CX Fanatics Podcast

The #1 Way To Increase Email Conversions

One of the biggest struggles I hear from new entrepreneurs is why isn’t anyone paying attention to my social posts?  How do I get people to buy from Facebook?
 
The reality is - you don’t.  Facebook and the lot are in business to make money.  Which means they make and change the rules on a dime.  The recent Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp outage only proves my point.  You have no control over what happens on social media.
 
The gurus will all tell you to build your email list - and I 100% agree.  
But what they don’t tell you is building your email list is only one piece of the conversion funnel that gets people to buy.
 
Once you have that email list built, you’ve got to get people reading your emails and moving forward to buy - otherwise, all your hard work is in vain.
 
In this week’s episode, learn the top 5 reasons people aren’t opening your emails and discover the #1 thing you can do to get more people buying your stuff.
So, why aren’t people opening your emails?
A business model change has occurred.  Either theirs or yours. We live in one of the fastest-moving societies in history.  Business is constantly evolving.  Most entrepreneurs are finding that narrowing down their expertise and audience is critical to expediting success.  With this evolution comes a narrowing of the information we take in.
People on your list no longer need what you got.  We all know that 2020 caused a massive disruption in the way the world works. More people are moving online, people are changing jobs at a record pace and they just may not need what you’re selling and have forgotten to unsubscribe.
This is a biggie - you haven’t been consistently emailing and they don’t know who you are.  How many times have you signed up for an email list only to have the person on the other end drop off the face of the earth for 6 months or more? Then they show up one day and you don’t remember who they are or what they do?  Consistency in your email is the best way to keep people up to date on changes and shifts in your products, services, or business.
The people on your list have already bought what you are selling.  Now before you freak out - you’re not for everyone and that’s ok. Sometimes, people need to try out different options before making a decision.  They found the right fit for where they were, and if one of the above is true - they weren’t meant for you.
This leads to the last key reason people aren’t opening your emails, they are just not a good fit for you.  This could be a variety of reasons including they aren’t ready for you or your service yet, you have a mismatch in energy and just don’t jive on the same level, or any of the reasons listed above.  
 
The #1 thing that will help you keep your sanity is to not take it personally.  
Years ago I heard the Q-Tip analogy.  Quit Taking It Personally.  People make buying decisions based on many factors - we can’t get inside people’s heads - so all you can do is show up and be the best version of yourself to serve those who do need you.  The rest, let it go, and Q-Tip it. 
 
So, what is the #1 way to increase your email conversion rates?
Clean your email list, regularly.  Inside my signature program that is opening up in November, I have a step-by-step breakup process that makes this step much easier.  Including templates.  Because sometimes breaking up is LITERALLY hard to do.  You don’t know what to say, how to say C-Ya, or let those people go.  You worked hard to get them on your list after all.  But if they aren’t reading, opening, or buying from your email - it’s time to let them go.
 
Why does cleaning your email list increase your conversions?
You’re not sending out to a bunch of people who aren’t opening your emails or that are sending them to spam.  This will automatically lower your conversion rates.  If people aren’t even opening your emails - you’re going to have a REALLY hard time selling to them via email.  So boot them off, they can resubscribe when they are interested again.
Cleaning your email list also improves your spam rating.  When your emails end up inadvertently in the SPAM or Promotions tab - people may miss them.  This can affect your future email sends and it’s also harder to retrain people to find your emails if they are not in their inbox.
You are only sending to people who REALLY want to hear from you and naturally, this increases engagement.  They are more likely to open and click on the links in your emails as well as buy when you send a sales email.
There you have it, the top 5 reasons people aren’t opening your emails and the #1 way to increase your conversion.  
Tune into the entire podcast or video to hear extra stories, examples, and more.
As you may know, email marketing is one of the best ways to stay in front of and sell to your audience. But so many people struggle with how.  This is why I’ve created my upcoming free training Own Your Audience - so you know exactly what to do to harness your audience through the power email.  Enabling you to stay in front of your ideal people, create conversations, and swiftly turn more subscribers into sales.  
Coming up November 17th,  registration for this free event is open now.  Visit alisaconner.com/ownyouraudience and join me as I share my proven step-by-step system to take control of your marketing, time, and energy and forget what Facebook, Youtube, LinkedIn, or Instagram are doing today, tomorrow, or next week.

