I want you to unsubscribe, unfollow & unlike

A couple weeks ago I got an email from one of my favorite people, MyNAMS’ own David Perdew that stated, “3 Reasons You Should Unsubscribe” in the subject line. Curious, I opened it… and read the entire thing. What he said was brilliant and it caused me to rethink my own list-building strategies. David gave examples of some of my other favorite business owners and how they use a tiny list of followers to generate massive amounts of income, and how he was paring down his own list in preparation for his 30-Day Listbuilding Challenge.

Now, I’m thankful for each and every one of you who reads my newsletter and blog, and I understand that sometimes life changes and we may not be the best fit for each other anymore. Of the 2500+ people on my email list, 5,000+ unique monthly blog visitors and 20,000+ fans on Facebook, many of you should click “unsubscribe,” “unfollow” and “unlike.” Here are three reasons why:

Reason #1: We’re on different roads

You may have found me several years ago when you searched the Internet for “I want to write a book.” You signed up for a free offer, got on my email list and started reading my newsletter. Then life circumstances changed and you put your book project on the back burner.

Sure, you may have picked your project back up and dusted it off once, twice, or even five times, and let’s face it, your book just isn’t a priority for you right now. Maybe you decided you’d rather create digital products. Maybe video is more your thing. Maybe life threw you a curve ball and you had to put your book on hold… indefinitely. And maybe it’s easier for you to choose not to do it than choose one topic and stick it out to the finish line.

Whatever the reason, I understand, I won’t condemn you (heck, I’ve put many of my own book projects on hold for similar reasons), and if this is you and you’re not going to finish your book within the next couple of years, please understand I hold no hard feelings toward you should you decide to unsubscribe.

Reason #2: I give… and give… and give… And you take… and take… and take…

When I was little I got in trouble for giving away my entire Dr. Seuss book collection to a neighbor who I felt sorry for because she owned very few books. Then I got in trouble for giving away my Narnia collection. Then several of my stuffed animals. And my LEGOs. And my allowance. And my birthday money…

I’m the first to admit, I’m a giver. Between my weekly newsletter, informative blog articles, questions I answer for people free of charge on Facebook, guest interviews and articles I contribute to other groups, and more, I could practically give myself right out of business. It’s not that I don’t enjoy giving—I really do! It’s one of my biggest passions to help people see their book projects come to life. In fact, giving gifts is my number one “love language” (it’s a way I share love with others and the way I feel loved in return). What I’ve recently learned is as long as I keep giving to people who don’t reciprocate, and who don’t appreciate the depth of what I’m giving them, I’m doing them a disservice. I’m not allowing you to invest in and value your own work, thus keeping you from major success!

Here’s my offer to you: If you’ve been “taking” free information from me for longer than one year, never signed up for coaching, never became a publishing client, never shared my blog or newsletter with a friend, and never sent my business a referral, please unsubscribe. And if the reason you never did any of those things is that you “don’t know what it is I do,” please forgive me as I may have not been very clear. Perhaps you missed the “Work with Kristen” tab on my website. Or the many emails I’ve sent with links to our services.

The fact is, running a business isn’t free (wow, I know that came as a shock to someone!) and without my business, my family wouldn’t eat. What I do is important for expert business leaders, and I believe my company brings incredible value to the people whose dreams we help come true.

From now on I promise to value you and your dream enough to encourage you to invest in yourself. If this bothers you, it’s time for you to unsubscribe, unfollow and unlike.

Reason #3: Do you want results?

I want to keep in touch with people who want to see results and who will do what it takes to succeed. If all you do is take as much as you can get for free (or super cheap), and yet you expect the same results as highly successful business owners who actually paid an expert to help them get where they are today, you’re not a good fit for me, my list, or my business.

I believe in you, your dream of being published, and the amazing results a high quality book can bring your business. If I feel I’m believing in your dream more than you are, we’re probably not a good fit.

Here’s the bottom line… I spend a lot of time and energy motivating and empowering action-takers to live their dreams, write their books, and leave a positive impact on the world.

If you’re not willing to do what it takes to see those results, you’ll only be frustrated getting weekly reminders from me that it’s possible, that you’re good enough to write a book, and that the world needs to hear your unique message, so do yourself a favor and end the frustration with a simple “unsubscribe.”

A Clean List Matters

I’m taking this opportunity to clean up my list, because as my friend David stated in his email, “Without your list, nothing else matters.” If my list is full of dead-weight freebie takers who don’t want to do what it takes, don’t believe in their dreams, and simply want to suck me financially dry, and I don’t do anything to clean it up and ask those people to unsubscribe, I could literally go out of business.

And that would hurt every single author I work with who is working hard to make a huge positive impact on the world, as well as every serious author who’s willing to do what it takes to live their dream.

Because I personally invest heavily in my own business and dream, and use what I learn to impact my clients’ businesses, their books really do bring them business.

While I will continue to provide valuable articles and information relating to the publishing industry free through my newsletter and blog, if any of the above reasons applies to you, please click “unsubscribe” in the newsletter you received this article in, or stop following my blog.

And if you’re in business, take a look at your own list. Maybe it’s ready for you to make some tough choices to clean it up (this article wasn’t easy to write, yet necessary). I know I’d rather have a few hundred devoted followers who have “got my back” and 100% support my business and mission rather than tens of thousands of followers who simply want to bleed me dry of energy and resources.

How about you? Are you willing to make the tough choice and clean up your list? If so, I highly recommend David Perdew’s 30-Day Listbuilding Challenge, going on now.

P.S. “Toot-My-Own-Horn-Alert”

What I do to start publishing companies for entrepreneurs is a unique service less than a handful of companies in the USA offer (actually there are two other companies besides mine that even come close to what we do). And I’m not exaggerating when I say our authors have seen real results most other authors who publish through other “self-publishing” service providers never get. If you’re ready to do what it takes, I have a limited number of openings for our exclusive “I am Published!” ghost publishing program open. Click here to get started today!

Photo courtesy Shutterstock, Gonzo Photo