I recently wrote about how you should start building a relationship with your list from the beginning. If you’ve done that, you have sent at least a few emails to your list. You’ve given them what you promised them in order to get them to sign up to your list. You have hopefully sent them at least a few emails that were in your autoresponder that everyone gets when they sign up.
Now they know a little bit more about you, and have learned a few things from you as well. What should you do now?
Send Emails Regularly
If you only send your list an email every once in a while, there is a good chance they will forget about you! We all get a lot of emails every day. If someone don’t know you very well and then sees an email come in with your name on it, they might be confused. They might not remember right away who you are, or why you’re sending them an email. There is a very good chance that they won’t even open the email.
Sending regular emails not only allows them to remember you, but also helps you build a relationship with your audience. Many people who build lists are afraid to send an email too often, worried about unsubscribes. However, sending helpful emails on a regular basis is what will help you keep people on your list. They’ll become accustomed to your writing schedule and look forward to your emails. Not only that, but they’ll start to take action on your emails as well, which will include clicking on your links and making purchases.
When you send regular emails, it helps you build a trusting relationship with your audience. They’ll see what you’re sharing, and realize that you are someone they can learn from. They’ll also learn that they can trust your advice, such as what products to buy – whether they are yours or an affiliate’s. Because of this, you’ll start making more sales.
Sending regular emails also helps you stay on their mind. When you send few or no emails, your name won’t mean anything to them. But when you send emails more often, they’ll know who you are. When seeing your name in their inbox, they’ll think about things you’ve said, and might even be able to put a face to the name.
They’ll start to think of you as someone they know and trust, and look forward to the emails they get. In fact, the more places they can “see” you, the better. If you have a video or webinar that you’ll be a part of, make sure you let them know so they can check it out. If you’re going to be at a local event, invite them to come and meet you. The more active you are, the more you’ll stay on their minds.
If you’re sending at least 3-5 emails a week, your audience won’t forget you. Of course, you don’t want to just sell, sell, sell. You want to include valuable content that will help them learn things in your niche. Also make sure you share your thoughts on things, as that’s what people are looking for. They want to know more about you, and what you think about things within their niche.
By doing this, you’ll start to connect with your audience. As they learn more about you and your thoughts, they’ll start to trust you more and take action based on the things that you say.
While you’re doing all of this, make sure you don’t forget your main goal. Someone signed up to your list to learn something. So make sure that you’re teaching your audience.
Sending emails regularly is important. However, regularly sending information that resonates with them is more important. Ensure each email has a purpose and goal that meets your needs, as well as those of your audience.
Encourage Conversation
You might think that your relationship goes one way. You write emails, and your audience reads them. But that’s not the best way to build long lasting relationships with those on your list. Build relationships by encouraging two way relationships instead.
Invite (and encourage) your audience to write you. Make sure that you either have a good “reply to” email when you send out your emails, or that you share an email where they can reach you. Make it very simple for them to get in touch with you if they want to.
It can also help to ask questions within your emails, and invite your audience to write you. You can be very vague and ask your audience if they have any questions that you’d be happy to answer. Or you can be more specific and ask a question or ask if they’re having a specific problem and offer to help them.
When you’re sending out emails, make sure you come across as open and sociable. Write your emails as if you’d talk to a good friend. Also write them as if you’re talking to one person. Make sure you’re being friendly, as that can come through in an email.
You don’t have to stick to asking your audience to write you at your email address. If you’d prefer you can ask them to write you on a Facebook Group, a Twitter account, or wherever else you spend time. As long as you give them a way to contact you that you’ll reply to, you’ll be building a good relationship with those on your list.
When you’re emailing your list, treat them like a friend, even if they may not be one yet. Offer help, great content, and share things about you. These are great ways to help your list know, like, and trust you more, and will lead to more people opening your emails, reading them, and taking action on them.
Enjoy,
