Which would you rather have – a business that runs your life, or a business that enhances your life?
Thought so.
The biggest factor in determining whether you have one or the other, is your list. Lists are the new gold. Everybody is into list building these days.
Still, you don’t greet others with “Hi, my name is ______, I am a list builder.” Because it does not describe what you DO nor what your business is about.
So What Exactly DO You Do?
What do bloggers do most often?
As a serious blogger you most often meet new people – because it’s the ONLY way to grow your list. All of your new subscribers are people you haven’t met yet.
It explains why you’re always looking to meet new people – so you can introduce yourself and explain to your audience they are morons if they don’t buy your stuff at a big discount but hurry only before midnight tonight.
Wrong! And right. To be seen as a vendor and not as an expert – a blogger’s kiss of death. And right, the BIGGEST difference between a business that weighs you down and a business that enhances your life, is in …
How You Greet People
Every business has a story to tell. But how to tell the story so people listen and get hooked? You’re doing it online 7/24/365, through your blog and landing pages, and offline every time you’re out and about.
Greeting people right, then watch your list of subscribers grow – what could be more enjoyable?
But – will it work?
It is not paint-by-numbers. Success never is. It won’t work for everybody. To believe it could / would only set you up for disappointment.
“A winner is someone who recognizes his God-given talents, works his tail off to develop them into skills, and uses those skills to accomplish his goals.”
– Larry Bird
“The secret to success is … is no secret. It’s called work your ass off and find a way to add more value to peoples’ lives than anyone else does.”
– Tony Robbins
Work your tail off? Certainly not right away. To find if it works for you, just play with the idea first.
• What if you become incredibly clear about what you do, why you do it, and who it can really serve best?
• What if you have a clear greeting that resonates with the people who experience it and shows the value of what you have to give?
• What if you could use the exact same easy to remember message online and off?
Technique #1 – Know What The Deal Is
Knowing what the deal is, is technique #1 – because “deal-making” is synonymous with “business.” On the downside, no deals = no business. On the upside, business thrives – and the good news, you are a natural at it.
Who says deal-making says rejection – it is part and parcel of deal-making. In the beginning especially, rejection by just one person alone, if s/he’s the right one, is enough to make you wish for a space shuttle to your own planet. And in business rejection can be on a scale that makes it anyone’s guess how you manage to get home with your integrity intact.
So you learn to think your deals through before presenting them to others.
What IS the deal when meeting someone for the first time – what are you hoping to achieve with a first handshake? To sell? To impress with a freebie or bonus? To dazzle with hi-tech pop-ups? To have readers subscribe to your list?
Shooting for lofty goals only results in deal-breaking, not in deal-making, more often than not – not what you want.
What you want instead is to create curiosity and have them exclaim:
“Oh, Really!?”
When meeting people for the first time you’ve got a minute or less. It is too little time to make someone else to agree with your point of view, but enough to tell an engaging story and create curiosity – and have them exclaim, “Oh, really!?” By aiming for less you’ll achieve more.
To make people WANT to do business with you. Going for less doesn’t make sense, and going for more is a deal-breaker.
Besides, you don’t have to do the selling part anymore, because the actual selling is taken care of by buy-buttons, PayPal, Clickbank and credit card/banks these days.
Creating curiosity in what you can do for others, works better than telling them outright. With your greeting create a vacuum, don’t fill it. If you stop a great story in the middle, the audience will insist to hear more.
Technique #2 – Compete With Yourself
Ignore the competition – or risk to feel overwhelmed.
Manufacturing is employing fewer people, because new technologies – nano, robotics, 3D printing – are revolutionizing the manufacturing sector. At the same time writing (content creation) has not only survived change – from stone tablets 5,000 years ago, to paper and pen, to the printing press, the typewriter, the internet and anywhereheld devices – writing thrives on innovation!
The demand for good old writing and fresh new content just keeps growing. It explains why more and more people cross over from manufacturing/unemployment to writing/content creation. Competition is ruthless, and will get even more so in the years ahead. Now is the time to get on board, my friend.
How to not feel overwhelmed?
Just measure yourself to yourself only – forget about reportedly competitive conversion rates out there. Start with your own current rate of converting visitors/readers into subscribers, work to improve it constantly and never-ending – and in the end you will be the competition.
