Being an avid reader means that most likely you have subscribed to more than your fair share of author newsletters. Am I right? If you had to guess, how many authors send their monthly (or weekly, or bi-weekly) epistles to your email Inbox? Myself, I’d guess about a dozen.
Using that dozen authors as a test group, I’m going to ask … and answer … a few questions. I welcome you to include your own answers in Comments below!
- How did I come to subscribe to the author’s newsletter?
In order of volume, I’d say: most often: I responded to an ad or giveaway. Second, I met the author in person or at a conference and third: I read and loved one (or more) of their books. (Isn’t that interesting that the fact that I loved one of their books came in last …)
- How often do they arrive?
This question is a little weighted in my case because I really don’t want to get a newsletter any more frequently than once a month. Why? Because I already have enough trouble keeping my Inbox under control and receiving a newsletter from a single author three or four times in a month is akin to the doorbell ringing every few days and seeing an unexpected guest on my doorstep! “Oh hi, did we have something on the calendar?” Uncomfortable chuckle.
So honestly, if I subscribe to a new newsletter and find that it comes too often for my taste, I generally unsubscribe.
- Did I get a reward for subscribing?
Sure, sometimes I did. But honestly, that’s not why I subscribed. Okay, in theory it’s nice to receive a free e-book, but in reality, my poor Kindle is overloaded with so many free or discounted books that were impulse downloads, that I don’t stand a chance at getting to them all promptly. Sometimes what I prefer in a subscription reward is a printable graphic that appeals to me, a cookbook or a “only available to subscribers” item such as a deleted scene or short epilogue from the author’s book I just read.
- What do I enjoy about them? What keeps me from Unsubscribing?
Personally, I like it when the author includes me in a little bit of her everyday life. Where did she go on vacation? Has there been a big family event – wedding, new baby, graduation? I don’t mean in a creepy stalker way. Just a brief mention or picture of a significant event. I love hearing about not only new releases but also works in progress. What is that author that I enjoy working on? Have they had any issues with coming up with a plot? Have they travelled for inspiration? That kind of thing.
- What do I dislike?
Assuming I’ve whittled away everyone except the ”once-a-monthers” I will unsubscribe if I find the whole newsletter, month after month, filled with promotional pleas. “Buy this! This too! And this!” Of course, I want to hear about this author’s new books, and about their backlist books that I may have missed. But I start to lose interest when that’s all they use the newsletter real estate for — promotional links of their own and other authors’ books.
I think of it this way: when I subscribed to an author’s newsletter we formed somewhat of a “friendship,” albeit an electronic, mostly one-sided one. I want to keep in touch with my new friend, not be inundated with requests from her.
How about you? How would you respond to these questions? Answer in Comments. I’ll choose one random commenter to receive a free e-book – any book of your choice from my backlist.
While we’re speaking about newsletters, I should inform you that I have one. (Of course, I do!) And I incorporate all
my likes and dislikes into my own newsletter. I send one once a month like clockwork, never more. I usually start with a personal story of something that’s going on in my life. I include some book news, a new release if there is one that month, and if not, a link to a video or interview I’ve done or maybe some news about a past book. I also have a fun feature called Weezer’s Corner where my feisty rescue dog writes a column from her own perspective.
I invite you to allow my newsletter to join the others gracing your inbox! And I do have a couple gifts for you when you do. A free novella start to a series, and a cookbook accompaniment to the series. If you’re interested please sign up here!
**Heartwarming, life-changing Christian fiction.** An award-winning author, Laurie is living her dream life at the beach, writing novels. Laurie writes beachy inspirational romance that takes place in the South Carolina Low Country. She retired from the big day job and now focuses on writing full time. Strolls on the sand, soaking up the sun and riding the waves can be considered the best kind of research.
Good post. Often I subscribe because of the author. Occasionally it was from a give away chance or sweepstake but I don’t go in for many of them now cos you have to subscribe and several of these authors will send lots of emails to start. As much as I would like to enter a giveaway at times the you get points for subscribing, following etc so I just don’t bother.
As for how often I too think monthly is enough. I unsubbed from some that were coming weekly or every two weeks. Partly because they didn’t have much new to say but they then do the buy my book or buy my friends book. I have unsubbed from authors who do the hard sell with a new book coming out and you get several posts a week (One even was sending two a day) no news but pre order my new release or the if you pre-order and provided the proof you can have some bonus info like extra chapters and other information. It is even worse when its a box set and you already subscribe to several of the authors.
Some have a free book or short story but thats not why I subscribe to be honest most of the time I don’t read the free book unless its a prequel or something similar.
I like finding out more about authors, If they have a pet I love to hear funny antidotes. Or places they go to do research or general info. (I do think some authors over share about children which while its nice I also think they need to be careful as they don’t know who is reading the newsletters and I think children need to be protected so talk about the kids but don’t over share photos).
What is dislike is the hard sell buy my book. Its ok to send out a cover reveal or my book is coming out or even when its a sale. but don’t keep sending without other info in the newsletter. I also am not a fan of recipes but know some love them. Also the hard sell on friends books I want to know about the author who’s newsletter I am getting not other authors books. (a recommendation with a link to it is fine).
May have gotten a little long winded here.
All great comments! Thanks so much for your thoughts!
