Newsletters by Allison Symes

Image Credits: Images created in Book Brush using Pixabay photos. 

Many of us have author newsletters. I suspect there are more who know newsletters are a good idea but haven’t yet started one. I consider myself a late comer here, but it isn’t too late to start and thought I’d share tips I’ve found handy.

I only started a newsletter when I knew I could keep it going. I planned when I’d issue them and when, in each month, I’d need it ready by. I realised from this I could schedule it into my writing life easily. 

Consistency helps build reader loyalty, though what this is can vary from author to author. For me, once monthly works. Other authors issue newsletters quarterly. Both are fine but you need to work out what would work best for you on a long term basis. 

It also helps me to work out themes which I can keep writing about, the obvious one being flash fiction. Sharing tips on what has helped me writing wise will resonate with others so again it is something to write about. So before I set anything up, again I planned my regular themes.  

I use the free version of Mailchimp. It’s fine for my needs at the current time. It helps to know you don’t have to do everything all at once. 

I keep my newsletters simple. I use Book Brush to help me produce graphics but often receive newsletters which are text based. As long as the content grabs me (which it does), this is fine. 

It pays to sign up for other writing newsletters. You can see what is out there and work out which approach you like. I use my graphics to break up my news, tips, story link section etc to make the newsletter attractive on the eye.   

I send newsletters monthly (with the occasional special in between). I picked the first of the month as it is an easy date to remember. Simple as that! I don’t expect many to open my newsletter on 1st January (!) but take the view people can catch up with newsletters throughout the month.

I focus on giving something of value to readers. I ask myself what’s in it for them? I put in my newsletter what I would want to see if I was on the receiving end. 

I flag up my newsletters on my social media pages but leave this towards the end of the month so I don’t overdo it. It’s not unreasonable for an author to flag things like this up towards the publication date for the next one.

At the end of each newsletter I have a button which takes people to my blog. That is updated twice weekly so there is always something fresh for people to read whenever they click on that button.

The most important point?

Have a newsletter because you want to have one to engage with readers (potential, actual, or both). It is by far the best reason to have one at all and good luck!