By Mechelle aka Mama Bear
If you’ve done any kind of research on online marketing, you probably have come across the familiar saying, “the money is in the list.” I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT. Hands-down, no question about it, email marketing is the “secret sauce” to a successful online business.
Yes, I said email marketing not search engine optimization (SEO). Can you imagine that? But truly, SEO can’t hold a candle to the power of email marketing. I can’t even begin to tell you how big of a deal this is.
Don’t get it twisted though, SEO is still a great tool for any online marketer. For example, you’re thinking of looking for a new coffee blend. You go on Google and type in “roasted coffee” and the name of your city; let’s say, “roasted coffee Washington, DC.” What happens next? Under “All” results, Google spits out a list of coffee shops and impresarios in Washington, DC. Under “Images” you find pictures related to coffee shops in Washington, DC. Under “Shopping” you find ads for various brands of roasted coffee. SO COOL….and convenient!
What did we do before Google?!? For any interest, in any service or product you are looking for, you get access to advertising offering what you’re interested in along with services or products that are similar. All of this information is at your fingertips just a click away.
It is no surprise that conversion rates for highly targeted commercial searches on search engines like Google, are through the roof. THEY MAKE MONEY. That is why people spend Billions upon Billions of dollars on Google Ads year after year.
Their ad growth rate shows no signs of slowing down. But despite all of this, email marketing is beating the hell out of search marketing. That’s how awesome email marketing is, and that’s why you need to get on this.
I don’t care how small or new you think your business is. I don’t care how limited your social media presence may appear to you. If you are not marketing your business using a mailing list, you are putting yourself at a competitive disadvantage.
The power of mailing lists
So what’s the big deal about mailing lists? How do they generate sales? Why do they produce more sales than search engines? Here’s the thing, when you have an existing relationship with somebody, it’s easier to sell stuff to them. After all, if they accept an incentive you offer or buy something from you, they have already shown interest in what you have to offer. With their email, now you can build a rapport with them and show them other things you have to offer time, and time, and time again.
The list allows you to potentially turn them into a repeat buyer. In other words, the cheapest form of new business is old business. When people sign-up for your mailing list, they are saying to you, in no uncertain terms, that they trust you. They are looking for a relationship. They’re looking to hear from YOU.
That’s why mailing lists convert hand over fist. With SEO, you’re basically converting people on a one-time basis. Basically, it’s a one-time thing, and the next time somebody is looking for something else, they enter into the search engine, and then they convert again.
Not so with a mailing list. You can set up your mailing list to run on autopilot so it’s sending out updates, and every time they like an update they see, they can buy stuff. It is no surprise that people who sign up for a mailing list, end up buying many different products at many different times. The value of each list numbered goes up over time; it’s like real estate.
How to use Facebook to build your mailing list
The great thing about Facebook is that it is a surveillance software. Did you know that Facebook is tracking your interests and your psychological profile when you are logged in? That’s right! It keeps track of the stuff you like, the content that you post comments on, and other indirect indicators of your interests.
What do you think it does with this data? It’s not sitting on it, that’s for sure. No, Facebook has turned all that data into BILLIONS of dollars for the company. It uses this highly complicated information and breaks it down into easy to understand data points, and then blasts it through an advertising-targeting algorithm.
As a marketer for your business, you can tap into this data and use Facebook to target a very specific group of people based on such demographics as: location, age, gender, and interests. For example, if you’re marketing breast pumps and accessories, you’re not going to want to waste your marketing budget on kids, men, or women over 45. That’s not your market. No, you would want to concentrate your advertising dollars specifically on women between the age of 20 and 45 (actual childbearing years) who have shown an interest in breast pumps, baby registries, baby accessories, maternity information, etc. That’s the power of targeted marketing.
The best part to all of this is that Facebook has so much inventory for you to tap into and that inventory is constantly growing on a daily basis. Starting with as little as $5 a day, Facebook advertising can help you build your mailing list more effectively and efficiently. Learn Facebook advertising like a pro!
Thanks again for stopping by Mama Bear Marketing! Hope you got some good information that will help you on your journey. Continue to check back in. I would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.
Let’s grow this village!!
Mechelle aka Mama Bear