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Comment by sudonim | Hacker News Reader

After signing up: "Thanks! I'll send you an email once the book is released."

How about sharing vim tips every week as you are writing the book? If you write me one email 8 months from now, I'll probably forget who you are.

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Hmm, I don't want to be spammy, but this could be a good idea. Anyone else have thoughts on this?

I would not view that as spammy at all.

It wont seem spammy if it is well executed. Just make it easy to unsubscribe from the tips without unsubscribing from the book notification. Also, make it clear in the first email that the recipients only signed up to get notified about the book but that you thought it would have been useful to send periodic tips. Also be sure that the tips have are posted on the web, so they can be shared and viewed without having to reference an email.

I think it's a great idea, especially if the tips are concise and easy to absorb.

Actually it's a pretty good idea, maybe even better than the book itself. I'd be glad to receive vim tips everyday in my e-mail.

People sign up to your list because they are interested in content you provide. No one will mind, and it will certainly improve your sales once you do launch.

I did this with my book. 0 unsubscribes.

I agree to the daily or maybe have an option for a weekly thing, but I am not sure how this will match up with the model/book you have planned out so far.

You could also take the approach the Django Book originally did. Posting the book online while you write, with editing help from the community and a print version available once complete. I would definitely buy the print version as well as use the web reference.

Yes please.

send the emails with an unsubscribe link. you'll be fine.

Much like others have said, when people sign up for content giving them content isn't spammy. Do include an unsubscribe link. Also include a subscribe link, include content worth forwarding, and sell more books.

Edited to add: Might want to have a "just tell me when the book is ready, no more o' these" just in case. But really, if people aren't interested in content similar to what's in the book, why are they buying the book?

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