blogging

What is Exit Intent? And 3 Benefits of Exit Intent Opt-In Pop-Ups

February 18, 2017 by Brent Peterson

Exit Intent is one of those new online marketing terms like Autoresponders (which was defined in this earlier post). It refers to a popular online lead generation strategy that you would recognize in use (but perhaps not by name) as you surf the web.

As a professional project manager specializing in web design and online lead generation strategies for clients, I try to stay up to date on all the latest marketing lingo so that I can explain concepts in easy to understand terms.

Admittedly, I test out my understanding and explanation on my family first. If the eyes roll, I keep working on it!

Once the concept is ready for introduction to a client, we determine if it makes sense strategically to implement it as part of the project schedule.

What is Exit Intent?

Technically speaking, Exit Intent is the name for the “exiting” mouse movement of a website visitor that triggers a pop-up message on the screen.

Stated another way, as your cursor moves to leave the active browser tab, a message pops ups to grab your attention before you leave.

You can manually trigger an exit intent pop up on this site via this link and you should see the following message:

Is Exit Intent kind of annoying for site visitors? Well, yes.

Is Exit Intent kind of effective? Well, yes.

3 Benefits of Exit Intent Opt-In Pop-Ups

1. Exit Intent Pop-Ups are Less Intrusive than Time-Based Pop-Ups

You are probably very familiar with time-based pop-ups on the center of website screens.

Some appear the moment you arrive on a website before you have a chance to read anything. Others appear after a set number of seconds or as you scroll down the page a set percentage.

I don’t know about you, but I find time-based pop-ups very disruptive and I am quick to exit them out (and not opt-in to the form).

2. Exit Intent Pop-Ups are an Online Elevator Pitch

When you use an exit-intent pop-up, you are automating your elevator pitch so that site visitors know what you are about before they leave.

Is there a chance someone is not interested in your content or business? Absolutely.

But if you are able to solve a problem someone is experiencing, you’ll want to catch the site visitor before they leave. Often, your value proposition is a lot clearer in an exit intent message than on a random web page.

3. Exit Intent Pop-Ups are Somewhat Effective

You won’t realize great opt-in rates on an exit intent pop-up because well… people are trying to leave.

Will get some leads on your email list that you would have otherwise missed? Absolutely.

And that lead could become a customer for years to come.

Exit Intent pop-ups are often worth the brief interruption.

My Software Tool for Exit Intent

I use OptinMonster for exit intent (and all my pop-up variations – including the footer bar) on this website. I highly recommend this cloud-based software and you can discover my lessons learned with OptinMonster in this online review.

Once someone opts-in to your campaign via OptinMonster, the software is smart enough to not generate a pop-up again for that user!

I plan to incorporate OptinMonster setup, design, and integration in at least one of my upcoming guided do-it-yourself projects using Teamwork software from Ireland.

You can catch announcements about these interactive project offerings via my email mailing list (click here to not miss out).

Exit Intent is worth adding to your toolkit and testing as a lead generation tool.

Hope this blog post helps.

I’m here to help you succeed, one project step at a time.

Brent

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!

3 Goals for Email Marketing (And For Your Success)

February 16, 2017 by Brent Peterson

Today is my birthday so been thinking a lot about the best ways to have a positive impact in the year ahead for the gracious professionals like you who are joining this journey called Graceful Resources.

You have a special gift to share with the world and you should profit from that passion so you can serve more people.

But you need momentum, one project step at a time.

If you are seeking professional project guidance for an online business, I’m here to help!

3 Goals for Email Marketing (And For Your Success)

1. Receive Strategic Direction

Every online entrepreneur must have a solid foundation for growth and that starts with the right strategic direction and the right technology toolkit.

Strategic resources including some great books are outlined on the Graceful Resources about page.

2. Move Forward Every Week

Success is delivered to people who plan the work and then work the plan. A clear plan of action will guide your next step toward great results.

We use Teamwork Projects software for client projects and are now sharing this great project tool with participants in the upcoming guided do-it-yourself project to build an email list even without a website.

