Email List Building – Irresistible Free Offer

In this video, you will discover the following:

  • The most important element of your website homepage to build your email list
  • How to create an offer that has your prospects “Yes, that’s exactly what I need, how can I get it?!”
  • The “secret sauce” to to crazy optin conversion – “content, relationship, value.”
  • What NOT to provide your prospects that drives them away
  • How to create an ethical bribe to get more leads
  • How to get visitors to stay on your website for more than 2.9 seconds
  • Dozens of examples of free offers that convert more leads
  • The most compelling free offer that converts more than anything else
  • How to get your leads to actually consume your content without giving it away for free
  • The #1 secret to increase conversion by 15% that literally takes seconds to implement
  • 14 places to position your IFO so you increase your email list 24/7
  • A secret to increase conversion by another 20% (and you can do it on your phone)
  • My exact video script for your homepage optin video

This video is a sneak-peek into thirteen cutting-edge email list building strategies I will share as part of my 3-day live event happening this August – the Internet Marketing Intensive.

Registration is close to 70% full – register here ->http://internetmarketingintensiveevent.com/.

Email List Building – Website & Blog

In this video, you will discover the following:

  • The new ClientAttraction.com website and the most critical elements in your web design
  • The best blog based web platform for generating a ton of content your visitors will love
  • The 4 most important elements of your website design and how you can do it too
  • The secret of what Google loves and how can jump on the “Google love” bandwagon
  • How many people convert on your website right now? Here’s how to dramatically increase your conversion
  • Did you know your website visitor spends less than 3 seconds on your site before deciding to “stay” or “click away?”
  • The distinction between lead generation (driving people to your website) and lead capture (getting them on your list)
  • How to get a “big asked list” to get a “big ass list”
  • The framework for generating 10,000 optins to 80,000 optins
  • The formula for massive lead conversion to attract more optins from your website visitors

This video is a sneak-peek into thirteen cutting-edge email list building strategies I will share as part of my 3-day live event happening this August – the Internet Marketing Intensive.

Registration is close to 65% full – register here ->http://internetmarketingintensiveevent.com/.

Introduction to Multiplying Your Message and Building an Email Subscriber List…

In this video, you will discover the following:

  • That to reach more ideal clients with your message, you have to multiply your reach.
  • You need a big platform – the vehicle – to share your message.
  • The most valuable and lucrative component of your platform is your email subscriber list.
  • It’s about the quality of the list, not just the quantity.
  • The tipping point in email list building for massive results and sales…
  • It’s not all about the sale… it’s about building a valuable and enjoyable relationship with each and every email subscriber.

This video is a sneak-peek into thirteen cutting-edge email list building strategies I will share as part of my 3-day live event happening this August – the Internet Marketing Intensive.

Registration is close to 65% full – register here ->http://internetmarketingintensiveevent.com/.

How to Stop Wasting Time

I’ve come to the conclusion that wasting time is the biggest obstacle for entrepreneurs in getting things done.

You don’t get results from things you don’t implement – and these four time wasters are the biggest culprits.

We all react to them and they fill the time we could be doing other things that are more productive and valuable.

Now I’m not bashing the usefulness of the four time-wasters below. But, consider it from the point of view that these are interruptions that not only take away our time from being productive and implementing, but also distract us where it adds even more time to get back on task and focused.

Here goes:

Email

You guessed it. We all fall for the trap. First thing in the morning you login and check email. Then, next thing you know one email pops up after the other and you’re in there for hours. Plus, if you’re using a browser-based email program like gMail, it’s always open. And here come all the different emails with different ideas, messages, videos, etc. Most of them lead us to the Internet where we go further and further into wasting time. It gets you into reacting to all the other email related items.

Kick the habit strategy: Check at planned times each day and only spend allocated time like 30 minutes at 9am 1pm and 5pm. Use an online tool for managing email like http://emailga.me/.

Telephone

It starts ringing and it can never stop. But, most often it’s checking messages and returning phone calls. It’s the same idea as email (reacting, not being proactive) and usually not accomplishing much. If you have pre-arranged phone appointments but other than that – why would you ever answer an unplanned telephone call? Maybe it’s a referral – but schedule it so you’re not interrupted.

Kick the habit strategy: Don’t answer the phone unless it’s scheduled and have someone else check voice messages and send you the summary. Ask them to schedule a time-block on your calendar where you make return phone calls each day.