How To Create Conversations In Your Marketing

Standing out in today's marketplace doesn't have to be as difficult as you might be imagining.  There is one little tweak you can make to your marketing efforts that will immediately separate you from all the other coaches and consultants out there. You can get the entire scoop by tuning into this week's podcast episode or video.
Why do online entrepreneurs seem to lose all their social skills as soon as they hop online?
Because they have been misinformed, or simply just don't know any better.  But the #1 way to increase your leads and ultimately your sales is to start talking to people, not at people.
During this week's show, I share the three ways that you can add conversations to your marketing efforts. These may seem simple, but I challenge you to look at your most recent marketing efforts to see how many you have implemented.  Even better, try on on the list below and share your results with me over on LinkedIn.  Send me a DM, I love to make new friends.
Meanwhile, let's dive into those three tips:
1. Ask open-ended questions.  Most people naturally ask yes or no or one answer questions.  If you practice asking open-ended questions instead, you will find people respond naturally with more words.  The more words, the more the algorithm takes notice - the more likely you will show up in more people's newsfeeds.  I share two specific examples during the podcast episode and video. Tune in to hear some client success stories using this method.
2. Listen, listen, listen and then talk.  Listening is hard.  No one tells you it's hard, but let's be real - you are busy, distracted, and most likely interrupted regularly.  So is your customer!  But when you actively listen to others, you will hear exactly what they are saying and then you have the opportunity to deliver the answer they are hoping and praying for. When you do this, you then become the go-to person for future issues and solutions.
3. Consistency, consistency, consistency.  Yes, you've heard it before. Are we always perfect at being consistent?  No. But does it matter if we are? YES!  Tune into this week's episode or video to learn the most important reasons showing up consistently - especially now is critical to online success.
Want a bonus tip? Catch the whole episode including the bonus by listening here or watching here.
If you enjoy the episode, please share it with a friend - it's you and your support that help spread the word.
Until next week, be well and take care!
~Alisa

Why Targeted Marketing Will Get You Clients Faster

One of the biggest struggles I see Second Act Entrepreneurs make is to try and sell to everyone.  It is a battle that is hard fought to narrow your niche, but it is also the fastest way to the promise land and selling your services. This week's episode unpacks the three reasons why. Listen to the entire episode.
Why do Second Act Entrepreneurs struggle with narrowing down their audience?
There are two main reasons people don't narrow their niche:
1. They want to serve everyone. Their product/service works for everyone. It makes sense to market to everyone if you aren't familiar with the current marketing landscape.  But, between the influx of businesses hopping online in 2020 and the number of people ignoring marketing because they are frankly "over it" - marketing must resonate with people at a deeper level if it's going to grab their attention.
2. They are afraid to narrow down their audience. It can be scary to narrow down to a specific person and create marketing that speaks to that person. But the more poignant the message, the more likely you are going to grab attention.
In the episode I talk about the big "a-ha" that I realized recently when trying to convince a client to narrow their marketing.  We have to spread our marketing message wide, but ensure that our messaging is very very narrowly speaking to a specific market.
There are three key reasons why specific messaging increases sales quicker.
1. Narrowing your message affords you the opportunity to create conversations.  There is a misnomer out there that you need millions of followers to make a lot of money.  The reality is - online businesses are still successful because conversations are happening between two people.  Relationships are built, trust is earned.  People crave connection, more now than ever and by creating an environment that nurtures connection, you are building both trust and conversation.
2. Narrow messaging helps people self-identify when you are speaking to them. Automatically causing them to stop the scroll, listen a little more intently and want to know more and most importantly helping you to stand out from all the other "noise" on the internet. When you can get people to stop and pay attention, but you have the opportunity to continue the conversation - if they scroll on by, there goes your chance.
3. When your people self-identify with what you are saying, you are building an emotional connection. You become relatable, trustworthy and it becomes easier to move them toward purchasing and working with you. 95% of buying decision are based on emotion. When you can connect with someone on an emotional level, it increases the speed of getting to "yes".
Want a few more examples or ready to dig a little deeper? Watch listen to the entire episode.
If you enjoy the episode, please share it with a friend - it's you and your support that help spread the word.
Until next week, be well and take care!
~Alisa

Should You Automatically Add Former Clients To Your Email List

I had a client ask me the other day, should I just go ahead and add all of my previous clients to my email list?
This is a question that comes up more often than not because they are customers after all - I'm sure they want to be on the list.