When you join the project, you’ll be given your own Teamwork login account and you will connect with other entrepreneurs going through the same project and journey.

And you will be guided along one project step at a time.

3. Save Time and Money

Online entrepreneurship is not free. There are real costs of doing online business plus the opportunity cost of your time. You are on a tight budget and you do not want to make bad investments in software, services, programs, or people (only to then have to hire someone else to fix the problems).

Wise investments of your time and money will keep your dream alive!

Three Goals for Email Marketing (and Your Success)

If these three goals resonate with you, it would be an honor to have your join the Graceful Resources journey via this free mailing list. If you have any feedback, please feel free to drop a note via this form or in reply to any of email message.

Your success happens, one project step at a time!

Brent

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

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.

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.

10 Tips for Website Names

December 9, 2016 by Brent Peterson

This week, a new client identified and registered a name for her new website. It’s a fun and creative project activity because it is the start of a successful brand name that can last for decades for an entrepreneur.

Each time the naming process starts though, the sinking feeling that all the good domain names that end in .com are long gone. But within minutes of a quick domain name search, you discover how easy it is to still find and register a domain name for about $15/year.

In her case, she was seeking a domain name for a parent website that will host membership solutions for different niches that people are passionate about. The domain name PassionateSolutions.com was the perfect fit and it was available for only a few dollars.

A website represents a journey and every journey deserves a name

When you think of a journey, consider Teddy Roosevelt’s dangerous but successful exploration of the unchartered Amazonian forest of Brazil along the Rio da Duvida (the River of Doubt). To this day, the river is known as Rio Roosevelt.

Former President Roosevelt is seated at the right side of this photo from the expedition (source: wikipedia):

Your journey deserves a name as well and your website should be a reflection of that journey.

Your web address is comparable to a physical mailing address. It’s an officially registered address that requires extra paperwork and expense to change ownership.

So choose wisely.

For domain registration, GoDaddy.com is straightforward. They are the largest domain registrant in the world and their registration process is seamless with clear invoice billing.

Note: Upon domain registration (with GoDaddy or any registrant), you may want to add Private Registration at checkout so that you are not spammed through the public Whois database. It’s a lot of peace of mind for an extra $8/year.

10 Tips for Website Names

Here are 10 tips to help you decide on a good web address name (if you do not already have one registered):

1. Consider using your personal name (e.g. http://brentpeterson.me) if you are not certain what your web journey will be about or if you want the focus to be on your life or career. Your personal name also gives you the most flexibility if your platform changes. However, it ties the online business directly to your identity (making a transition to someone else, like a family member or another entrepreneur, very difficult).

2. Consider using a name that defines your journey (e.g. ClutterFreeRevolution.com). This approach limits the theme of your journey, but it is favorable to web search engines if your web address contains keywords (e.g. clutter free). A website based on a theme name (in contract to a personal name) also passes the “t-shirt test”. In other words, would people want to display the name and tagline of your site on a t-shirt? Not likely if it is a personal name.

3. If possible, end your theme web address name with “.com”. While there are several other extensions available (e.g. .net, .org), users assume “.com” (e.g. http://NotchDolphinBook.com) when using a browser.

4. Make the web address easy to remember and easy to say. One of my previous blog names was Stand & Inspire (http://standandinspire.com) which I discovered to be difficult to say in conversation because the first two words rhyme.

5. Avoid the words “for” and “to” in your web address, since these two words can easily be interpreted by the numbers “4” and “2” and people will not necessarily know how to spell your domain name if they heard about it through word of mouth.

6. Avoid a hyphen (“-“) in the web address. It’s not great for search engines and is also difficult to communicate to people in conversation outside the web.

7. Check to see if your domain name is also available on prominent social networks (e.g. Twitter, Instagram). If so, register the social media names for free at the same time.

8. Keep the domain name relatively short so it is easy for people to type into browsers. Ideally, the domain name is 20 characters or less (e.g. ChildhoodLoss.com).