People

This especially applies if you work in an office environment. People “just popping in” with questions, conversation or ongoing chitchat that can drag on for quite some time that constantly interrupts you. Often times we get caught up in about talking about things that are not really valuable conversation. It doesn’t mean be a hermit – but it is a major distraction.

Kick the habit strategy: If you’re working with other co-workers, implement “quiet-time” hours each day in the office where say from 10am-12pm and 1pm-4pm is just for quiet productive time. The time outside that block is for meetings, discussions, talking, etc.

Thoughts

Your mind runs all over the place as entrepreneurs. Let’s face it – we’re all guilty of loving the “bright shiny object” and it always distracts us. We’re always thinking of something “else” and that leads into some other different thoughts and ideas that carry you on and on. Focus time is essential.

Kick the habit strategy: Create an environment where you can minimize the “thought distractions.” Perhaps it’s removing all the clutter and stuff in your office or work in a space that has very little distractions where you can sit and really focus without your mind wandering from one idea to the other.

So, it’s time to focus!

Put some of these simple “anti time-wasting” strategies in place and get back to working on the stuff that really matters.

Listen, more of the same is just more of the same – so if you want to change, you’ve got to make a change. It sounds trivial – but it works – and will allow you to focus more and accomplish what you’re truly meant here to do!

Until next time… Learn It, Love It, Live It!

The Power of Breaking Through Your Limits

For those of you who don’t know this, I had a severe skiing accident about a year ago while ski race training in Colorado.

I had a nasty fall and was out for the ski season.

Needless to say, I was devastated. Skiing is everything to me.

I had torn my ACL and my Meniscus ligaments in BOTH of my knees. Yes. That’s right – both of my knees.

Not having had any sort of injury like this before – I had no idea what I was in for. After the first few visits to physical therapy for ‘pre-surgery” preparation – I got a sense that my road to recovery would be no “walk in the park.”

Over the first few days with tons of icing and medication and not being able to walk around – it began to sink in.

In essence, what had been established was a new “limit” of what I could do and accomplish – physically.

Having always been a very active and physical kid growing up and even today as an adult – my idea of being limited by my physical condition was very disappointing.

How would I actually breakthrough this limit? I knew I wanted to be 100% healed and ready for the following ski season. Could I do it?

The prospect of a full recovery in 6-9 months seemed very bleak for just one knee. I had TWO surgeries and recoveries to handle.

Thus, started my journey. Shortly after surgery I was on my path to recovery.

After about 3 months post my first knee surgery and just starting my recovery, I had surgery number two.

The recovery period included a grueling and often painful 90-minute session at physical therapy, three times a week at a minimum. Walking in on crutches at 6am and being “worked on” until I could bend a knee, stand again without crutches, walk, run, sit – you name it. I had my work cut out for me.

I quickly learned that physical therapy, or “PT” as it’s commonly referred to, has a different meaning when you’re actually the one doing it: “Pain & Torture.”

There would be countless visits to therapy where I would literally be lying on the workout table holding back painful tears as I was being stretched, pulled, pushed, extended, flexed – trying to get back to a normal condition where I was not limited by my physical condition.

If this is what it took, so be it.

And yet, I still had doubts.

As the tears rolled down my cheeks one session, I contemplated to myself – is this really worth it? I mean, it’s only skiing, right???

I needed to find a source of inspiration and motivation to keep me going – to break through the edge of that personal and physical limit that was now in front of me.

I kept going. I didn’t let up. I was steadfast on breaking through that limit no matter how much time and effort it required.

I was often very quiet with my thoughts, thinking of the feeling of skiing again and the joy it brings to me. I had amassed a tremendous sense of perseverance and determination to get through this. Nothing was going to stop me.

Then one day in July, just after the 4th of July holiday, I had finished yet another session and heard the words I had been dreaming of for over 8 months.

“You’re all set. I don’t need to see you anymore.”

At first I paused and thought – “huh, what does that mean? “Am I really done?! I’m recovered?!”

He said… “Yep, this is one of the fastest and best knee recoveries I have ever seen. You’re in the best shape and condition you can be in. You did it!”

I had realized I had done it.

I began to cry in the car driving back home – feeling an overwhelming sense of joy, accomplishment and happiness.

I did it… I broke through my limit.

I share this not to boast or impress you (if you know me well you know I’m nothing like that.)

But, I wanted to share this story because we ALL have limits. Some we’ve set intentionally – or others have manifested over time by our beliefs and thoughts. They are all self-imposed in some way.

Physical or mental – we can always breakthrough whatever limit exists in front of us. We’ve done it over and over again during our lives – and we can continue to do it.

