Brent Peterson

3 Email Marketing Tips When Things Go Wrong

February 11, 2017 by Brent Peterson

What often holds me back from sending out emails to my interest list is that I’m afraid my emails aren’t good enough. I forget that when you are in genuine and sharing stories (like I did last week in this post), it’s really going to be ok.

But I do agonize over what to say and I get paralyzed by my own analysis.

Can you relate?

The reality is that we are are completely overthinking things. It’s just an email folks.

Yes, some people will be deeply disturbed by our messages and unsubscribe from our lists because they are in an “unsubscribe kind of mood“.

I get that and I’ve been there. Then I often realize I unsubscribed from someone with a high level of integrity and honesty.

So I go back and opt back in, and save my “unsubscribe moments” for email marketers who seem to try to sell us something with every automated message that was scripted years ago.

The reality is good people like you and me sometimes send email messages with errors in them.

We are humans after all.

And we are using email marketing software that was well… designed by humans.

So it’s been known to do weird things too even when we test out the message before sending it out.

The key is to know how to response gracefully when errors do occur.

3 Email Marketing Tips When Things Go Wrong

1. Be Timely

When you send out an email that has an error in it like a broken link, be timely with your response. If you notice it (or someone on your list tells you), craft a follow-up message as soon as you can.

My client Martina Wing is a passionate manta ray advocate in Hawaii. She is in the process of migrating her email list from AWeber to ConvertKit with my project help.

We are using a really cool marine life coloring book lead magnet as an incentive for her existing list to “opt back in” (you’ll discover more about Martina’s journey in upcoming posts).

The other day, the wrong version of a message was sent to over 2000 people.

Within an hour, Martina crafted a follow-up message with the graceful introduction:

Oops! Accidents happen. Please accept my apology. Here is the correct message for your response…

2. Be Authentic

When errors occur (or plans change), take ownership. Don’t blame someone or the email server for something simple that goes wrong.

Let the miscommunication be an opportunity to show authenticity and humor.

My client Darcy Eikenberg offers career coaching services and products through her business Red Cape Revolution. She is offering a free video training series this month to help professionals make their make career decision of 2017 (you can check it out here).

When she realized the early bird savings she promised on her upcoming course was communicated for the wrong week, she took ownership of it and then offered to increase the savings!

3. Be Careful

When you discover an error in your email message to your list, you’ll also want to be careful with the follow up message.

What I mean is don’t be in such a rush to send out another broadcast that you forget to send yourself a copy of the new message first and test the links.

I will confess, as a Certified PMP, I am really particular about testing when it comes to software. I put it on schedules for my own projects and for client projects using Teamwork software from Ireland.

That being said, testing is still required even if it is not in your project plan.

If you send a follow-up message with the same or another error, your window for being timely and authentic has closed.

Don’t send a third message.

Otherwise, members of your list will then be in a truly “unsubscribe kind of mood“!

Hope this blog post helps,
Brent

If you’d like to stay connected to my work with clients and the transformation they are experiencing, simply click here to sign up for my email list. You’ll receive professional advice and examples every week.

Special Bonus: All subscribers to my mailing list can add their own lead magnet web addresses at any time to my upcoming lead magnet examples listing here on the Graceful Resources website. So free publicity for their respective websites!

Lead Magnet Example: Before and After

February 4, 2017 by Brent Peterson

Entrepreneurship at its core is about transformation.

Successful entrepreneurs are in the business of creating (and selling) some form of transformation for customers.

Elva Edwards is no exception and you’ll discover her inspiring story in a moment. Her signature image below is heart warming:

Whether you are a soon-to-be or active online entrepreneur, you have an amazing gift to share with the world that can transform other people’s lives. You should also profit from your passion so you can serve more people.

To reach your online goals, you need to plan the work and then work the plan. The marketing strategies are constantly evolving, but with a solid foundation in place with the right web technology tools and processes, you can start the transformation you are offering others.

Transformation Starts with a Lead Magnet

For you, as an online entrepreneur, the transformation you offer starts with a lead magnet – an extra but related incentive for people to join your respective email mailing list. Once an email list is established, you have a direct communication channel to stay connected to your audience.

Dr. Elva Edwards is transforming people’s lives. She just launched a new platform called ChildhoodLoss.com to help adults heal from the loss of a parent when they were children.

Elva was born in West Texas and lived on a farm with her parents, grandmother, and sister until her parents were killed when she was only 19 months of age. She and her sister fell into the loving arms of their grandparents who moved to the farm to live with them.

