You woke up tomorrow morning and your social media accounts were GONE! All those followers you worked so hard to get, just disappeared. What would happen to your business then?

 

If you are relying on social media as your main source of marketing then you are working on borrowed time…and borrowed customers. We don’t own our social media followers, we rent them from Mark Zuckerberg, which means we have to play by his rules….and his rules are changing. Don’t get me wrong, I get it. I get why he wants to cater to the average person and not the businesses using his platform as a way to get free advertising. But as a business owner it’s frustrating.

 

Imagine renting a kick ass loft in the best downtown apartment building. You want to show it off and throw a killer party. You don’t have any of your own friends so you shout from the rooftops inviting anyone listening to attend. Despite your best efforts only a small portion of people hear you, and an even smaller portion are interested in coming to your party.

 

You have worked tirelessly for days/weeks/months promoting your party. You have obtained an impressive guest list and are ready to go. BUT, at the last minute your landlord changes the rules and limits how many guests are allowed in the building, and HE gets to choose which ones come in. Your party is no longer as amazing as you had hoped it would be. Instead it’s just you and maybe a handful of people shouting at each other over the noise.

 

Unfortunately, this is exactly what social media is becoming. It’s a competition to see who can yell the loudest, and it’s exhausting.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that social media is all bad. It is a great place to share information and be part of a community. 

 

 

What if you could OWNyour audience?

What if you were in control of WHEN& HOWclients heard from you, instead of shouting into the void and hoping they listen?

What if it could cost virtually nothing, but help you grow your business immensely?

Sound too good to be true? I am happy to tell you it’s not!

So what is this magical marketing plan that promises all the things….I bet most of you are already using it, just maybe not in the right way.

 

 

OK, so I can already hear the sighs and eye rolling – “But isn’t email marketing dead?”

 

 

In fact, I would argue that now, more than ever, email marketing is the way to go.

 

When you build an email list you are creating a database of clients that are YOURS! They are clients that have raised their hands and said “I want to know more about your business”.

 

Most importantly, they are hearing from you directly rather than having to filter out all the other noise around your message.

 

I started building my email list a few years ago before I really knew what I was doing. My original intention was to have a way to reach my past clients with newsletters and special offers. But over time I started learning more and more about the power of email marketing and how you can leverage it to build a consistent client base, before they are ever ready to buy from you.

So let me walk you through a few of the basic steps to setting up and starting your email marketing program.

 

There are plenty of options out there, but if you are just starting out I recommend MailChimp. It’s Free or cost efficient and allows you to start building your email list quickly and easily. If you are already using email marketing and looking for something more robust, ConvertKitcould be a good option for you. It offers a wider variety of opt-in options and automation but the cost is slightly higher. No matter where you are in your list building process, there is a program out there that will work for you.

 

I hate junk mail! If I click onto a website and a pop up box jumps in my face asking for my email address with nothing in exchange, the first thing I want to do is exit out. I don’t need one more email in my inbox that wastes my time. BUT, if I click on a website and they are offering a discount, or something of value then I am more likely to give up my email info. With this concept in mind, think of something of value you can offer your clients that will get them excited to get on your list. It could be a “what to wear guide”, video tutorial or discount code. Think about who your clients are and what they are going to want.

Once someone has trusted you with their email address, the FIRSTemail  they get from you is going to set the stage for how they feel about you and your business. Most email providers allow you to create automated emails that go out in a sequence once someone signs up for your list. The first email should be warm, welcoming and informational. This IS NOTthe place to start selling to them! Use this as a chance to introduce yourself, tell your story, share your “why”, and let them know what your business is about.

I am going to share with you my #1 piece of marketing advice: Give, Give, Give, then occasionallyask for something in return. As consumers we are constantly bombarded with people trying to sell us something, and it starts to feel impersonal. They don’t care about the consumer, they just want your money.

 

In order to stand out you need to GIVE to your clients, and consider their needs FIRST! When your clients give you their email address they are trusting you to come into their inbox and share with them. Don’t take that lightly. Find a way to nurture your list. You can do this with tips & tricks, behind the scenes information, inspirations, how-to guides…..the list goes on and on.

When you provide your list with information they WANTor NEED, you are building their trust. You are telling them that you are going to take care of them. Then, when you have something to sell they are  going to be more open to listening to what you have to say.

 

No matter where you are in the list building process, now is the perfect time to start putting a little more attention into getting your clients offline and into your inbox.

 

For more marketing tips, download the FREE Marketing Guide below!