What is the best way to collect emails without a brick-and-mortar location?
Because I can't afford a brick-and-mortar location to sell my books and I'm still working on getting my books into large bookstores, I've started selling a lot of my books at local open air markets. I've had a lot of sales but don't know the best way to collect their email and stay in touch with them. Should I have a piece of paper for an email list? Can I just ask every customer to write their email down, or do I need another incentive?
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Sep 3, 2014
I would have a book for them to write down their email address or if you have a lap top with you create a spread sheet and at time of sale just ask for it then.
Sep 3, 2014
Caitlin- I represent book publishers and authors and must tell you that in today's world, a big portion of sales is via online, direct sales either as an instantly downloadable e-book (Kindle or direct to your iPad). Highly advise by first creating the 'structure' of your business, and that's your website and social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, You Tube, Pinterest, Instagram-all online locations where you can drive traffic to your website for email data collection). Once you've got your infrastructure in place, use keywords and tags to engage followers who are more apt to be interested (if you're writing #ChildrensBooks, guess what a good tag would be? :)....potential consumers looking for 'Children's Books' will search (and find you) using that tag/keywords. Next, set up an account with an email data collection service like, MAIL CHIMP (easy to use, and once you set up your account, you can create a custom URL that you can tweet/share via your social media platforms to drive email sign ups (ie: Be the first to know about my next #ChildrensBook for #Christmas-sign up here: http://customurl.com ...)...Always Be Driving Traffic...
With your website...have a data collection widget placed strategically at the top of the home page-make it a priority call to action (maybe you can give away an old book in digital ebook form for new sign ups as an incentive or a 50% off coupon).
When selling at open air markets and such, bring an iPad or laptop, and allow interested followers type in their data on the spot..or go old school, and print out a form with a clip board and just let folks sign up by hand.
Over time, this email database is your goldmine...and your digital connection to the customer...but be mindful of overdoing the messaging...short and sweet, and don't spam....occasional..not every week...hope this helps you get on your way...best-g
Sep 3, 2014
first do you have a website, personal of business no matter.
add a comment section to it, predisposed to send their comments to your email address.
On your sales table; place a box, print up slips to collect email address
For the web: try a capture page to collect email addresses..
Aweber.com, GetResponse.com, and many other marketing systems all have what you need.
Sep 1, 2014
First off, grab a copy of the Can-Am SPAM law and make sure you are in compliance for whatever you wish to use those e-mails for. Next, the best way is with an opt-in form asking for the information, and if you have something to offer them, i.e. a discount, a free e-book, free newsletter, etc. then you will see a greater opt-in rate. Then, sending a confirmation request (known as double opt-in verification) almost always assures you are in compliance and not sending SPAM. That also lends weight to your professional status. As would having a website of your own! Opt-in forms are very basic to design, write and code, but if you have no one who can do that then check on a site called fiverr.com and you will easily find someone who will do the job for you for FIVE DOLLARS ... hence the name. Make certain you look at the conditions, you buy the rights to use it without further charge and be prepared for them to try and upsell you, which may be beneficial to you if you need the form installed. If you are using Word Press, there are dozens of plug-ins for opt-in forms, even pop-up and 'persistent' ones - you know the kind, they follow your scrolling up and down as an overlay to the page. FYI-your current method is fine IF you note a paragraph at the top of the page granting you the opt-in permission to e-mail up front and you will get more sign-ups if you use the same type of incentive hook "advance notice of upcoming, sample chapters, discount on my next ..." Make it something that they can only receive via e-mail because a free book, key chain, anything like that might bring you some false addresses. Also, have you tried Kindle? A free offer to 'sign' at a local bookseller in exchange for them ordering X quantity of your book? If you write fiction, you should have the imagination to come up with more ideas to promote locally and then ask for a referral letter or photo the event / display of your books, etc. to forward to other booksellers in neighboring towns.
Aug 30, 2014
Write down? Caitlin, I presume that in order to sell your books at open air markets you are accepting credit cards so you don't have to carry a ton of cash with you. If you are, you're probably using a smartphone or tablet to transact your business. If you aren't, then you need to be.
In either case use your smartphone or tablet as a portable kiosk. Sinisa gave you great insight on information to capture. It can be done by setting up a form on your device and simply have the buyer file out the information as you are conducting the transaction.
Yes, you may have to provide some incentive to get the purchaser to provide their contact information, but it doesn't have to be expensive.
Aug 29, 2014
Make max account of site who offer job in these site you can pick email of different people ,
Aug 28, 2014
Collect business cards by raffling one of your books. Use a fishbowl. People will know you are using the cards to build your list. It's common practice. Or you can create your own raffle slip and indicate on the bottom of it that they will be added to your email list. Then stay in touch through your Facebook page or with a monthly e-newsletter. Good luck!
Aug 28, 2014
Hi, Caitlin. If you have an iPad or Android tablet, MailChimp has a mobile signup form feature that may work for you. Even if you don't have internet access at the location you're selling at, the signup forms will be stored locally on your device. They will then sync and upload to your account when you are able to get back online. Here is the URL with some more information:
http://mailchimp.com/features/mobile-signup-forms/
I hope this helps!
Aug 28, 2014
Email marketing is the #1 marketing tool you can use today; so building an email database is not only a great idea but also a necessity for your business as well as any other. With that said and knowing you do not have a brick and mortar at this time, as some have suggested, a website is a great way to capture opt-ins. Right at the front, offer something in return for the sign up. Another tool to consider is creating a simple landing page. I build them for free for my clients. We promote them throughout the internet directly targeting their demographic and geographic audience. When targeted correctly, people will gladly give you their emails and you'll have a massive database in no time.