She authored a book about her experience of healing from the loss of her parents as a child. It is called “A Texas Tragedy: Orphaned by Bootleggers.” Based on her book, Dr. Edwards is now planning to launch an online program to help other adults heal from a loss of a parent when they were children.

Lead Magnet Example: A Before and After Transformation

As a first step to build her email mailing list, Elva created her first lead magnet called “The Top Three Acts of Kindness to Heal the Loss of a Parent When You Were a Child”.

As you compare the two examples below, you can see that her lead magnet went through a transformation as well:

(If interested in Elva’s platform, you or someone you care about can opt-in to her mailing list at ChildhoodLoss.com.)

Your Lead Magnet Example

Your first or next lead magnet is right around the corner too.

If you are not sure what lead magnet works best, this free 3-minute lead magnet survey may give you some insights.

If you are seeking project guidance to design and connect a professional lead magnet to your business email mailing list, don’t miss the interactive Lead Magnet Project. It is an online community-based project environment for entrepreneurs. No tech or design experience required!

And if you are seeking direct design help with a PDF lead magnet guide or checklist you’ve already outlined, layout designer Anas Abouzaradi at GoodLeadMagnets.com transformed Elva’s lead magnet and is highly recommended. Please feel free to let Anas know you were referred to him by Brent Peterson.

Anas also created the design for the lead magnet on this site: 5 Essential Characteristics of a Lead Magnet.

Anas will also be helping participants involved in the Lead Magnet Project and you can share your lead magnet concept and draft with project members for their valuable feedback.

Hope this helps,
Brent

p.s. You can discover other lead magnet examples on the Lead Magnet Examples Page – and you add your own lead magnet information free of charge if you are a Graceful Resources email subscriber.

One of Many Product Launch Formula Examples

January 14, 2017 by Brent Peterson

Product Launch Formula (PLF) is an online marketing strategy trademarked by author and entrepreneur Jeff Walker. You can discover more the PLF model in Jeff’s book Launch (An Internet Millionaire’s Secret Formula to Sell Almost Anything Online, Build a Business You Love, and Live the Life of Your Dreams).

Jeff also offers an online training course, community, and annual live event in Arizona for “PLF owners” (the term for customers who pay for this program offering). The cost is $2000 and I am an owner myself.

Here’s a photo I took at the PLF event last April in Phoenix:

The majority of my current clients are also PLF owners. While I am not writing this post to sell you on the PLF owner program (it’s a big investment), I do recommend investing $10 to buy Jeff’s book if you haven’t read it already.

Jeff does a very effective job explaining the emotional triggers of customers to buy products, such as reciprocity and scarcity. These triggers are commonplace in good marketing videos, emails, and online copy.

You’ll also discover in the book the recommended sequence of marketing videos (called Prelaunch Content or PLC videos) for your products.

Product Launch Formula Projects

What I do for clients (with the help of team members) is manage the technology side of things for business and product launches online. The purpose of my blog and online mailing list (click here to sign up) is to pull back the curtain on these client projects for your benefit.

Not all of my client projects involve Product Launch Formula and any entrepreneur can put to practice some (or all of) the strategies in the book Launch without becoming an owner of the PLF program.

One of Many Product Launch Formula Examples

Evan Zislis is a client of mine and he is now launching a new online program based on his bestselling book ClutterFree Revolution: Simplify Your Stuff, Organize Your Life & Save the World.

He has put together an amazing set of PLC videos and I encourage you to check them out as a marketing example. Evan’s first Prelaunch Content video releases tomorrow (Sunday 1/15/17).

The purpose of PLC Video #1 is to show prospects they can make a change and get results. This first video is about the opportunity.

You can sign up free for the video series on his new website ClutterFreeRevolution.com.

I designed his website with the Rainmaker Platform. The email pop-up form was designed with OptinMonster and the email service is integrated through ConvertKit.

You can discover my complete web and email toolkit via this page. I outline why I use and recommend each of these tools.

Other Product Launch Formula Examples

In the months ahead, I will share with you via the mailing list (click here to sign up) other Product Launch Formula client examples (plus non-PLF lead generation strategies).

We’ll also keep track of Evan’s journey and highlight lessons learned from his first online product launch.

Hope this blog post helps,
Brent

Best Lead Magnets? Take this Quick Survey to Find Out

January 8, 2017 by Brent Peterson

What are the best lead magnets to grow your email mailing list? Here’s a 3-minute survey to help you find out.

