Tweet

How to Grow Your Following of Ideal Clients and Readers

Guest post by: Melinda Copp

Article Overview: Imagine having a following of people anticipating the release of your book, awaiting your next seminar, or planning on working with you in the future. And imagine these people are your ideal clients, having self-selected themselves to receive your marketing messages. These are the people you write for, the people you want to build relationships with, and the people who your information can help.

How to Grow Your Following of Ideal Clients and Readers

Imagine having a following of people anticipating the release of your book, awaiting your next seminar, or planning on working with you in the future. And imagine these people are your ideal clients, having self-selected themselves to receive your marketing messages. These are the people you write for, the people you want to build relationships with, and the people who your information can help. With a pool of readers waiting to hear from you, making sales would be a whole lot easier than scrambling to find the next person interested in what you have to say. Folks, this is the first secret of successful marketing: you must have a list of people interested in what you have to offer, whether you're selling services, books, or seminars. And you should be constantly working to build a list of people who are interested in what you have to offer.

Here are a few basics of building your list.

1. Add an Opt-In Box to Your Web Site and Blog

When an ideal client comes to your web site, but isn't ready to take action immediately, you don't want that person to get away. You want the ability to follow up and keep in touch with them. To do this, create an opt-in box, or web form where people who come to your web site can enter their name and e-mail and be added to your list. In a one-sentence, catchy sales blurb in the box, describe the benefits you provide to your readers. Then put the form in the upper right-hand corner of every page of your web site and on your blog.

2. Send People to Your Site

To get people on your list, you first have to get them to your site, which means you need to be generating a steady flow of traffic. Writing and publishing articles online, distributing press releases, blogging, and social media are free or cheap ways to find new, ideal readers. Make sure you link all your published materials to a place where your readers can give you their contact information, and make it easy for them by telling them exactly what you want them to do. For example, "Click here to sign up."

3. Give People an Incentive for Signing Up

Okay, they've read a little about you in your article or press release, and they've clicked the link to go to your web site. Now you want to do EVERYTHING you can to make sure that person gives you their contact information. The best way to do this is give away a free special report or other offer that provides information they want. Write your report so it introduces you and your compelling story or "aha" moment, provides useful information, and entices them to take action by calling you or buying your products.

Building a list is one of the best, most efficient ways to market and sell your services and expertise online. All authors and experts can sell more by building a list of followers and continually marketing to them. It's never too early or late to start. Put a form on your web site, generate traffic by writing and publishing marketing materials online, and offer your ideal audience something they want to get them on your list. This simple process will have you collecting names of readers and potential clients right away!

Related Articles
  “BEST WAYS TO IDENTIFY YOUR IDEAL CLIENTS & CUSTOMERS”
  Two Sentences that Make or Break Your Article Marketing Success: How to Write a Resource Box that Attracts Ideal Clients
  Some Books Don't Work! How to Write a Book that Grows Your Business
  Inspiring Local Success - June 2011
  Connect to Your Readers and Create Raving Book Fans

Article Tags: br, e mail, pool, relationships, seminars, services books, steady flow, successful marketing, traffic, whole lot



Related Forum Posts
Re: Who Did You Learn Most From and Why? - Hi Martin, You missed out on the most essential community that helps you grow - Your Clients. Well, I believe that my Initial Clients have been the ones who have given me the moments of 'aha' in my business. They have stood by me even when I was a starter and that has helped me shape and build my stand. They have helped me grow as an entrepreneur, learn to have loads of patience and make the most of what comes across. They have also helped me to strengthen me as a person. btw, personally speaking, my Grandfather always kept me on track and lent me emotional support when I was down in any matter - be it business or otherwise.
Re: My 3 best business books - 1. Think and Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill 2. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen R. Covey 3. Permission Marketing - Seth Godin Think and Grow Rich seems more powerful each time I read it or dip into it. The 7 Habits not only offers some very effective ways to organize your life (which I have yet to master!), but also some great quotations and thought provoking statements including this by Nazi concentration camp survivor, Viktor Frankl: [i:2naxzsom]Between stimulus and response, man has the freedom to choose.[/i:2naxzsom] Seth Godin's Permission Marketing is a good read for anybody seeking to understand how to approach doing business on the Internet in the right way with regard to winning people's trust.
Coaching Women vs. Males - Tami, Do you have any clients from Eastern Canada? I was wondering if Coaching Clients from either Coast was any different. Also is it different coaching women entrepreneurs vs. males?
Re: My 3 best business books - It seems that Napoleon Hill works help a lot of business men. He had done a really good job. I bought Think and Grow Rich many times.
Internet Marketing is the best business in the world - I have 7 reasons for saying this 1. You develop it once an sell it many times 2. You have no inventory. 3. Clients pay you before they download your product 4. You earn money 24/7 5. No face to face selling 6. You can outsource the production 7. You can do it in your room


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Stress: What Causes It and How To Deal With It

How to develop the best lateral thinking skills

Presenting Yourself With Impact at Work

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.