email marketing

How to Build an Email List Even Without a Website

February 22, 2017 by Brent Peterson

You have a great message to share with the world and you can be successful reaching a global audience. But there are three goals you need to realize to accelerate your dream.

These three goals are to:

Receive Strategic Direction
Move Forward Every Week
Save Time and Money

In the online business world, your success depends on the fulfillment of these goals through professionally managed projects for web content and email marketing. This website called Graceful Resources and an online interactive project (details below) were designed with you in mind.

The secret to your entrepreneurial success is simply this…

Plan your work and then work your plan.

In alignment with the three goals of Graceful Resources to guide you strategically, keep you moving forward every week, and save you time and money, a new interactive project is being launched to help you build an email list (even without a website).

Project details are included below for your reference and consideration.

How to Build an Email List Even Without a Website

The project is a meaningful experience for you as an entrepreneur to start building an email list of people who are genuinely interested in what you have to say or offer.

If you’d like to receive a 25% discount opportunity and get started with a FREE Lead Magnet Guide, simply click here.

Title: The Lead Magnet Project
Structure: Interactive Guided Do-It-Yourself Project

Target Audience: Professionals who are…

Looking to Build a New Email List to Start Promoting their Passion and Helping Others Through Planned Products, Services, or Events
Not Ready to Launch a New Website Just Yet (or Have No Intention to Manage a Website)
Frustrated with the Opt-In Results on their Existing Website
Intimated by the Technical Side of Online Entrepreneurship
Ready to Roll Up Their Sleeves, Learn New Skills, and Produce Tangible Project Results
Eager to Connect with Other Professionals in a Supportive Online Project Environment

Start with Your FREE Lead Magnet Guide

By the end of the project, you will learn how to:

Create an attractive opt-in incentive or lead magnet
Set up a professional opt-in landing page and form with Leadpages to promote the lead magnet (participants can also use their own landing page software)
Select a memorable custom domain name to automatically redirect to an opt-in web page
Establish and test SEO settings for the new web page
Develop a double opt-in sequence to minimize spam and cross-promote current or planned offerings (optional)
Draft an automated welcome message to set expectations with new subscribers
Integrate and test an opt-in form with ConvertKit (participants can also use their own email marketing service)
Tag email subscribers into an automated welcome sequence
Deliver the welcome message and lead magnet to subscribers automatically
Segment subscribers based on interest tags in welcome message (optional)
Develop a marketing strategy (including the use of Facebook and LinkedIn) for the lead magnet and email list
Establish an email communication rhythm with the email list for long-term engagement

Other Project Notes:

Participants will be issued a Teamwork user account to securely log-in to the project from any browser. For those who don’t know, Teamwork is a project management-based software application based in Ireland. The Graceful Resources team uses it to manage custom projects out of Virginia for clients as far away as Hawaii, and absolutely love it for online collaboration and for getting things done in a logical sequence. Teamwork starts at $49/month and is a game changer for any part-time or full-time entrepreneur. Project participants will get to use Teamwork under the Graceful Resources software license at no additional cost.
Participants can also download the free Teamwork Projects app to get notifications and add task comments from their phones.
Written or video instructions will be provided for each project task.
Ongoing online support and feedback on each task will be provided by the Graceful Resources project team. Participants are also encouraged to support one another with online feedback throughout the project.
Each conversation will be grouped and stored by project task so finding and contributing to a relevant conversation is simple.
Project risks will be posted to further guide participants with their own strategic decision making.
Project documentation will be handled via Teamwork and your Graceful Resources login account.
The retainer fee for Graceful Resources custom client projects start at $500/month. But you are obviously not going to be able to charge that amount for this project.

Join the Project Interest List

In support of your three professional goals to:

Receive Strategic Direction
Move Forward Every Week
Save Time and Money

… click here to stay connected to projects announcements and to take advantage of a 25% discount opportunity details. How long you stay connected to the project is entirely up to you.

It’s going to be a very supportive project environment with this promise…

You are going to learn valuable marketing and tech skills (even if you never thought you could understand web technology) and you are going to produce meaningful results.

Once more, the secret to entrepreneurial success is simply this…

Plan your work and then work your plan.

For more information on the Lead Magnet Project – including Frequently Asked Questions – please visit LeadMagnetProject.com.

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

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.

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