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In today’s world of digital marketing, it is important to stand out from the crowd and really be able to provide your audience value.

Today, we will be discussing the importance of utilizing content upgrades for your business.

These are FREE downloads and added benefits to your blogs that your audience wants.

How it works:

  1. This shows your audience that you are an expert in your industry, by providing valuable content on a topic your audience is already looking for. You are able to connect with them and start building trust with them. It’s about the – Know, Like, Trust factor. 
  2. By utilizing Content Upgrades it allows you to grow your email list. Having a strong email list to market to is like gold. This happens because in order for your audience to receive their free content upgrade they need to enter in their name and email.  Another key factor to using Content Upgrades is you are able to understand your audience more and really know what they are looking for so you can write more content for them. 
  3. Once you have their email address you can remarket to them with future items similar to your content upgrade, this is called the nurturing process, building the trust with them so they will want to do business with you.

So, let’s take this one step at a time and go through the process of what a content upgrade can be and then how to create one.

Content upgrades are the free downloads that you sign up for in exchange for your name and email address. The content upgrades can be a variety of things. 

One key place you can look to start thinking of what your content upgrade should be is your FAQ section on your website. This FAQ section gets a TON of SEO benefits from Google, so looking at what your top questions are or event turning those FAQ into a content upgrade.

Here are a few examples of content upgrades.

These upgrades can come in many shapes and forms, but typically include:

  • Tools and Resources List
  • Secret Podcast Episode
  • Checklist of the steps taken in the blog
  • Regular Checklist 
  • Additional Related Content
  • Downloadable PSD files or other design assets
  • One Month Free of your product or membership site
  • A Printable
  • Swipe Copy (people love swipe copy, FYI, this is used more for affiliates, content they can copy and paste to promote your product or program)
  • Transcripts for Audio or Video Recordings
  • Worksheets to support a blog post
  • eBook
  • Case Study
  • Interactive handout
  • Video series

You can also think outside the box and include:

  • 15-minute phone calls
  • Strategy reviews
  • Free sessions
  • Etc.

The goal of these upgrades is to increase the number of subscribers on your email list.

All of these items can be used to grab the attention of your target audience. You are creating a valuable piece of content that your audience wants, they then give you their name and email to download this content upgrade.

Now, that you have an idea of WHAT a content upgrade is, it’s time to start planning what you should be creating for yours.

We have a worksheet for you to go along with this blog and to be able to jot down your ideas. Please download your free copy now to continue with this blog. (See how we are using a content upgrade?!?!)

Download Your FREE Content Upgrade Worksheet

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It’s very important to be clear about what you are going to create, and understand that you will have multiple content upgrades. You may do a content upgrade for each blog post, or each service you offer.

For example, if you are a nutritionist and work with clients one on one, you may write a blog and your content upgrade would be a grocery checklist or a food substitute checklist that your audience can download for free then they learn to trust you.  Then if you have another blog or maybe even promoting your coaching services you may have a 3-part video series as your content upgrade to help your audience know, like, and trust you along with giving them valuable information within the video series.

Now, that you have figured out your topic and then format you want to create your content upgrade on, it’s time for the fun part!

How to Create Your Content Upgrade

To create your content, you could have a:

  • PDF: These are great for workbooks, checklists, Guides, etc. Simple tools like Word, Pages, Google Drive Slides, or PowerPoint are all easy to save as PDF’s.
  • Email Course: These don’t even require PDF’s. In an email course, you are sending valuable information over the course of a few days. This makes it so the recipient isn’t overwhelmed by information and sees your name pop up more frequently. MailChimp allows for automated email sequences, which is a great free way to share this content.
  • Free consultation: All you need here is your phone. You can use Calendly.com to set time blocks that you are available for consultations to reduce the back and forth.

As subscribers are added to your email list, it is important that you are tagging these individuals with what they were interested in. For us, for example, someone who is interested in information on how to manage their Facebook, won’t be interested in information designed in educating other social media managers. We want to make sure any future emails we send to our list align with the topics they initially were interested in.

Let’s dive a little deeper and talk about how to create each of these things. 

1. Use Google Docs or Word to put your thoughts on paper or screen

I love using Google docs because it is a live document and you can use it from any device, it is also great if you have a team that will be working on this project together.

Don’t worry about fonts, colors, visual appeal at this point. It is just about getting the words on the paper at this point.

You can add images and change font later once you have the content complete. Sometimes, I worry too much about the visual appeal at the beginning that I lose focus on the value of the content.

2. Time for the Creative Part – Creating your Cover

Graphics are very important to your content upgrade, they are the main thing that drives the attention of your viewers. We use an awesome tool called Canva, this is where we create the cover image, you can use the 8.5×11

They have Free themes you can edit, add your own font, brand colors, images where you can do one of two things here, you can just create your cover

3. Creating Your Google Doc into PDF

If you choose to use Canva just to create your Cover image then you would download that image to your computer, then head over to your Google Docs and insert that image on the first page.

Then you will want to make sure you have a footer with your contact info:

  • Company Name
  • Website
  • Email Address
  • Logo

Check to make sure you have the images in the correct areas, the fonts you want and the right brand colors. If you do not have the correct brand color number you can use this FREE Chrome extension ColorPick Eye Dropper, this works to pull the correct color number that then you can add to Google Docs and Canva.

Once that is complete you can go to File > Download As > PDF

Save it to your computer. This saves it in an 8.5×11 PDF.

