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Why you should NOT have a mailing list

7/11/2016

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Picture
Yes, you read that right. Here’s why I say that: You shouldn’t bother having a mailing list if you’re not going to use it.

For years I kept a mailing list. I dutifully got people to write their names into my guest book. Once a year I updated my spreadsheet and filed it away and never even looked at it.
 
My point is that I never did anything with the list!
 
If that is what you are doing, then why are you keeping a list?
 
 
Now, if you are willing to put in a little time, you can make it worth your while. All you need to do is start communicating with your customers. It doesn’t take much. A simple email will suffice. If you want to get fancier, use a newsletter mailing service. (Mailchimp.com is a good free service and it's what I used to create this newsletter.) About once a month is what I have been doing for the last year.
 
Here are some of the results from just sending out a few newsletters:
  • I had newsletter subscribers thank me for letting them know about a show I was at. They had never heard of the show even though it was right in their neighborhood.
  • I had newsletter subscribers thank me for reminding them about a show because they wanted to attend.
  • I had several people ask me if I had “finished the piece.” The first time I heard that it took me a while to realize that they were referring to one of my newsletters. I was talking about how I create my art and how I was stuck at a certain point and was not certain what to do next. I was surprised and awed that people were actually readying my newsletter! Wow, people cared about what I wrote.
  • Of course the most important result is that I made sales. People came to a show specifically to see me and buy my art.
 
Let me repeat that last one again: People came to a show just to buy my art! Wow, what a compliment! Not only were they interested in what I had to say, but they were interested in my art enough that they bought it.
 
Have I convinced you yet? I hope so. It is definitely worth your time and effort to work your mailing list. It doesn’t matter if you only have a few names, you have to start somewhere. So, get started now!
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    Loretta Alvarado, Fiber Artist

    About the Author

    Helping artists and crafters improve their sales, one word at a time.

    Loretta Alvarado is the author of several business for artists books. She spends most of her time in her studio making art and writing. But you can sometimes find her on Facebook.



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