When I first started my online business, I was confused by the list-building, traffic-generating, client-getting puzzle. I had no idea where to start and wondered how it was all going to work.
Have you ever felt that way?
I tried lots of things: blogging, engaging in social media, old-fashioned poster-hanging, and list-building.
Although all of those helped bring in clients, it was a wild amount of work.
Then one day it hit me. I saw the one sure-fire way to get new clients. It worked from the get-go, and it still works today. (So much so that I’m fortunate to now have a 3 month waiting list.)
I want to help you get more clients and customers, too.
In today’s video, I give you the specifics, in the typical no-BS Jenny Shih fashion.
Focus on your list-building and everything else will fall into place. I guarantee it.
Tweet that!
Now, in the comments below, I want to hear from you.
1. How has list-building been working for you for getting new clients?
2. What other reliable methods have you used to get new clients?
I can’t wait to hear your thoughtful, helpful comments.
As always, thanks for watching!
I have to be honest and say I have not focused on list building. I do know how important it is because when I started my website not really knowing what I was going to do with it (and I’m still working on the opt-in, headline, etc)…anyway, Marie Forleo had made such a big deal about adding an email catcher service as part of the main things to set up. That tiny piece of advice was enough for me so I added it and had 100 subscribers without even really trying.
Agree with Justine about turning Pro. Its time for me to do the work for increasing my list and also FINALLY add my services. I was waiting to do this when I joined BSchool in the Fall, but I think its ok to just do it now and make changes later, after all I’m mixing the sand, water, and cement…the website is not concrete just yet. (yep, pun, indeed.)
🙂
You’re right, Sandy, that a lot of us start online knowing we’re supposed to have a list but not understanding why. I love that you see it now and are even doing the little things (like having the service setup) to build it.
There is no right or perfect order for doing all of these tasks–list-building, services, blogging, etc. Pick one and do it. It’s totally okay to make changes later–you’re absolutely right!
I’m still trying to figure this out. I used to find clients via forums online, but since I switched the focus of my business to art in May, I’ve had one single client. I’ve built my email list up to 110 since then, I’ve got a total of around 1000 followers on social media and 101 new blog feed subscribers since July. But no new clients.
I’m now in the process of migrating my entire site over to WordPress, to make it easier to manage, to separate it into logical sections again, and to be able to make part of it into a membership site instead of giving it all away for free.
I’m also compiling 4 ebooks, which I hope will make better freebies than what I’ve got, and hofully also sell well.
A shift in business does shift in how new clients come in, that’s for sure. I’ve found that my list size is the best indicator of new clients, not social media contacts. (That’s just me, though, I can’t speak for everyone.) Your direct mailing list is an indicator of those who have raised their hands to hear more from you, so continuing the focus your efforts there should and will bring more people your way! And killer free offers help with list-building, so you’re on track in that regard, for sure.
Love the video Jenny! List-building really does seem to be the key. Thanks for the tips. It’s something I have been trying to shift my focus to recently. I am working on a better opt-in offer, and getting myself ‘out there’ so to speak 🙂 I’m off to leave thoughtful, helpful comments now….
Awesome!
Thanks Jenny! This is perfectly timed! I am just starting to properly promote my site this week now that I have an opt-in form on my site with a ‘Top 3 Singing Tips’ video as the ‘reward’ for the email sign-up. I’m so glad to hear I’m working on exactly the right thing as I promote my site this week by uploading videos and mentioning my site on fb etc. I recommend checking out YFE (http://youngfemaleentrepreneurs.com/ ) for any women with a business they want to promote. If anyone here is interested in having voice coaching lessons or wants to benefit from some free singing/songwriting/auditioning tips, please check out my site. Thanks again for a great video!
Always happy to help point people in the right direction for building their business, Rowen, and great to hear that you’ve focusing on list-building. I really have found it to be the ticket to growing a successful, profitable business!
Hey Jenny! Love your studio effort. As Ms Forleo said this week-go Pro!
