Reader Seduction (Your First 1000 Fans)
Powerful list building strategies and an exclusive book giveaway tool that will help you reach your first 1000 email subscribers FAST
Watch PromoEmail list building for authors
Stop trying to sell your book to strangers.
Build a list of readers who know you, like you and actually open your emails. Then, when the next book comes out, you're not starting from zero.
- What to give away so the right readers sign up
- Seven ways to find subscribers, from free stories to giveaways and ads
- What to send them, how often, and how to get more emails opened
- Setup for Mailchimp or MailerLite, plus a signup form, popup or welcome mat
Not sure yet? Six of the lessons are free to watch. Start with those, then decide.
What authors say about my emails and advice
1000’s of emails come into our boxes and sifting through the fog to find a bit of clarity is tedious, but when an email comes from you, Derek Murphy, it is all worthwhile. Brilliant, thank you.
I have learned a massive amount since finding you. You are not selfish, and I like your attitude. I am drinking up everything I can that you send out. Your passion and love for writing is the driver. And, man, you are an inspiration. Your energy is contagious! Thank you so, So, SO much.
Derek Murphy offers a refreshing, honest perspective in the indie author business. I consume everything he puts out as fast as it becomes available. It's comprehensive, timely, and real. I do a lot of coordinating with groups of authors, both online in the Romance author community and in my local area. People always ask me "WHERE DO I BEGIN?" and among the short list of things that make up my response to that question, Derek Murphy is one of them.
Why I made this
I could build big lists. I wasn't keeping them engaged.
When I started writing fiction, I used book giveaways and contests to build a list of over 8,500 readers before I launched my first book. That part worked.
But for years, I sucked at email marketing. I was afraid to email too often, and sometimes months would go by without sending a single email. My subscribers didn't know who I was, and they weren't interested in buying my books. Most of them weren't even opening my emails.
So I focused on what happens after someone signs up: telling more personal stories, building trust, sending emails people actually like reading, and emailing more often without being annoying.
Because here's the thing: selling to strangers is really hard. But if you can get people to know, like and trust you - just by showing up in their inbox with great content - they're going to be much more likely to support you.
Where is your list stuck?
Nobody signs up.
Most of the time it's the offer, not the form. Pick a free guide, report or story your readers actually want, then put it where they'll see it: giveaways, free content or ads.
They sign up, then go quiet.
What to write in your welcome emails, how often to send them without being annoying, and how to get more of them opened.
They read, but they don't buy.
How to turn subscribers into buyers, with a look at my own fiction funnel and nonfiction funnel.
Most lists have more than one of these. Start with yours.
The approach
Two ideas behind the course
Give them a reason to sign up
Very few readers want another newsletter. They want the free story, the guide or the prize. So a whole section of the course is about choosing that offer and getting it in front of the right people.
Show up like a person, not an ad
Tell personal stories, send something useful, and email often enough that they remember who you are. Then, when you do have a book to sell, you're writing to people who already know you.
They might even become raving fans. With 1000 of those, you can change the world.
What's inside
From the first signup to the emails they open
Four main parts, plus the start-here lessons, a KingSumo lesson and a wrap-up: over 20 lessons in all. Here's what's in each part, so you know exactly what you're getting. The lessons marked Free you can watch right now.
Why build a list, and how to get started
Which email provider to use, whether you need a list at all, and how a list helps you improve your offer.
- Which email provider to choose (Mailchimp vs alternatives)Free15 min
- Do you really need an email list? (Common objections)Free13 min
- How to use your list to improve your offer2 min
How to build a list quickly (7 ways)
Who signs up and why, what to give away, and where the subscribers come from.
- The two types of subscribers6 min
- 7 ways to grow a list quickly20 min
- A free guide, report or story20 min
- Viral book giveaways36 min
- How to choose your opt-in offer26 min
- Facebook advertising
Building trust and engagement
What to send, how often, how to get emails opened, and how subscribers become buyers.
- Reasons to read a bookFree3 min
- How to turn subscribers to buyers30 min
- My fiction funnel36 min
- My nonfiction funnelFree52 min
- Increase open rates14 min
- What to write about (email series and autoresponder sequence)
- How often to email (and avoid annoying subscribers)24 min
Setting up and getting organized
The tech part: your email provider, and a signup form on your website.