The point is we should be working towards breaking through these limits each and every day. It’s what inspires us to do better in the world. Achieving more by being a better person and doing well for others.

What’s my limit now? Well, I’m not sure yet.

I am back on skis in early November and I will soon find out.

I’ve challenged myself with the fact that my first day back on skis will be the exact same day a year ago when I got injured.

And, my first run will be down the same run where I had my accident.

It’s kind of eery – the scene and timing can’t be more alike from a year ago.

I’ll be testing my next limit about how well good karma works in this world.  😉

Until next time… Learn It, Love It, Live It!

p.s. What does this have to do with marketing? Well, as I was writing this post I went out and bought the URL breakthroughyourlimits.com. Don’t click it yet – nothing is there. It’s part of my next challenge of what I’m capable of – my next limit…

I’m sure I’ll rise to the occasion and have a good use for it in the future…

The wrong way to let subscribers opt-out from your email list

This got me going… and I had to share.

I follow a friend of mine on Twitter named Scott Stratten. You can follow him on Twitter at @unmarketing or on his website at UnMarketing.com.

If you don’t know Scott, he tweets about social media and marketing with a very unorthodox mindset – which I appreciate and respect. His Twitter handle of “unmarketing” says it all. Similar to my authentic Internet marketing approach, Scott looks for the real, genuine and authentic way to market a business online using email marketing, Internet marketing and social media.

Scott recently tweeted something about the process of unsubscribing from someone’s email list (see below). Ironically, the timing couldn’t have been better (I’ll share more on that in the p.s. at the end.)

Can you relate? I sure can… And, I had to share by retweeting it on Twitter. As did 40+ other people that supported his tweet about the occasional and unfortunate process of unsubscribing from someone’s email list when it’s done in a non-ethical, non-intuitive and non-authentic way.

It got me fired up to share some of the reasons why this is just so wrong. Interestingly, I just looked at the other @replies to Scott’s original tweet to see other examples (including mine) as to why this not the right way to go about having people opt-out from your list.

Listen, someone at some point may decide to leave your list. And, as I shared in an earlier post about why that’s a good thing – you don’t want to make them feel bad or irritate them by making the process more difficult or cumbersome than it really is. A simple one-click unsubscribe will do.

So, in the interest of showing “how to do it right.” Here are some  examples of what NOT to do when people choose to unsubscribe from your list.

Forcing subscribers to login into their “profile” to access “subscriber options.”

I mean give me a break. I optin to your list for a free report or to join your newsletter – I don’t need a profile where I have to login to opt-out if I choose to do so. Simply point me to an unsubscribe page where I can remove myself easily and let’s move on. Chances are if I am wanting to unsubscribe, I’m not getting value – so why would I even know or remember my profile information to login in the first place?! I am in favor to login if I actually have multiple subscriptions or options – but most people don’t when they join a simple email newsletter.

Sending a confirmation email after I unsubscribe.

I mean is it just me or does this seem 100% counterintuitive? I just opted out of your list because I don’t want to receive anymore emails and you send me ANOTHER email? When does No actually mean No to you people? When I hit unsubscribe that means “don’t email me again, please.” Else, I’m reporting email spam on you.

Forcing the subscriber to re-enter my email address. For real? Of course you have my email address because I am receiving emails from you – so why do I have to re-enter it? Seriously.

Actually “unsubscribing” and still getting emails. Yes, this does happen. I happen to be on an email list where I have opted out several times (and they use all these sneaky tactics above) and I STILL receive their frickin emails. I’m at the point now I had to setup a rule in my email program to auto-delete their emails when they get delivered. I’m sure subscribers like me don’t skew their email metrics at all… right…

Designing your unsubscribe page like a website from hell. I’ve visited a web page to opt-out and it literally looked like a scrabble board – letters and forms and buttons and images all over the place. I don’t mean to toot my own horn – but I get websites – and am pretty crafty about working my way through some pretty horribly designed pages to figure out what to do. But some of these opt- out pages – totally stumped me. Kudos to them for making it hard for me – and keeping a pissed off subscriber. Big win, huh?

These are all measly attempts to keep subscribers – which is pathetic and pitiful. I feel sorry for people that do any of these – or shame if you do all of them. If you’re actually successful on keeping subscribers because the opt-out process is so darn difficult – do you actually think these people will want to receive (let alone open and read) your emails? No!

If anything, you’re setting yourself up for failure – because they most likely will report spam on you for not being able to opt-out.

