Today’s article is about your Membership Conservation Efforts. This may or may not pertain to your current business model, but the information is worth a read.
You probably email your members monthly to deliver their content if you have a membership website. But if you want your members to stay subscribed, you should be emailing more often. Frequent messages keep your members engaged with your brand and make it less likely that they’ll suddenly cancel their membership with no warning. Ideally, you want to be emailing your subscribers once a week.
Types of Emails
Week #1: The Delivery Email
This email should contain a link to the new content you have available. Let subscribers know where to log in to download their content and provide their usernames. Then take it a step further and offer them help if they can’t access their content for some reason.
You could say, “If you’re having trouble downloading your content this week, open a ticket with my help desk by clicking here.” This will ensure that you don’t have people unsubscribing simply because they couldn’t get help when needed.
Week #2: The Reminder Email
You want to use this message to remind subscribers about this month’s content. Some subscribers may have missed your original email, or they may not have had a chance to download it on the day of release.
Encourage subscribers to download their content by telling them a little about it. For example, if you’re a wellness coach that provides nutritious recipes for families, you could say, “My kids love the applesauce muffin recipe I included this month. They asked me to put these muffins in their back-to-school lunches.”
Week #3: The Teaser Email
Use this email to tease your subscribers about what’s coming up next. The teaser email makes them curious and gives them a reason to stay subscribed. This doesn’t have to be a long email, and you shouldn’t include everything that you’ll be giving them next month because you want to keep a bit of mystery about what they’ll be getting.
You could say, “Just wanted to give you a head up. Next month, I’ll be giving you [item]. I love this because [reason].” It’s a simple message, but it gives you a reason to stay in contact and keeps your brand fresh in your subscribers’ minds.
Week #4: The Expiration Email
This is your chance to remind subscribers that the current month’s content will expire soon. Urge them to download it while there’s still time. You could say, “This is the final call to download your content. I’ll remove this month’s content when I upload next month’s resources. I don’t want you to miss out, so click here to log in and save your content.”
Make the Emails Personal
Try to be personal in every email you send to your subscribers. Let them know what’s going on in your life or business. You could say, “Happy September! I enjoyed this summer. But the kids are back at school again, so I’m gearing up to set my autumn business goals.”
You want to weave in these details because it strengthens your connection with your subscribers and gives you a chance to tell them about other neat stuff you may have going on.
Keeping your subscribers engaged with your content is one way to go above and beyond with your customer service. Little touches like consistent emails will make your brand memorable to your subscribers.
Get your free workbook and see how providing excellent customer service can be easy and fun. Free Workbook
Are you Using Follow-Up Emails and Autoresponders with your clients? If you’re not, you should be. I’ll explain why below.
When it comes to going above and beyond to provide exceptional customer service, don’t forget about usingfollow-up emails and autoresponders. These two tools are some of the most powerful ones you can use.
Welcome Your New Customer
The first email message your customers should receive is a welcome email. In this email, you’ll want to give access to the product or service your customer purchased and tell them how to ask for help if needed. You could say something simple like, “Need help? Hit reply to this message and I’ll get back to you within 24 hours.”
Follow Up Promptly
You’ll want to send a follow-up email about 48 hours later. Ask if your customer received everything they needed and give them a second link to download the product they bought. If they had to sign up to download their product, remind them to log in with their username and password.
A third email message should be sent 10-20 days after the original purchase. If you sold an information product, ask your customer if they’ve put what they’ve learned from you into practice yet. By Using Follow-Up Emails and Autoresponders will help your customers trust that you have their best interest at heart.
You can even highlight a customer that did and share how they used your product. For example, you might say, “Shannon purchased my course on affiliate marketing and noticed her affiliate earnings climb as soon as she implemented the first two lessons.”
Give a Status Update
If your customer has purchased a service from you, then you can use this email message to give an update on your project. For example, you might say, “I’ve been working on that e-book for you and I’m halfway through it. I expect to be finished by [date]. In the meantime, are there any questions you have that I can answer?”
