Screenshot from ann handley’s newsletter.Handley lets her readers know exactly what her newsletter is about right from the start. Handley’s subject lines and graphics illustrate clearly that this newsletter is about writing. Source.She built relationships. Not just a listHandley said she initially implement a pop-up window to garner subscribers. Like many newsletters. However. She soon took it down. Why? “I want a reader’s relationship with me to be. Ultimately. The trigger that would grow the list.” says handley. “it was a revelation to me. And it’s important.”When you build relationships with readers. You build trust and affinity. Which leads to long-term success. If readers don’t feel connect. Chances are their interest in your newsletter will wane. And a bonus is that you’ll get inspiration and feback right from the source.
When writing her newsletter
Handley imagines a single subscriber and writes as if to them. Specifically. put a pillow over the face of anything with a whiff of dear valu customers.says handley. use you like you pick email list up a lifetime supply at a bogo sale.I want a reader’s relationship with me to be. Ultimately. The trigger that would grow the list. ann handleyHandley also notes that connecting with subscribers is only a single part of building relationships. Building relationships with other influencers has also been an integral part of growing her list. “call out the good work of others.” says handley. “share the love. Don’t expect and ask for reciprocity—that’s not friendship. That’s coercion.”
She surpris her readers
Many of handley’s best-performing emails have been the ones that are unique in some way. Or. As handley likes to say. “not business as usual.” handley accomplishes America Phone Number this by using paradoxes or contrarian ideas that pique the reader’s interest.Ann handley newsletter title.Is this email newsletter from starbucks? No. This is an ann handley special. Source.For example. Her newsletter that garner the most subscriber referrals was titl “pumpkin spice newsletter: a case study in the power of copywriting.” readers may have expect this from starbucks but not a marketing newsletter. Or her newsletter that was the strongest performer across all metrics: “tiktok with the best writing advice (no really).” it’s surprising because most people wouldn’t think of tiktok as a source of great writing advice.
