How to turn followers into subscribers overnight
Struggling to grow your mailing list? Here’s how to create something irresistible that makes the right people sign up.
It feels like every algorithm under the sun is slowing down at the moment. Social media isn’t doing what it used to, and on Substack, where I’m most active, there seem to be more people following rather than subscribing. List growth feels harder everywhere.
So what do we do about it?
Whether you are building a list using Mailchimp, Flowdesk, Klaviyo, ConvertKit or Substack, the truth is you probably need to work a bit smarter and be more compelling these days if you want to turn casual readers and followers into subscribers.
People who see and like your Instagram posts, follow you on Facebook, or visit your website are a good start. But you need a way to keep talking to them and involving them in your world. And “sign up for my mailing list” or “subscribe to my newsletter” is rarely enough to make them do it. Be honest, would you sign up for that without a reason?
This is where a really good lead magnet comes in.
Now, I don’t love the term either. It sounds salesy. But in reality, it is simply an open door into your world. A lead magnet is a free but irresistible resource that solves a real problem for your ideal audience and makes them think:
“If this is what they give away for free, imagine what I’d get if I worked with them or bought from them.”
Your lead magnet should feel, essentially, like a brilliant gift.
A good lead magnet does five things:
Builds trust by showing you understand their struggles or know how to delight and uplift them in some way
Gives an immediate, tangible win they can use right now - this could be something like a 5 step guide to rekindling your creativity, a guided meditation, a mini guide to photographing your art, a week’s worth of baby weaning recipes - whatever works for you and your people!
Positions you as the go-to person for something specific without you having to sell directly.
Creates a natural bridge to your paid products and services so it feels effortless when the time comes to buy
Leaves them wanting more and wondering ‘what’s next?’
It’s not about growing your list with anyone and everyone.
It’s about attracting the right people so your list is full of fans, ready for more, not just names who aren’t quite sure how and why they got there!.
If you do not have a lead magnet yet, or yours isn’t working as well as you would like, I can help you create one in a week.
From Monday 1 September, I’m running a low-cost, high-focus mini course to help you get it done. You will:
Join or watch short Zoom sessions for knowledge, idea brainstorming, and Q&A (live or recorded)
Work through simple resources to create your perfect lead magnet
Be part of a pop-up WhatsApp group for feedback and support during the week
Share your lead magnet with my list (over 2,500 people) and the lists of other participants for extra reach - this is worth the ticket price alone.
By the end of the week, you will have a beautiful lead magnet, ready to share!
It will cost £35 to take part, (Though there will be an early bird when it’s first released) or £20 if you are a paid Substack member. At the moment if you sign up, you are just joining the waitlist, and I will send further details and payment links later.
This is what Joanne, a former client, said after we worked on her list and lead magnet for her creative business:
“We also looked at lead magnets to get more people on my list. I feel that I’ve really filled a gap I didn’t know was there and I am already seeing a financial return. It’s easily the best money I have spent on my business this year, possibly ever.”
You might also be interested to here that Joanne sold her business a couple of years after we did this work together and also said this when she emailed me to let me know her new plans…
“As you may have heard I made the decision to close the business to pursue other opportunities. When I announced it on my newsletter (the one that you helped me turn from an afterthought into the linch pin of my marketing effort!) I received six different offers to buy it!”
Why work with me on this?
I have worked in an around marketing for my entire working life (30+ years in total) including thirteen years in and running marketing departments for various arts and culture organisations, over a decade as a marketing consultant to dozens of small businesses and brands and now a further five years as a marketing and mindset coach to creative women.
Basically, I understand everything you need to create a successful lead magnet: target markets, messaging, communications and tenacity! Plus my super power is ideation so if you REALLY can’t think of a good idea for a lead magnet, I probably can :)
My main love in marketing has always been and probably always will be email marketing, so I’m going to love putting this together for you.
I’ll be back later to talk to you about this some more but for now, just put your name down and I’ll send you more details and a payment link when I can :)
On the form in the link I ask a handful of quick questions so that I can make sure I am creating the resources that you need to flourish! You input is so important at this point so please do tell me anything you want to!
If you are ready to create something irresistible that draws the right people into your world, so they can start creating income for you, click below to join the list.
With love,
Sarah x
PS If you’d rather work on this 1:1 we can do so in a Spark Session. Click here to find out more and book your spot. That way you have my undivided attention and we can go through all the ideas, choose what’s best and make a plan for creation and marketing so that your lists starts to grow!