Support for Indie Authors discussion

I want to add an email list to the back of my books. This is important because I want to know where and how they found the book and also I want to alert them of the upcoming books. What is the BEST email website you've encountered. For some reason I remember hearing an author say he didn't like MailChimp, but for my purposes it seems ok. I just don't want to get involved into something which down the road I will regret. I know that's impossible but I'm trying. Any suggestions?

I've been using Mailchimp for almost a year, and it's very easy to set up and use. I looked at several others, but Mailchimp suited my needs perfectly.

Keep in mind that, with any service, you need a physical address. If you write under a pen name, this could be an issue. P O Boxes are acceptable, though.

I use 1and1 to run a website with a blog, pages about my books and a mailing list. The list is operated by MailPoet, which comes free with the 1and1 implementation of wordpress.

Ken wrote: "I've been using Mailchimp for almost a year, and it's very easy to set up and use. I looked at several others, but Mailchimp suited my needs perfectly.

Keep in mind that, with any service, you nee..." Thanks!

Christine Calabrese wrote: "I want to add an email list to the back of my books. This is important because I want to know where and how they found the book and also I want to alert them of the upcoming books. What is the BEST..."

Hi Christine, I've used MailChimp before and liked it, but as it's the first thing I used, I didn't want to go without trying something else as well. I'm using Mailerlite at the moment for my mailing list. It's not too bad; not too different from MailChimp really, so it probably speaks well for both platforms. :)

Related to MailChimp--I decided to try creating a mailing list with them, but so far none of my would-be subscribers are getting the confirmation email enabling them to subscribe. I did a little digging around and discovered this is a problem if you are using a Yahoo address, which I was, so I switched to a Gmail address, but with the same result. Has anyone dealt with this successfully? Any suggestions?

I use Mailchimp and Mailerlite but I prefer Mailerlite because they have free automation with their e-mails. When setting up an e-mail list you want to create a series of e-mails that automatically send during the first week. With Mailchimp unless you pay you can't do this but Mailerlite is free which is why I decide to go with them.

I've been stuck on this item, but I'm glad to hear that PO boxes are acceptable. I guess I need to open one so I can move forward. Do they use the PO box as any kind of physical mailing address?

Khristina wrote: "I've been stuck on this item, but I'm glad to hear that PO boxes are acceptable. I guess I need to open one so I can move forward. Do they use the PO box as any kind of physical mailing address?"
I set up a PO box for Mailchimp, but don't think they ever sent anything to me - it was free if I didn't want to actually receive mail, if I remember right.

I use MailerLite too. I love their services and customer service.

The templates are fun. It’s free until you have more than 1,000 subscribers. I made beautiful drip campaigns through it and I can also schedule out my emails based on each member’s time zone. The whole system is great. I even read the emails they send each month on industry trends as they are helpful.

I switched from Mailchimp to Mailerite last year. The cost per number of subscribers is much less and they are easy to use. It was easy to transfer all my subscribers from Mailchimp, and the integration from Instafreebie signups works great.

Thank you (who did so) to those recommending MailerLite. Last year I defaulted to MailChimp because it is the only Pop-Up provided in the standard Wordpress.com blog package.

I write non-fiction and I blog/comment about both contemporary and historical issues. Some would describe me as a "Conspiracy Theorist", but that's only because 'they' want everyone to meekly buy-in to a dumb and ultimately destructive agenda that is mostly devoid of demonstrable truth, and therefore has to be constantly kept inflated with mindless "hot air" on a daily basis.

Upon (finally) sending my first Newsletter, it got blocked by a MailChimp algorithm ... or whatever blanket censoring tool they are using these days. The very next day my website was treated to a thorough "going over" from someone in Canada (IP Address). They opened virtually every page on my site ... some multiple times.

I immediately wrote back to MailChimp (via the link provided) to ask if they would kindly explain or justify their action. After all, I was sending my first Newsletter in full conformance with the tools they provide users.

Days past, and nothing. I received no reply. So I re-sent that request message. That was over 6 weeks ago. Still no reply. And still no change in account status.

Naturally, I have no clear idea why MailChimp would go to the extreme lengths of suspending my account on the basis of my very first Newsletter. Why not just block the Newsletter distribution and then point to the offending parts? I could then either edit, or refuse to in favour of closing my MailChimp account.

Naturally, I have tried to look for clues. I would say that MailChimp's terms & conditions are very demanding. For example, they do NOT want anyone writing favourably (or promoting) Cryptocurrencies in Newsletters. And a discussion of Bitcoin was prominently included in the edition I had attempted to mail out.

I now regard MailChimp as an intrusive and arrogant element in a Social Media industry that is rapidly being turned into a farce.

The attempt by all these California based 'tech' companies to control what the rest of the world says and thinks -- while at the same time abusing their neo-monopoly positions to impose some weird & wacky "Liberal Agenda" -- has become far more than a theory. It has now become blatantly obvious.

The sooner people start flocking to the growing number of open-source and blockchain based alternatives to Twitter, Facebook, and even GoodReads (because it is owned by loss-making Amazon) the better. Some exist already. Expect this trend to get stronger.

What is better? 10,000 followers where only 130 or so engage? Or 950 followers where 550 regularly engage?

Without realizing, many Indie authors are having their public reach quietly stunted by behaviours/stratagems of this type.

