Email addresses are a special commodity, and it’s not something that is given out lightly. Just think about how many emails you get in a day that are not relevant to you, and you’ll realize why it can sometimes feel so hard to encourage your audience to sign up for your list!
The secret to growing your list is simple, and it’s all about having an even exchange between you and your subscribers. In order for your audience to be willing to hand over their email, they need to get something in return that will be valuable.
So what can you offer that will serve your audience in some shape or form? Discounts and coupons are great, but they are short-lived and do little to build a relationship. In order to grow - and keep - your email list, providing valuable content is king.
Developing a free piece of content, often called a freebie or lead magnet, is THE BEST way to grow your list. This piece of content needs to be something that your audience wants, and they are willing to hand over their email in exchange to get it.
What Content to Put in a Freebie
So where do you start when you're thinking about creating a freebie? First, take an audit of the content you are already creating. Look to your social media platforms, FAQs on your website, and blog for ideas on top-performing content that you know your audience is interested in.
Taking existing content and building it out into a downloadable resource is the perfect way to get started. Just make sure that the content you are developing: 1) Solves a problem for your customer; 2) Relates back to your business in some way. The lead magnet content is NOT a sales pitch, but just make sure your content is relevant to your audience and the services or products that you sell.
To get you started, see below for some freebie ideas that can apply to any industry.
Freebie Ideas
Step-by-Step Guide
Worksheet
Checklist
Prompts/ Samples to customize
Templates
I have my freebie, now what?
After you have a freebie created, there are several more steps to growing and serving your list. Make sure you think through each of these steps in order to get the most out of your email marketing.
Create an opt-in form from your email provider to collect sign-ups and deliver the freebie
Make a plan to get the word out about your freebie. You can have an automatic pop-up on your website, share your freebie through social media and blog posts, and create ads.
Segment your email list so you know who is coming to your list from your freebie
Have a strategy to keep serving your new subscribers, i.e with a welcome sequence!
This last point is so important. Once someone opts-in and gets your freebie, what comes next? Subscribers are the most engaged immediately after signing up for your list, so you need to be ready to show up and serve them. You should have a welcome sequence in place that will continue to send emails to your new subscribers telling them all about you and your brand.
Remember, email marketing is a relationship, so do your part by helping your new subscribers get to know you. Make sure to customize your sequence to continue offering additional value based on what your subscribers are interested in. This could be directing them to blog posts, introducing them to your social media, inviting them to a webinar, or offering them a special discount. This stage is all about building the relationship and serving your audience even more value so that they stay engaged.
Once you have built trust with your audience, you can start to engage them in your business and potentially transition them from subscribers to customers.
There you have it - our foolproof method for growing your list and keeping your audience engaged. Are you ready to get started on your lead magnet? Drop any additional questions you have below!
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