I’ve got out of my comfort zone and hung a few posters myself this week! Virtual posters like a Meetup group and a Facebook group and a linked in group have been my pin ups this week. Start before your ready is how I’m practising- drum up a posse of chicks and get the energy rolling. If I’m not selling I’m not serving is how I want to wake up every day. Big love to you all out there from West Oz x
Good for you for going for it, Justine! I love that you took action on something out of your comfort zone. The only way we can grow our businesses is to work outside of our comfort zone… otherwise we’ll stay exactly where we are (and who wants that?!). 🙂
Hi Jenny,
Thanks so much for this video. I am working on list building right now, but I’m still finding it slow. I think it’s because I am doing some serious procrastinating about guest blogging, and I often get lazy about leaving comments, even when it’s great content (like this!). I am going to recommit to these things, and see what happens. I am a coach, and I know that list building is the BEST way to grow my business. I love your advice. Thanks!!
Susan
I love when people call themselves out so honestly and openly, so my hat’s off to you, Susan!! I remember that the first guest posts I did were so scary! Like Justine was talking about– out of my comfort zone. But I did them anyway and I’m so glad I did. A large part of my new subscribers come that way. You can do it!
Your video was extremely timely. Minutes before I watched it, I was plotting out my marketing efforts for the year ahead and trying to figure out where to concentrate my efforts. Your advice confirmed what I suspected. Building my list and being helpful to those on it are key components to my marketing plan. Thanks for your tips!
You’re welcome for the tips! Yes, when deciding where to put your marketing efforts, list-building is key. Focus there and everything else will fall into place.
You are a doll….a pleasure to watch and clearly in your zone of genius and pleasure! Thanks for the reminder about list building! I love sharing freebies, books, articles, posters etc to build my list…. it usually gets big chunks at a time and then the next time I have an offering – it feels SOOOO juicy to watch the clients roll in.
Thanks for your love and energy.
-Allison Crow
I love that you’ve seen direct results from your efforts, Allison!! I know for me that “proof” like that keeps me going forward. When I guest post on popular sites I build my list and get new clients almost every time. That is just the gentle, loving, encouraging push I need to keep at it, and it sounds like you’re the same.
i love you and your new camera! and this video is great.. yes, it is a simple idea.. but so many of us forget to work on it daily.. kind of like eating a daily dose of kale…
i’ve tried what you’ve mentioned and they absolutely work- when i do them.. lol
xo
Thanks, Danielle! Your video and camera support is awesome because I know you know what you’re talking about in that regard!
I love thinking about list-building as like a daily dose of kale. Somehow that makes me want to do more of it (esp because I love kale!)!
So…. I like this (a lot) but I’m a tad stymied where to begin.
I am a partner in 2 businesses and I’m thinking it may make best sense to promote *me* so that I can run business to one of them or to myself personally, but this seems a little thin or problematic. Suggestions?
Mechanically, do you have a technical suggestion for email tool to use?
Hi Rick,
I run two businesses as well, and I now really just promote myself. I still maintain 2 separate business websites (because my businesses are very different, 1 is interior design and the other is life coaching). But I link to my design website from my coaching website, and I have decided to just brand my name more than anything. In fact, much of the design work I’m doing now has really crossed over into a combo of coaching and design (so tell me WHY you can’t get rid of that entire basement of vintage school supplies, lol)…Anyhow, I’m with you on it being a bit tricky, and if anyone here has good advice for this I am all ears as well. Do your businesses have anything in common with each other?
Susan
Susan,
Thanks for the reply. They are web marketing and web development, so definitely overlap and may even give business to each other, but different partners. Sounds like you’d endorse branding *me*. That’s good to hear a vote of confidence in this direction.
I’m also inclined to post about some personal stuff relating to development. Thoughts on this? Is it legit and authentic and real and good, or simply TMI for business.
I’m “unoffendable,” btw.
