You: I launched a new product, and I’m really disappointed with the sales.
Me: What did you do to market your new product?
You: I emailed my list once. I blogged it about it. I posted a picture and description on Instagram and Facebook. I sent out a tweet. I scheduled a few more tweets.
Me: So you basically did the bare minimum?
You: What else was I supposed to do?
Me: Email your list with sneak peeks leading up to your launch. Email your list at least a handful of times during your launch. Set up a sales funnel. Mention it in all of your blog posts for a month leading up to the product release. Do a Facebook live video on launch day to celebrate. Try to book some interviews. Write a couple guest posts. Collect testimonials. Talk about it on social media over and over and over.
You: Won’t that make my followers mad? Won’t they get annoyed with me talking about my products so much?
Me: *Takes a deep breath so I don’t lose my mind* Are you trying to run a successful business or please the entire world?
You: Ummmmm….
Me: Excuse me for a moment while I bash my head up against this brick wall 57 times.
While this might be a bit of an exaggeration, I find myself in this kind of conversation ALL THE TIME. That’s why I created today’s video.
Warning for headphone wearers: this video includes yelling.
I hope this helped you get over your email marketing phobia, because it’s a big piece of running a successful business.
Still nervous about emailing your list? Repeat this mantra over and over: they signed up for my emails because they want me to email them.
“Lady, with your berry lips!’ I’m cracking up over here.
HA! That same exact line made me laugh so hard.
🙂
I love this video. I have at least 4 email accounts and some will get my attention, money and whatever. I’m starting a email list for my business and I will be providing content and information about products and services Thanks April
You’re so welcome! Glad you liked this one.
I need to watch this video every single time I open up Ontraport to send a new email…at least until I get it through my head!
YES! If I could make that part of your weekly “homework,” I so would. 🙂
It was like a sign…. I haven’t sent the last couple of emails to my list, because they’re parenting related, and *some* of my list aren’t parents. But last night, I sucked it up, and sent the post out (which went out on time for once… yay!). I did leave a friendly note at the bottom, giving anyone the option to email me and get removed from mom-posts. I woke up to a wonderful email that said how much they’d enjoyed my email, and that while they’re not a mom yet, they plan to be and they love seeing posts like this and aren’t going anywhere. Yay!!!
Now to properly market the latest goodie for sale I’ve made (and uh… market the one I made before it that never got it’s day in the spotlight…)
I think the ‘but I’m changing my focus’ struggle is real. Lots of us take our businesses in new directions as we grow as entrepreneurs, but we have to realize that means we’ll lose a bit of our audience–but usually much less than we anticipate.
YAY for emailing your list!
Also I died when you said “crochety lady”… I always get harassed for saying that. Glad I’m not the only one who still uses that word. 😀
Hahahahahahaha…it just came out. 🙂
I love the line where you said ‘are you trying to run a successful business or to please the entire world’
Most of us are scared of doing things that will increase the visibility of our biz cos we think TOO MUCH of what people would say
YES! Exactly!
I need to watch this every single morning, April!
Watch it as much as you need to email your list. 🙂
I needed this, April. Yep you were talking to me, I haven’t emailed my list for 6 months because I don’t want to bother them and feel bad about selling my services, but this just shook me up. I am having a big weekend of reflection here!
What?!? Six months…they’re probably thinking, whatever happened to Julia? I haven’t heard from her in awhile. I bet your email would be welcomed and exciting for your subscribers who want to hear from you.
April, you are right on. Rant away! Thanks for the reminder and thanks for all of the work you do!
Just a little update – I went and sent my fall newsletter right after I watched this today. I totally put info on one of my products in part of the newsletter. Guess what? Yep. Sold! Because of the email newsletter. Checked my Etsy stats. Checked my mailchimp stats. Totally direct sale because I mentioned something new I offer in my shop. Boom! Thank you again for this blog. Thank you 100 times over.
I love this!!! Thank you sooooooo very much for coming back to update us. That’s fantastic.
Thank you for the reminder that unsubscribes can be a blessings that cleans up my list. I had a giveaway to attract subscribers and one on the new subscribers unsubscribed in the same day that I announced the winner. Rude, but good riddance. I need more people who want to be on my list because they love my products, not because they want free stuff.
Yes…that can happen frequently with giveaways or even free downloadable things like a worksheet or checklist. They get what they wanted and leave. But those people won’t buy anything anyways, so good riddance.
LOVE! I just started a new email list for my magazine and am getting ready to email them for the first time. Thanks for the pep talk! XO!
Anytime, friend! 🙂
Great post April. Im from Christiansburg!! Im a Florida girl now. I want to start an online biz but not really sure what niche I want to be in yet? How did youdecide yours?
What a small world! It actually took me quite a while to figure it out. I started with freelance writing and enjoyed writing but not the topics.
Then, I started selling jewelry on Etsy. After about six months, other Etsy sellers started coming to me, asking me for advice on how to write their product descriptions or how to promote their shops or how to take product photos. I began helping other creatives build their businesses online and realized that I loved it. I enjoyed it so much more than making jewelry, so Blacksburg Belle went from selling jewelry online to business consulting/coaching.
My best advice is start with something that you really, truly enjoy–something that you love so much, you’d do it even if you weren’t being paid to do it. And, then allow yourself wiggle room to transition if you find yourself enjoying something else more.
Hi April. Loved this post and your video. Such a great reminder and I feel better knowing it’s ok if people unsubscribe if they get an email they do not want. I bought your marketing for creatives book a while ago and it has been really helpful too. I am still at the creating product stage of my business. It will take me a while yet as I work full time and fit my small creative business in on weekends and after work. In the meantime I will keep reading your posts as they help me believe that if I am persistent, patient and work hard then one day my dream of working full time in my creative online business will come true. Thank you again for all your great advice.
Preach, sister! Loved, loved, loved the tough love. It’s exactly what I need!
I have several new pieces hitting the website Friday, so I will email my peeps & tell them rather than hoping they see it on IG or FB. 🙂
Probably maid my day, laugh out loud!