See how this author grew his Amazon sales using email marketing in AWeber

By Sean Tinney September 29, 2022

Amazon is a platform to distribute merchandise, not a gross sales technique. However this creator used electronic mail advertising and marketing to chop by the noise and create demand for his ebook sequence.

Eric R. Asher is a former bookseller and cellist dwelling in Saint Louis, Missouri. When he isn’t writing, you possibly can normally discover him studying, gaming, or buried beneath a small avalanche of Transformers toys. He’s a profitable creator who self-publishes on Amazon.

However that was not all the time the case. Eric needed to navigate by the world of publishing to be taught that writing the ebook is barely step one. 

Profitable authors right now have to domesticate an viewers to promote books. Having the fitting instruments to create an genuine connection along with your viewers could make all of the distinction.

Eric’s drawback – An “unpublishable” ebook

Eric’s profession hit a crossroads when his agent informed him certainly one of his books was unpublishable. 

“I informed my agent, ‘I’m fairly certain you’re improper. I’m going to take the rights again and do it myself.’ And it ended up being certainly one of my most profitable initiatives.”

Eric determined to self-publish on Amazon. The royalties he might make — with no writer taking a reduce — made it an attractive channel for him. 

However as enticing as promoting on Amazon was, simply having a ebook on Amazon didn’t imply Eric would make sufficient gross sales for the ebook to achieve success. Amazon is a platform, not a gross sales technique. Authors have to create their very own demand. They should construct an viewers. 

Eric’s resolution? Construct an viewers with electronic mail advertising and marketing

The answer to Eric’s drawback was electronic mail advertising and marketing. E mail ensures that he had a built-in viewers of people that know, like, and belief him, irrespective of the publishing outlet. It additionally gave him the flexibility to stroll away from a writer as a result of he had an viewers — and a direct line of communication with them.

E mail permits Eric to proceed constructing relationships with people who find themselves keen on his work even after they end studying certainly one of his books.

No different service — not even social media — is as private, highly effective, and cost-effective. E mail advertising and marketing remains to be 40 occasions more practical at buying prospects than Twitter and Fb mixed.

“I’ve buddies who promote extra books than I do, however as a result of they’re publishing within the conventional method, many are incomes much less (as a result of royalties).”

Why he selected AWeber

Not all electronic mail service suppliers are the identical. AWeber’s constructive popularity for delivering messages to subscribers’ inboxes — and avoiding the spam folder — was one of many most important causes Eric turned an AWeber buyer. 

“My creator buddies have had nightmares with different platforms that had deliverability points. One even misplaced a whole mailing listing on one other platform.”

How Eric grows his electronic mail listing utilizing AWeber

One of many best methods to begin constructing an electronic mail listing is to create a compelling opt-in reward (aka a “freebie” or a “lead magnet”) in your new subscribers.  

Eric presents his reward within the type of a free novella ebook, “Whispers of Struggle.” Guests obtain a pdf ebook by a hyperlink delivered in an automatic electronic mail after they submit their electronic mail tackle.

Whereas not everybody goes to join your free reward, those who do usually tend to buy future books. Construct the connection early by sending them a welcome electronic mail marketing campaign instantly to maintain them engaged.

How Eric units up an automatic electronic mail in AWeber

How Eric builds pleasure along with his viewers

After somebody enters their electronic mail tackle in a sign-up kind, Eric sends them a sequence of emails with samples of his writing to allow them to get to know his work. The primary electronic mail has a hyperlink to obtain a free city fantasy novella.

The second electronic mail within the sequence contains one other free content material obtain that introduces readers to his different style, Steampunk.

When somebody clicks on a hyperlink in a e-newsletter, that person is tagged based mostly on their curiosity. 

“For retargeting, tagging is priceless. If any individual clicks on a hyperlink, then the following time I’ve a brand new ebook in that sequence, I ensure they get a notification about one thing new popping out.”

Irrespective of how readers eat his books — whether or not by audio, e-book, or print — Eric retains in contact along with his viewers by his newsletters.

And social media? Positive, Eric thinks it’s useful, however his e-newsletter is much more useful. “I used to assume that the e-newsletter was a pleasant complement for social media. However over time, social media’s algorithms have modified. I believe it’s extra necessary to have that e-newsletter as your core. I’ve discovered electronic mail fairly invaluable.”

How Eric units up subscriber tagging in AWeber

Construct tremendous followers by electronic mail

With regards to launching a profitable ebook on Amazon, having the fitting group of individuals advocating in your work is vital.

Eric’s group of tremendous followers assist him broaden his attain. They obtain early copies of his books, and depart sincere critiques on ebook distributor websites.

Critiques assist persuade browsers to purchase. They’re one of the crucial necessary drivers of ebook gross sales. They’re the very best social proof that your ebook is getting learn, and other people have an curiosity within the content material. Amazon additionally takes discover of critiques within the rating. Critiques can be utilized somewhere else moreover Amazon, too. Eric repurposes his books’ critiques in his newsletters, producing much more gross sales by electronic mail.

“One of many greatest issues that I believe a number of authors don’t do is ask for critiques. After sending subscribers a hyperlink to obtain partaking content material, I ship an electronic mail: ‘Hey, my new ebook is out. You probably have three minutes, please think about leaving me a assessment on Amazon.’ Many authors don’t understand how helpful a assessment could be. Critiques are implausible.”

Eric retains in contact with this group through electronic mail, which in the end helps him create stronger relationships with them.

Need to get the identical outcomes that Eric obtained from his electronic mail advertising and marketing?

AWeber has all of the instruments and assist you should develop what you are promoting or your facet hustle. Get began now.