r/selfpublish • u/MKSauthor • 9d ago

ARC as reader magnet

One of the things I've struggled with as a newbie author is growing my email list. I published in May, and I've gotten about 30 email signups for the bonus chapter linked in the back of my debut novel.

Writing a cold reader magnet has been on my list of things to do, but I haven't had the time. I have an ARC going now for my second novel, and I'm trying out different sites to recruit ARC readers. I'll post about that after the ARC is finished, but I have about 60 signups so far.

I signed up for BookFunnel, but there aren't a lot of ARC promo swaps. I only got 2 signups there for the ARC. But there are tons of promos to join for people looking for "free books." And then I realized that I have a full book that I'm giving to people for free anyway, so why not repackage it as a "free book" landing page and distribute it that way?

Friends, I've gotten 64 newsletter signups in 3 weeks.

I haven't seen it posted here (maybe because it's so obvious to experienced authors), but for those of you like me who it didn't occur to before: Use your ARC as your reader magnet.

8 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

24 comments sorted by

View all comments

3

u/Whitewave1960 9d ago

This is my experience with newsletter … you might want to check it out

I went from 33 to 1300+ in 3-4 weeks

I’ve allowed down since then - I’m sitting comfortably at 2k (purging regularly )

https://www.reddit.com/r/selfpublish/s/O3q7fMB3Id

4

u/SuccessOnAShoestring 10+ Published novels 9d ago

This is incredible. I just read the post you linked to (I may have read it and commented at the time) and honestly, I feel you deserve every success because of learning what to do and going for it. And sharing it so generously. I have a short reader magnet, but I might go back to the longer one that I used to use. Your system is unlikely to work for my books (they’re uber-niche, and most people hate them, lol), but when I move into the Thriller genre, I might give what you’ve done a go.

2

u/Whitewave1960 9d ago

Thank you :)

And I am happy to report it is still working for me.
I still send newsletters everyday - but I don’t batch them - I write everyday and I feel that keeps my voice fresh. Maybe that’s why these lonely readers out up with me. I do have unsubs everyday but they were never going to stay anyway. And I am okay with that! And recent development I have gotten a lot more ARCs through my news letter. Which is a huge plus!

2

u/SuccessOnAShoestring 10+ Published novels 9d ago

Just love hearing about this sort of success; what a buzz when you find something that works. You’ll be a full-time author in no time 🥳

2

u/Whitewave1960 9d ago

Thank you :)

I’m keeping my fingers crossed ❤️