Blogging from A to Z April Challenge: What Works…Online Marketing Symposium.
I’m taking part in this event today. I’m not entirely sure what’s going to happen, but I’m hoping I’ll learn something. I think I’m supposed to post some words of wisdom, or share an experience in my marketing efforts.
Well, I’ve posted my views on marketing the books through Amazon free days a few times…
What I’m mainly concerned about right now is the damage done to one’s marketing efforts by changing one’s blog platform. I know it’s the right thing to have done, to move both blog and website to an ad-free platform, but the pain of losing all those followers that I’ve gained over previous years is… acute.
On the other hand, the dedicated followers return. It just seems like I’ve lost the benefit of most of my marketing effort last year if people aren’t receiving email updates.
What I want to know is: if someone subscribes to my blog, to follow it, does that entitle me to add their email addresses to a newsletter list and email them direct?
What do you think?
I’m going to have to say, no. I’m signed up with MailChimp for newsletter sending, and unless a person signs up on their own OR agrees to be added, you’re (legally?) not supposed to add them to a mailing list.
I’d love to know what others think! You’re brave for having changed everything over. I can’t imagine losing all those followers.
I tend to agree, Terri, although the email sign up does say to “subscribe to this blog and receive notifications by email”. I could amend that to specify newsletters, that would cover it.
I know that Goodreads Giveaways T&Cs specifically prohibit adding winners’ emails to mailing lists. I’ll have to re-read the Rafflecopter ones, but I think the same applies.
I have to say I have mixed feelings now I realise I can’t get those signups back. Then again – I have contacted them all one way or another. I’ll just have to work harder this year!
I’ve wondered that last, too. Though I am not sure I can access those addresses via my blog on Blogger.
Thanks for reminding me of this hop–I haven’t anything to contribute (except maybe to beware of international giveaways, because postage is killer!), but I shall spend some time reading and hope to learn something.
touring is a learning journey… i have had sleepiness nights and fights with my wife on things i thought were the way to go on the tour. in the long run, you got to keep on your toes on a tour.
Touring is hard work, even when half the work is being done for you!
I don’t think I’d ever change my blog… it’s taken a long time to establish itself. Wouldn’t want to mess that up.
And I agree with Terri – I don’t think you should use people’s private e-mail addresses without permission. If nothing else, it will just tick them off!
Thanks, Cathy
I personally don’t see why not.
You could always include something in the newsletter informing them how to remove themselves from the list if they want.
To me it’s no different to receiving an email of a post from WordPress.
I think letting them have a notification that they then click to confirm is probably the way forward. I think the key things are clarity and not abusing the system.
Thanks, Pete!
I’ve had a couple people automatically sign me up after I became a follower on their blog, and it made me grimace, then unsubscribe. Needless to say, I’m not a fan.
Great articles and feedback about free books. Thanks for that!
That’s good feedback. Thanks.
Both of those articles were super helpful. Thank you so much!
Can you send them one more link/post from the old blog or is that one gone completely?
Can you send them one more link/post from the old blog or is that one gone completely? Ack, I still get the error when I post, by the way.
I did another post on the old blog. I think a lot visited but didn’t sign up 🙁
Christine, have you cleared your cache/browser history recently? Try that and see if it stops this problem.
I understand your worries about this. I’ve know a few people who switched platforms and it took a while to rebuild their friends and followers lists. Good luck.
Thanks, Susan. I’ll just have to work hard for another year! AtoZ Challenge helps enormously, I find 🙂
I think with a newsletter, people have to know they are signing up for one.
Author Stephen Tremp had to start with a whole new platform and build his following again last year – he might be able to give you some tips on the best way to do it.
Thanks for participating in the symposium.
Good points – thanks Alex.
Your best bet would be to announce on FB, your blog, and Goodreads that people can sign up for your newsletter and direct them to where they can do that. You can’t use people’s email address without their consent.
Good luck with your newsletter and your blog!
Thanks, Chrys – and welcome!
Hi Jemima, I would email your followers if only to invite them to your new blog. But that’s all. I wouldn’t add them to a list for a newsletter or anything like that.
And thanks for stopping by today and signing up for 201 Wormfest! We had a blast last year and will have a great time this time around too.
Thanks, Stephen.
I hope I’ve understand the Wormfest correctly – time will tell (10th March, to be precise!)
Awesome question, I didn’t know the answer and now I do thanks to those who commented! Chrys had a great idea too to post announcements. Love this blog fest – learning so very, very much!
Thanks for participating!
Good to know! Thanks for co-hosting, Yolanda!
It’s good to know that your followers returned. It’s hard to build a following online, and it’s nice that they have remained loyal to you.
I’ve heard a lot of success when authors provide books for free. Haven’t done free Amazon days for my eBooks, but did some giveaways. Thanks for the tips!
SittieCates
Thanks, Sittie. It’s always good to know that even though I don’t sell as many as I’d like, people do want them if I give them away!
Subscribing to your blog is not the same thing as subscribing to your newsletter. Using people’s emails (without their permission) could get you into trouble. We all know how people feel about junk mail and spam. It’s best to follow the policy that you will never use or share anyone’s email, as opposed to using it for your own purposes.
I would say, no. You’d have to have a specific sign up for a newsletter. Otherwise people are going to get a little upset about having stuff in their emails they don’t want.