Continuing with our list building theme, enticing your readers to join your list is just a small part of your overall list-building goal. The larger component is keeping them engaged. Do that right, and they’ll reward you with more sales—not only of your products and services, but those of your JV and affiliate partners as well.
That said, here’s the number one thing your readers are looking for: solutions to their problem. It’s ultimately why they’ve joined your list in the first place. Your opt-in incentive solved a problem they were having, and now they’re counting on you to continue to give the solutions they need.
These solutions can take many forms, including:
Straight Information
This is like a blog post or article. It answers a question (much like this email does) your readers have and gives them the info they need to move to the next step.
Perhaps you discovered a simpler way to track Facebook ad conversions, or found some interesting stats on content marketing, or maybe you learned a new way to promote Kindle books. Share this with your readers. Don’t ask for anything in return; just send them the info they need. By offering value-packed information only emails, you’ll show your list members that you’re not just another marketer trying to sell them something. Instead, you’ll be seen as a valuable source of information (and your open rates will improve, too).
Offers
Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t ever sell anything to your list. You’d be shooting yourself in the foot if you did that. Not to mention you’d go broke pretty quickly!
In fact, since your readers have trusted you to give them the very best information available in your niche, it’s important that you DO create and send them offers. They need your:
That said, here’s the number one thing your readers are looking for: solutions to their problem. It’s ultimately why they’ve joined your list in the first place. Your opt-in incentive solved a problem they were having, and now they’re counting on you to continue to give the solutions they need.
These solutions can take many forms, including:
Straight Information
This is like a blog post or article. It answers a question (much like this email does) your readers have and gives them the info they need to move to the next step.
Perhaps you discovered a simpler way to track Facebook ad conversions, or found some interesting stats on content marketing, or maybe you learned a new way to promote Kindle books. Share this with your readers. Don’t ask for anything in return; just send them the info they need. By offering value-packed information only emails, you’ll show your list members that you’re not just another marketer trying to sell them something. Instead, you’ll be seen as a valuable source of information (and your open rates will improve, too).
Offers
Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t ever sell anything to your list. You’d be shooting yourself in the foot if you did that. Not to mention you’d go broke pretty quickly!
In fact, since your readers have trusted you to give them the very best information available in your niche, it’s important that you DO create and send them offers. They need your:
- Coaching programs
- Self-study training
- eBooks and guides
- Private coaching and mentoring
So be sure to include these offers in your mailings from time to time.
Tools and Training from Others
As I’ve already mentioned, your audience is depending on you to find and share the best information in your niche. Sometimes, that will take the form a specialized workshop, a free webinar of an affiliate offer for a new tool or other offers.
If you’re new to list building, it might be helpful for you to remember that these offers are meant to help your audience, not sell to them. Even though you might earn a small commission, it’s likely not your primary goal. When you approach your email from the standpoint of being helpful rather than being a sales person, it’s much easier to get past that “what should I mail” question.
Have an awesome 24 hours!
Robyn xo