Every show needs an audience. Every performer needs a stage and so does every entrepreneur! Building an audience is essential for every business owner. Let’s take a moment to dive in and see how you can grow the right audience and keep them waiting on their toes for your emails to hit the inbox!
Now for the basics, time to grow your list!
Lead magnets are a great way to capture emails and names. Here are a few simple ideas that you can incorporate on your social media to entice a new audience. Everyone loves a freebie, right?! So, offer a checklist, an email template or a quiz!
If you are an expert in your field creating these freebies should be a breeze. We live in a content-driven world. Everyone is always searching for the next best way to be efficient and learn so these simple freebies are a great way to expand your email list.
An extra perk is when you provide this type of content you position yourself as the pro in your industry. Chances are there are many people in your industry. This is a simple and FREE way to land leads who are engaged in what you have to say and to stand out from the competition.
So what do you do with all the leads you are about to score through offering your freebies?
It’s simple:
Be authentic! It is crucial that you genuinely communicate with your list. Offer good information, helpful suggestions, and sharp insights about your area of expertise. In other words, give away your best stuff!
Your list is your audience. It becomes your community, and the better you treat your community, the more your business will grow. There are lots of ways to communicate, but I think the best way of giving away is email content. The more you touch your audience, the more people will lean on your guidance. That’s good for building community and your business.
Here are some quick tips to entertain and engage your list:
1) Send out content to your email list, not just offers. You need to be in touch with your audience regularly – start with simple communications and as your list builds, communicate with them more often. Send them tips, guidance, or general life updates. Always include a call to action (a free call is fine) to sweep up any stray customers.
2) Offer special opportunities ONLY to your list. An early bird rate, a free gift, or an event are a few examples. Give them a reason to stay on your list and make them understand that as a subscriber they get extra ‘goodies’.
3) Remember to keep it real! I like writing about my dog, meals or trips. I AM more than my business. I hope you appreciate that and enjoy my silliness on occasion. An engaged audience is more likely to buy!
4) Ask for feedback and input. Have others share an article or highlight a client’s success story. Client case studies always make a great article and you can show off your expertise too!
5) Don’t worry if people unsubscribe. Really. It is ok. Your information is not for everybody. You would rather be talking to people who WANT to listen anyway. Unsubscribes are normal AND a very good thing in cultivating an invested community. If seeing the unsubscribe notifications bothers you that much, create a rule so that they always get sent straight to your trash folder!
Be sure you are reaching your list and sharing your very best insights. Your subscribers will appreciate it, look forward to hearing from you, and eventually, buy!
