I’m not going to hold back here.

Yes. You definitely need a newsletter for your business.

You need an opt-in area on your website so that you nurture leads.

Here’s a statistic for you: only 5-20% of new visitors are ready to buy from you. BUT…that increases to 60-70% for returning visitors.

(*source)

There is a reason a new visitor has chosen to visit your website. There is something that you have to offer that is intriguing to your audience. AND it’s okay that they’re not ready the first time they visit.

This is an opportunity. You get to build a relationship with your audience. The easiest way I know how to do this is to offer a free opt-in that you can gift them in exchange for their contact details. Your audience gets something that will help them (your free opt-in) and in exchange, you have been given the special privilege of their name and email address.

WHAT IS AN OPT-IN ANYWAY?

If you own an online business, chances are you’ve invested in a beautiful brand & website to attract clients and customers to you bees-to-honey style. One valuable way to attract more of your ideal clients and customers to you is to build an audience. A loyal following who truly want to hear what you have to say in a purposeful and natural way.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF AN OPT-IN?

By offering up a generous free gift in exchange for contact details (name & email) you are:

• positioning yourself as the expert who can help them
• giving your audience something that will help them solve a problem
• giving your readers an insight into what kind of information & resources they can look forward to receiving from you in the future
• providing insight into how you can best help them succeed
• building a captive audience for your future content and offers

What you get in return is a list of subscribers who are truly interested in what you have to offer. It’s a list full of possibilities. Offered free of charge and chalk full of love and goodness. By connecting with your audience and offering them a free gift for signing up to your newsletter list, you’re creating that first point of contact with a group of loyal followers. They’ve committed to allowing you into their inbox. That’s scared space these days, in my opinion. What you do with their email addresses will help shape your business for years to come. This is your platform, beautiful. The place from which you get to launch all your ideas & dreams. It goes without saying that you need to treat this newsletter list with respect and love.

Nurture it. Love it.

In my next post, I’m excited to share with you some newsletter best practices, strategies, and ideas for delivering content to your newsletter subscribers for lead generation.