Mailing Lists
Season 3, Episode 10 : Mailing Lists
Mailing lists – on the face of it, not the most exciting of topics but a crucial part any working, creative business and a fantastic way to stay in touch with an already keen and receptive audience. Both Peter and Tom have developed a newfound love for their mailing lists during the past couple of years and in this episode they talk about what they are, how to collect and manage one, why they can be such an amazing tool and also some of the nitty gritty of being responsible for other people’s information.
So, what is a mailing list? Traditionally it was probably a list of postal addresses but nowadays, it is most likely a list of email addresses. Either way, it is a way of connecting and communicating directly with the customer, with people who want to hear from you, which is what makes a mailing list unique as opposed to social media or a blog.
Both Peter and Tom discuss how they started their mailing lists, how they grow them and how they find is best to utilise them. There are third party providers you can work with or, you can manage it yourself. Either way, both Peter and Tom agree that it’s important to remember that these people are your interested supporters and they want to hear from you. Try not to always sell them something but instead, utilise it to keep in touch, keep them informed.
After discussing some simple do’s and don’ts, Peter talks about the legal side of data storing and processing … a huge topic and one that cannot be covered in detail in one podcast episode. Essentially, it boils down to the fact that if you have other people’s email addresses, you have their data, and there are rules and legalities that go along with that. If you are in the UK, please visit The Information Commissioner’s Office website: www.ico.org.uk – The UK’s independent authority set up to uphold information rights in the public interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals. This website has a wealth of easy to understand information and even a handy quiz which tells you what you need to do.
This week's takeaway...mailing lists can be a wonderful tool for any creator. You have a receptive audience of previous buyers or students and interested parties, right at your finger tips and often they will be genuinely interested, if not actually excited to hear from you! Not only can mailing lists be used to directly sell, you can also use them to help remind people you still exist and they are a great way to take care of those who have supported you and your career so far. Just remember to check out what you need to do from a legal point of view and get sending!
Photo by Chris Blonk on Unsplash
This Podcast is sponsored by Michael Harding Colours. For more information about Michael’s colour range or to find a retailer near you, please visit www.michaelharding.co.uk
