List building + email marketing are changing…….for the better in 2017.
In today’s post we’re tackling how to get the most out of your email marketing and list building in 2017. With 6 key trends, you need to incorporate in your online business if you’ll hit a homerun in your subs’ inboxes.
1. Big Bloated Email Lists Are Out
If you’ve been feeling absolutely horrible about yourself because your email list is only 200, or 540 or even 14 people. Don’t!
In 2017, list building is about creating a list of buyers.
Question how many subscribers do you think you need to make $10,000 in course sales?
The answer – 234 subscribers.
That’s how many subscribers, Lousie Lyshej earned from her DIY Food Stylist + Photography course. ( No webinars, no affiliates or super sized ads budget)
Or John Meese (a former chick-fil-a worker) who made $10,000 with a list of 250 people selling a course about how to use a premium wordpress theme.
Now, I know you might be thinking: “Kate, I have a better chance of waking up with a pink rose growing out of my belly button tomorrow than earning $10,000….”
What about $3500? Seems doable. So…How many subscribers do you think you need?
Just 60.
Yup with less than 100 on her list Ashley Srokosz a holistic health practitioner made $3500 pre-selling her course.
So how can you see this kind of results?
Getting dangerously specific about who you serve.
- Female Entrepreneurs = not cutting it. Stay-at-home moms who want to start a freelance writing business = Yahtzee
Then creating a freebie that serves + sells
Which just happens to be my latest free mini-course. Start module one here.
Write an email sequence that leaves them begging for a buy button to smack
Get them quick wins addressing their unique problems and concerns. Build their confidence. Toss in some urgency, personal stories, a case study or two. You’re good to go.
2. Video Video Video
Yes, I know video (especially live video) totally dominated social media in 2016 but have you added any in your emails?
Add a quick video of yourself welcoming people to your community (aka your list) with short video shot on your iphone. Nothing fancy! We’re building a personal connection here. Be real person. (Just no driving videos okay?)
Let them know what they to expect from being on your list – how you’ll help, how often you email, why you do what you do and give them ONE thing to do next. Join your Facebook Group, hit reply, read a popular blog post.
Too awkward on camera? Keep reading for another way…but first you might be thinking…
…hmm…Yeah Kate, but how do I actually send a video?
You don’t.
Include a screen shot of your video. Link it to where you’re hosting the video, (An unlisted youtube video embedded on a page in your site works great for welcome messages.)
Content producing machine and no BS life & business coach Kat Loterzo links to a beefy Facebook Live video in this email…
3. Mobile
Over 60% of peeps check their emails on cell phones. the number keeps growing.
So, here’s a quick mobile friendly checklist
- Ditch the fancy templates. Most aren’t mobile responsive. And if people can’t read your email, they’ll delete it
- Use a bigger size font size –
- Tighten up subject lines. Only 41-ish characters show up on iphones
4. More Access to You
[bctt tweet=”With sooooo many people, teaching soooooo much of the same thing, letting your personality shine and over-delivering is a must. ” username=”@katedoster”]
Hiding behind a screen, with a completely passive funnel isn’t going to work in 2017.
Do free monthly q & a calls. Post “ask me anything” threads on Facebook do live videos.
Add personal stories into your emails too.
5. Personalized Content
I’m not talking about adding their name to messages. though that can help. I’m talking about sending them information they care about at the moment they need it most.
Enter in tagging and segmenting your list.
For example: I talk about growing your audience, webinars and micro-courses. Not everyone on my list who wants to grow their email list wants to hear about webinars. So 2017 is all about sending content to people that actually raised their hand and said “Hey, I want to hear about this”...even if they might be similar.
So I wouldn’t just automatically add my list building peeps into my webinar building sequence.
At some point I’d just send out an email:
“Hey I know you’re into list building, I grown my entire list and thousands of dollars using webinars. In fact, I have free a mini-course all about how you do run your own in as little as a week. If you want it just click on the link to get started, if not click here and I won’t send you anything else about webinars.”
Here’s how easily you can do it in Active Campaign:
6. Meatier Content Upgrades
I love content upgrades. They did wonderful things for my list in 2016 but the truth is…a pdf with a blank calendar or sloppy checklist only regurgitating your blog posts isn’t going to cut it anymore.
But don’t worry. You don’t need to spend 6-10 hours creating jaw-dropping freebies for every blog post you write. Instead bundle two or three content upgrades that you’ve created into action packs or bundles based on categories of your blog or access to a resource library.
So for this blog post I could do a powerpack:
- 2017 List Building & Email Marketing Checklist + 21 Tiny-Fast List Builders + 20 Email Subject Line bundle. [All content upgrades]
- 2017 List Building & Email Marketing Checklist + Freebies That Sell & Serve Mini-Course [Content Upgrade + Main List Building Freebie]
- 2017 List Building & Email Marketing Checklist + 14 other free resources in download library or free membership area
It’s all about reusing content you already have, that your readers would already be interested in. It’s win win win.
Bonus Tip:
7. Get On Podcasts
It’s my personal mission to be a guest on at least 3 podcast per month. (Got a podcast at that helps online business owners, coaches, course-creators create businesses they care about, that also pays the bills and wanna do an episode about funnels, email marketing, list building or webinars- hit me up here.).
I was recently on the Social Launch Podcast and loved it. I whipped up a special opt-in download (repurposed other content). Yay having fun and growing my list.
It’s waaaay faster than writing guest blog post, plus people get to hear your voice (which helps them connect with you deeper)
Your turn:
So there you have it. How to rock your list in 2017. Don’t forget to your copy of the Freebies That Sell + Serve Free Mini Course
Know tell me: What are you doing 2017 to grow your list and treat them like royalty?
Other free resources that tickle your list building fancy…
Loved this! Thanks so much for being super helpful! One question…what’s the best way to get on podcasts?
Thanks Tasha. I could (and will) write a whole blog post about getting onto podcasts. For right now:
1. Get crystal-clear on who you help + how you help
2. Start with your personal networks – ask in Facebook Groups (Like the Super Friend’s Secret Lair >>> katedoster.com/group.) You’d be suprise how many you know are running or have a friend who runs a podcast.
3. Google:top ______________ podcasts for ________________. Listen to few episodes of each, then pitch the owner are three very specific topics you could cover and how it will help their people.
4. Ask the podcast host for referrals
5. Add links to podcast episodes you’ve been featured on into your pitch emails once you land a couple of spots.
I’m starting to build my mailing list! I can’t way to follow your tips!!
Greetings! Honestly, awesome article. List Building is one of the most cost-effective and efficient ways to reach large numbers of potential leads. After reading your blog I got some few ideas, Thanks for sharing your wonderful tips.