Updating your clients about the status of your project may seem like a small thing. But it puts customers’ minds at ease and lets them know you’re still working hard.
Use Reminder Emails
If you’re selling a service, set an autoresponder to follow up after three months. Use this email to ask if you can be of any further service. This can jog a client’s memory and remind them to assign a project to you they’d forgotten about.
You can also use this reminder email to ask for a testimonial. You might say something simple like, “I enjoyed collaborating on your project. I’d love it if you’d share your experience working with me in the form of a short testimonial.”
When your customer service goes above and beyond, your customers will love you for it. They’ll enjoy using your products or services so much that they’ll become brand ambassadors that share how awesome your business is with everyone they know.
Learn the secrets of great customer service when you download your free workbook!
Today’s article is about how Developing the Radical Giver Mindset works.
Read the story below and see how it affects you.
Deidre’s Story
Deidre joined a business group on Facebook where members read a business book each month. Every Monday, the group leader uses Facebook Live to start an interactive discussion about the book.
Over the past month, Deidre’s group has been reading The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John David Mann. When the group leader started their usual live stream, she asked if anyone was struggling.
Deidre quickly shared that she was. “I grew up in a single-parent household. My mom struggled just to make ends meet every month. I like the idea of being a radical giver but I’m worried there’s just not enough goodness in the world to go around.”
Deidre isn’t alone. Many online business owners struggle to become radical givers despite really wanting to. The problem is often linked to a poverty mindset.
The Poverty Mindset
Here are three beliefs that keep you stuck in poverty and how to overcome them. After reading them see if any of the three fit you and if not, you’re well on your way to becoming a radical giver.
Poverty Mindset #1: There’s Not Enough to Go Around
When you believe that there is a limit to the money or goodness available in the world, you can approach every situation with a belief that you must hoard things. You have to hold tightly to your money, your time, and your gifts.
But what if you flipped the script? Instead of telling yourself, that there’s not enough to go around, embrace the belief that there’s more than enough to share.
What you focus on will always expand. That means if you focus on one belief, it will become self-fulfilling. The more you tell yourself there’s enough to go around, the more your life and business will begin to reflect this belief.
Poverty Mindset #2: Helping Others Shine Means I Can’t Shine
It’s easy to think that if other people are awesome, you can’t be awesome, too. That’s because most people imagine the world as a small stage where only a few, truly gifted entrepreneurs can show off their talents.
But in reality, the stage is big enough to support everyone. In fact, your brand or product could be exactly what someone else needs. Instead of viewing other entrepreneurs or brands as your competition, see them as your friends. Going solo is lonely but a journey with friends? That’s so much fun!
Poverty Mindset #3: I Need to Take on Every Client or Project
Sometimes, a poverty mindset can show up as taking on every client or project that comes your way. It often stems from the fear that if you don’t, you might lose out on money or experience.
But the problem with this belief is that it keeps you from doing your best work. If a project comes along that’s not a terrific fit for you, say no. When you do this, you open up room in your business for projects that truly light you up. Developing the Radical Giver Mindset means that you need to make a change.
Moving past a poverty mindset and becoming a radical giver isn’t something you can do overnight. It often takes a few months of practice and support from a loving community of like-minded business owners. But rest assured that if you stay focused, you can embrace a new mindset.
The secret to becoming a radical giver lies in asking three simple questions. Discover what they are when you download your free workbook!
Today’s article will teach you 21 different ways to become a better leader. I think you will really enjoy reading this article. It will teach you so many different ways on how to be a better leader. Because if you’re going to be a business owner, you also need to be a great leader. Right?
Being a better leader can be simplified down to ‘always thinking of more ways to listen and help’. It is also about modeling strong, positive leadership through example.
Being a Great Leader
Here are twenty-one ways to up your game as a positive leader.
Get Out There and Make Connections
The best leaders are insatiable at learning and improving every area of their lives. Part of this involves just getting out there and networking. Talk to peers and competitors, to find out what’s important to them nowadays. Go to conferences and symposiums and talk to experts. Want to ask someone a question? If you are close enough to have their phone number, just phone and ask!
