How’s Your Strategy? Is a video series where we’ll go through the strategy behind the blogs and websites of creative entrepreneurs. I take a close look at each person’s goals and how they’re being reflected on their website and make suggestions for improvement.
In today’s episode, I was lucky enough to look at the website of Holly Sutton from A Branch of Holly. She’s a freelance writer who is all about helping people chase their dreams and get to where they want to be.
One of Holly’s current goals is to continue growing her community through her email list, so in this video we’ll take an in-depth look at how she can make small changes to her website that will make a big difference in growing her list. (Tweet it)
Remember to follow along and take notes on how you can apply these tips to your own website. Enjoy!
Not a video lover? Here are the main points we went over in the review.
Homepage
- Three things your homepage should have
- Who you help and how you help them
- A first step for your new readers
- An opt-in opportunity
Related post: Should I Have A Static Homepage Or Show My Blog Posts?
Start Here page
- Don’t miss out on grabbing those new readers right away. Include an opt-in opportunity right near the top of the page.
Related post: How To Plan A Start Here Page For Your Blog
Blog
- If you have a sidebar, your first three items should be your bio, social media icons, and an opt-in
- Use content upgrades in your blog posts. Rather than links or buttons for these content upgrades, use eye-catching graphics and mockups. Remember, people are visual!
- Give several opportunities for readers to opt-in throughout each blog post
- Experiment with contrasting buttons versus mockups
Related post: How To Make The Most Of Your Blog Posts
General list-building tips
- Make sure your buttons and calls-to-action stand out.
- Be clear about what new subscribers will get for signing up. This will make them want to opt-in even more! Think of things like mockups showing worksheets or descriptions highlighting the most high-value items.
- Test out different opt-in incentives and images to see what resonates with your audience
- Make opt-in opportunities on your About page feel natural and flow with the rest of the content
Related post: 5 Ways To Optimize Your Blog For Email Opt-Ins
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