2 Reasons Why Authors Need An Email List
As an author, these days you have a variety of ways to connect with readers. Such as; social media platforms, blogs, podcasts, radio, online media, print media, etc.
However, connecting with your ideal target audience — readers who want to hear from you, learn more about you & your work AND who are die-hard fans of you and your work — requires you to be more intentional when it comes to being an authorpreneur.
You need an email list.
When building and growing your author platform, one of the key elements you must have is an email list.
Why is having an email list so important?
It is one of the best (seriously, it’s probably the best) way to grow a profitable fan base!
Here’s why…
You Own Your Email List
Yes, social media is a great must-have tool to help you increase your readership, bring awareness to your brand, and connect with your ideal target readers.
"I already have 10k followers on my [Facebook, Twitter, IG, etc.], why should I have an email list?"
Here’s the problem: you don’t own any of the social media accounts that you utilize.
What if Facebook suspend and/or permanently deactivate your page? Or your personal profile?
What if Twitter block and/or permanently deactivate your account?
What if Instagram suspend and/or permanently deactivate your account?
If these platforms decides to deactivate or suspend your account, and/or if they shut down today… you will lose all of your followers and have no way to connect with them.
Unless you have an email list!
When you have an email list, if those social media platforms deactivated your account and/or decided to shut down, you will still be able to contact your fans, keep them updated, maintain and grow connections, sell your books, etc.
You’ll Have A Reliable Fan Base
When your ideal audience signs up to your email list, they are giving you permission to send them updates directly to their inbox about you and your work.
These individuals are your ideal target audience because:
They genuinely care about your success as an authorpreneur
They are ready and willing to buy your books
They will recommend your books to others
They will leave book reviews and/or ratings
They will support you in all your endeavors - book signings, book boxes, author events, author/book merch, etc.
Your email list represents your audience size, and your audience size determines your sales. Your email list subscribers want to hear from you, and want to buy your books… they will buy your books.
Remember, with an active (engaging) email list:
You have an army of supporters (and buyers) around your author brand. Your subscribers would be happy to spread the word about your work to help you reach a wider audience.
You’ll have better opportunities. Publishers and the media are more drawn to authors who already have an established audience. Think of interviews, press, book contracts, co-authoring books, and other joint/book ventures, etc.
You can write what your ideal readers want to read because you have readers to talk to for market research by sending out surveys, asking questions, etc. to your mailing list.
You can actually make selling and marketing your book easier by consistently engaging with your subscribers. They will genuinely return the favor by supporting you.
In conclusion, your email list is your most valuable asset. It’s your ticket to building an established author brand, reaching a wider audience, and selling more books. If you don’t have an email list, start building it now.
Do you have an email list already? How have you been using it so far?
If you don’t, why not? What’s your biggest struggle in building one?
Let us know in the comments.
