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How to create an email marketing account and attach your free offer

In my last post I talked about how to create an irresistible free offer so that you can begin to build a profitable, consent-based email list.

To recap, the 5 steps are:

1. Create an irresistible free offer
2. Create an email list and attach your freebie
3. Create an opt-in page
4. Add additional follow up emails
5. Get traffic to your free offer

Today I want to dig a little deeper into step #2 and show you exactly how to set up your email marketing account and attach your new “freebie” to your auto-responder.

An email marketing account is simply an account that allows you to build a database of subscribers who are interested in learning more about you and your business.  This is a simple way to get people to know like and trust you.

The most effective email marketing accounts with protect you from any SPAM issues while allowing you to reach out to your entire list, or a segment of your list, with automated follow-up and broadcast messages.

My favorite resource for this is Aweber.com.  They are not only reliable, but they follow the strictest anti-spam regulations which will ensure that you.  Aweber has some very good video tutorials that will help you set up your new account so don’t worry about the “techie” side of this.  You can also pay a virtual assistant via IVAA.org to set it up for a nominal fee.

Once you’ve set up the email account with Aweber or another list management company of your choice you need to attach your free offer to the first follow-up message.  This way the new prospect will automatically receive what they signed up for without you having to sit near a computer responding to each and every new sign-up

You can add a PDF attachment to the message or create a separate web/blog page with a link to your free offer.  If you’re using audio or video, the file will be too large to add as an attachment, but using AudioAcrobat.com will allow you to create a simple link that you can share within the message that will take your prospects to the content.

Next I will talk about setting up your opt-in page so that you can begin getting subscribers and build your brand new community.

Be sure to ask any questions here:
http://TomBufordMarketing.com

 

Attract Ideal Prospects with your Irresistible “Freebie”

In my last post called “5 Steps to Building a Responsive Email Marketing List”

I talked about specific ways to build a profitable, consent-based email list.  In other words, you are building a strong relationship with a community of people who are sincerely interested in what you have to offer.

To recap, the 5 steps are:

1. Create an irresistible free offer
2. Create an email list and attach your freebie
3. Create an opt-in page
4. Add additional follow up emails
5. Get traffic to your free offer

Today I want to dig a little deeper into step #1 and share some ideas about creating a free offer that your ideal prospects will love to sign up for.

Your irresistible offer can be anything from a free report or list of resources to a simple audio tutorial where you share your thoughts on a specific idea.  There is no reason to make this long or complicated.  After all, this is a free sample of more to come.  Don’t put so much pressure on yourself that you never get out of first gear.  In fact, it’s my experience that many people appreciate a concise solution when they are signing up for a free offer of some sort.  The idea is to get it out there in a big way and use this to establish a strong relationship with a large list of potential clients and customers.

Here are FOUR simple steps to create your free offer:

1. Decide on the topic that you want to dig into
This should naturally lead to your paid solutions so be sure to keep a theme going here.  Be as specific as possible.  You won’t attract many prospects if you set out to solve every problem for every person.

2. Pick a title for the freebie
Don’t get too cute here.  Keep it simple and be sure that people know what they are getting.  An example if you share pricing strategies with service providers might be “5 Deadly Mistakes to Pricing and what to do if you’ve made them.”

3. Outline and create your free offer
Turning a simple word doc into a PDF or creating a short MP3 audio is certainly sufficient.  If you have the ability to add graphic design, etc then knock yourself out, but the most effective freebies will share valuable content without having to try to rely on fancy design elements to please the prospect

4. Attach your free offer to your auto-responder
I like to use Aweber for email marketing software.  They have an impeccable reputation and cost less than twenty bucks a month.  That’s hard to beat for the value that you will begin to build by implementing consent-based email marketing into your business.

In my next post I will dig into step #2 and explain how to set up your email marketing account and attach your brand new irresistible offer to it so that you can get ready to build your community practically on auto-pilot.

 

5 Steps to Building a Responsive Email Marketing List

Building a profitable business takes time and energy.  But using effective strategies such as creating a strong, responsive email marketing list can shave months if not years off of your efforts so that you can enjoy your business sooner rather than later.

I love having an email marketing list, or “community”, that I can stay in touch with anytime I need.  Having an email list has allowed me to build a strong relationship within my community and position myself as an authority that people know, like and trust.

If you sell, or want to sell, any type of service then creating your own community is a powerful way to grow your business and enjoy it to the fullest.  Here are the five basic steps to creating an effective, profitable email marketing list of your own.

1. Create an irresistible free offer

It’s not enough to offer a newsletter or ezine anymore.  People are already overwhelmed with the number of subscriptions that they have.  But people who are on the internet are searching for information and if you can offer a free offer that will provide them with some valuable information many people will happily exchange their first name and email address for this info.

Your free offer can be a written report, short audio or video tutorial, compilation of articles you, or someone you trust, has written, a list of helpful resources, free teleseminar, free interview, etc.

2. Create an email list and attach your freebie

I use Aweber to manage my email marketing list.  They are reliable and affordable.  You can set up your account and attach your free offer to the auto responder, or follow up email.  If you are offering a free teleclass, etc just provide the call-in details in the follow up email.

3. Create an opt-in page

This is where people will sign up to receive the free offer.  Be sure to include a catchy headline, bullet points about what is offered and an opt-in box so that they can enter their name and email address.  You will use your email marketing account to create the opt-in box.

4. Add additional follow up emails

You want to continue to follow up with more valuable information.  You can add articles, audio and video tutorials, new teleclasses, etc.  This is your opportunity to build a long-term relationship with your community.  But also keep in mind that it’s important to promote relevant products and services that you offer.  Some people will stick with your free offer, but others will want to take that next step with you.  Don’t keep it a secret!

5. Get traffic to your free offer

After steps 1-4 are set up you only need to focus on getting traffic to your opt-in page.  You can use any or all of the following to cover your traffic: social media, joint venture teleseminars, article marketing, guest blogging, speaking, etc.

I hope this helps you move forward with your own email marketing.

 

Tips for Starting a Small Business: 3 Tips to Identifying a Viable Market – Part 1

It’s very easy to get caught up in the excitement of new ideas when starting a business.  But once that excitement wears off it is critical to be sure whether or not you have a viable market for your product or service.  Barking up the wrong tree, so to speak, can cost you a lot of time, money and energy.  Here are three quick and easy ways to determine if you have a market hungry enough for your business to make a go at it.

1. Google Adwords

Google offers a great, free tool to do research and see what people are searching for on the internet.  You can go to Adwords.google.com and do a bit of testing out before you go hog wild and spend your last dollar making widgets for a market that doesn’t exist.

Be sure to consider what the person on the other end of the computer is thinking when they enter a specific term.  “Weight loss” is much different than “How to lose 15 pounds”.  The motivation behind the latter is much clearer.

2. Send a Survey

If you already have an ezine or newsletter list, be sure to survey that list before launching your next product or service.  Ask them what it is that they want or need.  You can use the free survey tool at SurveyMonkey.com.

If you’re just getting started, then dip into the social media world.  Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn in are just three of many great ways to connect with the rest of the world.  As you build your list of followers and friends be sure to start asking what they want and need as it relates to your business.

3. Find Associations

If there’s a popular association related to your product or service there is about a 99.9% chance that you are on the right track.  You can find a list of associations at ASAECenter.org.

Peace

Tom

 

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