Some of the best leaders are also introverts. It’s tough cold-calling or putting yourself out there if you’re one too—but thesuccessful introvert leaders all say the same thing: You just have to do it. (And that it does get easier!)
Be Solution-Oriented
Weak leaders shame-and-blame. Strong leaders hone in on specific problems and look for solutions. And they’re especially good at thinking up ‘third alternatives’ or out-of-the-box fixes that far exceed the standard solutions.
Be Action-Oriented
Strong leaders not only look for solutions, but they are also the first to take action on them and implement them. Leaders will find out the best people for specific tasks while others are still discussing possibilities. Leaders will fix plumbing leaks, find caterers at the last minute while others are bewailing a cooking disaster, and generally build up a “get-‘er-done” mentality.
And that includes getting it done for your people!
Don’t Be a Weak Leader
Ask for Help
Part of being solution-oriented and action-oriented is knowing when to admit you need help when to ask for help – and then doing so! A good leader never hesitates to say, “Can you show me how to do this?” or, “Will you explain this to me, please?”
That’s because a great leader knows his or her own worth but is immune to the ego.
Accept Responsibility
Leaders and excuses don’t go together. A strong leader never hesitates to admit when he or she is wrong about something.
Be a Lifelong Learner
Great leaders are voracious learners. They read books, as well as search the net. They are not afraid to go to the source and ask the experts. They listen to podcasts in their cars; go to seminars and workshops; find out how things work and know exactly who to call on for a myriad of needs or situations.
This type of curiosity is a great habit to develop—and it will keep you ahead of your competition and help you come up with concrete or decisive answers when others are still dithering.
Do Some Research
Do Your Homework
Effective leaders will take the time to do the research. And if they commission other people to do the research for them, they take the time to go over the results and make sure they understand all implications.
Use Mentors and Coaches
Great leaders never think of themselves as the top of the heap: There is always someone else they admire, follow, model themselves after, or consult. And they’re not afraid to admit it or shout out to their mentors, either.
Think back over your life: Who was your inspiration? Your mentor? If you’ve let them drop by the wayside, use this as a reminder to reconnect and keep up that valuable connection.
Be Approachable
Nothing will endear you to your community more than approachability … especially if you protect yourself by making sure you also have clear boundaries around access.
If people feel you are approachable, they also feel that you care about them. You’ll never be the dreaded “tyrant boss” or coach, and by setting times and ways for contact, it ensures that contact occurs in a controlled manner and doesn’t burn you out.
Do you Have Skills?
Actively Develop Your Communication Skills
Great leaders have great communication skills. They use these to convey visions, inspire people, negotiate a positive way through conflicts, and above all, they are great listeners. But they also actively develop these skills. They know that most people aren’t born with them, and they will go out of their way to acquire the best communications skills they can.
Use ‘We’ instead of ‘I’
When you use ‘I’ statements within a leadership role, you subconsciously set yourself on a pedestal. Are you focusing on tasks and goals to accomplish, including your team by saying ‘we’ and giving them ownership of the task and goal?
When you do say ‘I’ make sure it’s paired with statements such as appreciation or gratitude statements, or include as many ‘you’ and ‘we’ statements as ‘I’ ones.
Everybody Needs Somebody
Learn to Read Beyond What’s Spoken
Another top leader super-skill: ‘Reading’ people. This means not just listening to what’s said, but being able to accurately interpret other clues, such as tone, body language, and facial expressions. Effective leaders don’t let such things slipstream over them. They are able to instantly recognize when someone is dubious about something they’re in the middle of agreeing to, or being evasive under expressions of confidence—and get to the heart of the matter in a positive and reassuring way.
Give Your Team the Right Tools
One of the easiest ways to enable and encourage your team to not only do a great job but enjoy and be inspired by the process is to give them the right tools. Don’t skimp on this: Giving your contractor or team member the pro version of the right tool will increase productivity and speed up the creation process.
And your team members will really appreciate your support.
