Ask HN: Site is growing over 500,000 users/yr, to VC or not to VC?

Re:Ask HN: Site is growing over 500,000 users/yr, to VC or n... by sixQuarks on Tuesday October 15, 2013 @03:54PM (#6555901)

Quick question: Do you have an email newsletter? I didn't really see anything on your site. If not, start one RIGHT AWAY - and promote it via a popup that comes up after about 10 seconds. Email your subscribers once per week, with links to highlighted stories from that past week.

Your subscriber base will start out small but grow large over time, you will thank me profusely when that time comes.

P.S - I've created 4 different sites that have each attracted over 1 million visitors per year. Secret weapon in all of them has been email newsletters.

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Re:Ask HN: Site is growing over 500,000 users/yr, to VC or n... by astrowilliam on Tuesday October 15, 2013 @03:59PM (#6555928)

I use feedburner for my email form now, but am changing over to mailchimp ASAP.

As far as the popup goes, I've read that the popup method makes people frustrated. Have you found this to be true?

Thanks!

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Re:Ask HN: Site is growing over 500,000 users/yr, to VC or n... by sixQuarks on Tuesday October 15, 2013 @04:02PM (#6555955)

I've never had an issue with the popup. It may frustrate some users, but the pros outweigh the cons by a factor of at least 1000:1 (in my opinion).

Besides, you need to test things out and see for yourself. Remember, the popup is not an advertisement. It's a special alert to let your true fans know that a newsletter is available. Whoever is frustrated with it probably isn't a good target for you anyway.

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Re:Ask HN: Site is growing over 500,000 users/yr, to VC or n... by astrowilliam on Tuesday October 15, 2013 @04:44PM (#6556184)

That's a good way of thinking about it, as a service. Good call.

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Re:Ask HN: Site is growing over 500,000 users/yr, to VC or n... by Jayneil on Tuesday October 22, 2013 @01:50AM (#6589994)

I would agree with you on that! Pop definitely annoys me a lot and I would rather prefer instead a built in "Subscribe ME" option at the bottom of the site. I feel a popup in many cases negatively affects a visitor's reading experience.

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Re:Ask HN: Site is growing over 500,000 users/yr, to VC or n... by xux on Wednesday October 16, 2013 @02:00AM (#6558243)

Can you speak more about the newsletters? How did you attract more users? Just through the site alone?

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Re:Ask HN: Site is growing over 500,000 users/yr, to VC or n... by sixQuarks on Wednesday October 16, 2013 @02:19PM (#6561231)

I captured my most targeted visitors when they happened to stumble across my site. If it wasn't for the email newsletter, they would have forgotten about my site. People need reminders.

You still need to market your site, an email newsletter simply let's you capture the audience better.

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Re:Ask HN: Site is growing over 500,000 users/yr, to VC or n... by xux on Wednesday October 16, 2013 @04:41PM (#6562048)

I'm doing something similar and want to improve my newsletters (currently sitting around 1k). There isn't a PM function on the site, is there way I can reach you to talk more about this (Twitter, email, etc)?

I'd love to get more advice.

Thanks!

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Re:Ask HN: Site is growing over 500,000 users/yr, to VC or n... by sixQuarks on Wednesday October 16, 2013 @07:26PM (#6562718)

what's your email?

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Re:Ask HN: Site is growing over 500,000 users/yr, to VC or n... by xux on Wednesday October 16, 2013 @10:08PM (#6563297)

xx56 at cornell.edu

thanks!

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Re:Ask HN: Site is growing over 500,000 users/yr, to VC or n... by wikwocket on Wednesday October 16, 2013 @02:15AM (#6558279)

Here is a ton of information and advice about email newsletters: http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/email-list-strategies/

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