| "The Book Sistah" | | | | and holiday cards. People were all too happy to sign |
| I got lucky. The month that I sold my novel was the | | | | the list. Brilliant! |
| same month that I started my newsletter, Living the | | | | 3. Find a list service to maintain your list. |
| Dream, for my coaching business. I had no idea that as | | | | You'll quickly learn, as your list grows, that your email |
| my list of subscribers grew I would have a great | | | | account may not allow you to send mass messages |
| platform from which to launch the book 18 months | | | | to groups larger than 50-80. Also, it's not a good idea |
| later. Thanks to that list, I was pre-selling my book long | | | | to only have your list on your computer, you'll want it |
| before it hit store shelves. | | | | backed up elsewhere. The solution: sign on for a list |
| I was cultivating an audience without realizing it. But | | | | service. You'll have your database expertly maintained, |
| now I know that having a list is a goldmine, both for | | | | plus most list services will give you templates and |
| selling your book and for getting your book noticed by | | | | allow you to send out really good looking HTML email |
| a publisher. These days if you can prove that you | | | | messages to your list. You can also get code and links |
| come to the table with a huge audience, a big | | | | that allow people to sign themselves onto your list |
| advance may follow. But how do you get such a list? | | | | from your website. There are many you can try. I use |
| These tips will help you go from seed to harvest as | | | | both Constant Contact ( and 1 Shopping Cart ( If |
| you grow your group. | | | | you're not selling products or services, you may not |
| 1. Start with who you know. | | | | need a shopping cart so Constant Contact may be |
| Most of us have some form of list already, either in | | | | just the thing for you. |
| your email system's address book or your basic | | | | 4. Communicate to your list regularly. |
| holiday card list that you use once a year. It may be as | | | | You want to keep in touch with the people on your list |
| small as 10-25 or as big as 200-400. Start out by | | | | so they don't forget about you. The way you do it is |
| sending a general email letting the people on your list | | | | up to you. As I said above, E. Lynn Harris sends notes |
| know that you're getting organized and planning to | | | | and cards to his list. A colleague of mine sends daily |
| send out regular notes, newsletters, whatever you plan | | | | inspirational quotes. I'm a big fan of email newsletters |
| to send. Give them the opportunity to opt out if they're | | | | because you can provide news on your activities and |
| not interested. Most will probably stay on since your | | | | useful content for your readers. When you provide |
| family and friends are interested in hearing about what | | | | content, such as tips for real estate investors, |
| you're up to. | | | | marketing ideas, or even cookbook recipes, you are |
| 2. Whenever you meet new people, get permission to | | | | establishing your expertise. You're also giving people a |
| add them to your list. | | | | good reason to stay on your list--they're getting good |
| At this point in your writing career, it's essential that | | | | stuff out of it. In the past I have offered discounts on |
| you're out meeting people at least once a month. You | | | | my services, gift certificates for people to give out |
| can go to networking events, take classes or (and this | | | | over the holidays and articles with career counseling |
| is the best) do speaking engagements. Non-fiction | | | | and goal-achieving tips. And every issue of Living the |
| authors especially should be speaking regularly | | | | Dream also features my book and the stellar reviews |
| because you want to establish your expertise in your | | | | it's received. You can see past issues by going to |
| topic or topics. You can collect business cards when | | | | 5. Generate excitement and anticipation with your list. |
| you network or take classes and get people to sign in | | | | When your book is nearing publication, you'll want to |
| with their contact information at your event. Make sure | | | | start letting your audience know that it's coming. You |
| you GET PERMISSION and let people know they will | | | | can generate pre-sale orders, alert your list of book |
| be hearing from you via newsletter, etc. It is truly poor | | | | reviews as they come out and let your audience |
| form to put people on your mailing list without their | | | | know where you'll be appearing when you start |
| knowledge. It's also called spamming! | | | | speaking and doing book signings. My book was first |
| I know that signing people up is key because I've | | | | listed on about six months before its publication date. I |
| observed popular authors doing just that. I once | | | | sent out a "special announcement" letting people know |
| attended a reading by E. Lynn Harris because I knew | | | | it was there and encouraging them to pre-order the |
| he had a huge--and faithful-- readership and I wanted | | | | book. On that glorious day my book ranked as high as |
| to glean some clues as to how he did it. Sure enough, | | | | 3,000 on Amazon's list! I may not be J.K. Rowling, but I |
| the room was packed and every single person | | | | think that's pretty good. Plus, that's the kind of |
| behaved as though they knew him personally. When it | | | | information that helps distributors sell your book to |
| came time to sign books, he made an announcement: | | | | bookstores. They know you already have an |
| he would sign your book if you signed his! He made it | | | | awesome audience just waiting to buy! |
| clear you would be hearing from him via email, birthday | | | | ? |