"Yours are the only emails I actually open and read" - a regular reply in my inbox since 2009...and I'll bet in yours, too, once you subscribe and learn by pure, lazy osmosis to become the most compelling writer around. That said, no promises on improving your moral character.
So, this Instagram guru sold me by email
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Hey! If you’re in the online biz/marketing world I call “The Space,” you’ve probably heard (and heard and heard) about an overnight sensation named Jessi Jean and the big “Yap Challenge” launch that made her 7 million bucks. Or something like that. She was teaching people to do what she does on social media: talk casually on video. AKA “yapping.” (Something I’ve been doing for years, but not with the ubiquitous, tiny, fuzzy mic or the name “yapping.”) And that puppy SOLD. Her big money secret? Yapping, of course. But not only yapping. That’s just how she gets engagement on Instagram. You know what she was actually doing with the people sucked in by her videos? Me included, mind you. She was getting us on her email list… And then selling us the course via EMAIL. Right after handing over my email address, I got a long-ish, not especially polished, but warm and friendly welcome in my inbox. It told me about the upcoming course and made sure I was prepared to pounce at the word “go.” The next day, I got the announcement that doors were open — in a full-on, brazen sales email. We’re talking a mere 24 hours after I opted in. Zero lead-up, zero “value emails” building trust. Girl, srsly? What is it they say? “Buy me dinner before you try to get me in bed” (except something less polite). If you think I fell for it instead of unsubscribing her ass out of my inbox… You’d be right! I signed up for her emails because I was into what she was teaching and curious about her course. And then I bought. If you think you have to court a new subscriber for days, weeks, or months before you make an offer, I’m here to tell you that’s 💩. If you think it’s bad email etiquette to promote or sell “too often,” wrong-o there, too. In case you haven’t noticed, I promote something in almost every email. Sometimes it’s one of my bangin’ Talking Shrimp courses. Or an in-person event, like my NYC writing retreat, Bingeworthy Live. (March 21-22, 2027.) Sometimes, a friend’s event, especially if I’m involved — like the Gateless Fall Festival, hosted by my book mentor Suzanne Kingsbury. Monday’s call with me and Terri Trespicio, about writing the book you want to write, was so good! Sign up and you can still get the replay. My main rule is, I have to make every email worth opening whether you’re interested in the offer or not. And if I’m selling, I sell. Whatever story I tell, I make it directly relevant to the offer. I’ll show you how to do all that next Thursday, so you can make more money this year by writing the right kind of emails to your list — even if it’s a tiny one. Come to my free email class: End-Of-Year Bonus Thursday, October 29 at 3pm ET/12pm PT Grab your seat with one click here. See you there! xoLaura Psst! Since you're signed up to get my emails on a weekly basis, here's what you missed this week! Love Shrimp Mail? Forward this to a friend so they can get in on the action and sign up below.
Thank you for reading and sharing, |
Laura Belgray (Talking Shrimp)
"Yours are the only emails I actually open and read" - a regular reply in my inbox since 2009...and I'll bet in yours, too, once you subscribe and learn by pure, lazy osmosis to become the most compelling writer around. That said, no promises on improving your moral character.
TODAY! I’m speaking in Suzanne Kingsbury’s Gateless Fall Festival. Hope you’re coming to: A Clear Map to the Book You Really Want to Write. ← Click to sign up if you haven’t yet. Yes, you’ll get the replays. OK — you know that email I sent last week announcing my new free email class? (It was about Netflix’s East of Eden series and started off with a note on Florence Pugh’s lip filler. Read it here if you missed it.) When I wrote it, I was pretty sure I’d get a fuming reply from at least one...
So — every single time I try to make money by sending a bunch of emails, the weirdest thing happens: It works! Some promotions do better than others, but if an offer doesn’t sell well, it’s almost always because of one thing: I was lazy. Or disorganized. Or discouraged by initial sales. Or cocky that my light drizzle of promotion would be enough. Or, despite everything I preach, reluctant to “bombard” your inbox. Sometimes, all of the above. But it’s still the one thing: I didn’t send enough...
Hey - just finished East of Eden on Netflix. You watch? The book is one of my all-time favorites. I read it in 1992 on a 10-hour flight, which felt like 2 hours (even in Economy) because it was that unputdownable. I loved the series. My only complaint is Florence Pugh’s lip filler, which has no business in a turn-of-the-century period piece. She might as well be wearing lululemon pants and a sports bra. The reason I’m bringing up East of Eden, though, is a business lesson. The central family,...