Aug 28, 2014
Collecting data on your buyers is important. I recommend and create for my clients a small form that they complete. I tell them that it is for our database and future email news information. You don't have to offer an incentive. Ask for the general information, name, address, city, state, zip, telephone, email, .
Have a box for them to check if they want to be on the email newsletter or distribution list for announcements, etc.
Good luck.
Aug 28, 2014
Create a web based book that you can send as a complimentary gift to your customers. This would be a great incentive.
Ask each customer for their email address after each sale so you can send it to them. Create something special they can download and read to their children on an IPad or laptop.
Aug 28, 2014
To start with, have a smart phone set up with a google forms subscription for set up, so you can catch customers as you go, both on your stall and out and about. You can add this to your 'home page' for easy access. You can also email this out via a link on your site, social media, etc for the newsletter you're going to send. Everything will be backed up and you won't have to waste time by re-writing in to a data base, it'll do it for you
Set up a newsletter software for a monthly newsletter.
Online shop: to sell your books. links on social media and your site
Set up a campaign to run through your social media from your site.
Go digital! look at the amount of kids sat in bars, parks, shops where they have been given a mobile device to keep them quiet. They could be using your material
Have a competition to with your books as a prize, with the likes shares etc acting as entry. You can build up more completion that will act as awareness.
Get customer to comment on your social media accounts
There are lots of things you can do, all taking up time, but marketing is as important as your books is, now you now why people hire help from the people who have commented on your problem, but I hope this helps for starters...
Good luck
Ade
Aug 27, 2014
I'd certainly have a sheet out to collect their emails. But do you have your website printed in the book anywhere? Direct people to your website and then offer another free resource, such as an interview with you or a short ebook, in exchange for their email address. When they buy, let them know that there's freebies on your site if they'd like to find out more.
Aug 27, 2014
Yes, a sign up sheet either paper format or electronic (many keep an iPad or other handy for easy entry right into your database) would be great so you can collect that data on site. Make sure you are capturing all the data you need such as name, postal address, email address and any other demographics that will be helpful for you to continue your marketing efforts. Then, once you are ready to do an acquisition campaign, you have a clear vision on who your best customers are. I can help you prepare an acquisition campaign where you can target similar demographics to find mirror image customers via postal, email and/or telemarketing. Good luck!
Aug 26, 2014
As far as I understand from your profile, you are an author of books for children. Depending on the age of the children you are talking to, I would suggest you become a digital author as well.
Team up with a company or an individual and create simple games based on your books/characters, create additional digital content and connect it with the book you are printing. Kids and parents nowadays understand computers and know how to use it for play. And your imagination is the limit of what you could do. I.e. I would do a memory game based on the characters/graphics from your book, or a jigsaw puzzle, create a small competition. In the process of user registration you will ask for child name, parents name, age, geneder, email, so you can talk to the children directly (through the parent of course).
Point is: use what you are good at :)
Hope it helps.
Aug 26, 2014
Hi! a piece of paper is very effective. When they buy your book they are bcoming clients so you could easily send them emails. You can use Qr code as suggested below to redirecte people to a page of your choice. You can also use your facebook and integrate an email platform like Mailchimp or Wondermail (both are free).
You can if you have a small budget, print some business cards and distribute directly with people that engaged conversation with you. You can at the same time offer a page holder with your information if they buy your book, so they can interact with you. Don't force people to receive your newsletter, lead them through your marketing funnel.
If you have a blog it can be easier because conversation is already established. You can use a convertion page alsao called landing page with your book to sell. There are few services that can provide you with a conversion page like (www.wonder-land.eu) and connect the sales with your mailing list also.
Try to write down your marketing plan and funnel, you will see it more clearly when and how you engaged with prospect or clients
Aug 26, 2014
Hi Caitlin
If you are selling in an open market the best way to collect emails is to have a properly formatted list. The other way is to have a nice bowl and let everybody place their call cards in the bowl. You can use this as an incentive and have a draw when the market is over and giveaway a copy of your book or some other item. For those who do not have call cards have some blank cards for them to utilize.
Aug 26, 2014
Caitlin~
I would encourage you to stand out from the norm......have a journal book open and at the top of the page list what you would like them to write down......then you can keep them all in one place....I would encourage you too to do a e-commerce page on a website for your book sales.....allows people to purchase them directly.....I would strongly suggest a face book page to inform your followers of what is going on, where your books are, and so forth......you may connect with a store that would help you out with your book sales that way :0)
Christy Cooper
KVCM Internet Radio
Aug 26, 2014
As an author, you are wise to be wanting to build an email list. And if you are using a professional email service like Aweber, Mailchimp, or GetResponse, you'll also need to have people sign up for the list themselves, as these services require that the person has your permission to email to them (so uploading all of their email addresses from a single IP address may cause a problem).
So, assuming you are using one of these services, you might a) utilize the service's mobile app (nearly all of them have one) to capture email addresses, b) embed a signup form on a free mobile website, c) use a service like 22 Social (www.22s.com/free/43140 - my aff link).
Also, I noticed that John Di Stefano suggested having people email you. One feature of services like Aweber and GetResponse is to provide an email address for them to contact you to be added to your email list automatically. For example, if you send a blank email to baeronmarketing@getresponse.com, you will automatically be added to my email list.
Exactly! It is as simple as that for a start. The journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.