This is the strategy responsible for adding 175,000 new emails to my list in a very short timeframe and allowing me to create a sustainable business without relying on social media
You can also look into companies like Booksweeps or Written Word Media or LitRing that do these for authors. I don't know if any do non-fiction ones, which is why I would show up if somebody did it, but yeah, the rules in the UK/EU are way different than they are in the US.
(P.S. - I would absolutely join something like this if anyone out there is intrigued enough to set one up. If you would be interested, too, then comment below. Who knows? If there’s enough interest maybe I’ll even set one up.)
--I'll set it up. It's one of the topics I wanted to cover next week. :)
I thought it was you who I talked to you about this a long time ago. Nice! Yay! I realized we are taking twice next week b/c we're also recording for your conference.
The whole crux of this is giveaways, so I don't know how I would make a follow-up piece when the whole conceit has to do with giveaways. I have dozens of posts about other types of marketing. I really don't understand this question. Can you elaborate as to what you mean?
I've read some of your other marketing stuff and enjoyed it. If you'd be kind enough to link to a post or two that you recommend I check out right here, I'd be happy to do that. I guess I am responding to the idea that this is "how to get 5000 new readers every month", and I'm asking what's possible without doing giveaways. I would defer to your judgment on which strategies I should check out next, since you've been where I want to go.
Thanks a lot, extremely useful by being so specific, and step-by-step. I write lit fiction, which I guess makes it even trickier to establish a "fandom", or at least I've got no idea how to narrow it down. But the idea of the Amazon gift card is certainly a great start.
Russell -- this is insanely helpful. I love the approach you have here, of helping authors with the entrepreneurship of running your business. A lot of creatives could benefit from these kind of tactics.
Russell, thank you so much! I was just thinking *last night* about what platform to use to run a giveaway: I've got three planned over the course of the next year, so this was literally perfect timing. So appreciative of all this!
Love this whole concept. So for us Substackers who mainly need to get subscriptions, forget about my own books as a lead magnet since I’m a nobody so they aren’t useful as a give-away. And in any case, I was writing in a totally unrelated genre that would attract the wrong people who wouldn’t stick around.
I was stuck on the “but I don’t have books and I can’t work with other authors then” thought, for some reason. But I need to think sideways.
I’m thinking now about a give-away with exercise equipment, or supplements gift cards, or a team up with another writer who is targeting health and fitness. Like you said, an Amazon gift card can always be a good place to start.
Thank you for sharing this kind of information. I’m just starting and don’t have a novel published yet, but am wanting to plan ahead, and I’ve not seen anything as detailed or educational as this article. Once I’m more financial, I’ll definitely become a paid subscriber as thanks for this article alone.
Hi Rusell, I'll take time later to read this piece. I'm sure I'll learn a lot. Thank you so much for mentioning me, humbled and happy that you found my words useful :)
I appreciate the detailed information that you've shared. Not quite sure how I would put this into use but I see this kind of bundling helping elsewhere so there must be something to it.
Yeah, there is definitely something to it. There are also companies like Booksweeps and Written Word Media that do this kind of work for fiction authors.
I don't understand. You don't use your own books, and you often don't even use books at all. I made that very clear in the article, so why would you need a book?
I don't really do this work for people right now, except for fiction authors through my partnership with Booksweeps. I would join if somebody else did them, but I'm not sure I would run them. If I see anything, though, I will let you know.
Fascinating! Here in the UK I’m not sure how we could replicate it but it’s got me thinking...
You can also look into companies like Booksweeps or Written Word Media or LitRing that do these for authors. I don't know if any do non-fiction ones, which is why I would show up if somebody did it, but yeah, the rules in the UK/EU are way different than they are in the US.
Leave it with me! I’ve seen this type of thing for the coaching industry which I sit on the side lines of!
(P.S. - I would absolutely join something like this if anyone out there is intrigued enough to set one up. If you would be interested, too, then comment below. Who knows? If there’s enough interest maybe I’ll even set one up.)
--I'll set it up. It's one of the topics I wanted to cover next week. :)
I would also certainly join something like this!
I thought it was you who I talked to you about this a long time ago. Nice! Yay! I realized we are taking twice next week b/c we're also recording for your conference.