Here’s the deal – if you’re doing any of these – please stop. Perhaps you don’t even know what your opt-out process is about. Well, test it!

If your email marketing platform doesn’t allow you to customize any of these options or remove them entirely – think about moving to a different provider that makes it easy for people to opt-out. Not only are you hurting your business by pissing off subscribers – you’re rubbing people the wrong way and that’s just morally wrong. They may come back later – but not if you piss them off while they’re leaving now.

Until next time… Learn It, Love It, Live It!

p.s. Why was the timing of this perfect as I mentioned earlier? As this tweet conversation was going on – I was having my own “opt out from hell” experience trying to unsubscribe from a list as they pitched me some offer repeatedly for days. Their weapon of choice to keep me subscribed? The famed “login to your profile to access your subscriber options.” Buggers…

Are Your Emails Worth Reading?

There is a kid’s television show called Blues Clues. It’s about a guy and his pet dog “Blue” that have adventures where they use “clues” to figure out what the dog wants. It’s quite cute.

Ever seen it?

In each episode there is a point at which the main character receives mail from the mailbox. I love it. When it’s “mailtime” – there is an upbeat song and the guy excitedly exclaims “Mailtime!” Then he sings:

“Here’s the mail, it never fails it makes me wanna wag my tail, when it comes I wanna wail MAIL!!!!”

You can check out the actual video here. But, read on for the real juice…

Now, I don’t know about you – but I’ve not been that excited about mail in a LONG time. Not since the day of pen pal letters as a kid.

What about you?

And what about being excited in something so commonplace in today’s world – like email?!

Do your emails generate that type of behavior? Are they exciting? Engaging? Interesting? Do they make people sing and jump up and down?

Probably not.

But, you should be writing emails with that goal in mind.

If not, you’re emails will be like everything else that is out there. BORING!

How do you it?

Here are 6 secrets to writing exciting and interesting emails:

Keep it casual. Write emails like you’re writing to your friends. Not a list of random subscribers who you have no relationship with. Pretend you’re writing an email to your best friend.

Keep it real. No fluff and don’t lie. Tell it like it is and in your own voice. Don’t try to be like anyone else.

Keep it conversational. I don’t know about you, but I respond well on email when the person writing keeps it simple and to the point without a lot of formalities. Try writing the email like you were texting someone – it keeps it open and encourages a response or reply.

Keep it interesting. Write about them – not you. Whether you inject your personality or humor or a certain edge – when you make it interesting for the reader – they’ll obviously read more and be more engaged in what you’re telling them.

Give them a call-to-action. Have a point with your emails – not just ramble on. Have an end goal in mind and write so that the user takes that action. 95% of the people who do email marketing miss and forget the fact that it’s almost ALWAYS about getting the readers to click through to something (a website, video, sales page, etc.)

Give them value. Make it worth their time and effort when reading your emails. You would only expect the same when reading their emails. Make sure they actually want to read your emails and they’ll feel they’re getting value.

Keep these 6 simple tips in mind when writing your emails and your readers will soon react to your emails just like they do on Blues Clues: Mailtime!

Until next time… Learn It, Love It, Live It!

How To Get More Facebook Fans

I’ve seen so many people make this mistake I decided to do a video about it. I hope you find it useful. If so, please post a comment below or let me know of any questions you have about it.

Enjoy!

How To Get More Facebook Fans

This video shows how to get more Facebook fans on your fan page by properly linking your Facebook personal profile to your company or business fan page.

Until next time… Learn It, Love It, Live It!

How to Crush It with Facebook Ads

It seems there are a lot of people out there that have a negative view of using pay-per-click advertising to build their list. As I shared in one of my earliest posts – paid advertising is in fact one of the BEST ways to authentically and rapidly build your list with highly qualified and motivated leads. But, you have to be willing to pay.

So, as an Internet marketer, I strongly feel that online ads are an integral part of any marketing campaign.

It’s our duty (and sometimes a challenge) to design ads that catch the user’s attention and get them to click on it. It’s as simple as that.

One of the more popular places where online ads have been growing in popularity is on Facebook. The social networking site has over 750 million users – which demonstrates a massive reach when it comes to offering your services into new markets. Thus, it makes sense that Internet marketers have been using Facebook as another platform (along with Google AdWords) to extend their marketing campaign.

But, there is a catch. What is the success formula for creating an effective Facebook ad? While there is no “magic bullet” that addresses how to design the best converting ad, I provide here a list of guidelines that you can follow when designing your own Facebook ad.