- Setting up Mailchimp36 min
- Setting up MailerLite34 min
- Adding an opt-in form, popup or "welcome mat" to your website61 min
Also inside
- Start-here lessons: "How to use this course (READ ME)" and "Frequently Asked Questions". Both are free to watch.
- Using the KingSumo app: a lesson on KingSumo, the giveaway app I've used for viral sharing and email signups.
Some of the setup lessons and provider details are older, so a button or a price may have changed since I recorded them. Check your email provider's current steps and pricing as you go.
A note on giveaways
Giveaways are how I built my first list. I give away a package of books similar to mine, a few of them from authors I'd call my competition, then tag those authors and see if they'll share it. You don't need any fancy software to run one, though for email signups a tool like KingSumo helps a lot.
Try it first
Watch three of the lessons free
Six of the lessons are free, over two hours in all. Here are three, with a line from each, so you can see how I teach before you buy.
Do you really need an email list?
“When people first sign up to your list, they probably aren't ready to buy. You need to warm them up first with an education or "indoctrination" series, to make them know, like and trust you - and to create desire for your books.”
Watch the lessonWhich email provider to choose
“Don't obsess about having the "best" newsletter service or thinking your open rates should be higher. The grass is always greener.”
I recorded this when I was still on Mailchimp. My list is on MailerLite now.
Watch the lessonMy nonfiction funnel
“Don't hide all your content behind a paywall and focus on sales... give away a lot of value and offer incentives to buy the book (an extra guide or PDF).”
If you write nonfiction or run an online business, watch this one.
Watch the lessonThe other three free lessons are marked Preview in the full course curriculum.
Is this for you?
Good fit
- You have a book out, or you're writing one, and no list yet.
- You have a list, but it's small, it's gone quiet, or hardly anyone opens your emails.
- You don't know what to send, or you're afraid of emailing too often.
- You write fiction or nonfiction. There's a funnel lesson for each.
- You'd rather have your own readers than pay for attention every launch.
Not a fit
- You want a guaranteed number of subscribers by a certain date. Nobody can honestly promise that.
- You want someone to write your emails or set up your list for you. This is a do-it-yourself course.
- You want polished, up-to-the-minute software tutorials. Some setup lessons are older, so a button or a price may have changed.
- You already own the DIY Book Design & Formatting Bundle or Guerrilla Publishing. Both include this course.
Who's teaching this
Hi, I'm Derek Murphy.
I have a PhD in Literature. I supported myself as an editor and then a book cover designer, working with over a thousand writers, and CNN once featured me for renting castles for writing retreats.
I've written over a dozen novels. I built my first list with book giveaways, over 8,500 readers before my first book came out, and my email list is around 75,000 people today.
I'm not nearly where I want to be. Like everyone else, I still struggle to get the first dozen reviews when I launch a new book. That's exactly why I'd rather launch to a list than to strangers.
The offer
Start the list before you need it
Every reader who finishes your book, or lands on your site, and leaves without a way to hear from you again is someone you'll have to find all over again on launch day.
30-day money-back guarantee
Watch the lessons and set up your signup offer. If the course isn't what you needed, email support within 30 days of your purchase and you'll get a full refund.
Reader Seduction (Your First 1000 Fans)
- Over 20 lessons, from your first signup offer to what to send and how often
- Seven ways to grow a list, including free stories, giveaways and Facebook ads
- My fiction funnel and my nonfiction funnel
- Setup lessons for Mailchimp and MailerLite, plus signup forms, popups and welcome mats
- Self-paced, with lifetime access
- 30-day money-back guarantee
List price
$197one payment, lifetime access
Enroll nowFollowed a link with a discount code? Your discount shows in the enrollment box below.
Already own the DIY Book Design & Formatting Bundle or Guerrilla Publishing? Both include this course, so log in and check your courses before you buy it again.
Questions
Before you enroll
Do I need a website?
No. You need an email provider, and the course compares the options and walks through setting up Mailchimp and MailerLite. If you do have a website, there's an hour-long lesson on adding a signup form, popup or welcome mat to it.