Be Aware of Your Own Body Language, Too
Don’t just focus on the body language of the people you are speaking to. Check your own body language, too! Do you look people you are speaking to in the eyes? Are you smiling and focusing on radiating a positive attitude? Are you lethargic, animated—or too animated? Are you practice “open” body language (angling toward your guest, for example, not crossing your arms or legs; or using wide-arm gestures that include the audience and bring them in).
Have you previously even thought of what your own body language says?
Are You Creating the Best Experience?
Develop an Engaging Speaking Style
Record yourself speaking on more than one occasion; both informally and formally (e.g. when giving a speech or running through a podcast or webinar script). Play these practice runs back and listen.
Do you put yourself to sleep or do you do the opposite, and chatter so fast that you sound like a squirrel after espresso? Do you practice good breathing, so that your voice is resonant, not squeaky or ‘thin’? Are you fall back too frequently on meaningless phrases like ‘basically’? Do you repeat clichés and specific words too often? Are you hemming and hawing and stumbling?
Above all, is your voice real, authentic, clear, and warm?
Analyze your own voice objectively. Listen for all these things, decide where and how you need to improve and do it!
Make a Habit of Being Goal-Oriented
The best leaders zero in on whatever goal they’re working on and move toward it without distraction.
Learn to cut out tangents and irrelevancies, and focus on your goals, be they huge or small; the ‘big picture’ or a detail. Learn not to allow yourself to be distracted into reactive mode, and get your team members effortlessly back on track.
I AM The BOSS!
Don’t Be a Boss: Be a Leader!
A boss suffers from pedestal thinking: She thinks of her team members as minions instead of fellow professionals.
A leader doesn’t regard herself as the center of the universe: She shares the spotlight, the problems, and the praise with her team.
She gives credit, not takes it: A leader steps back to let her team shine. A leader helps people grow and is remembered as an inspiration in years to come.
Be Prepared to Be a Decision Maker and Take Risks
Great leaders do something else that sets them apart from other professionals: After they have done the research, analyzed the facts, and brainstormed with their teams, they:
Make decisions
Take risks
This is because they have taught themselves not to fear failure. Great leaders know that sometimes projects or ideas fall short.
But they also know that avoiding decision-making and never taking a chance is the real failure!
Creating Habits
Listen for the ‘Wee Small Voice’
Great leaders are also not afraid to question themselves and their assumptions. They learn to be aware of that niggling inner voice that tells one that something isn’t right; or simply leads to a hint of nervousness or fear.
Experienced leaders question this ‘wee small voice’ immediately on becoming aware of it. They get to the ‘why’ behind the doubt or fear and face it head-on. Then they take action to eliminate potential problems that might have been causing the fear. They never let fear rule them or hide in sabotage.
Be Proactive—not Reactive
It’s easy—especially when you are an online entrepreneur—to slip into reactive mode, and end up feeling like a chicken running around with its head cut off: Especially when you have many irons in the fire and people depending on you. But be sure to make time for things that matter (like your health and personal life), and be as proactive as you can. Plan things ahead of time. Delegate.
And once you’ve done all that, learn how to let things go.
Make Time for the Things That Matter
Great leaders do their best to avoid burnout. They know they are human, just like everyone else. And they make sure they recharge their batteries with strong, healthy self-care—and they nurture important personal relationships. You should know that they carry the same respect they show in the workplace back home.
Take Care of Yourself
So, develop a healthy self-care routine:
Meditate or pray
Eat as many fresh fruits and vegetables as possible
Drink at least six glasses of water daily
Cut down on carbs and alcohol
Cut down on other bad habits that can sabotage your health (such as smoking, inactivity)
Forgive
Be grateful
Take time to notice all your blessings
Do something fun
Focus on your family
Give back to your local community or charities you believe in
Read entertaining books and listen to fun podcasts, as well as business ones
Get a hobby
Relax
Get a good night’s sleep every night
Do even half of the above, and you’ll find yourself more alert, more focused—and you’ll have more fun being the leader you were meant to be!
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