If you want to build your audience or community, the time to start an email newsletter is yesterday.
I was recently back in California. Between trips to the beach and family gatherings, I’ve also had the chance to chat with two people close to me (my sister and a very dear old friend) both of whom are running/starting their own businesses.
Neither of them have an email newsletter.
I try (but fail) to not immediately start telling them what they should do in minute detail.
Neither of them understood why they should start an email newsletter and/or felt at a total loss as to what they should send.
Whaaaat?
I forget that there are many, many people in this world that don't spend their days on LinkedIn or attending webinars on email marketing.
All I could see was massive success and dollar signs for both of them.
They’re both great writers and both have something of value to offer: My sister is a sex and relationship coach, my friend is a master at finding rare vintage clothing and mid-century furniture at estate sales where she lives in Nashville.
My advice: Just decide on a regular sending schedule, stick to it and get started. You’ll figure it out as you go.
There are questions of course:
What should I send to my Email list?
How often should I send a newsletter?
What platform should I use?
I tackle these and more in my post Super Basic Intro to Newsletters. I wrote it awhile ago, but it’s still solid. You might also want to check out my blog post on using Squarespace Campaigns for email marketing.
I notice this with a lot of my clients too.
I set up the newsletter functionality on their Squarespace site, but they drag their feet on coming up with a mailing strategy and let it sit there.
If I set up an email opt-in for you on your website and you still haven’t started your newsletter, this may be the nudge you need.
