You finally decided which niche you would like to pursue and built a website around that niche. Now what? Do you have an Optin offer so you can gather emails from people who visit your website?
And what are you going to give them if they sign up for your newsletter or email list? An optin needs to be something that will entice them to give up their email address to you so it needs to be a pretty good “bribe” in exchange for that information.
As I mentioned yesterday, ClickFunnels now has a new auto-responder system called Actionetics that you can use or there are several other options: AWeber, BlueHost, MailChimp, etc.
No matter which service you use, there are three rules to making a great optin for visitors to subscribe or click that submit button:
1. Solve Their Problem. Most people are searching for a solution to a single problem so you need to be that go-to person. Your optin report, auto-responder series, DVD, or whatever else you offer has to be the solution to that problem. And, once they do sign up, your website has to be more of the same great information in order to keep them coming back for more.
2. Quick and Simple. No fluff here just the facts ma’am. Whatever the optin, don’t spend more than two hours creating it (or, as mentioned above, use one of my PLR pack optin/viral reports). The optin should allow them to apply whatever the solution is immediately.
3. Instant Benefits. Again, people want something that they can look at, decide that is how they are going to solve their problem and instantly apply the solution.
4. Keep on Message. Whatever drew the visitor to your website in the first place will keep them there if you are consistent with your message and your optin.
So in keeping with the above thoughts, let’s take a look at some items you can use as optins to grab those visitors attention and make them want to hand over their email address:
• Free Viral Report. You have seen these in all of the PLR Packs that I offer. That is what the report is designed to do: Solve a problem, answer questions or give people knowledge about a subject they are curious about. The report can be in the form of an MSWord document or PDF. Include links back to your website for other products you would like to sell that are in line with the solution.
• Quiz Optin. Quiz people on something to see how much they really know. If you build curiosity you will almost have people begging for more. The visitor will want to finish the quiz so they can get their hands on the “prize” at the end: your report (or whatever it is you are offering).
• CheatSheet. This is a quick, down and dirty one page sheet to give people EXACTLY what they are looking for in solving their problem no matter the subject. You could include several website resources, tools, books, etc. The cheatsheet can provide any type of information you feel relevant to the subject.
• Template. A template is a great way to grab someone’s attention. If you have already done the work, people will jump at the chance to not have to reinvent the wheel and spend needless hours designing what you have already taken the time to do.
• Challenge. Everybody loves a challenge and the best way to do that is with a 30-day challenge. It could be anything from list, website or webinar building, etc. Use your imagination to come up with a challenge in your genre or niche. The overall 30-day challenge could be free or you could add a pay option (small fee) for all of those impatient people who don’t want to take the time to go through the challenge day-to-day. Make your challenge educational, entertaining, challenging and most of all, make it engaging for your audience. This option will attract the kind of people who are willing to engage with you for the long haul.
• Ongoing Product Optin. This one is just as it states. Keep them hooked by offering something free every month (or week, whatever you decide). Of course, you can always ramp it up with a “premium” membership.
• Zero Effort Optin. You don’t always have to come up with new optins. Repurpose an old one and see how much more traction you can get out of it. Turn that old blog post into a video or podcast. Would it be better as a free report? Use your imagination. Turn those old articles sitting around on your computer into gold (cash).
• High Value/Investment Optin. Some of the “big boys” use a real, tangible book (vs. an ebook) as their optin. The catch? It’s “free” – you just pay shipping. The value is perceived higher than an ebook because you can actually get it in your hands. This exchange of the book for the shipping cost is called value exchange. (There is a great funnel I could show you to do just this in ClickFunnels). If you already have a tangible book or can afford to have your book printed, this is a great option to build a list.
These are just a handful of options that you can use as optins to build your list. Stick to the three rules listed above and you can’t go wrong.
Always keep your audience in mind when building your optin offer. Would you click on the offer if it were you and it provided the answer to your problem?
Have fun with this and use your imagination. Be creative. Follow the three main rules above and create that simple but effective offer.
To your success,
