Are you hearing crickets when you send out an e-newsletter or e-blast to your list? If that’s the case, why do you continue to send one? We have advice on how to get your emails opened and prompt action from the recipients.
We’ve talked in the past about how your list is one of your most important business assets. That is more true than ever with the coronavirus pandemic and the looming election taking up most of our social media feeds.
How To Get Your Emails Opened
If your open rates and click-through rates are low, try some of these steps to amp up the opens, clicks and follow through on your calls to action. Know that subject lines matter – this is the first impression someone on your list sees.
Get noticed in the busy inbox. Your email subject line should be description enough to prompt action. If your subject line is boring or if it tells the entire story, why open? The subject line should be enough of an attention grabber that the recipient needs to know more.
Does your content lend itself to statistics? “More then 80% of all businesses with mailing lists stay afloat!” (this is made up, but if you’re a business owner, wouldn’t you open it? Statistics also help build your credibility – a reader will think, “wow this person knows his stuff!”
Don’t reuse a subject line. If you had a subject line that garnered eyes on the content and clicks, it may be tempting to repeat and reuse – don’t. Your readers will get onto you and eventually they won’t open.
Show your personality. Speak right to the reader. Don’t offer your success in the subject line. “I used this and won the lottery!” Who cares. “If you use this you, too could win the lottery!” Well, now I am listening.
FOMO is real. The fear of missing out, limited quantities, limited spaces and deadlines prompt action. Again, don’t overuse this because it’s like crying wolf. After a while, your FOMO headlines won’t prompt action – well maybe other than deleting it.
Subject lines matter. Your content matters. Don’t use a sensational headline thinking that it will prompt an open and then give content that doesn’t match the headline. Bait and switch subject lines and content will see you in the trash can.
Coronavirus has meant many people are working from home. In this case, you’re wondering how to create compelling content when you’re working from home and might not have much interaction with the “outside world.” We understand. We have put together a checklist of ways you can stay in touch, create content and remain relevant.
How To Create Compelling Content When You’re Working From Home
Consider these strategies
Find a new strategy. Because the world has changed, your thinking has to change. You need to try to embrace the changes that coronavirus has wrought and realize you can’t change the world, so you need to change your thinking. Don’t think about — I don’t have any way to be creative when I am stuck at home. In fact, think — It is a challenge I can overcome; creating content in lockdown. Consider that you might be the only link your audience has to the outside world.
Create new content. How about a podcast? Ever thought of trying your hand at turning your blog posts into infographics? How about a video blog aka vlog? Go live on Facebook or Instagram. People are connecting with content in new and different ways and podcasts are HUGE.
Use the proper tools. You don’t have to spend thousands on new technology — microphones, cameras, etc. — but you do want to have equipment that allows you to be seen and heard that makes you look and sound like a professional. Ask colleagues what equipment they are using and consider making the investment in yourself and your business.
If you’re struggling to create new content — and we get it — repurpose your old content. Turn a blog post into a video or a podcast. Rewrite old content with a new spin.
Ask for help. If you have a colleague or a business acquaintance in a different, but a complementary field, do a blog post trade-off. A benefit to guest posting — for both of you — is that your content and your business gets in front of a brand new audience and that is a win all day.
We know the coronavirus lockdown is causing stress and anxiety in many people and in many business owners. Connect with others via Zoom and have or host a virtual coffee hour or happy hour. Connecting with others will help you get through this odd time in our history.
Being an entrepreneur can be hard — there I’ve said it. But being an entrepreneur can be — is — rewarding. When you’re an entrepreneur, you’re not going to arrive at a destination — you will be on a journey for many years. Along the path of your journey you will have ups, downs and smooth sailing. We have tips for how to overcome business obstacles whether you’re a start-up or a long-time entrepreneur.
When you have a setback, step back and determine why, what happened and how you can address it moving forward. When you have a win, celebrate it, make note of what it was, how it happened and do more of that!
How To Overcome Business Obstacles
Here are ways entrepreneurs can overcome obstacles and learn from them.
Acknowledge that you are facing an obstacle. It’s all right to ask for help. It is all right to admit your attempt didn’t yield the fruit you’d imagined it was going to. Process your thoughts, let yourself be angry, then learn from it and move on. Don’t allow yourself the luxury of simply wallowing in your failure — or imagined failure.
The set back you just experienced… was it without your control or outside of it? If it was outside of your control — a supplier had an unexpected rate increase — regroup and come up with a solution. If it was within your control, you need to determine how it happened and what role you played. Write down any setback then also write down any changes you’d implemented that help you move past it.
Who can help? Determine what the obstacle is/was and then find someone who can help. When you seek counsel from a colleague or a business coach you are moving forward and growing as a business owner.
If you find yourself getting stuck in a rut and being unable to move forward, take a day off. Take a walk, Meditate. Get out of your own head. Don’t beat yourself up — learn from the challenge and obstacles.
Drop us a line if you need assistance overcoming business obstacles.
When people come to your blog are they likely to come back? Is it a good experience for them? The cliche of you only get one chance to make a first impression is true. We have tips on how to make a splash with your blog that will get your readers coming back for more.
Blogging is the way in which your website remains current and active in the eyes of Google search — and you want to remain active and seem viable in Google’s eyes as they can help drive your content up in a search.
How To Make A Splash With Your Blog
Here are tips to make a splash and rank in a search
Use Google’s people cards — this is esentially your brand’s demographic. If people are looking for you or your business in a search, you want to set up a Google Card/People Card so you come up in a search.
If you list your prices on your website, don’t feel that you have to justify them. If you do feel the urge to do that, talk about your prices in the terms of the value a customer will reap by working with you over the competition.
What is your personal brand? Are you funny? Serious? Sarcastic? Do you share your political views or religious leanings unapologetically? If that’s the case, that is who you are and your customers will come to you because they like what you’re saying OR they will move on because they don’t. If they move on they probably weren’t a good fit.
The “voice” of your blog is part of your brand. Are you a natural teacher? A leader? An experienced professional like no other? Then share that information with your readers.
Capture readers on your email marketing list. Your list is your most valuable company asset. Give people a reason to sign up for your email — a great lead magnet is key!
How has the coronavirus pandemic impacted the way your goals are panning out? Have you met your goals? Have you had to change course to meet the goals? How to achieve your goals is a moving target, even more so this year.
Goal setting needs to be an ever-evolving practice because you need to adjust to meet a target, change a target once you’ve met it and make new targets if the original just doesn’t make sense. So many business owners set business resolutions in January then never look at them again until the following January.
We recommend setting quarterly, or even monthly goals, then set small steps to reach them. Review them at the end of the week, the month, the quarter and see if they were realistic and if you met or exceeded them then plan for the next week, month or quarter.
How To Achieve Your Goals
How can you help ensure you meet a goal? Try this
Make it concrete. If it’s a goal like, “lose weight” what does that mean? One pound, ten pounds, one hundred? A concrete goal is more achieveable than a goal that is vague.
Write the goal down. Don’t just “think” the goal and believe it will happen. Chances are it won’t. Write goals in a notebook, on your computer, in your calendar on a sticky note. When it’s visible it takes on a life of its own.
Announce your goal to your colleagues or an accountability partner. Make it known that you want to accomplish XYZ by
Celebrate when you meet a goal! Announce it to the “world” that you set a goal and met it! Treat yourself!
What do you want to accomplish and by when? Find yourself a business coach and/or an accountability partner and you may meet those goals you’ve set!
