Email Marketing 101 – Building an Author Mailing List That Sells

Learn how authors can build a mailing list from zero, connect with readers authentically, and sell books without spam, pressure, or overwhelm.

Email marketing is often misunderstood by authors. Many believe it’s outdated, intrusive, or only useful for writers with large audiences. In this episode of the Cosmo Publishing Podcast, host Gürhan, co-founder of Cosmo Publishing and Cosmodio Books, breaks down email marketing in a calm, practical way and shows why it remains one of the most powerful tools an author can own.

This episode reframes email not as promotion, but as permission. Gürhan explains why a mailing list is different from social media followers, why ownership matters, and how email creates stability in a publishing world driven by changing algorithms and temporary reach.

Listeners will learn what an author mailing list really is, how to start one from zero without technical overwhelm, and why slow early growth is not failure but a healthy foundation. The episode walks through simple ways to invite readers to subscribe, including inside your book, on your website, and through social platforms, without feeling salesy or intrusive.

Gürhan also explores what to offer readers when they sign up, explaining how alignment matters more than production value. Fiction and nonfiction examples show how simple, relevant incentives build trust and long-term engagement. You’ll learn why giving value does not hurt sales and how the right offer strengthens reader loyalty.

The episode covers what to send to your mailing list and how often, addressing common fears around bothering subscribers, unsubscribes, and silence. You’ll hear why plain, honest emails outperform polished newsletters, and why consistency matters more than frequency.

Finally, the episode explains how email actually sells books. Gürhan shows how trust-based communication leads to natural sales, why small lists often outperform large ones, and how email supports launches and long-term visibility without pressure or hype.

By the end of this episode, email marketing will feel less intimidating and more supportive. You’ll understand how to build a mailing list that serves your readers, protects your energy, and quietly supports your book sales over time.

Listen now to “Email Marketing 101 – Building an Author Mailing List That Sells,” and learn how to turn connection into confidence and trust into long-term success..

00.24 .... Introduction
03.59 .... What is an author mailing list?
07.56 .... How do you start your mailing list from zero?
12.19 .... What to offer to readers to join you list
16.35 .... What to send and how often you should send it
20.23 .... How email actually sells books?
23.42 .... Healthy email mindset for authors