| I got lucky. The month that I sold my novel was the | | | | a list service to maintain your list.You'll quickly learn, as |
| same month that I started my newsletter, Living the | | | | your list grows, that your email account may not allow |
| Dream, for my coaching business. I had no idea that as | | | | you to send mass messages to groups larger than |
| my list of subscribers grew I would have a great | | | | 50-80. Also, it's not a good idea to only have your list |
| platform from which to launch the book 18 months | | | | on your computer, you'll want it backed up elsewhere. |
| later. Thanks to that list, I was pre-selling my book long | | | | The solution: sign on for a list service. You'll have your |
| before it hit store shelves.I was cultivating an audience | | | | database expertly maintained, plus most list services |
| without realizing it. But now I know that having a list is a | | | | will give you templates and allow you to send out really |
| goldmine, both for selling your book and for getting | | | | good looking HTML email messages to your list. You |
| your book noticed by a publisher. These days if you | | | | can also get code and links that allow people to sign |
| can prove that you come to the table with a huge | | | | themselves onto your list from your website. There |
| audience, a big advance may follow. But how do you | | | | are many you can try. I use both Constant Contact |
| get such a list? These tips will help you go from seed | | | | and 1 Shopping Cart. If you're not selling products or |
| to harvest as you grow your group.1. Start with who | | | | services, you may not need a shopping cart so |
| you know.Most of us have some form of list already, | | | | Constant Contact may be just the thing for you. Click |
| either in your email system's address book or your | | | | here to try it for free for a couple of months.Email List |
| basic holiday card list that you use once a year. It may | | | | Manager - 60 Day Free Trial4. Communicate to your |
| be as small as 10-25 or as big as 200-400. Start out | | | | list regularly.You want to keep in touch with the people |
| by sending a general email letting the people on your | | | | on your list so they don't forget about you. The way |
| list know that you're getting organized and planning to | | | | you do it is up to you. As I said above, E. Lynn Harris |
| send out regular notes, newsletters, whatever you plan | | | | sends notes and cards to his list. A colleague of mine |
| to send. Give them the opportunity to opt out if they're | | | | sends daily inspirational quotes. I'm a big fan of email |
| not interested. Most will probably stay on since your | | | | newsletters because you can provide news on your |
| family and friends are interested in hearing about what | | | | activities and useful content for your readers. When |
| you're up to.2. Whenever you meet new people, get | | | | you provide content, such as tips for real estate |
| permission to add them to your list.At this point in your | | | | investors, marketing ideas, or even cookbook recipes, |
| writing career, it's essential that you're out meeting | | | | you are establishing your expertise. You're also giving |
| people at least once a month. You can go to | | | | people a good reason to stay on your list--they're |
| networking events, take classes or (and this is the | | | | getting good stuff out of it. In the past I have offered |
| best) do speaking engagements. Non-fiction authors | | | | discounts on my services, gift certificates for people to |
| especially should be speaking regularly because you | | | | give out over the holidays and articles with career |
| want to establish your expertise in your topic or topics. | | | | counseling and goal-achieving tips. And every issue of |
| You can collect business cards when you network or | | | | Living the Dream also features my book and the stellar |
| take classes and get people to sign in with their | | | | reviews it's received. You can see past issues by |
| contact information at your event. Make sure you | | | | clicking here.5. Generate excitement and anticipation |
| GET PERMISSION and let people know they will be | | | | with your list.When your book is nearing publication, |
| hearing from you via newsletter, etc. It is truly poor | | | | you'll want to start letting your audience know that it's |
| form to put people on your mailing list without their | | | | coming. You can generate pre-sale orders, alert your |
| knowledge. It's also called spamming!I know that signing | | | | list of book reviews as they come out and let your |
| people up is key because I've observed popular | | | | audience know where you'll be appearing when you |
| authors doing just that. I once attended a reading by E. | | | | start speaking and doing book signings. My book was |
| Lynn Harris because I knew he had a huge--and | | | | first listed on about six months before its publication |
| faithful-- readership and I wanted to glean some clues | | | | date. I sent out a "special announcement" letting people |
| as to how he did it. Sure enough, the room was | | | | know it was there and encouraging them to pre-order |
| packed and every single person behaved as though | | | | the book. On that glorious day my book ranked as high |
| they knew him personally. When it came time to sign | | | | as 3,000 on Amazon's list! I may not be J.K. Rowling, |
| books, he made an announcement: he would sign your | | | | but I think that's pretty good. Plus, that's the kind of |
| book if you signed his! He made it clear you would be | | | | information that helps distributors sell your book to |
| hearing from him via email, birthday and holiday cards. | | | | bookstores. They know you already have an |
| People were all too happy to sign the list. Brilliant!3. Find | | | | awesome audience just waiting to buy! |