Here is the list of helpful links from the back of Newsletter Ninja (plus a few others I chuck in from time to time):
From Chapter 7 – The First Date
Whitelisting:
I use this one, and there’s a link at the bottom of it to generate your own version specific to your site. However, I’m not currently recommending it as it’s a bit overwhelming for both you and your subscribers:
https://newsletterninja.net/whitelist.html
These are good as well, with the benefit that you can just link to them without having to create a page on your own site and all that:
https://clean.email/how-to-whitelist-an-email
https://www.whatcounts.com/resources/checklists/how-to-safelist-emails/
From Chapter 12 – Straight-Up Bribes
What Makes a Good Cookie:
https://insights.bookbub.com/great-prize-ideas-for-book-promotion-contests-and-giveaways
https://blog.reedsy.com/6-steps-for-building-your-author-mailing-list-through-giveaways
Bookfunnel’s series on “Using Exclusive Content to Turn Readers Into Fans”:
– Introduction: Not Sold in Stores:
https://blog.bookfunnel.com/2017/not-sold-in-stores-intro
– Part 1: Short Stories:
https://blog.bookfunnel.com/2017/using-exclusive-content-to-turn-readers-into-fans-short-stories
– Part 2: Prequel Novellas:
https://blog.bookfunnel.com/2017/using-exclusive-content-to-turn-readers-into-fans-prequel-novellas
– Part 3: Serials:
https://blog.bookfunnel.com/2017/using-exclusive-content-to-turn-readers-into-fans-serials
– Part 4: Bonus Epilogues:
https://blog.bookfunnel.com/2018/using-exclusive-content-to-turn-readers-into-fans-bonus-epilogues
Cross-promotion ideas
– Newsletter swaps or other quid pro quo strategies
– Facebook group takeovers
– Blog tours
– Instafreebie
– Booksweeps (Ryan Zee): https://booksweeps.com
– Bookfunnel cross-promos. Find people to cross-promo with by asking other authors you know, or by visiting one of these Facebook groups:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookFunnelCrossPromo
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Bookfunnelpromoslistbuilders/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/BookFunnelRomance/
From Chapter 13 – Engagement
Reputation:
https://blog.kissmetrics.com/improve-email-deliverability
https://fulcrumtech.net/resources/email-deliverabilty-reputation
https://www.campaignmonitor.com/blog/email-marketing/2016/07/bad-email-reputation-repair
From Chapter 14 – Deliverability
https://www.blogmarketingacademy.com/email-open-rates
Articles on avoiding SPAM filters:
https://www.yesware.com/blog/email-spam
https://www.crazyegg.com/blog/avoid-email-spam-filter
https://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/how-to-avoid-a-spam-filter-5-rules.html
https://econsultancy.com/blog/64878-45-words-to-avoid-in-your-email-marketing-subject-lines (plus all the links in “Further reading” at the end of the article)
Lists of SPAM words:
https://emailmarketing.comm100.com/email-marketing-ebook/spam-words.aspx
https://www.mannixmarketing.com/blog/spam-trigger-words
https://www.simplycast.com/blog/100-top-email-spam-trigger-words-and-phrases-to-avoid
https://prospect.io/blog/455-email-spam-trigger-words-avoid-2018
http://blog.automational.com/2016/03/08/spam-trigger-words-to-avoid
From Chapter 15 – Building Relationships
Good Questions:
https://conversationstartersworld.com (This is my favorite. Just list upon list up on list of cool questions.)
https://blog.hubspot.com/service/rapport-building-questions
https://www.mantelligence.com/questions-to-ask
From Chapter 17 – Re-engagement
Subject line articles:
https://sumo.com/stories/best-email-subject-lines
https://www.digitalmarketer.com/blog/101-best-email-subject-lines-2014
https://optinmonster.com/101-email-subject-lines-your-subscribers-cant-resist
https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/best-email-subject-lines-list
https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2014/03/31/email-subject-lines
Emojis:
https://econsultancy.com/blog/66043-email-subject-lines-the-best-words-emojis-to-boost-open-rates
https://www.campaignmonitor.com/resources/guides/using-emojis-and-symbols-in-email-marketing
https://emailmonks.com/blog/email-marketing/using-emojis-subject-lines
https://www.mobilemarketer.com/news/study-certain-emojis-in-email-subject-lines-boost-read-rates/443439 (This one contains the gem of info that the poop emoji gets the highest open rate. Discretion is advised.)
From the Afterword
Examples of awesome newsletters:
https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/email-newsletter-examples-list
https://www.lyfemarketing.com/blog/best-email-newsletter-examples
https://reallygoodemails.com (You can sign up for their newsletter about newsletters, like a sort of newsletter-ception.)