One of the things that is essential to have a successful virtual business, is to keep people coming into your ‘funnel’ – so that you have a consistent pool of potential clients to choose from on a regular basis.
This means that you usually need to have an audience of people who you keep in contact with regularly, who you can communicate your expertise to. This often means you have a mailing list. Some people do a lot of their networking without a mailing list, but I still find it the best way to be able to communicate with my audience, so I highly recommend it.
Here are a few tips about how you can build your list easily:
1. Host a free teleclass. One of the best ways to grow your list quickly is to host a free event like a teleclass. Pick an interesting subject, and tell everyone you know about it. Promote your event a couple of weeks ahead of time on your social networks and other places that you think your ideal clients are hanging out.
2. Give away something great. Whether you have a report, an audio, a video, or whatever – put together something that is really appealing to your audience. Give them some information that will really help them to get something done in their business. People love to ‘sample’ your services and check out your expertise, and by putting together something that is really valuable to them, that will entice them to subscribe to your list (and work with you too!)
3. Ask people to subscribe! One of the most common mistakes of marketing is to build it and expect people to come. Your opt in box on your website shouldn’t just sit there once you put it there – you have to promote it. You have to tell people about it, and you have to ask them to join. Again, use your social networks and your other networking areas to invite people to stay in touch with you.
Once you start to grow your list, be sure to take care of them!
1. Nurture your audience. Once you have people subscribing, be sure to take care of them. Communicate personal details of your life that will help them to know you, like you and trust you. Be sure not to be selling to them all the time. Use your marketing calendar to really determine when you will communicate with them for things other than your newsletter. It is essential to only email them with really valuable stuff.
2. Ask for feedback. When you start to email your list, ask them for feedback. Request that they comment on your blog or your Facebook profile, or on your newsletter articles. By opening the lines of communication for them to share their opinions with you, you will not only gain a greater following, but you will also gain valuable insight into what your audience wants to know as well!
3. Provide great content. When you are planning what you are going to send to your people, plan to mix up advice, resources, and information so that you’re not sending the same type of thing to them all the time. Share relevant recommendations with them where possible too, so that it’s not always about you. They not only want to know about your expertise, but they will be interested in who you are watching as well!
Growing your list is only part of the equation – be sure to take care of them once they connect with you – you’ll be glad you did!