Welcome to Tuesday Book Chat. This is where we encourage book lovers to answer our bookish question of the week.
Today’s question is:
How do you feel about welcome sequences when signing up to newsletters?
We look forward to hearing your thoughts. Please join in the conversation by commenting on this post or on the blog post shared in our Australasian Christian Writers Facebook Group.
Let’s chat!
The simple answer is I don’t like them. The last several newsletters I joined that had the welcome sequence I didn’t get past the 3rd one before I unsubbed. Especially when its one a day. If it was one a week I may last longer but daily for up to 5 or more is too much. I get enough email as it is without getting the welcome sequence that could be one email giving the relevant info. When the marketing gurus say doing the welcoming sequence is the best way to engage readers I often wonder did they actually talk to real readers? Of course I may be the exception and most readers may like them so am interested to hear your options.
Your turn.
I look forward to reading your comments here or at the FB group. Remember all comments go into the monthly drawer for a gift voucher.
I fully expect to get some kind of welcome email, especially if there’s a freebie to go with it. But I get annoyed if I’m bombarded with emails. The exception would be if I’ve signed up to a writing newsletter and I’m aware that they’re going to give me different bits of info at different times, such as writing tips; or a devotional newsletter where they send you a devotion a day. If I knew that when I signed up, no worries. But if it’s unsolicited advertising emails or emails pressuring you to do something, I unsubscribe pretty quickly. Three emails in the same week would usually be enough for me to unsubscribe, unless it’s material I’m interested in.
I agree I expect a welcome email which normally outlines what to expect. Some will say this is the first of up to 5 and then I go oh great I may check the second one but the last few could have had all the info in the first email. The welcome sequence is even more annoying when the website says it will be monthly newsletters. (My other frustration is authors who in the welcome email say they have a monthly newsletter then decided to go weekly but don’t mention this when they change. Its why I love one author who gives the option of weekly or monthly).
I could understand it for writing too. This is more the reader newsletters. There is marketing courses that suggest authors should have a newsletter and do a welcome sequence of 4 – 6 emails. I just looked up some info on the idea. Part of it is to build momentum as if someone signs up to your newsletter they want information from you now so by the sequence it will build trust, and sales because waiting for the next newsletter they will forget you and not be as interested. I think this may apply more to some other businesses. Considering so many readers join due to contests, sweepstakes, promos where you have to join to enter. It doesn’t mean they want all the newsletters. Last year I entered a contest not seeing the by participating you will join the newsletters. I think there were 16 and about half had the welcome sequence and I unsubbed from all those with the welcome sequence.
I don’t mind the welcome to my newsletter email just one is good its the sequence.
(Its like the Rivers, Millers etc emails that I also opt out of emails etc)
Thanks for that, Jenny. I can see how a welcome sequence could build a bit of momentum. If I sign up for a newsletter and then don’t hear anything for two months, I’ll probably forget that I’ve even signed up. But there has to be a happy medium. There are some who hardly communicate at all, except when they’ve got a new book to sell. That can make you feel like you’re only valuable to them if you buy their book. There has to be some value for the reader as well as the author.
Often if I sign up for a newsletter I don’t think about the first emails. like if I sign up and its a month or more. But most mailing lists are set to send a welcome to my list email now.
On the ones only when a book is out or only a few times a year I actually enjoy some of them more. I would rather a quarterly email or when a book is being released than a weekly buy my book with hardly anything else in it. Which could have been a monthly newsletter with some info. Readers can see when an author has rushed a newsletter because they felt it had to be out. Every reader will be different. Just like every pet lover is different some love dogs, some love cats. some love torties and some dont (even if I have one its not a colour I would choose). Some like hairless and some like long haired fluffy cats. All readers are different and thats what makes us unique. It means there are readers for all genres and books. So while I may love one genre you may not like it but you may like a genre I don’t like. (Its something most authors realise and understand)
Like you, Jenny, I get enough emails in my inbox that I HAVE to deal with without being bombarded with others I don’t actually need. So I prefer just one welcome email, then whatever it is I’ve signed up for (weekly / monthly / occasional). I’m pretty quick to unsubscribe if I get too many.
Thanks for commenting. I often wonder if the so called experts really know readers.
I think welcome sequences would only be useful for a business rather than an author. I wouldn’t want that many from an author. An editor or writing coach, yes, but not a straight up author.
yep. one I got last year didn’t have any images either just straight typing with nothing breaking it up that is another no no for me.
There are a handful of authors whose newsletters I always open. The subject line of an email from most authors determines whether I open or delete without opening. It’s rare that I will read the “welcoming” salvo of emails before deleting. I generally don’t unsubscribe quickly. I just delete without reading.
Hi Carol. I will often open and delete. This is more the sequence when you subscribe some have between 4 and 6 welcome emails that will come every day. Some warn you some don’t but often all if it could have been in one email. (Especially if there was a free short story and the next emails all say I hope you enjoyed your free book for signing up. I rarely would have time to read the book the day I got it as by the final one they may even ask for a review of the free download). Often the sequence starts with a welcome to my mailing list and a author bio. number two may have what the author writes and if more than one series will cover one of the series with links to buy, (the next few cover the rest). If they don’t have other books out it may have some personal info again with links to buy but by the third I have normally unsubscribed.