up for them.
I do announcements only. If I participate in a promo I am required to send out a newsletter so I haven't dumped it. For the most part I use the podcast as a weekly newsletter to talk about reading and writing.
I never really gave up on my blog and post to it occasionally. I'd say it's less "scheduled" than my newsletter. It's usually for things I want to share, but don't feel "newsy". General thoughts, what I'm up to, etc. It doesn't see much traffic, but I always want there to be something somewhat recent when a reader visits my website. Speaking of which... Off to update my blog!
Yeah, that's a great point too--always having something relatively fresh on your website if a reader stops by. Glad I'm not the only one still blogging! :)
Really something to think about. I'm a big fan of newsletters and have been doing them for years. I had a blog but abandoned it when I started Substack. I think the problem is getting my head around Substack-is it a newsletter/blog hybrid? That's what it feels like to me, but then I don't get people coming to my Substack, scrolling around for hours, reading all my content like they did on my blog. And I know my blog readers didn't really follow me over here-except for the die-hard readers (who I love!).