How to introduce yourself to 1,000 strangers
(and get them to buy from you)
If there’s one life lesson we’ve learned, it’s probably: “If you’d like somebody to do something for you, then you have to do something nice for them first.”
This is true in business as well. And doing something nice for a potential customer is the #1 way to grow your business.
Did you know that at least 80% of your website visitors will leave your site without ever taking any action?
How to get your visitors to take action
If you want people to stick around when they come to your website, and eventually make a purchase, then you must give them a compelling reason to do so.
Here’s what you need to do:
Give them something. Something that solves an immediate problem. And give it to them for free.
To do this, you’ll need:
A Lead Magnet – You’re probably thinking “What the heck is this?!” No worries. We’ll tell you.
A professional opt-in form to show them what you’re going to give them. They’ll return your kindness by giving you their eMail address (so that you can send them your freebie)
That free offer is what we call a “lead magnet” (a ‘lead’ is a person, and you’re using a ‘magnet’ to attract them
A “Lead Magnet?” How do I make one?
In a nutshell, a lead magnet is an offer that aims to grab a person’s attention in exchange for their email. You give them something for free, they give you their name and eMail address. It’s like shaking hands with a stranger, and becoming their friend.
The freebie you’ve given them allows you to introduce yourself. Your new friend loves what you’ve given them, and will be more likely to spend money with you in the future.
Lead magnets work thanks to an “opt-in” form. This is a form on your website that collects the user’s eMail address and then pops them over to a “thank you” page. We’ll talk about how an opt-in form works in a few minutes.
Right now, let’s talk about what kind of lead magnet you can offer.
Examples of Lead Magnets
Realistically, a lead magnet can be anything as long as it has value (or solves a problem) for your prospective customer.
Here are some of the different types of lead magnets:
Content Upgrades – If you’re offering content to your customers, this type of lead magnet can work wonders.
Let’s say you’ve written “10 Insider Tips on How You Can Earn More from Ebay”
instead of giving away all 10 to your readers, you give them a list of the first 5. Then, you ask them to share their email address so that they can continue learning the other 5 insider tips. It works great!
Free Tools – Who’s looking to make each day easier? That’d be, ummm, all of us! That’s why offering a free tool is a perfect lead magnet. A tool can be an app, a service, maybe a worksheet on how to get something done, or a checklist of items that the reader can check off to make their life or project easier
Free Trials or Samples – When people are about to shell out cash they tend to question whether it’s a good decision or not. Eliminate that doubt by offering a free trial of your product or service…in exchange for their information.
Expert Advice – If you’re a well-known expert in your field, you can offer to share expert advice to your prospective customers. When people are confused and need help, they’re desperate to have an expert tell them what to do. This is also a GREAT way for your visitors way to know you.
Offer a Discount or a coupon or a free upgrade – Get creative!
So, think to yourself, what do you have to “give away”? What do prospective customers need or want and how will it take away their pain?
How do I give my freebie to my visitors?
THIS is the “opt-in form” your customers will “Opt In” to your special
The opt-in form is a lead magnet’s “partner in crime”. The two of them go hand-in-hand. The opt-in form is where your prospective customers show their interest in your product or service and give you consent to use their email address to receive their freebie and more information.
Once they’ve given you their email address, you’ve both made an agreement: They get your free offer in exchange for the information and consent you need to email them more about your business.
How Do I Create and Use an Opt-In Form to Grow My Business?
Now, here’s where it all comes together …
Okay, so now you need the tools that’ll help you get started.
You may have to find an eMail company to help you send out ‘follow-up emails’ (these are the eMails that you will send out to your customers),
The good news is that many of these companies also have their own opt-in form creation tool, so you can do it in one place.
Some eMail companies you can look up: Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, and Drip (we use Drip) are just a few that offer email services and opt-in forms.
But there are also lots of options for opt-in form creation. If you’re using WordPress, you can search their plug-ins to create an opt-in form.
There are also companies that specialize in opt-in forms such as Optin Monster (which is what we use), Thrive Leads, and MiloTree.
Once you have your email provider and opt-in form service, you’ll need to create an eye-catching image of your free offer (your lead magnet) to include on your opt-in form: Watch this video.
Your opt-in form should stay simple: A high-quality image of your product offer, a few words that get them excited to give you their personal information, and, of course, a place to fill in their name and email address.
Next, create a “thank you” page. This is where people who sign up for the freebie will end up when they click “submit”. Here they should be given instructions on how/where to get their free offer as well as, possibly, a special offer to make a purchase.
Finally, create your follow-up emails: These are the emails you send to a person who gave you their email address. These should include a “thank you” and information on how to get in touch with you.
In your follow up eMails, you can give away more free things, more valuable information, and even offer them your paid product or service.
Typically, once someone has received something of value from you, they are much more likely to consider buying from you.
And THAT, creatorpreneurs, is why you need to give away a helpful freebie using a professional-looking opt-in form!
