Week 2: Hooking for Cash 101
Why Do You Need an eMail list?
When I started blogging I didn’t think I needed an email list. It sounds counterproductive doesn’t it? If you are blogging on a regular basis, why would you need a mailing list?
Someone asked a question in one of my Facebook groups this past week about what to put in your newsletter versus what to put on your blog. One resource suggested Chris Brogan’s article “Where Should You Put Your Content“. He goes into the difference between content meant to sell and content that is meant to nurture. Your blog is all about selling and making you money – relationships too – but your newsletter or email list is all about nurturing the relationships you find through your blog.
What Does This Mean for Crochet Bloggers?
As a crochet blogger your readers want to know you. Many crocheters love to know the designer behind the pattern so if you share personal patterns on your blog go a step further and share what inspired you to create it.
I’m fairly new to email lists (1 year) so I haven’t got the knack of “autoresponders” and campaigns down yet but it is something I;m learning. Don’t wait until you have everything down 100%, start now and work on living your dream each day from this point on.
Include your personality in your newsletter. Share some aspects of your personal life. Include your readers in the development of your content. Know why your readers subscribe to you and meet that.
A relationship is built over time both online and offline. It is with your weekly or bi-weekly “hello’s and how are you’s” in their inbox that they get to know you and expect great things from you. It is also how they begin to trust you and your opinion. This leads to them trusting you when you suggest a great workshop, pattern, yarn, book or designer.
How Do You Create an eMail List?
Lucky for you, the wise women in my Facebook group shared a resource that will help you. This eCourse by BloomOnline for MailChimp users called “MailChimp Magic”. Another resource you might find helpful is CopyBlogger’s free Email Marketing course which includes 7 tutorials on how to effectively use email for your [crochet] business.
Do read the post for this series below for today’s assignment. I currently use MailChimp (and aWeber 4/2013) as my email list provider. You are much better off going with a company like AWeber. {$19.00/month}
Today’s Assignment:
Set up a mailing list for your blog and/or store. Put a sign-up form on your blog.
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Join the 31 Days of Crochet Blogging July 2012, Buy the eBook Hooking for Cash and visit us on Facebook and Twitter. #crochetbusiness
Linking up with the Ultimate Blog Challenge July 2012 – Won’t you Join Us? #blogboost
I love your blog Sara. What a great concept.
This was an interesting post for me to read. Although I don't do crochet, I am a fellow UBC participant and imagine mailing lists, blogs and newsletter apply to most in business today. Curiously, I've also kept the blog very subtle if/when there's ever any selling at all and look at the autoresponder as the tool to send more direct promotional messages (occasionally between mostly high value content). Nanette Levin
Thank you Julia – I pray it meets the need of the crochet community.
That would be nice if blogs could be just that – blogs with absolutely no selling. I would love to learn how to balance the selling with my passion for information – using autoresponders sounds like the tool to do that.