The Best Way To Grow And Scale Your Business In 2020

Whether you operate online or run a business, I am sure that more and more you have heard that email marketing is dead and you should no longer worry about having an email list.

What I am about to tell you may shock you, but actually, the exact opposite is the truth.

Everybody focuses on using social media as the main means of marketing in today’s digitally connected world. This should be a big part of your marketing strategy, but there is one core downside that you MUST keep in mind when using Social Media.

YOU, Your Business or your brand, do not own your followers – the platform that they sign up on, does.

If Facebook decides today that they do not like what you are doing on your page, nothing stops them from blocking your profile or even worse, removing it completely. Now what?? No matter whether you had 40 or 400 000 followers – they are all gone in an instant. You have no way of connecting with those people. It would mean you need to start everything from scratch again.  Use Social Media as a vehicle to getting people to your website and to subscribe to your email list.

The Value of Building an Email List

Building an email list where you have a database of email addresses where you can contact your subscribers is like having the keys to Fort Knox in your pocket. These are people you can connect and build relationships with that can bring you a constant stream of sales and new subscribers not only now, but also in the future.

Did you know it costs you 7 times more money to find a new lead than to connect with an existing client/lead? Why would you not build a list of email subscribers that you can continue to market to, by just sending them an email? Not only that, once you have established a relationship with your subscribers, they talk to others that can bring you in even more subscribers, if not even more sales too.

Yes, it takes work to build that email database, but the returns are just so worth it!. But before we go into the specifics around building an email list, I just to share something crucial and it’s this …

Building a list takes time and dedication. It’s not something that is going to happen overnight and you need to remain consistent and stick to it. In the long run your dedication will pay off massively.

There are many people that have built multi 6 figure businesses from email marketing alone, so it’s definitely possible for you. Think about it like this – why would you waste time trying to connect with people that you don’t know, when you have already taken the time to build up a database of people that like and trust you to have their best interests at heart? It’s really a no-brainer, don’t you think?

In this post we will cover the reasons why email is still THE best way to grow, scale and explode your business, no matter the niche or industry you are in.

#1 First – Build you email list

When starting a business, many people are stubborn and want to do things their way. Aspiring entrepreneurs think that they know and understand what it takes to start and run a business. They don’t realize that’s normally the fastest way that they are going to lose money. Building an email list is one of the things that you should be focusing on first, before anything else.

In order for a business to be successful, you need to make sales. It doesn’t matter if you are selling a product or services – without sales, the business doesn’t mean much. Building an email list provides you with contact to your market. It brings people to your business that are interested in what you have to offer. An email list provides  you with leverage and the means to connect with your ideal audience.

Providing your audience with valuable information that solves their problems via email goes a very long way in building your authority and creating goodwill. This in turn will create the foundation for your business success.

Even if you feel you have nothing to offer in the beginning,  use it to just connect with people and start building those relationships.

#2 Build a relationship with your email list

One of the biggest misconceptions is that having a GIANT list is the key to making lots of money. Actually you don’t need a massive list but ideally your list should be highly responsive to what you have to offer. This means you need to have your idea clients signing up for access to your list. Don’t try and be all things to all people. Find out who your ideal clients are and then draw them to you with what you offer.

It’s all about the concept of having “1000 True Fans“. True Fans love what you have to offer and they most likely will not even worry what exactly you have to sell – they will just buy it anyway.

Showing  people that you genuinely care about their concerns, challenges and issues; then providing them with solutions, equals awesome results.

Most other people will just treat their subscribers like numbers. You need to treat them like they are dear friends. Write your emails as if you were talking to a best buddy and be casual. Show them that you respect them as a person and not only as someone that’s going to give you their credit card details and buy something.

It really doesn’t take a lot of effort for you to stand miles above your competition because most people are just plain lazy. They want to just put 30 seconds into writing an email telling people what they think they want to hear and then expect people to buy.

If you treat your subscribers like gold and value them and help them get what they want, they will be happy to help you get what you want in return. Happy subscribers = more sales, increased goodwill and even more subscribers.

What should you send to your subscribers?

You can help them by sending out simple emails where you share something of value to them. It can be in a video or a blog post but you know will solve a problem or give them some sort of result. Think about sending out something about what you have just learned. Maybe share a new product or service, but most importantly it should be of value to your subscribers.

Don’t make it complicated. It doesn’t require that you spend endless hours in an effort to help them. Just make a little more effort that most people aren’t willing to do.

That being said though, spend some quality time writing your emails. Show your subscribers you care about giving them what they need and want, not just something for the sake of something.

Don’t get caught up in thinking that you are not good at writing or you don’t know what to write – it all comes down to just getting it done. The old adage of “Practice makes perfect” is very true in this case. The more you practice, the better you will get. Learn to master the skill of writing and your bank account will reflect it.

By building the relationship from the beginning, people will become comfortable spending their money with you. Don’t wait to start sending those emails – even if you have 0 subscribers, create those emails anyway. Get into the habit early and when you have a substantial list, you are already a pro.

#3 The Money is in the follow up

Now this is the area where most people fail.

Many people wonder what could be wrong when they have a list of 1000 or more subscribers but are still not getting any sales. When asked how many times they are emailing that list and they reply, “Not much” then you have your reason.

There is no point to take the time and make the effort to build the list and then not to do anything with it thereafter. You need to stay in contact. You need to connect with people to get them to warm up to you and expose them to what you have to offer. If you are not doing that, then how can you expect to make any sales?

Most people seem to think that humans are like robots. Most business owners expect that if they just send people to a sales page they will automatically just buy. It doesn’t work like that.

Most people need to see something several times before they get interested. Statistics show that people normally need at least 7 “touches” before they take action. Build the interest, stay connected and satisfy their needs with valuable content that speaks to their concerns. This is what will keep them coming back for more.

You also should be using different angles when you promote your product or your service to your subscribers. Answer any questions or objections they may have. Some people may be interested, but possibly you’ve just not answered the questions they have in their head. Try and put yourself into the shoes of your subscribers so that you can better satisfy their requirements.

Don’t just build your list and then drop the ball. Follow up and do it often – show them you care to stay connected and serve their needs always.

#4 Build your tribe

Today it’s easier than ever to build a list of people that like and trust you. With the power of social media, email, forums, groups and YouTube you can find the right people interested in whatever you’re selling.

If you want to make good money online or offline, then focus on building a community. You can make money without this, but if you’re in business for more than a quick buck I would start building a community of loyal fans now, over doing it later.

Having a tribe of followers that absolutely love what you offer and know that you only have their best interests at heart, makes life so much easier and more fulfilling. So stop trying to reinvent the wheel – use the knowledge you have already gained about your ideal clients and build a tribe of raving fans.

People today are very hungry for connection and to feel as if they are part of a community. Give people a reason to want to belong to your community. Make them feel special and pay attention to what they need and desire. This will be your pathway to success in the next decade. Build it now and reap the benefits in the coming months and years.

Final Thoughts

Email is and will always be my #1 way to generate income. Social media is great to build relationships, let your customers get to know the real you and to even network with other business owners and influencers. I’ve focused a lot recently on building friendships with other high level influencers in my space. By leveraging each other’s knowledge, all our businesses will grow exponentially in 2020 and beyond.

It may require stepping out of your comfort zone like it did for me, but I promise you that building your tribe of like minded people will help you grow in business and as a person.

You need to get up off your butt and do the work, just like I had to do. Take action immediately on everything you have learnt as soon as possible.  Now, grow and scale your business in 2020 beyond what you dreamt is possible, using this strategy.

Let me know how it goes – I would love hearing from you.

Till next time