Dan
I’m not sure whether to call you Rick, Patrick, or Dan 🙂
Susan offers one great suggestion in terms of promoting you as the brand. Another thing to consider is if you’re creating a conflict of interest in your business partnership. It’s hard to know that for sure from your brief description, but you want to make sure that whatever you do is on the up-n-up with your partner in the other biz.
As far as post personal things on a web development website, ask yourself, “Do my target customers and clients care about this?” Maybe they do, maybe the don’t. I sometimes post personal anecdotes in my newsletter intro, but the intimate details of my personal life aren’t covered on this blog because it’s about business. This is my personal choice but also a business choice. Yours may be different.
Does this help?
Wow – I’m really not handling my identitu well 🙂 I’m actually Dan Patrick but use Rick as a pseudonym for some online content.
Yes Jenny (Is that your *only* name?) that does help. I will keep the personal bit (at least most) out of the business limelight.
Re: conflict – the two partners are aware of each other. It’s mostly a matter of how I split my time.
Thanks!
Dan, Rick, Patrick
Then as far as building your personal brand or your business(es) brands, I’d suggest you think about 2 things.
1. Do you plan to be in biz with these 2 partners in these separate ways in the long-run? Or do you have a plan to eventually be on your own?
2. Are the businesses about the personalities or about the business?
Those should help you tease out who or what you market.
1. Probably both of these AND independent. My current push is operationalizing the businesses better so they can scale without me.
2. They should be about the business but are really driven by me and my partners.
These are really great questions – Thanks for the push.
Hi Dan, Rick, Patrick 🙂
So one of the ways that I like to make myself “the brand” is to make sure that I am the identity that really comes out in both of my businesses. Does that make sense? I know you have partners, so that may make it a bit different. But I really decided on “who” my brand was, and what it meant, and now even though I sell 2 different products, my brand (me) is consistent across both. I have a mission: To connect people to their best life. To help them see that they are in charge of their own happiness.
When I broke it down like that, it became very easy to brand myself.
Think about it like a celebrity endorsement. Maybe an athlete for example. Who also sells cologne. They are not really related. But the athlete has a brand. And maybe his brand is excellence. Dedication. hard work. etc. And that brand carries across to his cologne and to his athletic endeavors. Not sure if I am making sense here…let me know what you think!
Susan
Awesome… that feels right. Now I just need to figure out what my brand is!
My list is building slowly. I have some freebies for signing up for my newsletter. I’ve guest posted on one blog. I’m stuck in knowing how to ask to post on other people’s blogs besides the one that sometimes runs my blogs. I definitely get that getting exposed to other people’s lists really helps to build my list.
Hi Gail,
I get “stuck” with this as well, although I don’t try to approach nearly enough blogs to ask to guest post. I guess sometimes i get stuck in the thinking that they don’t really NEED my article, or that maybe what I’m writing about isn’t relevant to them. Excuses really. This is an area where I procrastinate a lot. Definitely need to work on that!!
Susan
Guest posting is a tricky one at first, but you’ll get the hang of it after you do a few.
The quick answer to your question, Gail, on how to guest post is…
1. search the site you’re interested in and see if they have guest posts
2. email a the site owner and ask if you can post; share your topic idea (yup, just ask!)
3. when you get a yes, send them your best stuff!
This is a great opportunity to put in a little plug for my program, Get Your First 1000 Subscribers, which goes into the nitty-gritty details of guest posting, including how to find the perfect sites for guest posting, templates for email pitches, and choosing the best topic to post on (plus how to turn those guest posts into list-building and client-generating machines). http://get1000subscribers.com
Susan,
I think it’s implied in Jenny’s note but I’ll add that for clients, I also try to identify the flavor of the writing, and see if there are any holes in the content, or any existing posts that I can go off on a tangent from. These can be ‘ins’ from a fit perspective and filling a need.
I’m off to check out that link!
Dan/Rick/Patrick
Word of mouth is one of the most powerful marketing tools out there, especially if you have clients who love to “talk up” what you do. I’ve certainly seen that in my business, too.
