The One Indie Author Tool You Actually Own

We come to you this week with what feels like a breakthrough: improved audio! We’ve heard from our listeners about past audio issues and believe we have fixed the glitches. This podcast has been a true learning experience and we thank you all for hanging in there!And now that you can hear us clearly, we have some things to say about newsletters. This week, LL and Tara dig into why your email list isn’t just another task on an already overwhelming indie author to-do list. It’s the one piece of your author platform you actually own, and probably the most crucial. Social media can disappear, algorithms can bury you, platforms can glitch — but your list? That’s yours.In this episode, we discuss what a newsletter really is, how to get readers to sign up (hint: a freebie helps), and what on earth to put in it once people do subscribe. Tara shares her three-times-a-month cadence, her giveaway strategy, and why letting your personality shine through is what keeps readers opening. LL talks about building a list while launching a brand-new series, and why newsletters are especially powerful for getting readers to discover your backlist. We also get into the tools that make delivery and list management less of a headache — including BookFunnel, Flowdesk, and ConvertKit.Whether you haven’t started a newsletter yet or you’re already sending but second-guessing yourself, this episode will give you clarity — and maybe a little courage to hit send.Support the Show - Buy Our Books!* Shop Tara’s books on Amazon* Shop LL’s booksShow Notes* BookFunnel — delivers your reader magnet and collects email addresses, with tech support so you don’t have to be the one troubleshooting: bookfunnel.com* Flodesk — the email service provider both Tara and LL use for their newsletters: flodesk.com* Story Origin — another option for hosting and delivering reader magnets and running newsletter swaps: storyorigin.com What we’re reading/listening to:* Bitter Sweet by Hattie Williams* Wedding People by Alison EspachThanks for reading YOU SHOULD TOTALLY WRITE THAT! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit youshouldtotallywritethat.substack.com