Publishing an online newsletter is easier than you might think. It just takes a little organization and discipline. It is one of the top ways to promote your book online. For that matter it’s one of the best ways to promote anything online. If you shut out this option you are missing opportunities to sell your book. It’s that plain and simple.
Here are some simple steps to get your newsletter off the ground.
First decide how often you want to send out your newsletter and stick to your promised schedule.
Your most common options are daily, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly. Daily newsletters usually only work for jokes, quotes, inspirations, etc. So that leaves you with three options.
Once you decide when you’ll publish the newsletter you’re better able to think about what will go in your newsletter. Remember those who are online are looking for information.
What information will you share? A good way to figure this out is to read other newsletters and see what entices you and keeps you subscribed. Your newsletter is the gateway to your Website and your book.
When you give your subscribers valuable information they’re more apt to visit your Website. And of course this is where you tell them about your great book! It doesn’t have to be a long newsletter, but should offer help for your targeted audience. People won’t stay subscribed if all you do is blow your own horn.
Once you’ve made a list of what will be included in your newsletter, check out other newsletters for layout to use as a template for your own.
Find one that appeals to your eye and imitate how it’s done. I am not suggesting you copy their content, only the layout of the newsletter. If you find it reads easily for you, chances are your subscribers will like it too.
Copy and paste the newsletter into any word program and delete the content leaving only the sections you want to keep.
If the newsletter template is longer than you want, delete those sections not needed. And rename the headings of each category to your preference. You’re a writer, so create!
Save the template for future newsletters you’ll send. Now you’re ready to add content to your newsletter.
This is where you fill in the spaces with your own content. Here’s some examples of content you can create for your newsletter.
The first is your editorial where you share the latest news about your book, any problems you may be encountering, publishing information or a new book coming out, etc.
Maybe you’ve decided to share writing prompts to inspire other writers. This could be the second category.
Your third category could be places you promote your own book to help others promote theirs. Just share a couple of places each time your newsletter goes out with a brief description of how this place helps promote.
Get the idea? Have fun with it. Don’t let it become a chore. If it’s something you find is too much work, scratch it.
Now that you know the frequency of your newsletter, what will go in it and how it will be set up it’s time to decide if you’ll send it out through your own Website or use one of the free services offered by sites like Topica or Yahoo.
Personally I recommend the latter because it saves time having to handle subscribes and unsubscribes. And it’s easy and simple.
Just go to www.topica.com or www.yahoo.com and after you’ve joined set up the information for your newsletter. Then whenever you’re ready to send out your issue you go back and post it. Whichever site you choose to publish your newsletter will automatically send out your newsletter to your subscribers.
How do you get subscribers?
That’s the beauty of setting up your newsletter through Topica or Yahoo. They have thousands of subscribers who surf through their sites looking for newsletters of interest. Once you’re listed with them people will find you.
It’s also important that you set up a ‘join box’ on the pages of your Website. This allows visitors to your site an easy way to join your newsletter and everyone reaps the rewards.
Of course there are other ways to gain subscribers but that’s a whole new article. Right now you’ve got your newsletter off the ground and the rest will fall into place naturally as you grow and learn. It’s that simple and easy.
2002 Dallas Franklin
http://www.SellWritingOnline.com
Once you download ‘THE NEVERending eBook of Writing Markets!’,
you won’t waste anymore precious time. Just open it up,
click on potential markets and send it in! It’s that simple.
EVERY month another 100 markets added!
http://www.Sellwritingonline.com/neverending.html
