There are lots of mailing services out there - but they can be a bit pricey for some - like new authors, or even established authors. We figured there should be an easy and simple way for independent book authors to send out mailings. We're in that boat - other services just didn't seem to meet our needs, or had features we needed that cost extra. So, we built our own mailing service - BKSubscribe.
We wanted it to be easy to gather subscribers. So there's a simple signup form that you can use. You can customize the appearance of the form with your name and a short description.
We wanted the signup form to be spam-bot proof, to eliminate the chance of bots spamming our list. So we used the effective techniques from our FormSpammerTrap site to block bots from entering bogus subscribers.
We wanted an easy way to create newsletter lists. A full-featured editor to create the newsletter templates. And an easy way to create and send a mailing.
Plus no limit on the number of templates you can have, and no limit on the number of mailings you can do in a month.
We know that an auto-respond message is important feature so you can engage with your new subscribers. Every new signup via your customized subscribe form can have an automatic return message from you. And you design your auto-respond message via the full-featured template editor. The BkSubscribe Premium plan allows each of your lists to have a separate auto-respond message. (Auto Respond not available in demo version.)
We wanted to ensure that sent mails are actually delivered, and not caught as spam. So we use processes to 'meter' mail sending, ensuring that emails are sent at lower rates to reduce the possibility of a 'mail flood' being seen as spam by receiving mail servers.
We wanted to include 'email open' tracking. And make that as accurate as possible. Although tracking email opens is not perfect because of the way that some email clients block images, we think our method is close to accurate.
We wanted an easy reporting system, so we could see mailings sent, and open rates. And wanted all emails to include an easy 'unsubscribe' link, which is required by many jurisdictions.
And we wanted all those features to be inexpensive - we can't afford high mailing service rates either.
No matter which plan you select, you can have unlimited mailings and lists. At a really reasonable cost.
So, we built BKSubscribe. And we use it ourselves. We use it to send out mailings to our book fans (we're an author too). We use it for our other free sites (like BKLNK, where book authors can research book categories and get easy Universal Book Links, including your Amazon Affiliate code).
And because we are a BKSubscribe user, we know what works - and what needs to be improved. (Take a look at our future plans.)
If you want a customized landing page, but don't want the hassle of getting your own web site, BkLanding.com is for you!
The optional BkLanding add-in is available for all BkSubscribe plans. Your landing page is built with a BkSubscribe template that you design. And it automatically includes a button to popup your own subscribe form - with your lists of newsletters.
More details about BkLanding.com is here - but BkLanding.com is fully integrated with BkSubscribe, which you use to manage everything about your mailing list and landing pages.
Take a look at my own author landing page on BkLanding.com here. Notice the link that I use is https://www.bklanding.com/authorname - although there is also a shortened version, and a QR Code for your own unique links that you can get for your landing page.
Need more information? Look at the screens pages menu choice to see how BKSubscribe looks. Ask questions via our Contact page. Then Get started - sign up. Use the Help page to get started.
Features in All Plans
Additional Features - BkSubscribe Standard Plan
Additional Features - BkSubscribe Premium Plan
BkLanding Standard Add-in Plan Features
The BkLanding Add-In plans allow you to have an easy landing page that you can use for your purposes. And that Auto-Respond messages for new subscribers is not available with the Demo plan.
BkLanding Premium Add-in Plan Features
The BkLanding Premium Add-in Plan includes all BkLanding Standard Add-in Plan features, plus:
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