Technique #3 – Begin With Why
Your why – the very reason your business exists. But we tend to forget because no-one greets you with, “Why do you do?”
You ask, “What do you do?” instead – but that’s only because you want to be sure of an answer. But in human relations the why is always there, as the stars are there even in full sunlight.
Simon Sinek is an authority on “Why.” His blog and his daily “Notes to Inspire” really do. Anyway, here from here from Simon Sinek’s blog, a fabulous infographic on “Why”:
Don’t like infographics? Then hop over here for Albert Einstein’s pure version of “Why” – then hop back over here.
Don’t ask, “Why?” even jokingly, because I’ll only tell you when you’re clear on your why, and express it in your greeting, people get to know you, because you hit the center of “The Golden Circle.” The right people instantly feel to know, like and trust you, and the wrong people run for cover, never to be your problem.
Make “Why” a part of your story and of your greeting. Clarity on your why is the best body-guard you’ll ever have for your business because it is letting only the best people get through.
If you feel I wrapped up “Why” too quickly, or if you have questions, email me at beat@leapofaction.com
Technique #4: Always Tell A Story
Like most bloggers, I’ve been dabbling in internet marketing since 2008. The beginning was difficult – drove me up a wall. But then I remembered a few true marketing “secrets” – and it got easier.
• People choose people and products (in this case you are both) based on the STORY the person/product represents – in THEIR mind.
• Bloggers who are experts in the bias and lies people tell themselves, and create a STORY fitting that worldview, can generate sales all day long.
• You can’t create a strong story – a story that’s worth spreading – if you don’t know who you are telling it to.
• If the story is nothing but about a catalog hooked up to a shopping cart, it is a yawner.
• Tell your entire sales story every time!
Technique #5 – Do’s and Dont’s
Don’t Give Up. The Blogosphere is full of dead blogs, each a broken dream. But your dream is unbroken – keep it that way.
Why is giving-up so popular? Even though I’m a recovering giver-upper myself, the colossal number of dead blogs just doesn’t make sense. When you KNOW there is gold, keep digging, and if you don’t, why begin?
Don’t Be Normal. If you started but then let go of great ideas in your distant past, you know how hard it is to break the insane habit – but also that it can be easily done.
If it is hard it is only because you keep hearing, “It’s only normal to make foolish decisions often,” “You’re only human after all – it is normal to make decisions that rob you of your dreams.” Not with these words, but that’s what they are saying. Experts, too. You have cheese smarter than that at home. Every cheese knows …
“Normal is nothing more than a cycle on a washing machine.” (Whoppi Goldberg)
Yeah!
Other Do’s & Dont’s
• If your current “What do you do?” does not get you to “Oh, really!?” – a boring story is worse than no story at all. Stop using it.
• Don’t believe it is okay to be lengthy, boring, esoteric, meek or robotic, just because it is normal. You are here to stand out and “What do you do?” is a golden opportunity.
• Forget elevator speech. No one ever bought anything on an elevator.
• Regardless of what might be going on inside of your head, don’t respond with, “It’s hard to explain” – the ultimate deal breaker.
Doesn’t leave much to say, does it?
It is okay to say, “I’m working on it.” Authentic always works.
When you follow your dream and are authentic about it, you are considered crazy and accused of wasting your time – by some. This is normal – nothing unique about it. Meet Unique.
Technique #6 – Uniqueness
To grow your list of subscribers, uniqueness is a must. But what exactly is, “Unique”? It sounds like a person’s name, a perfume or a car … but it is actually an obstacle course.
To get over your obstacles you must stop LOOKING at them, and SEE them instead. When you do, you see they only exist in your mind and they are not real.
And just when you thought you’re done with obstacles … another shows up. Typical of obstacles.
“How to get the uniqueness out of its hiding?”
That’s not an obstacle – it’s a process, and a pre-view of Technique #7!
Technique #7: The 60-Second Sales Hook
How to stand out and sell more using the power of your story?
It requires creativity and guts. Many different techniques have helped me over the years, but mostly it has been gradual or cosmetic changes. But a couple of months ago I stumbled upon a formula that made a radical change – “The 60-Second Sales Hook.”