Targeting
This can actually be broken down into two sub-categories: demographics and keyword targeting. It’s always important to consider your market in terms of age and location, so you can focus on delivering your campaign to the right people. Facebook offers so many more targeting options beyond those such as language, education, relationship status, likes and interests.

You can also choose to filter your ads through keywords or interests that can be linked to your ad. With any ad campaign, you can do a little research to find out what keywords best fit you. But, being able to target to specific interests and likes (i.e. other fanpages on Facebook) to target users is very powerful.

Facebook even gives you suggestions on the different type of topics or interest and how large an audience it has based on an interest keyword that you type in. This could be a new way to choose your audience if you want to target them based on their specific interests.

Design
The problem with Google AdWords (although I love them) is they are just plain text. You can’t get really creative with your ads and use compelling and interesting images along with your copy to make your ads really pop. This is where Facebook Ads are killer. You can choose an image for your ad that are going to grab the attention of your target users and use interesting images that are going to make people want to click it! It’s been proven that people will be more inclined to click on ads with a cool picture rather than a plain block of text.

Simplicity
Keep your ads simple. Since you only have so much space to play around with it’s important to come up with a short, yet compelling copy that will catch people’s attention. If you can combine your copy along with your call to action in the ad – then go for it.

Numbers
The statistics for your ads are critical to see how effective the ad you’re running is doing. Information such as impressions (how often your ad is viewed) or conversion (how many times your ad has been clicked) are super important. Not too mention how much money you’ve spent on the ad so you can tweak different elements to make it more effective.

Now that you know – it’s time to start cranking out some Facebook ads! Just make sure you use this list of guidelines.

Until next time… Learn It, Love It, Live It!

Why Unsubscribers Are Good For You

You are probably thinking… “What?!”

Wondering why I would say people who opt out of your list is a good thing? Read on…

People lose interest. When someone joined your list they were excited and motivated to find out more about you and what you had to offer. It’s very difficult to sustain that level of engagement over time. Even if you’re cranking out excellent content and value consistently – some people just lose interest and move on. Nothing you can do about it. The longer the time, the more likely they will lose interest and eventually decide to opt out.

Be OK with that…

People opt out after a period of time with consistent non-activity. We all do it. We scan our email inbox or folders and decide to ourselves if we want to stay on that list… or not. It’s like spring cleaning or going through your closet and tossing what you don’t need and keeping what you do. The longer the stuff lingers in the closet or attic – the more likely it will get tossed. People view your list in the same way. We all have to try and rise above the clutter and remain front and center. Over time if we don’t meet our end of the bargain – they’re likely to opt out like last years jeans.

Be OK with that…

It’s time to wake up and smell the coffee. People opt out for a reason. It’s our job reason to have the awareness as to why they do opt out and figure out what can be done differently to avoid more people leaving in the future. Been through an extensive launch with a lot of “sales” and “pitch” emails? – you’re opt out rate will for sure increase to an extent. Starting to slack and not churn out the solid content that your subscribers are traditionally used to? Get back on it and whip it into shape. People who opt out should be seen like a red flag that something is not right – and you need to address it the best you can.

Be OK with that…

Focus on gaining the new people. The rate of people who unsubscribe is all relative to the number of new people who join your list. Focus on that and it will make the reality of people unsubscribing easy to deal with. Don’t look at your unsubscribe numbers -focus on the overall list size. People will leave your list at some point.

Be OK with that…

I’m happy when people opt out because then it cleans up my list and I can rely on more realistic and truthful statistics and analytics like open rates and click-through-rates. Dormant subscribers who never opt out (and never read your emails) are just skewing your numbers. I say “you know where the door is, leave whenever you want to…”

Be OK with that…

As a result of this – try not to focus on the numbers of your list. Focus on the conversation with your list. Write to one person (not the full list) and you’re more likely to not only keep them around longer – but open and read your emails (which is the idea here, right?)

Listen – the moral of the lesson is this: If people on your list are not opening your emails – why would you want them on your list? Chances are if these people are not opening or reading your emails – they’re not going to buy anyway.

And, with the new social media platforms out there like Facebook and Twitter (and many more) people can easily get your content and value in other places – not just email. My thought is if they move away from email – perhaps they’re moving onto an alternative platform to get my content like my Twitter updates or Facebook status.

Perhaps they’re no longer your ideal client – so be happy they moved on. Say to yourself… “I’m not their teacher. That’s totally cool.”

Until next time… Learn It, Love It, Live It!