You may recognize Matt Molen from Email Crush as one of our speakers from the 2019 AdThrive Accelerate Summit. We partnered with him on some awesome email strategy training for AdThrive publishers!
We really love the way Matt breaks marketing principles down into simple, easy-to-understand steps — and so do a lot of AdThrive publishers! We’ve seen many of our publishers apply his strategies and skyrocket their traffic by using their mailing list to its full potential.
Today, Matt’s joining us here on the AdThrive blog to share one of his most successful email marketing secrets.
Use a “Quick Start Guide” to grow your email list
by Matt Molen
Is one of your goals to finally put your email newsletter strategy in place?
But not sure where to start?
Today I want to share with you the technique that has helped so many of my clients grow their lists BIG.
It’s called the Quick Start Guide!
Here’s how it works…
Your traffic is your best source of list growth
People are visiting your website and social channels every day.
We want these people to “stop in their tracks” and JUMP onto the email list, right?
How?
Well, it certainly is NOT with one of these in your sidebar:
Uhhhh….
Most of us don’t want MORE email. We want LESS.
Here’s what your readers really want…
Your readers want solutions to THEIR problems
However she got there (Google, Pinterest, etc), your site visitor is in “transaction mode”.
She is looking for something in particular and your content is simply a “transaction” to her.
When she’s done, what will she do?
Remember your URL?
Bookmark your site?
Heavens NO. She’ll bounce.
So…
The way to get her OUT of transaction mode and to get ON your list is to offer her something that solves her next problem.
Enter… the Quick Start Guide.
What is a Quick Start Guide?
A short series of emails that lead new readers to the most important content on your blog.
Picture this:
- It is a series of 3-5 emails
- Each email is sent 24 hours apart
- Each email solves a reader’s problem and helps her learn about your topic of expertise fast
- By linking back to articles already on your site
Why does this work?
When learning something new, people just want to get started quickly.
When your reader starts out learning about your topic, she just wants someone to make it simple for her.
By anticipating your reader’s next questions, you will be walking them down a logical path of learning, providing HUGE value.
And, as you provide a TON of value, your reader starts to become a fan, more likely to open and click emails from you in the future.
Here are some Quick Start Guides in action:
Go fast! Use existing content
Great news…
You can use your existing content to build your Quick Start Guide.
That’s right, you don’t have to write NEW content for this!
You might be asking…
“But Matt, all of this content is already on my blog. Can’t they just find it there?”
Sure, they can. If they are willing to take the time to look.
But we know the truth…
A reader in “transaction mode” isn’t likely to take the time and explore all the great content you’ve provided.
So, putting it in front of them in a Quick Start Guide is great for both YOU and HER.
Best of all? You’re building a SuperFan
When a reader subscribes to your Quick Start Guide, she is giving you permission to be in her inbox 3-5 days in a row!
Think about that…
When she gets an email from you each day that is AWESOME, she’s going to:
- Remember your name
- Start to recognize your logo
- Come back to your site multiple times
- And…be trained to open FUTURE emails you send
Boom. That’s powerful stuff.
And it’s a great way to “kickstart” your email growth!
We’re strong believers in building your mailing list and using it to drive high-value traffic to your site! AdThrive publishers can catch up on Matt’s Summit email marketing sessions here in the AdThrive community Facebook group.