What’s awesome about list-building in addition is that it supports you in digital product sales, if that’s on your radar. Word of mouth is awesome for 1-1 clients, but the list is where you market products best. I love that you’re focusing here and creating a new opt-in offer. Yay is right!
Hi Jenny,
You have hit another home run with this blog. I swear you are reading my mind – then kicking me in the butt with the answer. I am puzzled by two terms I see in the other responses: “email catcher service” and going PRO. Is this some secret code? Should I know about this?
I love your new studio/camera…you are right on target as usual. I have sent this blog out to several of my colleagues. They NEED you…no fooling.
Happy to see you here, Susan!!
Going pro means “taking your business seriously.” What that means on a given day for each person is different. 9 months ago, going pro for me was having video at all. In the last month, going pro meant having a fancy video setup.
Going pro could mean blogging consistently or learning about marketing. It’s really about doing that next thing you need to do to be a true professional in your biz.
As far as email catcher service, she means email marketing service, like Aweber or MailChimp.
Hope that helps! And thanks for passing along my info. Always happy to help more entrepreneurs!
Hi Jenny,
Whew…thank you for explaining what those terms mean…I am going Pro and have an email catcher…thought it was more like a squeeze page.
I am finding consistency with blogging each week is building my list with new people. It is a huge rush for me that someone new signs up….! Hope that excitement stays that way for me.
For me right now, the very best thing I am doing is studying your training modules, one module at a time…and then taking those steps. It is the best training for list building and I am recommending it to everyone who will listen. Its no nonsense and so detail oriented that it makes it easy to follow the steps. As always, Thank YOU Jenny
I love that you’re celebrating your sign-ups, Susan! I swear, more come more quickly when you do that 🙂
And thanks for the kind words about the Get Your First 1000 Subscribers program. I’m glad you love it — I poured my best stuff into that program and it works!!
Thanks for being here!
Thanks for the great video! I always enjoy your emails. I am just beginning the list building journey. I am asking friends to share a short blurb about me with my site on their facebook pages. I am also doing (starting today!) what Jenny suggests: leaving helpful comments on blogs. Thanks, Shannon
Woo-hoo!! Great start, Shannon!!
Thanks Jenny!
Love the new studio and camera 🙂
Since switching to a Health Coaching business this past summer I’m slowly building my list. Emphasis on slowly…hahaha
But one thing that I’m going to try that was suggested to me by Kate Swoboda (www.yourcourageouslife.com) is to do interviews with other professionals. I have the interviews mostly done and now it’s editing and sharing time. I’m hoping this will help build my list.
Wanted to share in case it’ll help anyone else out 🙂
Thanks Jenny!
Thanks for the kind words about my new setup!
I’ve heard about using interviews but hadn’t tried it myself. I’d love to hear how it works out for you, and thank you so much for sharing that here!!
I want to just reach through the computer screen and HUG you. You’re even LOVELIER on camera! Great video, and such a perfect reminder that I’m focusing on what I need to focus on right now…and trusting that the clients will continue to come without me having to take actions out of integrity with who I am and what I already love doing (which is giving and communicating!).
Be yourself. Market your business. Keep at it…. you’ll get there Sabrina!
Hi Jenny:
Just found your totally excellent blog via youtube first. Then made it over to your blog. For sure power list building 101 is the key to everything on or offline.
And one of the simplest ways for the beginner and non techie online marketer to do so is by periodically sponsoring a free drawing of some kind. Think about for a second. Nobody enters a free drawing, unless their at least semi interested in the product or service being offered.
You choose your grand prize winners and simply follow up with everybody else with some type of initial or low cost introductory offer and more than likely, you’ve made a few sales, an gotten established and laid the proper foundation for future testimonials, repeat customers and clients etc.
Great job about encouraging your readers to get started building their very own lists!
Interesting idea, Mark! I haven’t tried that one, but I’m guessing you’ve had great success with it. I always appreciate tips and ideas from other folks–it’s how we can all learn. Thanks for adding your experiences and ideas to this conversation!
