You've probably heard a million times that "the money is in the list." And, it is true. Without a list, it's pretty much impossible to build a community of fans who will invest in your programs and services. While you may have an email list and send out an email newsletter or free ecourse, are you using your blog to build a list a well?
This is a huge mistake I often run into on blogs I review…No way for readers to subscribe to get blog updates by email even though email is still preferred by a big margin over RSS. Based on 14 years experience I recommend that part of your visibility strategy include email and specifically blog updates by email. After all, the goal is to encourage visitors to subscribe, get your updates when new content is posted, return to your blog and eventually take action on your offers. Email is one of the most effective ways to keep you visible to your audience.
There are many services that provide blog to email delivery. My long time favorite is Feedblitz because of the depth of features they offer. My favorite feature is the ability to send an automated welcome email and link to a page to download a gift.
Regardless of what list system you use, setting up an email list, managing it, using it ethically, and promoting it can be confusing and overwhelming. That's why I love Phil Hollows, CEO of Feedblitz. He has just released a detailed, comprehensive ebook called List Building for Bloggers. I had the privilege of reviewing the book and I was blown away by the level of detail Phil goes into around three core strategies:
- Building your audience
- Increasing engagement with your audience
- Growing your income
Here’s what you get:
- Ten Power Tips to turn your blog into a rocking-socking, butt-kicking, inbox-busting, fully automated email marketing and subscriber retention system.
- Three case studies so you can avoid the mistakes even the Big Guys make (these are really eye-opening!)
- Easily actionable tips to grow both list quality and quantity.
- Chapters on autoresponders so you can market while you sleep, custom fields for personalization, and how to avoid spam traps.
- All in easy to understand plain English!
Even though I've been using Feedblitz since 2005, I had not fully utilized the power of email with my blog subscribers. While I wanted to grow my blog list, my primary goal has always been to make compelling offers that will move blog readers onto my main database. I completely ignored the autoresponder function and only last year added a follow up email and gift for blog subscribers. Adding this incentive has boosted subscriber numbers and unsubscribes are very low. And while writing this, I got another idea for helping my blog readers even more through email follow up.
You can apply Phil's common sense tactics no matter what list provider you use. He doesn't beat you over the head to use Feedblitz, although I'm sure he would prefer that, he's much too nice to say it! 🙂 An entire chapter is devoted to the pros and cons of fee, free and do-it-yourself services so you can decide what's right for you. If you don't have time to read the entire ebook, skip to page 161 and study, then implement The Top 10 Email Power Tips and you'll be good to go! I believe even seasoned email marketers will learn a thing or two from List Building for Bloggers…Phil's been involved in email marketing for over eight years and this resource proves it.
Implementing a few of Phil's tactics will ensure your blog is keeping you visible and working for your business.
*I am an affiliate for this ebook. I would recommend it even if I was not an affiliate.
Inetnatan1
This is good and help me a lot..
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Moira
Thanks for the valuable content in this post – as a new blogger and internet marketer in training – how do you get people to view your blog – so that they can sign up for the opt in. I try to use good long tail keywords, blog regularly, post articles – but just struggling to get anyone to opt in to my list? Thank you
DeniseWakeman
Moira, have you checked out Phil’s ebook? There are great tips for how to get people to your blog. Getting people to view your blog comes down to promoting it all the time. I also wrote about a couple of mistakes I see bloggers make on their blog that prevents them from attracting subscribers: http://www.buildabetterblog.com/2011/05/what-is-the-best-way-to-increase-subscribers-to-your-blog-.html
Martha Giffen
Such great information. I am using only RSS and am going to rethink that now. Thanks!
DeniseWakeman
Martha, I survey my community every couple of years about RSS vs. Email and hands down the vast majority prefer email updates for blogs. Even the tech savvy folks! You’re missing a lot of subscribers if you only use RSS. Depending on your audience, they may not even know what RSS is or how to use it.
Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A.
Great ideas, as usual, Denise.
Anonymous
Thank you for the mention, Denise!
Chase Sherman
Clicking over to your “List Building Tip” post, I got some really good ideas for integrating an opt in strictly for my blog… However, it seems like if there’s too much to subscribe to that a reader will get lost. Why wouldn’t you just send updates of your blog to the subscriber of your newsletter? Seems like they’re looking for similar content…
DeniseWakeman
Hi Chase, good question. Your blog reader may not want to get your email newsletter. They may only want to be notified when you publish new posts. Use the blog to build the relationship and then invite them to subscribe to your email newsletter if they want content they cannot get on your blog. Giving your reader the option, let’s them decide how much and what specific content they want from you. Many bloggers offer a separate email list that goes beyond the blog and brings people into their marketing funnel by adding even more value.
Anonymous
OTOH – if there’s valuable content that drives people to the funnel, why wouldn’t that be on the blog too?