My book isn't out yet. Is it too early?
No, it's a good time to start. I built my first list of over 8,500 readers with giveaways before I launched my first book. The lessons on free guides, reports and stories, and on choosing your opt-in offer, are about giving people a reason to sign up.
Does it work for nonfiction?
Yes. There's a lesson on my fiction funnel and one on my nonfiction funnel, and the nonfiction one is free to watch.
How many subscribers will I get?
Unlike most other self-proclaimed self-publishing gurus, I'll never promise you Big Results. How fast your list grows depends on your genre, your offer and how many people see it. The course covers each of those pieces. Putting them in place is up to you.
Will a list actually sell my books?
Not by itself, and not overnight. Here's how I put it in the free lesson on common objections: “If you have 1000 people on your list, you might only expect 10 sales. HOWEVER, the longer you nurture your leads, the more conversion you'll see - and the more books you have out, the more your list-based income will grow.” Book sales still depend on your cover, blurb and reviews too.
Is the Bookfetti giveaway app included?
No. Bookfetti was a giveaway app I built for authors and used to include with this course. It isn't running anymore, so it's not part of the offer. You don't need it to run a giveaway: there's a lesson on viral book giveaways and one on using KingSumo.
How long do I have access?
For as long as you like, on any device you own. It's self-paced, so you start when you want and go at your own speed.
What if the course isn't right for me?
You're covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee. If the course isn't what you needed, email support within 30 days of your purchase and you'll get a full refund.
I already own the DIY bundle or Guerrilla Publishing. Do I need this?
Probably not. Reader Seduction is included in both the DIY Book Design & Formatting Bundle and Guerrilla Publishing. Log in and check your courses before you buy it again.
The best time to start a list is before the launch.
If you're not sure yet, watch the free lessons first. If you are, the button below takes you to the enrollment box.
See the price and enrollSelf-paced · lifetime access · 30-day money-back guarantee
Tired of trying to promote your books and seeing no results?
Now you can QUICKLY build a targeted email list of your ideal readers, and learn how to ENGAGE them into raving fans.
Whether you're self-publishing or pitching your book to a literary agent, building your email list is the #1 way to drive sales and have a bestselling book launch. But how does that actually work, if your book is invisible and you're not getting any traffic?
When I started writing fiction, I used book giveaways and contests to build a list of over 8500 readers. These days, I easily get 1000 subscribers a week on autopilot, and my main list is usually around 50K (I have to cut subscribers each month because my lists grow too quickly!).
But until recently, I sucked at email marketing.
I could build big lists, but I wasn't keeping them engaged. I was afraid to email too often, and sometimes months would go by without sending a single email. My subscribers didn't know who I was; and they weren't interested in buying my books. Most of them weren't even opening my emails! So I determined to focus on learning what to do AFTER they signed up. Mostly, this includes:
★ Telling more personal stories
★ Building trust and rapport
★ Providing massive value
★ Using loops and hooks to increase open rates
★ Leading them on a journey towards my product
★ Getting engagement and shares
★ Encouraging my list to review follow me on social media
★ Sending emails they LOVE to read
★ Emailing more often without being annoying
★ Making them WANT your book or product
★ Give them a deal they can't refuse.
Because here's the thing: selling to strangers is really hard. But if you can get people to know, like and trust you - just by showing up in their inbox with great content - they're going to be much more likely to support you. They might even become raging fans. With 1000 of those, you can change the world.
"1000’s of emails come into our boxes and sifting through the fog to find a bit of clarity is tedious, but when an email comes from you, Derek Murphy, it is all worthwhile. Brilliant, thank you.
- Bert Grimm, Author
Build your list quickly. Turn them into superfans.
This course will help you get your first 1000 subscribers quickly - even before you launch your first book - and turn them from passive subscribers to active supporters. I'm including all the powerful list building strategies I've used to get over 100,000 subscribers, and also the best email automation and autoresponder sequences to "warm them up" so that they're engaged and ready to buy from you.
But that's not good enough...
To get the results I want, I've needed to use two different giveaway apps: first I use KingSumo, which is best for viral sharing and getting email signups ($198 for lifetime access). Then I use Gleam for smaller giveaways for more engagement on specific tasks - following me on social media, sharing my post, etc. ($390/year).