Love your videos, Jenny. And thanks for reminding me that all of this list-building stuff works…when I actually do it. 😉
I’ve been re-focusing on guest blogging, and on “chunking” my time to write a bunch of blogs at once…another one of your great tips/reminders. Had forgotten about commenting on other sites though. Thanks for the nudge! 🙂
It definitely works when you do it 🙂
Great idea to chunk out tasks like blog posts to help you get there!
Hi Jenny! I love your enthusiasm. I am in my first year as a solo-preneur and although I consider myself a list-maker, I have been spinning my wheels with the marketing plan because to be completely honest, I thought of it as “fluff” in business school. But, I have realized that without filling my pipeline, then there is no business. So far, I have gotten by with referrals. By focusing on list-building and meaningful connections for the remainder of the year, I know that I can reach my growth goal. Thanks for the timely video.
~Tricia Scherer
Yay! I’m so glad the message resonated with you, Tricia! When I first started my business I didn’t understand the importance of all of this, either. But once I did and I started working on it, things started to change for me very fast. Best of luck to you!
Hi Jenny,
Since starting your list building in 2011 I am curious as to
How large you have grown your list since than? Just wanting to get an idea of what is tangible in a several year time frame implementing list building.
Thanks so much
Kristine
For myself and for my students in Get Your First 1000 Subscribers (http://get1000subscribers.com), I generally see about 1000 subscriber growth every 6-12 months with a little bit of effort. They key is to keep at it!
Also, the larger your list gets, the more organically it grows on its own, though unless you’re actively building your list it only grows a little at a time.
Thanks for this video, Jenny! My business is quite young and just out of the starting gate a few months. The concept is very well received locally so I’ve been growing by word of mouth from my awesome supporters, but I have to be honest. I did go through B-School but I’ve seen that SO many people are completely bombarded, overwhelmed and frustrated by the mass quantities of emails they get, that I feel funny about list building with emails. I know it works for many – I truly do – but I just wish people weren’t so resentful of the email overload.
I’d love to hear your opinion, thank you!
I definitely hear people say that, Beth, so you’re not alone. They’re worried about bombarding people with email. What I tell my clients is that you have to get out of other people’s business and treat them like adults 🙂 If I’m on someone’s list and they send emails every day and I get tired of it, I’ll unsubscribe. I don’t get mad at them — I’m an adult and can decide for myself. We need to remember that the people who signed up for our lists are adults, too, and can decide what’s best for them. Make sense?
Hi Jenny,
Thanks for this post. I run an admissions consulting and writing coaching business. Kendrick is how I found out about you.
I know it is important to build a list, but there are two things that have had me stalling:
1. I think I would need to segment my list into college-bound student, parent of college-bound student, grad-school bound student
2. Since people need this service at just one point in their life, I am concerned about them unsubscribing once they have the essay they need (within 1-3 months), or the application (3 months-2 years) they need. Does that mean I would be producing new material every day to try and get new people on the list? It’s not something LIFElong like life coaching.
The first thing you need to do is focus on who pays you! The build the primary income stream around that paying client. Too many people start out trying to serve multiple audiences when you still are learning how to get clients. Focus is your friend, so start there. Then after you build that audience, you’ll know much better about where/ when/ how for segmenting — and if it’s even necessary.
Second, don’t worry about people unsubscribing. People unsubscribe from my list on a daily basis. I’m not interested in having people get my emails if they don’t want them. I work with a lot of career coaches who have people on their lists for awhile and then those people get jobs and leave their lists. It’s fine! That’s why we need to always be building our lists.
Hope that helps! And thanks for being here and for Kendrick sending you my way!
I made the mistake of not building an email list. When I started my freelance writing business, I was getting all of my clients through referrals and networking.
Even though I had plenty of clients and stayed busy for quite some time, eventually those clients dried up. I’m spending this slow period to work on building my list.
Great insight, Clara! Having an email list is like having a savings account for a rainy day. Thank you for sharing!