How Writers Can Earn a Living Through Email

As writers, email marketing should come easy, right? You already know how to engage an audience, use your voice, and create a compelling read. But sometimes, your skills as a narrator don’t always transfer. And, like many writers, maybe you write alone for too long, hesitant to share your work with an email address outside your own.

In this episode, we’re battling the mother of all monsters: writer’s block. So let’s outline how to create content that helps you build an audience, reach an audience, and, ultimately, earn a living online. We’re also showing off a few writers who crush the email marketing game, and others who’ve left their engagement by the wayside. 

If you’re looking to publish but worry about writing into an empty void, these tips will help you drive an important and often forgotten step in the publishing process: finding readers.

Main Takeaways

Start with a small audience and build from there. Authors with an existing audience have an easier time selling their published work over authors with zero followers.Send emails consistently and make sure your content format is also consistent. Consistency helps your subscribers know exactly what to expect, which fosters stronger engagement and therefore stronger email deliverability. Make sure the content is right for your audience. Make it your own and make sure that it matches your subscribers’ preferences.  Ask for a reply! Ask your subscribers what they want, what their interests are, and how you can provide value. Aside from helping you know your audience, replies also help your email deliverability because they’re a sign of engagement.Create a newsletter. Newsletters are in-demand. People love digestible content in an age of content overload. Cater your emails to your audience. Sometimes that means cutting the flowery language you love. Simplify your emails while including links to longer-form writing.

(9:46) “Try not to just create in isolation. Try to create in public as well alongside your writing so that people can join in and be in your audience and be a reader of your work. The people who are creating in public are going to naturally do a better job building their audience and are going to have an easier time when it comes to selling their product or services.” ~ @alyssa_dulin

Links

Nathan Barry’s Authority John GrishamHarlan CobenJames ClearTim FerrissThe 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less

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