Intriguing 😏
Yay!!
Thanks for this. Lots to chew on!
you're welcome!
Russell, any interest in a follow-up piece that doesn't include giveaways?
The whole crux of this is giveaways, so I don't know how I would make a follow-up piece when the whole conceit has to do with giveaways. I have dozens of posts about other types of marketing. I really don't understand this question. Can you elaborate as to what you mean?
I've read some of your other marketing stuff and enjoyed it. If you'd be kind enough to link to a post or two that you recommend I check out right here, I'd be happy to do that. I guess I am responding to the idea that this is "how to get 5000 new readers every month", and I'm asking what's possible without doing giveaways. I would defer to your judgment on which strategies I should check out next, since you've been where I want to go.
ah. These are the two I mostly point to:
https://authorstack.substack.com/p/how-to-find-more-readers-for-your
https://authorstack.substack.com/p/where-to-invest-your-time-and-money
Then, there's this one on virtual conferences:
https://authorstack.substack.com/p/how-to-put-together-a-world-class
It's better to just go read the books in the archives.
https://authorstack.substack.com/s/how-to-become-a-successful-author
https://authorstack.substack.com/s/how-to-build-your-creative-career
Thanks, Russell! I'll bookmark for serious study later on. Appreciate the thoughtful response (especially since I threw you a curve initially).
Thanks a lot, extremely useful by being so specific, and step-by-step. I write lit fiction, which I guess makes it even trickier to establish a "fandom", or at least I've got no idea how to narrow it down. But the idea of the Amazon gift card is certainly a great start.
cool! Glad it could help!
Russell -- this is insanely helpful. I love the approach you have here, of helping authors with the entrepreneurship of running your business. A lot of creatives could benefit from these kind of tactics.
This is utterly brilliant marketing!
Thanks!
Russell, thank you so much! I was just thinking *last night* about what platform to use to run a giveaway: I've got three planned over the course of the next year, so this was literally perfect timing. So appreciative of all this!
Yay! Awesome. LMK how it goes :)
Love this whole concept. So for us Substackers who mainly need to get subscriptions, forget about my own books as a lead magnet since I’m a nobody so they aren’t useful as a give-away. And in any case, I was writing in a totally unrelated genre that would attract the wrong people who wouldn’t stick around.
I was stuck on the “but I don’t have books and I can’t work with other authors then” thought, for some reason. But I need to think sideways.
I’m thinking now about a give-away with exercise equipment, or supplements gift cards, or a team up with another writer who is targeting health and fitness. Like you said, an Amazon gift card can always be a good place to start.
We have a course that shows you how to do this, too.
How do I find the course? Asking for a friend
You would have to buy our direct sales accelerator which has it as part of its curriculum. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/writermba/dsa
100%.
Funnily enough, back in my fiction writing days, I stumbled upon this tactic to grow my email list and it did work.
Right! It absolutely does work
I confess it hadn't occurred to me to do with Substack.
well, in fairness, if this kind of stuff occured to people, my publication would be pretty useless.
Thank you for sharing this kind of information. I’m just starting and don’t have a novel published yet, but am wanting to plan ahead, and I’ve not seen anything as detailed or educational as this article. Once I’m more financial, I’ll definitely become a paid subscriber as thanks for this article alone.
Yay! Glad you found it useful :)
This is very helpful! Thanks!
Yay!
Hi Rusell, I'll take time later to read this piece. I'm sure I'll learn a lot. Thank you so much for mentioning me, humbled and happy that you found my words useful :)
When I read it I thought "wow, this is good synergy this week". Thanks for writing a great piece!
I appreciate the detailed information that you've shared. Not quite sure how I would put this into use but I see this kind of bundling helping elsewhere so there must be something to it.
Yeah, there is definitely something to it. There are also companies like Booksweeps and Written Word Media that do this kind of work for fiction authors.
I don't understand. You don't use your own books, and you often don't even use books at all. I made that very clear in the article, so why would you need a book?
I hit send on that before it was finished! Disregard
I don't really do this work for people right now, except for fiction authors through my partnership with Booksweeps. I would join if somebody else did them, but I'm not sure I would run them. If I see anything, though, I will let you know.