9. Combine two (or up to three) words that are easy to spell, pronounce, and are distinctive together. For example, Darcy Eikenberg is an executive coach who helps professionals bring their superpowers to work. Her business and website name is appropriately named RedCapeRevolution.com.

10. When in doubt, ask friends and family for their input when naming your journey. It’s a great conversation starter and people will take an immediate interest in your new website and business because…

Other Graceful Resources to Grow Your Email List and Business

Recommended Website and Email Resources (along with the reasons why)
Lead Magnet Project (an interactive online project launching June 2017)
Lead Magnet Examples (email subscribers can add their own web address for free)
Lead Magnet Guide (5 essential characteristics of a lead magnet)
Lead Magnet Survey (share your own opinion and discover what other entrepreneurs recommend)

Cheering for your online success – one project step at a time!
Brent

Top Reason for Starting a Blog

September 9, 2016 by Brent Peterson

In my previous journal entry, I outlined the three biggest benefits of starting a blog.

Or in my case (and perhaps for you as well) re-starting a blog on a new website.

I’m admittedly not the poster child for blogging consistency.

It’s one of those things I know I should do (SEO benefits are real when done right). And it’s one of those things I know I can enjoy doing (if I don’t treat it as a chore – one of the reasons I now brand this blog as my graceful journal).

My Blog Confession

I have fallen off the blog wagon multiple times over the past five websites.

My primary reasons for breaking the blog habit were primarily two-fold:

I didn’t schedule writing time into my weekly calendar.
I over thought the whole process (I’m a recovering perfectionist ;).

Note to self and to you, my friend:

Don’t repeat my mistakes.

We’re talking about a blog (short for web log) here. It’s not a dissertation.

Nobody really cares about some grammatical type-o.

People care about what you have to say if it helps them. They want to know about your journey.

That’s what matters.

Top Reason for Starting a Blog

That being said, the top reason for starting a blog (and maintaining a blog) truly from a business perspective is something less altruistic than the benefits outlined in my previous journal entry.

You see, my mission with this new website called Graceful Resources is to help you gracefully profit online from your passion in life. I’m here to make the technology side of things your graceful enabler.

I want you to be profitable.

And the world needs for you to be profitable.

You have something special to share with the world, but if you can’t come out ahead financially, your dream will die.

Without money, you can’t cover your website operating costs – and the costs do add up.

(If you’d like a summary of the resources I use and recommend, my free tech guide covers it.)

Without money, you can’t grow.

Without money, you can’t serve others.

Click Here to Never Miss a New Journal Entry

And the most essential and proven strategy to make money online gracefully and professionally is simply this…

Grow your email list.

Why Your Email List Matters

Without an email list, you can’t build relationships with your audience.

Without an email list, you can’t notify your audience of new posts.

Without an email list, you can’t share information with them about your new online course, ebook, etc.

Without an email list, you can’t segment your audience based on their interest (I use ConvertKit for this aspect – here’s why).

Without an email list, you can’t be profitable.

Every Blog Post Should Grow Your Email List

If your next blog post or journal entry doesn’t grow your list, write a better post next time.

No worries. This is a learning process and we’re on this journey together.

And make it real easy for people to join your mailing list from your posts. The pop up forms I use on this site built on the Rainmaker Platform all run through OptinMonster software.

To see a pop up example click here, and if interested, here’s a review I wrote on OptinMonster.

Blog posts work for you. Just don’t fall over the blogging wagon like I did.

The world needs to hear your voice.

And you need to be profitable.

Hope this helps,
Brent

FREE QUICK REFERENCE TECH GUIDE (click here): Discover the Graceful Resources I use and recommend for websites, including the reasons why, plus the mistakes to avoid when starting out in digital commerce.

Please let me know if you have any questions via my contact form or in direct response to my free Graceful Journal email mailing list.

I’m here to take away the pain of figuring out how to use new web technologies so you can gracefully profit online from your passion in life.