Link to this page

The Opt In: Why Do Readers Give You Their Address?

Award-winning writer Kathy Widenhouse has helped hundreds of nonprofits and writers produce successful content and has gained 600K+ views for her writing tutorials. She is the author of 9 books. See more of Kathy’s content here.

An online devotional for writers

A Word From The Word

A wise man will hear and increase in learning. (Proverbs 1:5, NASB)

A Word For Writers

When I balked at sending an online newsletter because it seemed impersonal, I learned the value of the opt in. An online devotional for writers based on Proverbs 1:5. Word Wise at Nonprofit Copywriter

Why do you opt in to a mailing list?

Years ago, when I first started writing, my mentors encouraged me to launch an online newsletter – a type of formatted group email, they explained.

I balked. Sending mass emails felt impersonal. I didn’t like the idea of throwing a lot of content into cyberspace to see what stuck.  

Until then, I received just a handful of group emails, mostly from my child’s soccer coach with news about game cancellations and league standings. I recognized each name in the “To” line, even though it went on forever.

Yes, I was on the receiving end of one or two online newsletters from copywriting gurus, which contained solid, helpful content. But those writers had something to say. I was a new writer. (I didn’t think what I had much “news” to offer to subscribers, even if they opted-in for free.)

Fast forward. An online newsletter, it turns out, is a powerful way to communicate with a large number of readers. 

But the tipping point is this: an online newsletter shares helpful information that the readers need or want.  Like the content I needed to know from the soccer coach about the updated game time. Like the tips I wanted from a respected copywriter. Those group emails were not impersonal. Rather, they communicated information that was valuable to me.

You opt in because you want to learn.

Jesus didn’t shy away from communicating to large crowds of people. His listeners opted in. They chose to hear from him, often at great cost. Travel was not easy in Bible times. The common man did not have large amounts of free time to spend listening to teaching on a mountainside. Yet these people needed and wanted what Jesus had to say.

Your readers opt in when your content is valuable to them. They ask for it. They choose to hear from you.

Give them what they need.

A Wise Word

Readers opt in when content is valuable to them.

A Word To Pray

Heavenly Father,

Let me understand what content I can offer to readers in order to be helpful to them. They want to learn new information and skills. Let me be faithful to give what they need.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.


More Devotionals for Writers

The Email Forward: Quality Content Motivates Readers ...

The Ezine: Paul’s Letters are Perfect Email Newsletter Templates ...

The Email: When Better Business Writing Means Shorter ...

The Email Segment: Target One Audience Now. Help Another Later...

The Click: Get Your Reader to Take This First Step ...

The Lead Magnet: It's How The Free Content Myth Got Busted ...

The Website: How to Tackle a Big Content Writing Project ...

The Long-Tail Keyword: Mark Used Specifics in His Gospel. Shouldn't You?

The About Page: A Big Surprise in Writing Content for Your Website ...

The Reminder: Write an Email to Remind Readers to Act ...

The Testimonial: Write a Letter of Reference ...

The Site Map: Dig Deep to See What's There ...

The Back End: Loading Website Copy with a Pro ...

The Grant Application: A Deadline Is an Opportunity ...

The PS: The Last Shall Be Read First ...

The Opening Line: Letter Writing Tips from Famed Letter Writer ...

The End: Make It Memorable and Useful ...

The Hook Writing Trap ...

Writing for Free ...

Waste Not: One of the Most Effective Content Writing Tips ...

Writing Persuasively Gets a Bad Rap ...

Two Words: Which Should You Use?

More Devotionals for Writers on our Pinterest Board ...

Wise Words: Devotionals for Writers ...

Get more devotionals for writers delivered to your inbox each week.

Get Wise Words Now

Return from The Opt-In to Nonprofit Copywriter home

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Powered by SBI! Learn more here.
Enjoy this page? Please pay it forward. Here's how...

Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it?

  1. Click on the HTML link code below.
  2. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment, your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable.

Search This Site


Share This Page



writers-digest-logo

Named to 2022 Writer's Digest list
BEST GENRE/NICHE WRITING WEBSITE

nonprofit-courses-content-expert-logo-round
Get Free Writing Tips

Stop Wasting Time!

Grab your exclusive FREE guide, "5 Simple Writing Tips You Can Put to Use in 10 Minutes or Less"

XML RSSSubscribe To This Site
  • XML RSS
  • follow us in feedly
  • Add to My Yahoo!