Why start an email list for marketing? If you’re a solopreneur, blogger, or coach, you need one. Anyone in business, can’t forgo the advantages of capturing leads.
I’m a solopreneur and blogger. Having had jobs in companies before, I decided to work on my terms. For over 9 years (at the time of writing), I feel blessed in my home office.
I experienced and saw the benefits of starting newsletters. The first one was for an online shop that I had before. Currently, I work on my blog, sending weekly communications to my subscribers.
To stay in the loop about new content and tips, download my freebie. Get the free productivity checklist. You’ll also receive weekly updates.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. It means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I’ll receive a commission (at no additional cost to you).
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Think Outside the Inbox:
Email Marketing
(offered by Google)
Here are the reasons for taking full advantage:
1. Capture leads
Having an email newsletter list is not only an option. If you want to get in touch with site visitors, it’s a must. It’s a powerful means for lead generation.
Those who visit your site or blog once may never remember to come back. Why not find a way to contact them again and again? Place calls to action, asking them to subscribe.
2. Email list for business
Any business needs potential clients to market to. When someone chooses to subscribe, they permit you to reach out. This is a special acceptance.
If someone gives your business their contact info, it shows that they’re interested. They’re potential clients for your products or services. Know what they need and offer helpful solutions.
Selling products could be physical or digital. Services may include coaching, freelancing, and more. For bloggers, you may have various ways to monetize. I currently focus on ads, and affiliate marketing, and sometimes work on brand sponsorships.
3. Returning visitors
Being able to notify interested leads about your latest promotion or new product launch is special. You may even just want to drive quality traffic to your new blog articles. Host a webinar and inform about it for registration. There are so many ways to get the most out of it.
4. Personalization
Make it special, use personalization. Talk to your readers and use their names. It gives a personal touch that people generally like.
Ask for feedback on your content. Provide what they need, so that they don’t have to go elsewhere. Surveys are great to find out more. Be keen to learn more about the daily lives and experiences of readers. It helps to understand their needs and offer possible solutions.
5. Segmentation
Segment your interested parties for better targeting. Send specific content for their needs. For example, when someone opts in for my productivity checklist, I know this is what they need.
If you send very broad and general tips to everyone, this could be unhelpful. Chances are that receivers will stop opening your emails. This could move your future messages to the spam folder. Some could also unsubscribe.
6. Nurture first
Show how you can help. Nurture and add value. Then, you may start selling.
Create a good lead magnet that will attract the right type of buyers. Know your niche well and define your personas or client profiles. Solve specific problems for specific types of people. It makes it clear why they need to buy from you.
Your freebie or opt-in lead magnet should be well researched and planned. If you offer something that attracts the wrong type of prospective clients. You’ll waste time, money, and effort.
Plan your free offers, bearing in mind what your future sales products will be. If you sell digital marketing online courses for bloggers, you may want to offer a free ebook for beginners.
Think Outside the Inbox
7. Generate sales
In addition to giving complimentary info, tips, and ideas, do sell. Notify of new products and promotions. People looking for solutions are often grateful to know.
Have a good sales funnel. It takes time to experiment and learn what’s best. Always improve as well. Learn proven systems that work.
8. You own your list
This benefit can’t be underestimated! You want to be able to send timely messages when you need to. What happens if you worked on a new offer for months, only to learn that no one saw your social media post?
Social media algorithms can do whatever they want. They decide if they want to show your content in feeds, or not. You’re at their mercy. Therefore, adopt a better approach by taking charge of your connections, proactively.
9. Helpful tools
While these tasks often seem tedious, use Customer Relationship Management software. Using Spreadsheets to plan certain things is great. However, automation is important to save time. Read to find some helpful online tools I use (most of them have a free version).
10. Some best practices
The practice itself is vast. I will, however, share some key tips and ideas that have supported me for the better. Read and see how you can incorporate these into your strategy, if not already done.
- How often to email your list? Find the right balance. You don’t want to be seen once in a while, as they will forget you. You don’t want to be spammy either. I find that once a week is ok. However, in case there’s anything special, twice or thrice at a maximum.
- Monitor open rates. Send relevant messages. Ensure catchy headlines. Avoid clickbait, as you’ll lose in the long term. Deliver what you promise, or even exceed expectations.
- Increase click rates. Your open rates are the first step. You want readers to go further and visit your site or blog. Use calls to action when needed to prompt desired results.
- There will be times when engagement is low and recipients are stale. Reengage old leads by encouraging them. Archive or clean inactive contacts, as these may cost you money for nothing.
- Ask your recipients to whitelist your address. Guide them on how to add email to the safe sender list Gmail. For example, ask them to use a filter and tick never send to spam.
Compliance and Legal
This is a subject that’s best taught by the experts. Having a privacy policy is one of them. Do seek advice from a lawyer.
Here are a few key things:
- Never buy a list
- No spamming
- Learn about the legal side
Conclusion
As a solopreneur, or blogger, you need to reach out to the right people. Anyone in business does. Do learn to sharpen your skills, if you choose to. Building an email list for marketing supports you all the way!
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Tips from Sharvi 