So I invite you to hop over to the inventor of “The 60-Second Sales Hook,” Kevin Rodgers. Kevin doesn’t know about my post, so you’ll be asked for your name and email address. Just to allay any fears: access to everything talked about here is FREE.
In the archetypal story, the s/hero starts out as a very ordinary person, living in an ordinary world. It’s how s/he responds to the circumstances of his or her life that adds up to a “hero’s journey” of strange places and incredible events.
Kevin Rodgers’ 60-Second Sales Hook capitalizes on the archetypal story. At his site you find everything needed to stand out and sell more, using the power of your story, in a minute or less – the simple formula to construct the story, fill-in-the-blank templates and word-for-word video scripts.
This concludes my half of the deal – with a big “Thanks!” to Simon and Kevin.
Now, dear reader, it is over to you. For greatest fun and best results …
Be bold – take action. Each of the 7 techniques works by itself, but for best results to grow your list of subscribers – apply them all rolled into one.
If you enjoyed the post, share it with your friends and use the comments section below to share how these techniques work for you.
Okay?
It’s a deal!
About the author of this guest post:
Beat (pronounced B@) Schindler – has discovered a simple three-part formula that can be used to create satisfaction for ourselves and for other people, and then day by day as if by magic … To discover the simple formula for yourself soon: http://maximyou.com/
Hi Beat,
Great post – I’m always looking for ways to grow my subscribers list.
One point I felt was a bit of a coincidence was #2 Compete With Yourself.
Only yesterday I decided to start doing this. I compare my business far to much to others who’s situation is every different to mine in reality. I can’t help it!
But I’m practising to only beat my own targets and concentrate on my growth.
And I love the golden circle too
Great post!
naomi
Hi Naomi, your words, “I can’t help it!” (to compare your business to that of others) I think speaks for all of us. it describes what happens to all of us all of the time – automatically
For every living thing, to compete is the in-born, the natural way. Every time we meet another person – as you say, you can’t help it, you go into compare mode. And it’s a good thing, because we DO live in a competitive world.
On the downside, comparing yourself to others always results in feeling either superior, inferior or exactly equal – and “exactly equal” never happens. So it leaves one feeling either superior or inferior to others, and if either of these make anyone happy, it won’t be for long.
The alternative,”only beat my own targets and concentrate on my growth,” does away with the inferior/superior b.s. and lets you take full advantage of being a naturally-born competitor – which is to achieve your dreams and goals – and I wish you fun and success as you grow your business and list of subscribers the “beat my own targets”-way :-]
Beat
Comparing me with me is a golden tip here! I love it. Failing to do so is what derails and demotivates most bloggers. They compare themselves with leading competitors and this can easily demotivate them.
Besides there is no point in comparing us with the others because they have a different strategy and goal and ours is different.
Thanks for the wonderful tips Andrew!
Hi Jane,
I’m excited that you have found a golden tip in my post – the most satisfying compliment a writer can get, so thanks a bunch!
That said, comparing yourself to others isn’t a “bad” thing per se (see also my reply to Naomi), and I’m sorry if my post suggests otherwise. But as you say, when comparisons leave us demotivated, and they most often do, it’t can’t be a good thing either.
Especially when creativity is demanded – because making comparisons and being creative can be mutually exclusive.
A tennis player who dreams – who is being creative – of one day playing like Roger Federer comes away feeling smiles better than a tennis player who compares his tennis to that of the greatest player ever.
In growing your list of subscribers, setting your goal is the only comparing part, from there on it’s all about being creative in crafting your greeting that gets you better results than yesterday, but less good than tomorrow’s. So I’m definitely happy my post provided a golden tip.
Wishing you much success,
Beat
Great article Beat, lots of useful and practical tips!
Hi Joel, thanks for your feedback!
Thanks Beat,
it is always helpful to have someone break it down and talk about being authentic.
Focusing on why we do what we do resonates with the readers we are trying to reach.
I try to find ways to self promote without feeling like I am only trying to sell something.
Anne
Corinne,
Without love, you’re so right, forget it. I couldn’t agree more.
