Are you truly thankful for your subscribers?

I’m sending a message of Thanksgiving this week because I’ll be taking next week off for the holiday.

We’re going to head to a mountain cabin with my parents and my brother’s family and spend the childrens’ week-long school holiday eating good food and adventuring.

It’s become an almost annual tradition this time of year.

The last time we went we made the entire vacation as a celebration of my mother’s triumph over breast cancer.

This time, it feels like a celebration of simply being alive and past the worst of the pandemic.

I’m looking forward to the memories.

Each meal.

Each game.

Each hike.

Each smile.

Each time a child says something wonderful, like when my youngest got in the hot tub last trip and said, “Ah, this is the life.”

Each giggle that type of thing gives the grandparents, who are so very in love with their young descendants (that one’s for you, Mom and Dad).

Several weeks ago I mentioned how Dennis Shiao advises us all to take newsletter unsubscribes personally.

This week, as I contemplate thankfulness, it feels appropriate to focus on something simple, yet challenging:

Be thankful for your subscribers.

The real people on the other side of your letter, experiencing the world you are creating for them issue after issue.

Show them you appreciate their attention.

Their smiles.

Their willingness to go on this adventure with you.

It’s easy to get caught up strategizing how you’ll double your subscriber count.

Which tactics might yield the fastest growth.

But don’t forget that if each person already subscribed—already along for the ride—is having an amazing time, they could each be inspired to invite a friend. That alone would double subscriptions in the best way possible: word of mouth referrals from engaged subscribers.

I want to thank you for inviting me into your inbox each week and let you know I appreciate the honor of your attention.

Thank you especially to those who’ve shared Opt In Weekly with other newsletter creators.

The team at Curated.co is on a mission to empower you with resources to fuel your process… because we appreciate you.

This week’s issue has me contemplating the newsletter’s place in the evolution of journalism, the power of word-of-mouth marketing, and the value of each and every subscriber. I hope you enjoy it.

PS: If you read last week’s report on the status of my daughter’s middle school honor society woes, you might be excited to learn that the registration deadline was extended and she’s in. I’m thankful for that, too!

Ashley Guttuso