Advice on Creating a Mailing List

[TheTangledCat]

Can anyone give a bit of advice for creating a mailing list? I just don't know where to begin.

In your automated etsy response to a sale, do you add sentence about how someone should indicate if they would like to be included on a mailing list? or do you somehow generate interest another way (other than pinterest, I do not use other social media tools like facebook, etc)

How often do you recommend sending out info to your distribution list? What does it look like (lots of pictures, I assume)? Does anyone have an example of what they send out?

Thx much.

[1AEON]

This not as relevant, but nothing wrong with using social media, it can only help:)

[Former_Member]

I've just started a mailchimp account and will start sending out newsletters this month about my business. So far I don't have many people signed up to receive the email and I'm not sure the best way to go about it so I look forward to getting some advice on this thread. :) I just posted it on my facebook page so far...

[daisyeyeshandmade]

I found this article as I am considering starting a mailing list this fall. Haven't reedit yet, but maybe it wills be helpful.
http://www.createandthrive.com/guides/how-to-run-a-rockin-mailing-list

[Former_Member]

I wanted to ask this SAME exact question. Thanks! lol

[BrushStrokeOrnaments]

Thanks for the tip Aimee. The article sounds like it would have been wonderful - and should answer all the questions we have - except that, after scrolling down, there seems to be a $20 fee attached! I'm sure we can all find out a bit of this info for free if we keep trying. :)

[Former_Member]

Yeesh... $20 for mailing list info? That's sick. I'm gonna go ahead and research online. haha

[SproutsPressDesigns]

I'm also researching newsletters/email lists. I came across this etsy article, if it helps anyone: http://etsy.me/12AGlbK

It recommends Mailchimp, which I just signed up for. I have previously been using regular email, sending newsletters 3 or 4 times a year to addresses collected via a sign up book at shows. I'm hoping for a nicer layout with better photo integration with mailchimp.

The only problem I've run into so far is that I MUST provide a valid mailing address, and since I work out of my home (no PO box), that means putting my home address on the newsletters. I'm not sure about this . . . anyone else have issues with this? (and mailchimp is free if you have less than 2000 contacts, which I sure do!)

[MythOfTheWild]

There was an Etsy newsletter about this recently: https://www.etsy.com/blog/en/2013/how-to-grow-your-etsy-business-with-newsletters/?campaign_label=et...

I'm thinking about starting up a mailing list, but I'm not sure how to get people to sign up. On one hand, if they've bought from me in the past, they might be interested - on the other hand, unwanted emails are spam.

[TheWeeBitThings]

I'm planning to start a mailing list, too. I've done one before for my healing art, but for the etsy shop it'll be a different list.

For my first mailing list, when in a physical circumstance, I simply asked people if they'd like sign up for my newsletter about healing topics. If I'd offer a class or meet up with a group of like minded people, I'd ask if they wanted to receive more info on healing. For the online / virtual part, I put a newsletter sign up form on my blog.

For the etsy shop, I'll plan to add a newsletter sign up on my blog. I'll also try to figure out where I can possibly customize the check out experience (maybe in the outgoing message to customers) and ask them to indicate whether they'd like to receive my newsletter. Another place I'd consider getting people to join my newsletter is on the invoice? Or if you follow up after a purchase, it might be a good idea to ask it then.

When doing events it's always a good idea to create a sign up list for interested peeps.

@Carolyn - As for the address part of the newsletter, yeah, I had to actually put my home address down for a while. I didn't like doing that either, but nothing weird came out of it. Also, I think that some newsletter providers will accept PO Box, because I think mine did.

Great question. I hope more chime in for more ideas.

Best to you!

[KthysKreations]

I just started sending out a newsletter about 4 months ago and send it out monthly. I don't have a lot of subscribers yet - am using MailChimp - but whenever I make a sale and respond back to the customer thanking them I always add a sentence to invite them to sign up for my newsletter and to reply back to that email so I have permission to send it to them. I don't bring it up again, if they want to sign up, fine, but don't want to be pushy about it. I also have a Sign-Up app on my FB page.

[TheWeeBitThings]

@Kathy, just curious, where did you find your sign up app on your FB page?