From my work with self-help based 12-step groups, I’ve learned everybody’s story is different, but the fear is the same. With fear and absence of love being the same thing – love is always involved. So it’s really a question of dosage.
It is often claimed people are afraid of success (let’s say, in love), but maybe they are just as much afraid of failure. Those familiar with success know that failure is part of the process, but for some, failure is all they’re intimately familiar with (in their current state of mind) and success nothing more than a strange bird of paradise they’ve seen in a picture on somebody else’s wall.
But bloggers are a different breed. When it comes to crafting the greeting/sales hook, maybe most bloggers feel the fear of failure most intensely when it comes to uniqueness. How to be unique AND grow your list of subscribers at the same time? What if you’re not enough unique, what if too much? You imagine a 1,001 things that can go wrong, but knowing the only way to find out is through testing you willingly accept and even welcome “failure.”
My hope for “7 Simple Techniques To Grow Your List Of Subscribers” is that it may help your test results.
Btw, your “the greatest sales hook” – sounds interesting! Mind sharing it here?
Beat
Hi Anne,
We agree authentic always works. Just look at Coke/Pepsi or McDonald’s/Burger King.
“Why” permeates everything we do. It even works when don’t want it to. We’re always selling, so promoting oneself without trying to sell something – if we’re authentic about it – is what we’re selling. I’m not sure there is a market for that, but I think authentic (and unique) really only work when “it” exists so – in the reader’s mind – which you can only hope to find, but you cannot create it.
“You can’t create a strong story – a story that’s worth spreading – if you don’t know who you are telling it to.” Why is important, but then it’s all down to market research – without it, I don’t think there’s a way to grow a list of subscribers, but wouldn’t be surprised if someone proved me wrong tomorrow … lol
Excellent article, thanks. I like the way you deal with introduction. I see many people start with saying I am a guru of so on so. If you say that to someone you just met on the street they would think you are such a twat.
I like to add couple of points. First of all, not eveybody is naturally strong on sales speech. If you are not sure about your abilities, you should study other people’s work and you shouldn’t hesitate to ask for help. One or two great advises can help you turn around. Secondly, you should bombard people with hundreds of e-mails once you build your list. This is very off putting.
Thank you for the basic ideas here and all the encouragement you offer. Success doesn’t come easily or quickly and you should identify your own strengths and work for optimizing them. These are great tips and hopefully reassures many new bloggers that they will succeed if they keep at it and keep improving.
Joe, I agree, hype still sells like hotcake, but it’s not our market.
Regarding deal-making, the way I look at it, we start out early in life with the basic “I cry, you feed me, I stop crying” and then simply take it from there – hence my reason for saying we’re all natural-born deal-makers. That said, we agree, most people don’t develop their in-born deal-making skills much beyond childhood. Books like “Getting To Yes” remain an insider secret. (And so is Kevin Rodger’s formula for “Getting To Oh Really” … lol).
Glad you enjoyed the article, and thanks a bunch for your feedback!
Hi Beat,
I was one of those people that always worried about what the other guy was doing. Now i just do my thing and be myself. I have realized that some people are going to like what you say and others are not.
You have some really good tips for building a list. On #2 I guess i now look at it as completing with myself.
I do feel you have to know who you are, so you can be yourself. Whether is is very serious when you write or if you like to put some humor in your writing. There again it is finding out what you subscribers like.
That Beat for your tips we can all use them, because some times we slide of the road a little.
Debbie
Hi Debbie,
I’m happy that by just being yourself you found the best way to get approval is to not need it. Like you, earlier in life I always worried seriously and today it makes me smile.
But when you decide to go into business and to grow our list of subscribers, you’re right back in the business of needing approval again, albeit this time only in the form of a valid email address.
To get started, I don’t think it necessary to first “have to know” who you are – because you already do. Just as an actress is not chosen on the basis of knowing who she is, but on her ability to act,
If the “7 Simple Techniques To Grow Your List Of Subscribers” can help regardless of who you are, to tell YOUR story so people listen and get hooked – I’m of course very happy, because it was and is my goal.
Who we become in the process is a different story, we just know that business growth and personal growth go hand in hand – which is why we’re in the business of business in the first place, aren’t we?
