Newsletter Nuances
Ok, so you’ve got your newsletter written, images added, and you have a list of subscribers. What more could you need? Well, a lot actually.
The first thing people overlook with newsletters is: how visually appealing are they? If you have long blocks of text on a plain background, this is the equivalent of a long email. You must add some flavor to your newsletters, author!
Focus on your brand and pull inspiration from the genre you write in. Do you mostly write cookbooks? Add some fun kitchen imagery to use for line breaks and as a border. Do you write science fiction? Pull a specific aspect of your latest book (maybe the language, the art, the weapons, etc.) and sprinkle those into your newsletter. You don’t want to cut and paste these details directly into the newsletter as an eye catcher for your latest blog post, but instead you want your subscribers to see these details and have an ah-ha! moment when they recognize it.
When you are working on your newsletter schedule, make sure that you are sending them at least every other month, and no longer than 60 days between newsletters. For some folks, every month is what works best for them. For others, every other month. Your regular newsletter is your direct connection to your subscriber.
Customization is important for your newsletters as well. Catering to the change in seasons is one avenue, and focusing on new releases is another. It all depends on your brand, author. Are you working on a self-help book about decluttering and letting go? Consider sprinkling in tips and tricks in your newsletter in preparation for your next book. Is your latest publication a spring romance? Lean into the spring spirit and make your newsletters as festive as your book.
Trying to find the right balance in your newsletter isn’t easy, author. If you are totally stuck, sign-up for newsletters from some of your favorite authors and especially from ones who write in the same genre as you. Get inspired and take notes. Start making changes slowly and set a plan for the next few months of newsletters.
