If you’ve been following along in our series, last week we talked about how to create a buzz around your lead magnet. (If you missed it, you can catch up here.)
Next week we will talk about paid traffic to your funnel, but I always like to start with free BEFORE I go to paid… it’s worthwhile to get as many people going through the funnel as possible prior to having to pay for them. (To this one might say, “duh!” but since you are so nice, I will say it for you.)
To make things a little less overwhelming and make sure you take action, I built out a 7-Day Schedule for Promoting Your Lead Magnet for Free. (Tweet this)
Sunday: Sunday night, as the weekend is winding down, take some time to do a little research. This will set you up for success for the rest of the week. Make a list of the following:
- 10 of the most popular blogs in your niche (use BuzzSumo.com to help you find that).
. - 10 of the most popular podcasts in your niche that are ranked 75-100 in popularity. You don’t want to focus on the top 10 as they are hit up for requests all day long. Start with the super strong by less popular shows to get your feet wet. (Visit iTunes, then Podcast, to get these.)
. - Make a list of all of the people in your industry that you personally know that have a blog, podcast or other platform.
. - Create an easy-to-give domain name for your lead magnet with GoDaddy.com (buy a domain) or use www.TinyURL.com to create one for free. I do this with all of my lead magnets I want to promote, the one I give out most often being nobschapter.com.
Now get to sleep… you have a busy week ahead!
Note: if you have a teeny tiny list right now… some of these strategies might seem pointless if you don’t have a big audience yet, but don’t use that as an excuse not to do them. Even if you only have 12 people on your email list and 8 Twitter Followers and some of them are family members and yourself, start with those 12 and run through these strategies. The more you do this step, the more your audience will grow and you will grow more comfortable with self-promotion.
Promotion Schedule
Monday for Video-palooza: It’s time to do your own self-promotion of your funnel to drive traffic and comments before you reach out to others to promote it.
- Use Facebook’s Live Video to share with your audience three bullet points or one main tip from your blog. At the end of the video, send them to the lead magnet web page to get more information. Also include a link to that video in the video settings and post description.
. - Download the MP4 from the Facebook Live Video and upload it to YouTube. In the description, place first a link to your lead magnet.
. - Share the YouTube link on LinkedIn. Include a link to your lead magnet as well.
. - In preparation for tasks later in the week, read the blogs of your top bloggers and make any notes about their blogging style that you can use later in the week.
Tuesday was made for Email: If you are a newbie, this step can be S-C-A-R-Y when you are just starting out… but rip off the band-aid and email them. I remember how painful it was in the beginning but I promise it gets easier and eventually even FUN. Yes, I am serious.
- Send an email to your list with a link to your blog post. In the PS of the email at the end of your blog post, include a link directly to your lead magnet.
. - Share a link to your blog post on all of your social media channels.
. - Listen to 3 of the podcasts you are going to reach out to later in the week and make notes about their podcasting style you can use later in the week when you reach out to them.
Wednesday for Book-Me-Danno: In the early days, a lot of my list-building started with me simply being willing to contribute content to other people’s newsletters and blogs. At one point, I was contributing to 15 newsletters and blogs a month. Now that my audience has grown and I am a columnist for Entrepreneur Magazine, Digital Marketer and GKIC Insider’s Circle, I have stopped writing for most others, but this still is a major component of my success in list growth.
Use this day to contact the people you know who have networks you can tap into by doing one (or both) of the following:
- Sending them a personal email to ask if they would be willing to share a link to your blog post to their social media followers.
. - Share a link to your blog post and ask if there might be an opportunity to guest post on their site or write for their newsletter about a similar topic.
. - Listen to 4 of the podcasts you are going to reach out to later in the week and make notes about their podcasting style you can use later in the week when you reach out to them.
Thursday is Perfect for Podcasting: Now it’s time to venture out into the Podcasting world to people you don’t know and try to get booked on their shows.
1. Listen to the remaining podcasts you haven’t heard yet and make notes about their shows.
2. Send an email message to the podcast asking to be a guest. Follow this formula for getting heard:
a. Use a unique subject line that can get their attention.
Examples:
I’ll promote our episode like my life depended on it
You’ll wonder what just happened but then smile
No, seriously…let me tell you why
b. Write a short but sweet email telling them how having you as a guest will benefit them. Do NOT make it all about you.
Here’s an email I sent to Pat Flynn back in 2013 that landed me episode 89 on his show that you can use as an example:
Subject: Because you rock (with beat boxing)
Message Body:
Greetings Pat…
I love the show…and not just because you beat box…something I can never seem to do without spitting…but I digress.
You bring so much value to us working our tails off today to live the lives we want forever.
You help me keep up the pace…you see, I have owned my company for 13 years and have had the ups and downs and round abouts like the rest of them, but I really became an entrepreneur 3 years ago when my daughter was born and my back was against the wall. I discovered direct response marketing and everything changed…so much for the better. I still have the crazy scaling company schedule and lack of sleep of balancing a growing business and two kids but it is now with joy and excitement that I face each day. In my long drives, I listen to your podcast for inspiration, education and motivation. Through this year, my company has killed it, having taken on clients like Sandler Training, GKIC Inner Circle, Chem-Dry and Ron LeGrand. My focus is bringing direct response tactics to social media…I monetize the fluffy stuff.
I don’t suppose you would consider having me as a guest on your show? I am sure there is no room for me, but if I am wrong, I would come prepared to offer value with high energy and an occasional joke or two…
I am sure that you already have too many like me beating down your door, so even if you don’t have the time to respond, know that you have a fan here at www.facebook.com/KWalshPhillips and I am ready to cheer when you soon hit episode #100. (BTW…your recent one with Clay Collins nailed it. I have been a Lead Pages customer for a while now and it is off the chain.)
Focusing on the ROI,
Kim
c. Set a task reminder to following up by “replying all” to your message, but change the subject line, trying something unique again and offer 5 reasons why to book you as a guest. Make this again about them and not about you.
Friday for Blogging Fun! Repeat the podcast step but this time making it for blogging.
Saturday: A quick clean-up in the morning and you are done.
- Thank anyone who shared your link or promoted your work in anyway. (I like to send gifts as a thank you. It helps to show how much you appreciate their help.)
. - Post a link to your blog post again on all of your social media channels.
And you are done! Take a deep breath and get some rest because next week we are on to getting paid traffic.
Craving digital sales strategies that produce results? Download a free chapter of the No B.S. Guide to Direct Response Social Media Marketing with Dan Kennedy and Kim Walsh-Phillips.