This is really a very insightful article. One thing that I really connected with was your comment on “why” does not business exist. May start a blog or some other type of online business venture but they really do not have a why or truly have an end goal in mind.
I mean did you start your blog to earn money; as an outlet to talk to others; in hopes of building a list; as a way to learn writing skills? There are so many reasons that each of us could have. But if we do not figure out that why, then we are doing our business a disservice. We cannot reach our goal if we are not sure what that goal or “why” is.
I truly enjoyed this post. Thank you for sharing.
Nathaniel, thanks for the flowers [insightful!]! … lol …
Re “Why,” what people don’t realize – I didn’t for a long time – the Why always shines through whether we want it or not.
To illustrate, “Why” do liars lie? Because they think lying works, or because they fear the truth doesn’t? Have they suffered most from being honest or from lying?
Even in the case of liars – doing their damn best to hide it – you can just feel it (or risk to find out the hard way, later). Of course, all marketers are liars (I think is a book title out there), to a degree, hence the importance of Why.
I’m happy you enjoyed my post. Wishing you success.
I really loved the post. Too often we look at other people that we think are ‘experts’, forgetting that our passion for what we do equates to the same level of expertise (With a few mis-steps along the way.). Know why you are doing this, and how you can help people. If they are ready for change, it will be yours.
It’s great to hear you loved the post – thanks for sharing! I agree all the way.
Kind of makes you wonder how do we even notice “Why” – after all, it’s always been there, hasn’t it? Then suddenly one day we actually get it.
Personally I had been in business for years before it got me. Accepting that “I” was not the solution to the worlds’ problems, the old ego took a hit, but other than that, focus on what the market (urgently, desperately) needs BEFORE focusing on what “I” am and what I have to offer, has proven to be a smart move.
It’s harder to sell solutions than to sell yourself (thinking you are the solution). Definitely requires more work, but well worth the effort.
PS. webuildyourblog.com is a great example, even the url a solution.
Loved the way of writing ..See I try to grwo my subscriber list by using viperbar and side bar email options..But yes I do provide unique and quality content daily.
Hi Shahnawaz,
You’re right, what you say before the “Buy” or “Sign-Up” button is more important than the button.
So that’s where you want to focus your uniqueness and creativity, your time and money.
For buy button and sign-up technology, especially at the beginning, copycat is all you need. Simply check what works on the popular blog(s) (in your market) then do the same.
Thanks for your comment, and best wishes.
Andrew,
you always have great advice!
Christina, thanks for the feedback. Glad you found it of value.
oo often we look at other people that we think are ‘experts’, forgetting that our passion for what we do equates to the same level of expertise (With a few mis-steps along the way.). Know why you are doing this, and how you can help people
Hello Prediski, you hit the nail on its head. We’re always looking “outside,” but it’s not just because our survival depends on it. What we all hope in reaching out, say for a book, is to meet someone of our own heart, to learn not only from our own experience, but also that of others, to dream dreams which render life more hallucinating, maybe to discover a philosophy of life which makes us more adequate in responding to life. Beginning with Why helps to stop merely adding to our store of knowledge or improve our culture, whatever that may mean.
Hey,
Usually, I just go with a simple way to gain subscribers is to give something free to them which is really worth. However, now I should start following for techniques too to gain huge subscribers. Thanks for sharing the great info man 😀
Sohil, thanks for sharing and wishing you much success in your list-growing! Glad you found my post inspiring.
Thank you for the wonderful guide – when you just start a blog it’s always seems hard to get subscribers. But the main thing for me turned out to write about what you really love! If you are truly interested in your topic and always find the at lest news and trends, your blog will be interesting for others. It’s just too many people try to write normally, even formally, But only unique blogs are truly interesting and that’s why ppular
Hi Victoria, I’m with you – without love, forget it.
The challenge, it’s not enough – competition is ruthless – and love spoken is nothing but a four-letter word that means different things to different people.
Talking of which, I recently came across “Madness”, by Muse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq9zhpBweDk – thought you might enjoy it, too.
Clarity doesn’t come from love itself, but from “Why.” Love – to be loved, or to love?
Without a Why there is no compass in love, so in the absence of guarantees (which love doesn’t offer), you’re in the risky business of love gone wrong we hear about in the nooze.
