A Subscriber Ripped Me a New One

But I quickly learned from it

Those of us who send out newsletters each do it for our own purposes. Some do it as a recap of our Medium stories, some do it to talk about life and learning. Regardless of why you have a newsletter at least one of your subscribers might feel it’s completely useless.

The problem is we have no way of knowing if someone hates our newsletter until they decide to reply and rip your head off. That’s exactly what happened to me after the last issue I sent out.

Here are some things he said (paraphrased):

“I don't get this newsletter thing, especially when you don't have new product out and clearly don't want to befriend any of your subscribers. We know you're alive and writing. We know where to find you. So why the barrage?

I don't like the vagaries of this email newsletter model. You share intimate details of your life with all of us subscribers, which means that nothing I receive from you is specifically intended for me.”

I wasn’t aware I was barraging anyone, I only email once every 10 days or so.

He also added that I am cold, dispassionate, and formulaic.

The part that bothered me the most is the first paragraph, the one that says I don’t appear to want to befriend my subscribers. That couldn’t be further from the truth. You guys have seen me begging for interaction right here in this newsletter yet rarely do any of my subscribers do it.

I host on Substack for a reason. The platform allows likes and comments RIGHT INSIDE each newsletter which is something no other platform allows. But I can’t force anyone to use it.

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What I learned from the disgruntled ex-subscriber is that I probably don’t make it clear what you’ll be receiving after you subscribe. My call to action just says, “When you subscribe, I’ll know you’re cool with hearing from me once in a while.”

It certainly doesn’t say I’ll ever have new product releases to offer.

My call to action might be too vague for people only looking for pen pals. This serves as a reminder to check your own calls to action and make sure we know what we’re signing up for.

In the case that you’ve signed up with hopes that I’ll have new products for you, I do have one today. And it’s specifically for freelancers (or aspiring freelancers). It’s a shortcut to all the reasons why I never started out as a writer much sooner.

Imagine The Client Saying YES and Now You're Drunk Stumbling Around the Internet Trying to Piece Together Some Kind of Professional Client Contract

This Kit slays dragons to protect you from all the things normal people don’t think about.

It’s provided by Ash Ambirge, a six-figure copywriter. I’ve taken many of her courses over the years and I’ll be the first to say you’re missing out if you don’t know her.

You’re welcome.

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And now for just ONE thing you may have missed. Did you know Medium sends out free T-shirts to writers? I didn’t either, and now I want a free coffee mug.

Medium Set a Precedent By Giving Out One Free T-Shirt

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Thanks for reading and PLEASE, if you’re disgruntled about this newsletter, for the love of all things holy SAY SOMETHING. I can’t know you hate it until you tell me you hate it.

Kristi