List building is a must for your online business today. If you’re taking the time and effort to gain quality traffic to your site, the next important step is to convert those visitors into leads by having them subscribe to your list.
You always want to deliver quality to your subscribers inbox.
A smart email marketing plan can deliver $43 for every $1 spent according the Direct Marketing Association.
Email has the highest conversion rate when you look at purchases made as a result of a marketing message, an incredible 66%. That is higher than a direct mail, website marketing, pay per click, webinars, podcasts and all other marketing efforts. (The Direct Marketing Association)
It would be a mistake not viewing your email marketing as valuable content. You need to entice your visitor into providing their email information which isn’t something that is easily done. Visitors are hesitant to give up personal information unless they can be assured of receiving something valuable in return. Then you need to continue to provide content to keep your subscriber interested in what you have to say.
Well let’s get started on some simple tips to help you out:
Make the Opt-In Valuable
So, you need to provide something that your reader would be willing to give up their email address for. It should be something that is worth paying for but you are giving away for free. This will definitely help your conversions and also show you have integrity to your subscribers. You want them to be anxious to open every email you send.
Here are some ideas:
- Create a simple PDF of what would interest your audience.
- Make videos sharing information your audience would be interested in.
- Do Podcasts.
- A buying guide helping your subscriber step by step with a particular buying or shopping process.
- Offer a valuable coupon discounting the price of one of your products.
- Give a short 5 to 7 day problem solving course delivered by email.
- Have a free preview of your product. Give away a chapter or module of your e-book or how-to course.
- Build a mobile app that solves a big problem for your audience.
- Provide checklists to help your audience.
- Do a video review of a product or service. Show how you are benefiting from the product. Even include your affiliate link.
- Give away a free consultation. You will be perceived as a caring expert, willing to give away your valuable time to help someone else.
- Do an expert interview with an expert or guru in your field and make it available
- Give access to a webinar or teleseminar.
Reputable E-Mail Responder Service
An autoresponder service is a piece of software or program which allows you to quickly send an email to your entire list. The most effective way of doing this is by setting up an autoresponder series. You create 5 or 10 or 25 or however many email messages you want to go out.
Then whenever someone signs up to your list, they automatically receive email 1. The 2nd email is sent out a certain amount of time after the first email. The same happens with the 3rd and the 4th and every other email in your autoresponder series.
AWeber, Get Response and MailChimp are well-known email responder services. I use AWeber and highly recommend it. They have helpful tutorials that can get you started in no time.
Simple Opt-In Box
Your landing page, also known as a squeeze page, needs to have one of two choices – opt into your email list or leave. Don’t include any side columns, headers, footers and anything else on the page.
You need just ask for the email address. This has been proven to increase conversions. Don’t have your prospective jump through too many hoops to get their opt-in gift or they may just bounce off without joining your list.
Start List Building Now
I know it sounds intimidating. Learning how to use an autoresponder service may seem difficult. Don’t put if off.
Many seasoned marketers say the number one mistake they made with their online business is not building a list right away.
Don’t Sell Immediately
We all want to start making money from our list right away. It’s better to have your first 2 or 3 emails be quality content only. No sales pitches. Follow-up your opt-in gift with a “Thank You” email that surprises your subscribers with another high-quality and free piece of content. Then follow-up with at least 1 or 2 problem-solving, solution based, emails. Then after that you can think about trying to make a sales pitch.
Furthermore, have a good relationship with your list. Overdeliver, always giving more than the people on your list expect. Remember, these are human beings, and not just email addresses. Treat them accordingly. Ask them what they want. Then give it to them.
Build a great relationship with the people on your list and see how well you can do!
List building doesn’t have to be hard. You can do this!
I would love to encourage and help you to realize your dream of an online business so…
If you’re interested in building, branding and managing your own online business right the first time, without the confusion of information overload, please click below for my coaching services.
Learn More About The Coaching Today!