“Think not that you can guide the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, shall guide your course.” (Kahlil Gibran) To many, love means having to let go of the thing they love most, control – without a Why, all but impossible.
And I agree with you, what a chance that so many love to write normally, even formally!
Wishing you success with your blog.
Amazing post you have here…Ensure you’re using the right tools, creating great content, and making it easy for people to sign up…his is an easy way to grow your list without being too intrusive..
Very impressive and depth post, I think freebie and giveaways are also one trick to get number of subscribers.For example giving your ebook for free would attract your readers to subscribe you instantly.
Although all the above points also matters but at the end of day content is the king which itself make reader to subscribe to you without any efforts..
Thanks again for awesome post.
Lots of great insights here. Gaining subscribers is a challenge for a lot of people and I think this is a list that really frames up key opportunities nicely. This 7 simple techniques has a lot of great tools and work by itself. But it actually works if use all the 7 techniques to grow your subscribers. It’s definitely worth checking out. Thanks for the post Beat.
i guess subscribers list is not working anymore after introduction of gmail tabs, as people rarely look into the updates TAB of inbox…
I have been really struggling to figure out how to get subscribers and maximize my ROI when it comes to my list. Would you suggest any particular book or course as the be all and end all of email marketing? I really need some help in the area (don’t get me wrong, I really loved your tips too).
Nice article
Nice tips to increase subscriber to website. i think when subscriber list is increase website traffic is also increase. i definitely follow your steps and i hope it will helpful with me thanks for sharing.
Nice and very informative post
Having a good subscribers list is an asset for any business. It is a very tough to add subscribers. They help our business in many ways. If you have unique and informative content on your web page then surely you will get a lot of subscribers. But when maintaining a business website people why would people be interested in your business unless it is helpful and profitable to them.
The above post explains us 7 tips that would help us built subscribers list. The target, uniqueness and knowing the golden circle is very important factors effecting it. I will surely follow all the steps mentioned and hope to get the best of results.
Thank you for sharing.
These are great ideas. It is a balancing act, for instance, to look at rejection as ‘a part of doing business’, followed by ‘what rejections are you getting and why’, to see if there is a pattern. we all know that a prospect isn’t ready to buy right now, but finding the avenues to extend the conversation is the real skill.
Nice Blog having valuable content
If you want some good subscribers. Then you are pen down some unique and informative content of your website then it is the good sign for getting some good subscribers. And in your post how nicely you share in 7 points through which everyone get subscribers.
Thanks for sharing nice post
This is one of the most elaborately written article I have read in the recent time. It is rightly said that money is in the list but building the list is not that easy. You have mentioned some really valuable tips that can help us increase the number of customers on one hand, and maintain a healthy relationship with them on the other which I feel is very important nowadays. Most of the bloggers miss this part and they do not work in maintain a good relationship with their customers/readers.
Excellent article ! And yes, it is a big one too. Number of Subscribers are really important when it comes to blogging. Thanks for sharing the tips ! Once we get a number of subscribers ( I mean a huge list), then we will be able to increase the traffic. The techniques written in this article, are really well-written. Great work.
Interesting write-up… One thing that strikes me however, has to do with leaving a vacuum in your greeting.
It seems like the internet has become saturated with clever questions designed to elicit clicks. Or never-ending boast-streams that are all fluff and no fact. With the world getting wiser to this, and those who do it becoming more and more recognized and grouped as snake oil peddlers, how do you define where the line is drawn? i.e. the balancing act between empty ‘exciter’ text and rich content to achieve the best results?
P.S. There’s a typo in your Whoopi Goldberg link.
Another very informative post. Subscribers always plays a great role in success of a blog. Surely I’ll follow your tips to increase the list of subscribers. Thanks for the awesome share.
Hello Beat
Really great article. It is all about giving and taking. If you provide nice content, they will definitely subscribe or like or follow you. Andyes there are these methods which can be more beneficial in increasing the number of loyal readers. Thanks for these tips
Hi Beat,
Thanks for sharing useful information. These tips really helpful for me and other also too. I think gaining subscribers is challenge for a lot of people. I’ll definitely implement these tips on my site.
Thanks for sharing great post with us.