This post contains affiliate links. My opinion on the importance of a stellar newsletter, Inbox of Opportunity ecourse, and Kirsten’s genuine awesomeness is one hundred percent my own. See my full disclosure policy.
As a newbie blogger in 2014, creating a newsletter never occurred to me to be a priority. My business was new. There was so many aspects of blogging and business that I needed to research and learn.There was is so much to do on a daily basis. I am still learning and I haven’t even cut through the surface of what blogging is all about for my business. I was focused on building my social media platforms.
Facebook was where I started. I spent countless hours sharing topics and projects hoping to build an audience. My goal was to build up those fans and then hopefully they will find their way over to my blog. My hope was that they would share my business with others and I would grow.
I was going about it all wrong.
As I learn more about blogging, I have found that those Facebook followers could go poof in a matter of minutes. The majority of those followers belong to Facebook. There really isn’t any loyalty to my blog because the majority have not subscribed to my blog and become part of the community. I am just a piece of their news feed-if and when Facebook decides to show them my latest post.
At this point I was searching for other options; this is when I met my friend Kirsten. Kirsten authors a blog called Sweet Tea & Saving Grace. She had announced that she was offering virtual assistant services for creative bloggers, such as myself. She offered help in customizing newsletters and Mailchimp campaigns.
I immediately felt pulled to talk with her. I quickly realized that this gal knows her stuff! We worked together on creating a customized newsletter that I could send out to those readers that had subscribed to the blog. It is an amazing feeling to know that I have the template ready and waiting for me to send out those campaigns with just one simple click of a button.
I admit, I was still apprehensive about Mailchimp. It confused the heck out of me. I needed instruction that had step-by-step visuals. Kirsten gave me the opportunity to review her latest ebook, Inbox of Opportunity. I truly was doing a happy dance with every page! (Virtual high five here, Kirsten)
The detailed information breaks down every step of the newsletter process-initially starting with signing up for a MailChimp account and setting up your list. Kirsten then goes into creating opt-in forms for your subscribers jam packed full of screenshots that walked me through the list of starting, creating, and implementing a solid newsletter. Kirsten explains the steps in a fun and exciting way! The steps are clear and concise.
Another perk of this ecourse/ebook is that Kirsten breaks up each segment with an assignment to help you digest what you have learned and customize it to fit your own needs. Kirsten is as genuine as they come. She truly wants you to succeed and gain those loyal followers.
But, why do I need a newsletter?
Here are my top 6 reasons why you need a newsletter.
#1 Distraction and loyalty
Let’s face it, attention span these days is maybe 3 seconds. Everyone is moving at such a fast pace. We scroll through our social media feeds looking for the latest cool picture or funny joke. We may click over to a blog to get the info we need, but then most likely we go back to see another great DIY project to pin to a board on Pinterest. Those that come to your blog and actually do sign up for your newsletter have a true interest in hearing what you have to say. Keeping those subscribers happy creates loyalty. They are gold for your business & blog.
#2 Traffic
Who doesn’t want it? To get your message into the inbox of your target audience is a very powerful thing. As stated above, social media platforms such as Facebook are ever changing and thus, unreliable. Those readers that take the time to sign up for your newsletter are going to be creating traffic to your blog consistently. They have a genuine interest in you and love what you are offering and will be sharing you with their friends.
#3 Connect & Engage
Building strong relationships that make your audience feel like part of your business and involved in your journey is a key ingredient of running a successful business. You have the opportunity to make them feel privileged by offering exclusive ‘in the know’ information that the occasional Facebook follower won’t receive. You can address them personally so that it feels like an email between friends. This builds trust and a loyal following that love and support and share what you do and thus creating traffic.
#4 Show Authenticity
This is your chance to show who you are on a more personal level. You can share a personal moment of your lives with your subscribers. Give them a sneak peek of a current project. Offer subscribers a free printable or a chance to be featured on the blog. Readers will feel like your friend rather than someone who is pushing their content and/or product on them.
#5 Monetization & Product
If your business or blog is selling product this is a great way to offer discounts and VIP access to new products. By having a loyal group of readers, they will trust you are offering quality services and/or products.
#6 Feedback & Analytics
Having a loyal subscriber base means that you can ask them for feedback. Ask them questions about what they would like to see more of. This value will help you in evaluating changes to your business & blog. There are also stats and analytics within Mailchimp. This type of feedback will help you improve your reader base and gain subscribers.
How do I get that newsletter started you ask?
Kirsten has 3 different options for you:
Kirsten’s Inbox of Opportunity is a valuable tool for your business and blog. What are you waiting for? Hop on the Inbox of Opportunity band wagon and unlock the potential of a killer newsletter! Be prepared to be WOW’d! I know you will be.
Hugs to Kirsten over at Sweet Tea & Saving Grace for providing me with a copy of the stellar, Inbox of Opportunity ebook to review. I couldn’t have made it through Mailchimp without ya! This post does contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure policy.
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