Hi Laurie! When I retired I began signing up to a few favorite authors’ newsletters to keep informed of upcoming releases and specials. At the time bimonthly or monthly newsletters were the best. Over the last decade, I also signed up for newsletters as promotions, especially if an Amazon gift card was the give away. With so much hacking and spam, I am no longer signing up for newsletters. Every January I reevaluate my FaceBook activity and the newsletters I receive. So I am in the process of unsubscribing. Of course sometimes it is hard to let go. I enjoy personal interaction with authors – background research (especially for historical fiction), travel, pets, grandkids, likes & dislikes, foods, sweets, etc.
Best wishes. Stay warm, safe, and healthy.
How did I come to subscribe to the author’s newsletter I enjoy the authors books or got signed up from a giveaway.
How often do they arrive?I get newsletters once to a few times a month.
Did I get a reward for subscribing? Sometime I may get a reward but not always.
What do I enjoy about them? What keeps me from Unsubscribing? I like when the authors put pictures of vacations or grandchildren or their own family
What do I dislike? I unsubscribe if they are trying to sell me books or trying to make me follow them on social media because I don’t have any social media platforms.
I have won quite a few books from entering giveaways.
Thank you for the feedback Renate! I like your practice of “cleaning out” once a year, sort of like spring cleaning for your house. Did you experience hacking and spam from subscribing to newsletters? What happened?
Hi Kendra! Thanks for your input! Sounds like you enjoy getting to know the author more on the personal side, just like me.
I often subscribe because of some type of giveaway. However, I’m like you, I don’t want an email from the author more than once a week. I also like the same things in a newsletter that you do. I will unsubscribe if I get too newsletters, too. Personally, I don’t care to see a lot of other author’s books in the newsletter for the author I signed up for. I do subscribe to all of the Inspy author’s newsletters, too.
Trudy thanks for the comments. And thank you for subscribing to all the authors involved in this blog! What a wonderful way to stay in touch with everyone while reading their monthly blog posts!
I feel like you said it very well. I like learning about the personal lives of those whose books I enjoy, but once a month is definitely enough!
Thanks for the comment Linda!
I like a quarterly or monthly newsletter best. Sometimes the calendar flips over to the first of the month and I get a whole set of monthly newsletters in my inbox and feel overwhelmed. So maybe a random day of the month would be better than the first, to avoid ganging up on people accidentally. Haha!
Oh Laurie! Great point about all the newsletters arriving on the same day or two! It would be overwhelming and cause me to either skim or start deleting too. You also mentioned quarterly. I think if I only received a newsletter from someone four times a year, even if I did request it, I’d forget about them. It would be harder for me to form a “relationship” with someone on a quarterly basis.
Thanks for the great points!
Too many to count I like recipes, book recs, pet pics
I dislike getting them more than once a month, people pictures seem too personal to me
I’ve actually found a lot of authors from suggestions by other authors! I do enjoy when an author offers either a free novella or free e-book, just because it is nice to get a taste of their reading. I even subscribe to a few authors whose books aren’t my cup of tea but who are so much fun to hear from that I still read their newsletters.
I have a few I get quarterly or if a new book is out but not monthly and they are good as sometimes if you have nothing to say its better to just wait till you do. I am on a couple lists that send the middle of the month which makes a change. Narelle Atkins is one of them.
I agree that if there isn’t something good to send, then wait. But there is always something fun even on a slow month. Some pictures, a personal story, etc.
I understand what you mean seeing the author’s kids or mother, etc. I prefer to see a place they’ve been or a restaurant they enjoyed, etc. Something with a little story to go along with it to make it relevant. Overall, it has to be relevant to the author’s brand or series or storyline, etc.
Yes Megan, me too! I have several authors that their newsletters are a Must Read for me, even though the types of books they write don’t appeal to me or aren’t my cup of tea. But I still enjoy hearing about their adventures every month!
I love the newsletters! And the Inspy blogs! I generally signed up for newsletters because I like the author’s stories. I enjoy all the news: personal, devotional and book related, and the occasional recommendations that have led me to new to me authors. Like most of commentators here, I don’t like newsletters that are only blatant heavy duty advertising. They just get deleted.
I’m so glad you enjoy them Margaret! Thanks for sharing your feedback!
Hi, I agree to alot of the things you wrote about newsletters, I also don’t care for the ones that are really, really long. I do enjoy when authors include their pets in the newsletters I love animals. For the most part newsletters are very informative and I get to get a glimpse of authors new books coming out and also sneak peaks of their new book covers. Have a great weekend and stay safe.
Thank you Alicia! You made a good point about the length of newsletters. Long enough to be entertaining but not so long to be boring.
Thanks for all you do to make fans aware of exciting new books and authors!📚🥰💻🖊
I subscribe to the newsletter due to liking the author & how they write there books. I never have disliked but if I was to it would be if the author stopped writing all together or write a from romance to horror & I didn’t like that type & no one as my kids don’t either.
I subscribe to the authors I like & not to the ones I don’t read
I agree with all your points about newsletters (I signed up for yours, by the way). I also like them about once a month and full of whatever the author wants to share with me.
I enjoyed the post today! So much good stuff can come in a newsletter :-)
You’re so welcome Jeanna! It’s our pleasure!
Amy you’ve brought up a very interesting point. Would you be interested in receiving a newsletter from an author who is no longer writing new books? I think as long as long as they had a vast backlist of books I hadn’t yet read and I still enjoyed the news shared in the newsletter I would keep it.
Yes that sounds like a good approach!
Thank you so much Trixi! I’m glad you enjoyed the blog today and welcome to my newsletter!
I love once a month newsletter – they are so rare lately :(
Haha. Are you finding most come more often? 😅