That's over $500, and most authors can't spend that much just on giveaway apps - don't forget you still need to buy the actual prizes! So I decided to make my own giveaway app for authors. It doesn't do everything. I built it to be cheap, simple and effective. But if you use it the right way, it's extremely powerful.
Introducing...
Bookfetti is a new giveaway app for authors that looks beautiful and boosts conversions by adding extra features, like video backgrounds, one-click Facebook connection, and a timer countdown.
You can check out a sample giveaway HERE or HERE or HERE.
I'm bundling it with this course, so you'll get lifetime access to a giveaway app and listbuilding strategy you can use over and over again for epic results!
Why it's awesome...
★ Bookfetti is hosted on its own domain, so you don't need to install anything
★ You can use Facebook connect OR an optinbox that connects with your service
★ Life time access, unlimited giveaways
I may start using this app just for optin landing pages, because I think the 1-click Facebook connect feature will significantly boost optin rates.
You'll also learn...
★ 7 foolproof list-building strategies you can use for any project
★ How to build a huge list before you launch your first book
★ How to engage freebie-seekers and turn them into real fans
★ How to convince your list to actually buy from you
★ My epic book launch strategy for hitting #1 and staying there
★ Design templates for graphics to make your giveaway attractive
★ Exactly what to offer for your optin bribe (dozens of specific examples)
★ Cheatsheet and swipe files you can use for your own autoresponders
★ How to encourage your list to leave dozens of positive reviews
★ How to use your list to boost your website traffic
★ How much should you email and what to say (with specific timelines)
★ UPDATE: GDPR rules and regulations to make sure your giveaways and lists are 100% compliant with the new email marketing laws! (coming soon)
Email marketing can definitely be an important asset to your business (usually your #1 resource) but only if you're growing it quickly, generating new leads on autopilot, and putting them through a sales funnel that gets them to know, like and trust you.
FREE video training
Here's the full course curriculum - I've made a few of the best videos 100% free for you (over two hours of my best email marketing tips). You'll learn the basics, as well as the best email service provider. If you write nonfiction or are interested in running an online business, make sure you watch the presentation on my nonfiction book funnel for lead generation.
Stop trying to sell your book to strangers. Build an email list of engaged fans.
Launch a #1 bestseller easily.
Limited Time BONUSES!
I'm going to include some ready-made scripts you can use for your autoresponder sequence to boost engage and build a supportive relationship with your fanbase; and I'm also making some amazing 3D book design templates and promotional graphics - you'll have access to that as well so you can easily make your own promotional graphics, Facebook ads, website banners and more.
I'm ALSO going to include my first course on book marketing, which was originally priced at $297. There's a lot of great tips in there for building an author platform that sells books on autopilot, and I want to make sure you get all the resources and material you need to publish successfully. This is a limited time offer. When my new courses are done I'm going to repackage everything into a monthly membership plan, but you can get LIFETIME access to these resources and all future updates if you sign up now.
JUST TO RECAP, join today and get...
★ Lifetime access to a giveaway app you can use again and again ($97 value)
★ My $297 course on book marketing, Reach Your Readers
★ The exclusive email-list building strategies I’ve used to get over 50K subscribers
★ A guide to warming up your list and building engagement (so you know exactly what to write and when)
★ How to turn you list into raving fans who love to buy your books.
Build your platform. Find your Audience.
Get lifetime access for ONLY $197 before it becomes a monthly subscription.
100% Money-Back Guarantee + Sitelock Secure Checkout
Your Instructor
Derek Murphy has a PhD in Literature and has been featured in CNN for hosting writing retreats in medieval castles. After working with thousands of authors as a writing coach and developmental author, he began developing plotting cheatsheets and advanced writing tips for authors that now have nearly 3 million views on YouTube.
Got Questions?
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By reading the fine print on the bottom of his page, I know you're smart and pay attention to details - exactly the kind of person we're looking for. So click the gold key below for an additional 50% off. You'll also get an instant $200 savings coupon for any of my more advanced courses. This offer is limited to only the first person per day who finds the magic key, everyone else pays full price. Grab it while you can!
