You know that you need a newsletter, but how often should authors email their readers? This is often one of the most asked questions about sending emails. It can be challenging to find the right sending rate. Send too many emails, and you risk overwhelming subscribers; send too few, and readers may forget who you are.
In this post, we’ll explore how to strike the right balance—keeping your audience engaged, building trust, and making sure your author newsletter is a welcome sight in every inbox.
How Often Should Authors Email Their Readers? The Straightforward Answer
Statistics show that 69% of readers say they unsubscribe from emails because they get too many. And even if they’re not unsubscribing, more than likely, they are just deleting your emails without ever opening them.
So, how often should authors email their readers? The best practice is 1-3 times a month. If you’re new to sending emails, start small by sending an email to your readers once a month. You don’t want to overwhelm your subscribers.
Also keep in mind that readers might forget about you if you send too few emails. You don’t want that to happen.
Why Email Frequency Matters for Author-Reader Relationships
Building a strong relationship with your readers is important, and the email frequency for authors plays a key role in that process. When you email your readers regularly but thoughtfully, you create trust and show that you value their time and interest. Consistent communication helps your audience feel connected to you.
Planning ahead will help you keep a steady email schedule and keep you from becoming overwhelmed and stressed out. A consistent email schedule impacts your open rates—in a good way. Subscribers start expecting your emails to come at a certain time, which means they’re more likely to open and engage with your content.
Tip: Set aside time at the beginning of every quarter to plan out your emails for the next 3 months.
Factors That Determine How Often to Send Author Newsletters
Deciding how often to send author newsletter emails depends on quite a few things:
Audience size and preferences.
Some readers prefer frequent updates, while others like fewer, more meaningful emails. Listen to feedback from your subscribers and track engagement metrics. These will help you adjust your schedule to what your readers want.
Book genre.
Fiction readers love getting updates about new releases, behind-the-scenes content, or storytelling insights. They usually prefer monthly or biweekly emails. However, nonfiction readers enjoy teaching, resources, or events, which means they prefer more frequent emails.
Content availability and relevance.
It’s better to send fewer high-quality, valuable emails than to rush out messages with little to no significance. If you don’t have consistent content to share, space out your newsletters to keep your readers interested.
Signs You’re Emailing Too Often (or Not Enough)
Even the most dedicated readers can lose interest if your email frequency is off-balance. Here are a few signs to watch for:
- Low open rates, high unsubscribes, or spam complaints. If readers are ignoring your emails—or actively opting out—it’s a sign your schedule might be overwhelming them (or not offering enough value per message).
- Readers are disengaging or missing emails entirely. When subscribers stop replying, clicking links, or even noticing your emails in their inbox, your timing may be inconsistent or too infrequent to stay on their radar.
Finding the right rhythm is part of author newsletter best practices. Pay attention to your metrics and reader feedback so you can make changes before your audience drifts away.
Best Practices for Consistent and Engaging Author Emails
Successful newsletter writers know how to be intentional with planning and connection. That’s what makes their email lists grow. Here’s how to keep your author emails consistent and engaging:
- Create a content calendar. Plan your emails ahead of time so you’re not scrambling for ideas at the last minute. A calendar helps you stay consistent and see the big picture of your email marketing strategy. (I use Notion to plan my newsletters.)
- Mix value with promotion. Don’t just sell to your subscribers. Nothing makes me unsubscribe quicker than a sales pitch in every newsletter. Share behind-the-scenes updates, writing tips, book recommendations, or personal reflections along with news about your books. Connect with your readers.
- Invite reader interaction. Ask questions, run polls, or invite replies to keep your audience engaged and invested in your work. Focus on clarity, not conformity.
By following these email marketing tips for authors, your relationship with readers will strengthen, and they’ll be excited to open your emails.
How to Test and Adjust Your Newsletter Schedule
You might think you have the best plan for your newsletter schedule, but your audience’s preferences might just surprise you. You’ll want to test different send days, times, and frequencies to see what works best, and adjust based on the results.
Testing and adjusting ensures your emails reach readers when they’re most receptive.
- A/B test send days and times. Try sending the same email to different segments of your list at various times or days of the week to see which gets better open and click rates.
- Use analytics to refine frequency. Keep an eye on open rates, click-throughs, and unsubscribes. If numbers dip, it may be time to tweak how often you send emails.
- Ask readers directly for feedback. A short survey or quick email asking, “How often would you like to hear from me?” can give you valuable insight—and make readers feel included in the process.
Experiment, track, and listen. Your “perfect” schedule might change over time, but these steps help you keep your author newsletter aligned with your readers’ needs.
Final Thoughts: Finding the Right Email Rhythm for Your Readers
There’s no single answer to “how often should authors email their readers”; the key is creating a rhythm that works for you and keeps your audience engaged.
Your ideal frequency will depend on your genre, your content, and, most importantly, your readers’ preferences. By watching your analytics, listening to feedback, and being willing to adjust, you’ll build a newsletter that your subscribers genuinely look forward to.
Your readers subscribed because they want to hear from you. Show up consistently, value their time, and keep your emails worth opening. With a little testing and care, you’ll find the schedule that keeps your stories—and your name—at the top of their inbox.
If it’s been a while since you’ve reviewed your email schedule, take 10 minutes today to check your open rates, unsubscribes, and engagement. Then, make a small tweak. Should you send more often, a little less, or simply on a more consistent day? Your readers (and your future book sales) will thank you.