What would happen to your business if Facebook and Instagram shut down tomorrow and you lost all of your followers?
Would you panic? That 10k, 50k, 100k+ followers don't seem so important anymore, do they? The thing is, Mark Zuckerberg actually owns all of your followers. But guess what you own?
Your email list.
This is the most important piece of your business to focus on growing and nurturing. This list is going to get you sales. This list will earn you money. I’m going to teach you how to grow it and use it to build relationships, position you as an expert in your field, and generate sales.
1. Give Value Up Front
People don’t just give out their email freely anymore. Those days are long over. They’re tired of their inbox being cluttered with sales pitches vs. the content they truly want to consume. You have to give them a reason to want to be on your list from the get-go. To do this, you’ll need to give them something in exchange for their email address. This is called a “freebie.” What can you create and turn into PDF form, video, or a 5-day series that will solve a problem and get a quick result for your target audience? This will give people a reason to share their email address with you - think of it as an exchange. This will get them on your list to continue to give value to (and sell) down the line, but it creates a favorable first impression.
2. Nurture them along
You want your audience to feel nurtured and not forgotten about. You want to continue to help them, serve them, and let them get to know you. This is where automation comes into play. Set up a sequence so that once they sign up for the freebie you’re offering they’re not just delivered that freebie, but instead they’re delivered a series of emails over a couple of weeks that gives them a better idea as to who you are, what you do and how you can serve them. Pop into their inbox every couple days for those first couple weeks to stay top of mind.
3. Share a vulnerable story to relate
People relate to people. Share your story. Give people a peek behind the curtain as to who you are and how you can relate to them. Did you struggle with the same things? What led you here today? Emotion paints a beautiful picture for people and allows them to see a piece of themselves in you to form a true connection. Use this in your welcome/freebie series, as well as periodically in your campaign emails - and especially when selling a program, course, or new service offering. Guess what? Emotion sells.
4. Make them feel like a VIP
Give them early access, discounts, and special bonuses just for being a part of your list. You want it to feel like they’re part of an exclusive community, and you want to give them a reason to stick around. The goal is for them to be excited to see your name in their inbox, not think “ugh another email from YOUR NAME HERE”. Again, tap into their emotions and make them feel so special. Plus they’re the ones showing up for you by giving you access to their inbox, and you want to take care of those on your list first and foremost.
5. Find your “hot” market
Analyze your list. Yes, this means looking at your analytics, and segment based on engagement. Who’s active in the last 7 days or 30 days? Who consistently opens your emails? Who clicks on all your links? These are the people that are on the verge of a sale if they haven’t purchased already. Segment them into their own list and market to them even more specifically.
Finally, I want to encourage you to be consistent with your emails. Show up in your audience’s inbox frequently. Deliver value, don’t just ask for the sale. Use all of the tips I mentioned above and watch your list grow and your income grow. You can apply these tips to almost any email platform, but if you want my recommendation, I love FloDesk. Use this link to get 50% off.
Katelyn Hamilton is an Online Business Manager and Get Your Sh!t Together Strategist. She helps busy entrepreneurs organize, strategize and prioritize their business to go from overwhelmed to out-in-front.
After spending 6 years in the corporate world working with multimillion dollar companies, top-rated chefs and celebrities, she launched her own business to find more flexibility and freedom. She matched her corporate salary in just one year of starting her business.
Katelyn is also a wife, stepmom, dog mama of three furry friends, fitness lover, sports fanatic (Go Dawgs) and dreams of living at the beach.
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