Numbers!

In a little discussion with my brain about numbers, I am learning that numbers are great in whatever we do in life. Okay, I was arguing that numbers can be a problem.

My brain said it's a problem when it's high and also a problem when it is low so it's better to move medium. 

It all depends on the situation. As a writer, I would love for more people to read my work. A marketer would love to get high figures in his/her campaigns, an influencer would want high Numbers to sign more deals, and someone with High Blood Pressure would want it to be lower. 

Numbers can be bad or good. I stopped sending out letters for about three weeks now because of numbers. I have been caught up with things but would have also written something if I sincerely wanted to.

Let’s excuse the first week because I was down physically but the past two weeks have been me reconsidering this newsletter and why I started writing it in the first place.

As a human, I would not want more people to read my newsletter. I see people getting hundreds and thousands of subscribers and readership as well. A lot repost comments and reviews from their subscribers on Instagram and Twitter. 

I have 100 + subscribers but I have never gotten a 50% percent opening on my letters. While some people probably just follow the links when I post them on social media thus not opening their emails, others do not read. 

Did I go about getting subscribers the wrong way? Is my art not good enough? I know I'm being a crybaby but hear me out. 

“What would you prefer, to have 40 people subscribed to your email with 80 to 90 per cent reading what you sent out or to have 100 subscribers with 30 per cent reading your letters?”

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I will choose the former.

But I understand that life happens. One may subscribe to an email because they genuinely want to read but they get busy over time and are not even getting enough sleep to talk more about reading their emails.

Sometimes my email accumulates for a week and I have to make time to catch up with them. 

Why should people care about my art?

I recently started questioning why anyone should care about my art. Nobody send me work in the first place. Do I give enough value for people to want to read what I wrote? Yes. 

But it's not about me or what I am creating with my words. Various factors can contribute including the state of mind and schedule of people subscribed to my emails. 

My marketing strategy is also a factor. Is posting the links on my Instagram stories and WhatsApp status enough? Or do I have to do more? 

It's so easy to fall into entitlement. I had to draw myself back when I started feeling entitled to people's time and life.

Numbers? 

Last week I asked myself “Why do you write?” Is it just for the numbers or something more? Writing is the only thing I have if I lose everything. 

So it means more to me than just numbers. But I would also like people to read my work. The essence of writing isn’t just for myself but for people to read.

Numbers are good. Everyone wants people to read their work, and engage with their content.

And with social media, it is easy to get obsessed with numbers and feel entitled to people’s time, your time. 

So I decided to take a brief break to sort out my entitlement issues. Numbers are good but it doesn't determine whether your work is.

Other factors affect how people engage with you or your art. 

So ask yourself, “What is the problem and what can I do better?”

So I'm done obsessing over numbers and back to writing to you. Thank you to my subscribers. Thank you for reading this letter.

Looking forward to writing to you next week. 

With love and everything beautiful,

Chinonyelum.

PS: I need your help. What kind of letters do you want to be receiving from me? Personal writings, educative, professional, rants, funny stories or everything? I am curious and would like to know what your preference is.

You can reply to this email, or drop an answer in the comment session.