No email opt-in is required to participate or to see the latest results.

You also have the option to add your website free of charge to the new Graceful Resources professional listing of lead magnet examples.

Here is the information that is included in the public listing:

Type of Your Lead Magnet
Name of Your Lead Magnet
Target Audience for Your Lead Magnet
Web Address for Your Lead Magnet
Your Name

Take the Quick Survey

What is a Lead Magnet?

In the online commerce world for your own business, a Lead Magnet is an extra incentive to inspire someone to join your email mailing list.

In essence, it is a form of exchange. You gain someone’s contact information (e.g. email address) and the other person receives your lead magnet.

For example, the person who signs up for your mailing list receives the benefits of the lead magnet (such as a free resource guide) and the additional benefits of the email subscription. Your business, in exchange, receives the person’s contact information (typically an email address) to stay in contact and build a relationship with the person.

What are the Best Lead Magnets?

That’s the question this new survey is designed to answer.

Your participation will also help others and provide you insight for your own business. If you’d like to share the survey with other professionals, there are social share options (e.g. Facebook, Twitter) at the end of the survey. The social share buttons open in a new window before you click on the button to see the latest survey results.

Thanks,
Brent

3 Reasons to Watch the Alike Short Film

December 31, 2016 by Brent Peterson

In the spirit of the holiday season, I shared my favorite Christmas-themed commercial in the previous blog post. If you are a fan of Star Wars, it is not to be missed. The ending is also a nice tribute to actress Carrie Fisher (who passed away this week) and her famous Princess Leia character.

This week, in honor of the New Year’s holiday, I discovered another short video that is also worth watching. It is an award-winning animated film from a project team in Barcelona, Spain.

The film is called “Alike” and the synopsis is as follows:

In a busy life, Copi is a father who tries to teach the right way to his son, Paste. But… what is the correct path?

3 Reasons to Watch the Alike Short Film:

The video itself is only 7 minutes long. It will be well worth your focused time. I promise you won’t regret it.
Like the Star Wars based commercial from Germany, the story requires no words. The plot is easy to follow and the characters are priceless.
The Alike short film will inspire you in the new year to follow your dream and to embrace your creativity. The alternative is kind of depressing.

You can watch the Alike short film right here…

Happy New Year!

Dream big in 2017 and to make it happen…

Plan the work and then work the plan.

If your goals involve landing pages, websites, or email marking, I’m here to guide you along step by step. I will continue to share advice through this blog and my free email mailing list (click here to sign up).

Other Plans for 2017

I’m now expanding my team to keep up with customer demand and more importantly, to help other entrepreneurs shine online with their respective business models.

I also plan to launch online courses for entrepreneurs who prefer do-it-yourself project plans related to the seamless integration of email marketing with landing pages and websites.

(For your quick reference, here are the website and email resources I use and recommend.)

I’m cheering for your creativity in 2017 so that we are not all alike!

Cheers,
Brent

Best Star Wars Christmas Commercial?

December 24, 2016 by Brent Peterson

Ok, I am not sure how many Star Wars themed Christmas commercials there are, but the inner project management geek in me thinks this holiday commercial is the best.

It is from Germany’s Kaufland Market (don’t worry, it doesn’t require any words to tell the story).

It has all the characteristics of a great project management love story:

The hero sets a goal to win the girl.
He tests out some ideas and evaluates his options.
He then makes a decision.
The hero practices his plan.
Finally, he works up the courage to execute his plan.

I won’t spoil the ending for you, but it’s priceless.

Best Star Wars Christmas Commercial

Whether you’ve seen the commercial before, it’s worth watching again this holiday season…

Entrepreneurship is All About Projects

I’ve been on this entrepreneur journey for over eight years now.

Technology comes and goes.

Social media outlets come and go.

Some great ideas fail.

Some weak ideas succeed.

What always stands out for me is whether an entrepreneurial idea was managed as a project or not.

If there is no project, there is no chance of success (and I’ve learned that lesson many times).

The recipe for your success is simple…

Plan the work and then work the plan.

I’m here to guide you along step by step.

Happy Holidays!

I wish you and your family a very merry and graceful Christmas and a joyful New Year.

May the project management force be with you!

Cheers,
Brent

I’m a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) specializing in web design and lead generation strategies. I’m really good at outlining actionable steps for entrepreneurs struggling with web technology. Click here to join my mailing list for free weekly project management and technology advice and some really fun discoveries.