a single source, nothing corroborates it

Build a list for the product, not for yourself

People subscribe more readily to a page about one specific thing they want than to a general invitation to hear from you, and a product-specific list stays relevant to everyone on it. Running a narrow side list also gives impatient readers somewhere to go while the main thing is unfinished.

The method

1. 01

   Prefer a product-first list to a general blog list: it is easier to get someone to subscribe to a page about one specific product than to your writing in general

2. 02

   Run a narrow topic newsletter as a second on-ramp for people who want the material now and cannot wait for the product

3. 03

   Publish the blow-by-blow of an experiment to a separate opt-in list so you do not bury your main audience in content they did not sign up for

4. 04

   Open an early-bird list before a book's release date and reward signups with a discount code on launch day.

What it returned

• 10

  Registrants notified on the December 10 release date and given 25% off

• Readers pointed to a separate iOS design newsletter while the book was in progress

• Most tactics and results went to a dedicated list, with only some posts public, to avoid boring design readers with marketing detail

Sources

• The Audience Building Challenge: 10,000 subscribers in 30 daysNathan Barry · nathanbarry.com · Learn with me · 2013-11-01
• My new book: The App Design HandbookNathan Barry · nathanbarry.com · 2012-07-25
• How to cheat at online businessNathan Barry · nathanbarry.com · 2013-08-06
• How Content Marketing and Marketing Automation Led to a $5,000 Retainer ClientNathan Barry · nathanbarry.com · Want to Get Results Like This? · 2013-12-07