Weekend Wrap-up Jan. 4
Purging and ROI
What did I write this week on my WordPress blog?
Weird Wednesday: Why To? Que?: What didn’t happen 25 years ago?
Tuesday Top Ten: Top Ten Lists: My favorite top 10 lists
Songs for a Sunday: Morning Runner / The Inbetweeners / Closing Credits: A bit of music, TV, and movie.
Now to the matter at hand:
I watched the first Purge movie. It wasn't that good. Not bad enough that they decided to make four more.
They say don't purge your email list. I say, "The purge is on." Why?
I need new subscribers. The return on investment is just too low. Case in point. I have 550 subscribers. Eighty of them have downloaded the first chapter of of my newest book that came out in April, and I have sold 16 copies. And that was before I put it on sale, along with the rest of my books, and did not sell any. So, that tells me either the first chapter is not compelling enough, the readers haven't read it yet, or they haven't got around to reading.
Now, who stays and who goes? My newsletter automation sequence is set up to unsubscribe readers if they never open a newsletter in the first two months which equates to 10 mailings:
Welcome letter
FAQ letter
Did you enjoy the free book?
3 reminders if they haven't opened the first three
4 regular bi-weekly newsletters
I think its safe to say they are not interested after that point.
The other criteria for purgability are clicks on links included in the newsletter. those are my book purchase links and the book promos. If a subscriber isn't interested purchasing my books or from other indie authors, why should I keep them?
One issue that may happen is that opens and link clicks do not get registered which makes it look like the reader is inactive. I always send out a polite letter letting subscribers know they are on the unsubscribe list and a link to click if they wish to remain.
So, if you receive my highly entertaining purge letter this month, make sure you click on the "Don't purge me!" link.
-Leon
Book two of the Orion Arm Alliance series is out in April, so time to read books one!
Leon Stevens is a multi-genre author, composer, guitarist, songwriter, and an artist, with a Bachelor of Music and Education. He published his first book of poetry, Lines by Leon: Poems, Prose, and Pictures in January 2020, followed by a book of original classical guitar compositions, Journeys, and a short story collection of science fiction/post-apocalyptic tales called The Knot at the End of the Rope and Other Short Stories. His newest publications are the novella trilogy, The View from Here, which is a continuation of one of his short stories, a new collection of poetry titled, A Wonder of Words, and his latest sci-fi mystery, Euphrates Vanished.