Why Marketing Assumptions Are Killing your Sales

One of the #1 mistakes 2nd Act Entrepreneurs make is to make assumptions with their marketing and their product offers. Making assumptions cost you time and money and ultimately sales.  
If you have had a successful career but want to increase your impact, revenue and leave a legacy using your education and expertise with an online program - you are a 2nd Act Entrepreneur. I partner with 2nd Act Entrepreneurs to create strategic marketing that builds relationships and sells their programs and turns them into Thriving Digital Impactors. 
On today's show, I share the biggest mistakes I see business owners make when trying to create and market their services.
You know what they say if you ASSUME you make an A** out of U and ME.  Nothing could be more true than when you are promoting a program that has no input from the people you want to serve.
When assumptions are made in marketing it costs more time and money because:
1. People don't know they need what you are selling.
2. People don't want what you are selling.
3. People feel rushed into your sales funnel before they are ready and it just feels wrong (and a little bit sleazy).
Instead before creating a program offer or your marketing ask yourself some specific questions:
Question #1:
When was the last time someone asked you for ________________ (insert the product you want to create)
If the answer is all the time, recently, or anything in that area then dig a little deeper because you're likely onto something.
If the answer is deer in the headlights or "uh no" then dig deeper - because you're likely about to spend a whole lot of time, energy, and money creating something that nobody wants or understands. Instead, ask people what they want instead of what you think (read know) they need.  People buy what they want, not what they need. Sell them what they want, serve them what they need.
Questions #2:
Many 2nd Act Entrepreneurs make the assumptions that people know that they have a problem and that they know how to solve it.  
-If they knew how to solve the problem, wouldn't they have already solved it?
-If they have a pressing awareness of the problem, wouldn't they be taking action to find a solution?
Chances are very high that they either don't know where to start or they are embarrassed to ask someone for help.  If you present them a confusing solution to their problem or something so high level they feel dumb - they not only won't buy they will likely tune you out forever because they will be searching for someone else to solve the problem.
This isn't because they aren't smart.  It's because they are busy, they are distracted and they just want an easy-to-understand solution that will make their current pain stop. If you give them a clear, easy solution - they will buy.
The last assumption 2nd Act Entrepreneurs often make regarding their business is assuming their customers mirror their money beliefs.  This week's episode dives into the dangers and frustrations that money blocks can have on your business.  Tune in to hear all the details as well as examples, stories, and antics for the other questions discussed in this episode.
Enjoy this episode? Share it with a friend and leave us a 5 star review on your favorite streaming platform.
 

Unlocking Exhaustion and Entrepreneurship And How To Cure It

Entrepreneurs especially in light of COVID are plain out exhausted.
It's easy to give your all to your:
Clients
Family
Friends
Team
Students
You name it, but at the end of the day if you are feeling bone-tired - you my friend are headed toward exhaustion and ultimately burnout.
In this week's episode learn my personal journey with entrepreneurship and exhaustion and what I did to turn it around.
Discover 5 tips that will empower you to take back your energy, time, and reign in your business so that you can build your business around your life instead of the other way around.
Listen to the entire episode here.
COVID has and is still wreaking havoc on all of us.
But as an entrepreneur, it may be affecting you even more than you realize.
You are likely accustomed to working from home - as I am.  But the added stress of having everyone there, feeling like you can't ever get away and just plan or think or even trying to find 2 minutes of quiet to focus is enough to make even the calmest person twitch.
I found myself in this VERY situation - which is why in this episode I bring light to the warning signs so you can check your mental health as well.
Learn the top 5 ways to solve the exhaustion dilemma and give yourself permission to take care of yourself.  Self-care is NOT an indulgence or luxury, it's a necessity.
You don't have to pick up and just keep going.
Listen to the entire episode here and give yourself permission to create a business around your life and not the other way around.
Need a little more entrepreneur love?  Head on over to the Small Business Builders Facebook group - and introduce yourself.

The Real Reason No One Is Signing Up For Your Free Download

You've spent time creating a fabulous lead magnet and yet . . . No one is joining your email list.
Alas, you are not alone in the battle to win new subscribers.
We are in a VERY competitive landscape since COVID, especially in online business. With every corner you turn, someone is hanging up their "I'm in business" sign.  Meaning you've got to put on your game face and stand out among the masses if you're going to win the favor of the email exchange.
Tune into this week's episode to learn the five reasons most course creators, consultants and coaches struggle to grow their email lists. Hint, hint - it's probably your lead magnet.
Learn the top mistake that most business owners make when creating their lead magnet and what will entice people like hot fudge on ice cream to grab yours.
You will also hear some tips on how to fix the hiccups in your lead generation funnel and start attracting new leads that you can turn into customers.
Stay tuned until the end!
There are not one, but TWO bonuses for you this week to whip your lead magnet into a powerful marketing tool.
One of the biggest struggles second-season entrepreneurs have is developing an overall strategy. 
When you are in your business, it's hard to take a birds-eye view and see where you are aiming and if your tactics are getting you closer.
This is why I've created a brand new 5 Step Marketing Strategy Guide and am planning live pieces of training in September to help you kick start your strategy. 
Join me in September for the live training that accompanies the guide. In the meantime grab your free copy here: https://alisaconner.com/strategy.
Listen to the entire episode and dive into the BEST lead magnet strategies that get you results quicker and faster.
Are you wanting some feedback on your free download?  Head on over to the Small Business Builders Facebook group - and ask for some support.

What Golf And Entrepreneurship Have In Common

What in the world? Golf and entrepreneurship?  That seems to have come out of left field.
Recently I took up golf and I know little to nothing (after my 4 games of golf this summer about technique, swings, or even putting). But the similarities between running a business and taking on a new hobby were apparent after the first drive in the golf cart.
In today's episode, come on a journey with me as I compare my new golf hobby and lessons in entrepreneurship. 
Discover the 5 different lessons that can be applied to not only your golf game but your business, and any other new venture you begin.
When was the last time you picked up something completely new and looked at it through the eyes of a beginner?
You won't want to miss this week's podcast episode and it would be worth it to pull out a pen and paper to take some notes to see which of the five lessons you could apply to build better relationships and conversations with your current and future customers.
See you inside.
-Alisa