EMAIL EMAIL MARKETING MARKETING FOR WRITERS WITH WITH RACQUEL - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

EMAIL MARKETING WITH RACQUEL HENRY & VALERIE WILLIS EMAIL MARKETING FOR WRITERS WITH RACQUEL HENRY & VALERIE WILLIS

Please note: No part of this presentation should be reproduced without the written consent of the presenters or Writer’s Atelier.

2

RACQUEL HENRY

3

• Writer: The Writer’s Atelier Little Book of

Writing Affirmations + various online and print venues

• Founder + Editor at Writer’s Atelier
• Founder + Editor at Black Fox Literary

Magazine

• Professor of Creative Writing and

Composition I/II

VALERIE WILLIS

4

• Author of the Cedric Series, Tattooed

Angels Trilogy + various print anthology publications + Public domain remakes

• Editor of the Demonic Wildlife Anthology

Series

• Founder of Battle Goddess Productions
• Lead Typesetter at Salem Author Services
• Online Community Manager + Instructor

at Writer’s Atelier

WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE WRITING GOAL?

5

Why is an email list crucial?

⬗ Name recognition ⬗ Drives traffic to your website ⬗ Builds loyal relationship w/your readership ⬗ Has the potential to make you money ⬗ Book Reviews (21%)

6

COLD AUDIENCE VS. WARM AUDIENCE

7

Common Myths

⬗ “I need a book to market/build an email list ⬗ “I don’t want to be “salesy.” ⬗ “I don’t want to annoy anyone.” ⬗ “Can’t I just post on social media?” ⬗ “I don’t want to share my personal life.”

8

Strategies

9

SIGN UP FOR AN EMAIL MARKETING SERVICE

10

EMAIL SERVICE PROVIDERS

⬗ MailChimp ⬗ TinyLetter ⬗ ConvertKit ⬗ Constant Contact ⬗ MailerLite ⬗ Drip ⬗ AWeber

11

CHOOSE ONE GOAL

⬗ Sell Books/Gain book reviews ⬗ Sell additional products/services ⬗ Get clients for freelance writing

12

GET TO KNOW YOUR READER

Get specific on audience: ⬗ Reviews Amazon/Goodreads/Blogs ⬗ Use social media to connect (Hi, Instagram!) ⬗ Hold conversations at live events KNOW, LIKE, TRUST

13

CREATE INCENTIVES FOR SIGN-UPS

⬗ Free chapter/Book/First book in series ⬗ Audio file ⬗ Curated reading list ⬗ Challenges ⬗ Curate related fan sights (FB Group/Hashtag) ⬗ Story background (prequel) ⬗ Subscribe to get the ending ⬗ Short stories/Novellas/Mini Books ⬗ Bonus content related to characters (sketches/artwork) ⬗ Exclusive content in general (behind the scenes)

14

CHOOSE A CONTENT STRATEGY (FOCUS EACH WEEK)

15

THE RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

How do you keep readers interested/involved? ⬗ Book Launch Team/Street team ⬗ Live writing process (streaming) ⬗ Let readership help make decisions ⬗ Weekly newsletter ⬗ Appearance updates (interviews/features) ⬗ Your stories (series, cliffhangers) ⬗ Reader stories/spotlighting readers ⬗ Teach what you know (Val’s fishing!) ⬗ Giveaways

16

MAKE THE TIME. THIS IS PART OF THE JOB.

17

TIM GRAHL’S TIPS TO FIRST 100 SUBSCRIBERS ⬗ Invite your social media following ⬗ Add to your email signature ⬗ Make it number one on website (pop up) ⬗ Put it in your book ⬗ Ask new subscribers to share

18

DRIP CAMPAIGNS

19

WHAT IS A DRIP CAMPAIGN? ⬗ Automatic email system that keeps your email list engaged ⬗ Best to link to a launch page, landing page,

• r sign up page

⬗ Be sure to update and rotate content often

20

DRIP CAMPAIGN SEQUENCE

⬗ First drip: confirmation/welcome letter/freebie ⬗ 3-5 days: Follow up on welcome letter. Share more about how you started writing or check if they got freebie ⬗ 7 days: More about who you are and where you want to be, ask for feedback on freebie or double check they received it ⬗ 14 days: Did you enjoy freebie? Did you read my book yet? Here’s some great places to write reviews or drive traffic elsewhere ⬗ 30 days: Share information – why reviews are important. Current tour schedule ⬗ 45 days: Book clubs, invites, ARC or early review opportunities ⬗ 60 days: Thank you for being here! A secondary freebie? Invite to VIP or Street team

21

KEEP DRIP CAMPAIGNS GOING ⬗ Continue sending informative drips ⬗ “Did you know there’s a book 2?” “Discover it here!” “Read it already!” “Leave me a review here!” ⬗ “Hey, you’ve been here for a while, thank you for your continued support.”

22

MORE ABOUT DRIP CAMPAIGNS

⬗ Drips and weekly/biweekly/monthly newsletter posts are two veins. ⬗ Be sure to update them often! ⬗ Drips should always be focused on the reader as an individual and intimate one on one. These tend to be more reactive. ⬗ Drip campaign = biggest response in regards to gathering reviews ⬗ Don’t be afraid to setup specialized drip/automated emails for those who were part of a special event or certain book giveaway to remind them of reviews and feedback OR follow up and ask for hashtag, share photos of author, the book, or the event! ⬗ Combining w/Bookfunnel & similar giveaway sites + joining digital book bundles goes LONG way. BUT CLEAN IT UP!

23

MAINTENANCE DRIP CAMPAIGNS

⬗ Monthly clear out of inactive subscribers ⬗ 3 months of inactivity (hasn’t opened any or last 5 or more emails) ⬗ Do this monthly ⬗ Saves money on subscriber based sites ⬗ Helps focus results, algorithms, AND keeps your newsletter

• ut of SPAM folders

⬗ Shows your content is engaging and has a better chance of selling and reaching your audience

24

MAINTENANCE DRIP CAMPAIGNS

If you have inactivity spikes or a hard time with unsubscribers: ⬗ Take a look at newsletters and drips ⬗ Adjust + test until you find the sweet spot for your readership and genre ⬗ Optimal active list with good drips and weekly posts should pull 21% of them into book reviews!

25

SAMPLE DRIP CAMPAIGN RESULTS

Cedric Series Book 1 Results:

• Jan 2018: 16 Book Reviews (Most through book review blogs)
• Jan 15 (after consulting with Alinka Rutowska): Launched first

Newsletter for monthly version

• Jan 2019: 60 Reviews on book – NUMEROUS replies from drip

campaign

• Today? There are 65 and it’s growing. Reviews still coming in

from drip campaign and a 4.6 star rating on AMAZON!

26

Find out more about Racquel at: Writersatelier.com Racquelhenry.com facebook.com/writersatelieronline IG: @WritersAtelier Twitter: @Writersatelier @RacquelHenry

27

Find out more about Valerie at: willisauthor.com facebook.com/ValerieWillisAuthor IG: @willisauthor Twitter: @Valerie_Willis

28

29

THANKS!