They are quite difficult to uncover unless or until something is made to break. On this evidence, it would seem that "Shadow Banning" has some additional and related derivatives in play.

So if MailerLite can stay living in the real world ... such that it does not become neurotic and vengeful whenever someone dares to contradict the one-size-fits-all globalizing narrative ... then all power to it.

Hello, new Indie author here, thanks for the info and suggestions for mailer lite. I tried to set up an account, but since I don't have a website yet, they won't let me set up an account. I used mail chimp before, and I was able to set up an account with no requirements for a website yet. I plan on having a website created, but I wanted to get my first book finished. Any new authors out there using Mail chimp? Would be interested to know if and how you are building your email list in advance before your book is published?

Frank wrote: "Hello, new Indie author here, thanks for the info and suggestions for mailer lite. I tried to set up an account, but since I don't have a website yet, they won't let me set up an account. I used ma..."

I've got three books out and have yet to get a website or an email service.

I'm working on getting a website going right now, but as an Indie with a full time job I'm struggling finding TIME to wear so many hats. I'm pushing to get a few novels done by the end of the year.

I have heard great things about Mail chimp from other authors. They haven't seen increase in sales, but it does drive fans to their site for updates. Other than that, it seems repetitive to post the same news multiple times on the website and in email.

As a reader, I have one author that sends out biweekly email updates or sales pitches and I'm really fighting with that. It's just too much right now.

Thanks for the info, I agree there is only so much you can do in a day, I too have a full time job and it's so difficult to just find the time to write. That I make my priority, I am starting to think that is what I will do, is to focus on writing and then while the editing is going on, I'll start looking at other stuff. Hey, would you mind sharing the titles of the books you published already.

Frank wrote: "Thanks for the info, I agree there is only so much you can do in a day, I too have a full time job and it's so difficult to just find the time to write. That I make my priority, I am starting to th..."

Codename: Alexander

Sylvia: The Last Ranger (part of a series)

Painted Stallion (a ranching romance)


You do know if you do a Facebook page, not only can you link a blog and your Goodreads author page, but you can also schedule posts? I schedule posts and spend a few hours handling my marketing/editing on one day a week and it frees up time for me to write during the weekdays. Luckily I have a desk job where I'm on hold a lot so I can write while I wait. Helps me not to go insane from hold music, too.

Feel free to private message me if you need some tips.

Thanks Kaylee, I'll check it out.

Hi Frank and Kaylee, I'm trying to develop my own mailing list, too. When working with Amazon, it's convenient but one doesn't know who has bought the book. If I use MailerLite, which I haven't located yet--I'm guessing that's the easy part--will I find any tools or hints in how to interest readers? The only, truly advertiser that I've had is Bargain Booksy. So far other promotions don't work well at all. Does Mailer Lite offer any type of assistance in that area? Thanks and any tips would be greatly appreciated. Cece

Hi Cece,

I was able to locate mailer lite, a simple internet search found it. However, you are required to have a website already developed in order to use mailer-lite. I am a bit skeptical on setting up a website yet, I haven’t even finished writing the novel I am working on, let alone be worried about a website. However, I started to use MailChimp because they don’t require you to have a website yet.

So, if you already have a mailing list in something like a spreadsheet, you can easily export the list and then import it in the MailChimp system. Which is cool for first time writers like myself.

Hi Frank, Thanks so much--I found it, too. I make websites so I do have one already, and I love the features on MailerLite, and the joke in its name, too! haha! I appreciate all of the information. I am hoping my spreadsheet will easily import to MailerLite, too, and I will let you know if it does, if you like. Thanks again! Hope you finish your novel really soon!

Thanks Cece

Cece, the quicker you get the website up and running the better off you'll be. You can interface with Facebook, you have a place to send people to get information on your work in progress and it will help in getting people to sign up for your list. As to getting help as to what to send, market, etc, there are tons of classes, books and free things to help. None of the companies who handle your list give you much help. I will tell you, do NOT try to sell in every email. Keep it to no more than once a week and let the readers learn about you, your characters, ets. If every email is dealing with sales, you will find most of them will not be opened and people will unsubscribe. I cleaned out my mailbox today by unsubscribing from those whose only contact is for sales and/or send more than once a week other than on rare occasions. I'm sure I not unusual in how I ignore those daily missives as annoying and not worth my time as they are all the same—buy this now.

Frank wrote: "Hi Cece,

I was able to locate mailer lite, a simple internet search found it. However, you are required to have a website already developed in order to use mailer-lite. I am a bit skeptical on se... import in MailChimp system"
Frank, I found Mail Chimp extremely easy to work with. You can create your email message, or ad or whatever through them and send out. But when developing mailing lists from other promotions, it is very easy to import the names, consolidated or in special groups.

My 2 cents: MailChimp is working okay for me. I'm on the free plan. It's not hard to use once you figure out its idiosyncrasies. Some of the interfaces are not intuitive for me.

I have not been able to get it to auto-post to Facebook or Twitter, despite checking instructions/settings several times and having my web designer, who's also an admin, do the same. Someone suggested this might be because Facebook (and Twitter?) is blocking auto-posts due to all the security, fake account issues. I haven't investigated it hard, but I have had to do these posts manually.

I also find that it's tricky to find where your archived newsletter pages are. I keep an RTF document with these links to make life easier.

That's a smart move to make note of the RTF links. I will have to try that. I finally found it when working on my last newsletter but forget in between newsletters for a while.