This week, I\u2019m finally organizing my email list. I\u2019ve been unable to figure out how to use folders to manage groups of emails in order to send automatic blasts of emails to my lists, so I hand type them. Big waste of time. I realize I\u2019m a bit behind with technology. Not my strong suit.<\/p>\n
But now I\u2019m hooking up with a program that I can use to send to groups. I hope I am typing these email addresses for the last time. <\/p>\n
I\u2019ve typed 924 email addresses so far to insert into the new program and I have at least twice or three-times that many more to go. Where do I get these email addresses?<\/p>\n
I collect business cards and promotional brochures from my audience\u2014authors and hopeful authors. I offer freebies at my website and collect email addresses from those who download the freebie, I have sign-up sheets at my booths at book festivals and at my presentations. I ask for email addresses on my order forms for books and services. And I have collected email addresses from numerous clients and others who contact me with questions.<\/p>\n
Here are some suggestions for your sign-up sheets. Generally, someone will sign up if they know they\u2019re going to get something in return\u2014an article or a report on their subject of interest, for example. I might offer my article on how to promote your ebook or 50 reasons why you should publish your book. You could have a sign-up sheet for your free enewsletter on the subject of your book. <\/p>\n
Avoid problems with your sign-up sheet by creating large enough spaces to write in. As I go through my lists, I notice that where I\u2019ve tried to get more names on a sheet\u2014using narrower line spaces\u2014I have more difficulty reading the addresses. Much easier where I\u2019ve allowed plenty of line space.<\/p>\n
Ask for the person\u2019s name, too. Sometimes their name is reflected in their email address and one that is difficult to read will become more clear once you see the name. You might not know whether it is \u201crobertsmillerton\u201d or \u201crobertamillerton\u201d until you take a look at the name. Ah, \u201cRoberta.\u201d You may mistake \u201cGloverNan\u201d for CloverMan.\u201d If you spent any time trying to decipher handwritten materials, you know the problems that can arise.<\/p>\n
When you present a sign-up sheet, be sure to type at the top what it is for\u2014\u201cFree Resource List for Quilters\u201d or \u201cFree Chapter of New Novel,\u201d etc.<\/p>\n
Ask, in order to get the name and address. If you are in a booth, point out your sign-up sheet to those who walk up. If you are in front of a group giving a presentation, send a sign-up sheet around the room. Put the program chairperson or something else you trust in charge of the sheet. This works well for workshop-type or informational\/educational presentations. For a more somber program or where you are entertaining rather than educating, you might have the sign-up sheet at your book signing table. Have someone sit at the table and catch folks as they come in and before they leave the event. An unmanned sign-up sheet often goes unnoticed.<\/p>\n
The next time you go out to speak or to sell books at a signing or book festival, get more for your time and money by always providing a sign-up sheet. And then do as I am finally doing, manage those email addresses so it is relatively easy to make contact when you have something to share\u2014a new book announcement, the launching of a newsletter directed at your audience, a workshop or contest you are sponsoring and so forth.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
This week, I\u2019m finally organizing my email list. I\u2019ve been unable to figure out how to use folders to manage groups of emails in order to send automatic blasts of emails to my lists, so I hand type them. Big waste of time. I realize I\u2019m a bit behind with technology. Not my strong suit. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t