Hello Writers and Crafters! I'm Valerie Ihsan, And I'm Erick Mertz, and this is Episode 103 of the podcast and it's February 22, 2023 as we record this. Main Topic: Mailing list maintenance PATREON: No new patrons this week. Thank you to our existing patrons for believing in us and in the podcast. This podcast is sponsored by our patrons at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. For as low as a $1/mo, you can get a postcard from me, a shout out on the podcast, and we can make announcements for you on air. At other tiers, the benefits increase--free books, accountability Zoom calls, scene analysis, mastermind calls, and even free Writer Craft retreat tickets. Become a patron of the arts at Patreon.com/valerieihsan. Patreon.com/strangeairstories for paranormal mysteries short stories Comments: email from listener: One of the things I enjoy most about your show is how you and Eric keep it real with your daily writerly struggles. It helps to hear of others going through and dealing with the same issues that we/I am. This is especially helpful to me since Covid began and getting to my local writing group has become much more difficult. Keep up the great work! Questions from listeners: Announcements: 1) Writer Craft Writing Retreat sold out. 2) We have some interviews lining up, but we need topic suggestions and interviewees. (Once a month.) Please send to [email protected]. UPDATE: Valerie: Trouble with Ingram files. I made some mistakes, trying to fix them in time. And waiting for proof. Book coaching/website updates coming soon. Erick: cover designer needs to fix the windows on his new novella Just finished: Read Books All Day and Get Paid for It: The Business of Book Coaching by Jennie Nash I'M READING: Profit First by Mike Michalowicz; Bones Would Rain from the Sky: Deepening Our Relationships With Dogs by Suzanne Clothier; Wabi Sabi: Japanese Wisdom for a Perfectly Imperfect Life by Beth Kempton. Up Next: In the Middle of Hickory Lane by Heather Webber, The Blackhorse by Carole Johnstone Erick's Reading: Show Notes: Promote newsletter on BookFunnel; Resource: Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions); open rates are important so that Google identifies your email as NOT spam; aim for 40% opens, 15% click rate; to get sell through from reader magnet--next book in series "What happens next?"; if no next book, send to some social media account (or BookBub account) to have them follow you. Cover on reader magnet is vital. Onboarding sequence: download csv and upload manually to segment people in order to know where they come from. Example: "Thank you for subscribing, here's your book; here's what I do; what do you read?; if you read first book, thank you, please review it." Once completed, they go on another list. Resource: Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Cleaning the email list: important ("list hygiene" phrase creeps out Erick. Ha ha!) Mailerlite "Clean up List" shows inactive members Subscribers cost money. Make sure they are there because they want to be. Off boarding sequence: Noticed you haven't opened recently. If you still want to be here, let me know. Send another incentive at that point. A link for them to click. Free seekers will never buy. Now, delight them with engagement and giveaways. Ask questions. Next episode: Resources: Author XP (marketing for authors) (bi-monthly promotions) Raven Publicity (publicity for authors) The Shades of Orange (Rachel, Book Blogger on YouTube) for book recommendations SF/Fantasy/Horror Contact Erick for business-starting advice. Contact Valerie for book coaching for help writing your book. Other Resources: Thomas Umstattd Jr, at Novel Marketing Podcast. Ep255: How to Create an Email Onboarding Drip Campaign Russell P. Nohelty and Monica Leonelle's book, Get Your Book Selling on Kickstarter. Valerie's new day book for the year 2023 is: Meditations from the Mat: Daily Reflections on the Path of Yoga by Rolf Gates. I've published our 2022 Book List on the website: valerieihsan.com/podcast-news The Author Life Community Passion Planner: https://bit.ly/3AUiJUx (affiliate link) Discount Code: VALERIE188 ProWriting Aid: https://prowritingaid.com/?afid=9378 (affiliate link) Find Us: Valerie’s Services: https://valerieihsan.com Valerie’s Author Site: https://valerieihsanauthor.com Valerie’s Facebook Page and Instagram account Erick's Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/erickmertzauthor Erick’s Services: https://erickmertzwriting.com Erick’s free book on Ghostwriting: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/cexki4kp5n Erick’s Author Site: https://erickmertzauthor.com Erick’s Facebook Page and Instagram account Writer Craft Facebook Group Patreon: https://patreon.com/valerieihsan

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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