Part 11: Know Why You Are Writing Them
Daily email marketing offers rewards.
In the form of income. And feeling good from knowing you’re making a real difference for the subscribers you’re serving. As you show up consistently in their inboxes.
But daily email should be manageable. And enjoyable. So it can be a sustainable part of your business.
Speaking from experience…. the most important thing to do before launching into it is… know your “why?”
Why are you wanting to do daily email?
When I started, I thought I had this clear. It was to serve other freelancers like me.
But it turns out my “why”… and my passion for it… was more centered around email… and helping other business owners build their own email lists.
Freelancers are in the sweep of this. But there was both a zooming out, to find larger group of people I help. But also a zooming back in, on the way in which I help.
It took me 9 months of daily emailing before this all came into much sharper focus.
Knowing your “why” for anything you do will help you draw energy to keep on going, even when things get tough.
And they will. Life being a roller-coaster and all!
Your “why” will also help you show up with authenticity for your audience.
I mean… people can smell when you’re just doing this for the money. Or the fame. Or because someone else told you to.
If you can ONLY connect your “why” to your desire to make money… or some other self-focused reason… then there’s always going to be a disconnect between you and your audience.
The relationship-building is going to be weak. The trust low. The loyalty — both ways — will barely register.
Your reason “why” must come from within. From a desire to serve others.
Look at things from the perspective of the people who will be getting your emails…
What do you think they need or want to help make their lives better?
Is it encouragement? … Tips to help them move ahead with their business? … Helpful product reviews? …Learning more about their industry? … Seeing how someone else tackles the kind of problems they have? … All of the above? … Or Something else?
This is empathy — putting yourself in another person’s shoes.
The better you can do this, the better you’ll be able to serve them.
There’s two key questions to answer clearly, before knuckling down and getting on with building your email list…
The first… Who am I serving?
This might be the easiest to tackle. In my case it’s small business owners. And I define that to include freelancers. And any stripe of solopreneur.
The second… Why do I want to serve them?
For me, it’s because I’ve been where they have. And seen the struggles.
I want to help them get ahead quicker than I did. And avoid unnecessary hurdles.
When you orient your “why” around who you serve… things have this strange habit of falling into place.
Including your ongoing motivation to serve… having a growing audience who wants to hear from you… and money in the bank.
Ready to build your email list? Go here…
EmailForTheWin.com
Chris Milham