We have a new poll this week, and this time, our topic is newsletters. In the big MM romance readers survey, I learned that many of you are subscribed to multiple newsletters from authors. That made me curious: what’s your favorite element of those newsletters? What’s the one thing you rarely skip?
Let me know in the poll, and you can always explain further with a comment!
[crowdsignal poll=10556348]
I love To know how things are going with the author and the releases coming along.
I appreciate recommandations because it might make me discover different writers or kink… You never know 🤔😉 sometimes you discover treasures 😍
Mary Calmes’ monthly newsletter has a feature where one of her popular characters, who hasn’t had a novel out in years, has an advice/opinion/chat column that sometimes features other Characters And while topical, never gets heavy. I lol, chuckle or smile each time I read it. It’s great and I always read it immediately the post a note of thanks or appreciation on Mary’s FB group page to encourage her to continue. It’s a great feature.
I love character interviews and check-ins with characters. An example is Mary Calmes’ newsletter where each edition has a segment where we check in with Jory Harcourt and his family and friends. That makes it a newsletter where I always scroll down to that segment, and I read the entire newsletter. Otherwise I often just skim.
I subscribe to a ton of newsletters. I don’t open them all, all the time. I’ll often read the subject line, see a release is out, and then go get the release or put it on a tbr list. I like newsletters that are more than just about selling. I like knowing the author, their process, and maybe something for interaction. Blurbs and cover reveals are nice but I often have already seen it on a Facebook group because I’m in even more groups than newsletters (probably? Its a lot anyway). As an introvert I never know when its “okay” to respond to an author. I want to engage, but I don’t want to be a bother. So if there isn’t a “call to action” of asking for responses or polls I won’t engage thinking I’m not wanted. Authors are busy they don’t all want to hear from however many followers they have. I like newsletters that take the guesswork out of whether the author wants more than just to pass out information about their book. Once I open the first couple newsletters I can pretty much tell what the style is like and if I’m going to keep opening future ones. Every so often I open again to see if anything new is there. I like book recommendations if they’re genuine, not if it looks like a swap or just a list at the end of the newsletter. Basically I like when authors present as real people, but not in a creepy way – absolutely be safe with personal details.
I like a little personal bit about the author. I am not a fan of long newsletters with lots of stuff about other authors or other author books. or too many add ons for giveaway and swaps.
I subscribe to each author I have read and enjoyed and has a newsletter. I do this because I am NOT on FB(personal reasons). Some Newsies are chock full of fun stuff I love while others are more like sales fliers. I always keep a folder for ones filled with things I want to take the time to enjoy. I usually skim the “sales fliers” and bin them. 😁 I know just how busy authors are however so, I am thrilled with whatever they have the time to put into one. 💗
I subscribe to many author newsletters also, and they really do vary in what they contain. I tend to really read the more personalized ones that contain different elements – teasers, upcoming release news, some personal writing updates/tidbits, whatever – and less so the ones that feel strictly promotional (when that’s all they ever send) – though, obviously, I know the newsletter is a promo tool. I appreciate how interactive your newsletter is, with the weekly polls, freebie/deals info, etc. – the amount of time and effort you put into it really shows. I also really enjoy hearing any author insights into their writing/editing process, but I haven’t found many authors who do that other than providing updates of their WIP word counts.
While I selected news on a new release, I also like news on upcoming releases and author recommendations and everything else listed. While I belong to many Facebook groups and see this information there, it is often difficult to find among member posts.
The little tidbits are enough to tell me if i want a book. If they spark a filling that doesn’t allow me to guess how the book travels to the end its a book i want to read. If i read the synopsis and know the ending , i don’t purchase the book.