Welcome to the 9th issue of Fundraising Players. FP is about fundraising, writing, donors, life. Thanks for being here. 👊 A special fist bump to everyone who came here from the 1832 Communications webinar last week. That was fun! I love teaching about fundraising copywriting.💛

Today's topic: Let's welcome your new email subscribers with a simple welcome email series. I have a new "how-to" guide for you. I made it exclusively for Fundraising Players subscribers like you.

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Chicago, Wednesday, May 26, 2021

On Sunday, my husband and I went to the movie theater for the first time in 18 months.

Since we are past the waiting period after our second vaccine shots, we thought we'd have a date night, like in pre-pandemic times. (It was weird and wonderful.)

So, what movie did we see on the big screen?

Jaws!

This was the first time I've seen Jaws in a movie theater. When it originally came out in 1975, I was barely pedaling a tricycle... let alone watching scary films.

What strikes me now is how remarkably simple the plot is: man vs nature. It doesn't get more straightforward than that.

And yet, when you dive deeper, Jaws is not really a movie about a killer shark. That would be a real yawner. 🥱

Master storyteller Steven Spielberg merely uses a shark's appetite for swimmers to force three flawed men to work together to defeat the common enemy.

And 46 years later, some people are still fearful to swim in the ocean. 🦈😱

Simple. Straightforward. Powerful.

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Since my last letter to you a fortnight ago, I've been tossing around the idea of simplicity for fundraisers. How can I take something complex and break it down so you can apply it immediately?

In fundraising, you and I know that we need to be straightforward and clear. A donor is more likely to take action when they understand the immediate outcome of their forthcoming gift.

We are like that too.

The fewer barriers in our way, the more likely we are to take action. Our brains crave simplicity.

So, I got the idea of taking a fundraising guide that I've already created and challenging myself to make it even easier to understand and implement.

I've been working on it for the last few days.

You'll get it today! Just for being a Fundraising Players subscriber. 🙌

This guide is super easy to follow. You'll see how to write four core emails that you'll send — on autopilot — to new subscribers of your email newsletter.

You'll start warming up the relationship immediately after they become a new subscriber!

The four emails:

1. Welcome
2. Engagement
3. Fundraise
4. Chaser

I'll give you a structure for each email so you'll have a template to follow. You'll also get an example of each email to model. 🎉 Finally, I'll provide guidance for setting up these emails so they go out automatically.

I've written several of these email sequences in the last few months, and now I'll share the structure (and some full-length examples!) with you.

Sound good?

​Grab your new free guide here.

I hope you find this fundraising guide helpful. 🌟

Did someone forward you this email? If so, get your own complimentary subscription. You never know when I might create another no-strings-attached free guide like the one today. 🤩

I'M LOOKING TO GIVE SOMEONE A FREE COPYWRITING CRITIQUE. Are you interested, Reader?

Would you like some feedback on an appeal letter, reply form, and donation landing page? I'll gladly provide that to one lucky Fundraising Players subscriber. In return, you will allow me to use any part of the critique in this newsletter and freely in my marketing. If that sounds like something you would be interested in, email me at julie@fundraisingwriting.com. I'll be picking just one! 😊

🏆 You're doing great! Thanks for being here. See you in June.

All my best,
Julie

​Julie Cooper
JB Cooper LLC
Fundraising Copywriter
​FundraisingWriting.com​

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PS: If you are waiting to get vaccinated, I'm sending you my well wishes. I hope that happens very soon for you and your loved ones. I can't wait until you can return to some normalcy too. 🙏💛

PPS: Did someone forward you this email? Get your own free subscription here. 👋

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