4. Adding the PDF to your website

You want that PDF to have a URL so you can add it to your sign-up form within MailChimp or Lead Pages. 

You can upload this PDF to your WordPress website into the media area, this gives you the URL so you can hyperlink the download within your welcome messages in your sign-up form. We love to use MailChimp because it is free and very simple to use.

5. Bringing it all together

Now, you have everything created and ready to start having people sign up, right?

It’s time to create your landing page and your form so people can start signing up to get your free content upgrade.

Like we said in step 4, we use MailChimp because it is simple and easy to use.

There are other options like using your website or LeadPages as well. In the video below it walks you through the MailChimp process.

Wrapping it all up

I hope from this blog you are able to see the big picture behind these content upgrades/free downloads. There are so many different ways you can tie these into your marketing. One thing I love about content upgrades is it gives that extra oomph to your blogs. I love the creative process of creating a content upgrade.

Have fun with this process and maybe create 2-3 to start and see which one performs better!

Lead Growth Management

Social media networks and search engines can change their algorithms without warning. Email marketing is currently (and historically) the most effective way to continue building trust with prospects, increase recurring revenue, and see an ROI from other marketing efforts. The Social Speak Email Marketing team works with your strategist to build content upgrades, welcome series, and newsletters to stay top of mind.

We are here to help!

 

 

How to Use a Content Upgrade to Grow Your Business and Email List

How to be the Go-To Health/Wellness resource for your local audience

The health and wellness industry has been booming which is amazing!  Companies and people are finally taking their health seriously and are looking for reliable resources to guide them and their staff to a more healthier lifestyle.  Though that is great, it does mean that we are seeing more and more health and wellness companies pop up.  So the question is, how do you become the “go-to” resource for your community?

Networking

Networking within your community is the best way to self-promote, create relationships, and see what your community is looking for in terms of a health and wellness resource.  There are many great ways to connect through local networking:

  • Lunch and Learns– Set up times with local businesses to come in during lunch hours and present on a topic or provide demonstrations.  Corporate health has been on the rise and companies are paying more for preventative care now more than ever.   With you demonstrating what your services are or presenting on a common health issue that the company may address, the employees and upper management will start to see you as their resource and will most likely come to you for future needs.
  • Community workshops/events– These are great events to showcase what you offer and what your specialty is.  It’s also a way to see what the local needs are in terms of services or topics they are interested in.  The more you are seen in your community, answering questions and presenting on topics, the more people will remember you as the health and wellness person.
  • Webinars– Webinars can connect you to the people in your community who may not have the option to meet you one on one or attend an event you are at.  They are can download the webinar and watch it when it’s convenient for them so you can reach a larger population and they can refer back to it anytime.  Another great thing about webinars is that you can link them to your site and social media pages from the video to help drive traffic to your sites right away.

Networking in the community #wordofmouth #networking #smallbusiness #healthandwellness

Content Upgrades

Content upgrades can give your local community a sample of what you offer.  These can work for multiple types of health businesses from health coaches to clinics through different types of content upgrades:

  • Resource Guide to your Niche- This guide can show off some of the services you offer by offering information or a go-to guide on specific topics.  People can download it and have material that will drive traffic back to your site for more information.
  • Cheatsheets, Challenges, and Checklists, Oh my! All of these are great action-based materials.  That means it gives your community something to follow up with or physically try.  Challenges get people motivated, excited, and talking about your content and business.  Checklists can be referenced over and over again. They are also easily updated to accommodate multiple topics.  And who doesn’t like a cheat sheet that can help make their health journey a tad bit easier? Add items such any numbers, conversions, quick reference points for a health topic, etc.
  • Free Trial– Get people using your services with a trial run.  This can give them a snapshot of what you do in your business and can spark interest.
  • Case Study– For more clinical businesses or businesses that want to show scientific benefits, case studies can be used as content upgrades.  They give your community facts about the types of services you are offering, but, always make sure that you site the case study and check that it’s from a reputable source.

Social Media Content

We are living in a social media time.  Most people, once they meet you, will look you up on social media.  The content you post can have a huge impact on their impression of you and your business.  Create an engaging and education-heavy environment through your media content:

  • Engaging Instagram stories– Using Instagram and Instagram stories can be an amazing way to engage your community.  You can utilize IG Stories to post personal messages, ask questions, and create a buildup to an event.  Followers can comment on your stories or you can respond in real-time when doing a Q&A session.  To see how to use IG Stories more in depth, check out our previous blog:  Using Instagram Story Tools to Engage your Viewers
  • Tagging other Resources– A great resource knows other resources in the area and since we can’t be an expert on everything, we need to work on gaining other reliable resources.  You can tag them and lead your followers to other reputable resources in the area which builds relationships with residents as well as local businesses.
  • Videos to showcase your specialty– Social media videos can connect you with your followers through your work.  You can post demos of what you do, testimonials of successful past customers, or anything that aligns with your specialty and what you are trying to accomplish through your business.

Professional Networking

Building relationships through community events is very beneficial but there is a whole other community you may be missing- the professional networking community.  Corporate health and reaching the working community can open other doors for your business.  There are also really fun ways to network with local businesses:

 

  • Trade Shows– These events can give you an insight into what the needs may be based on questions asked.  It’s also an opportunity for you to meet locals and other business owners and while building relationships.
  • Hosting a Lecture Series– Hosting a lecture series for local businesses can give you a way to present what your business  can offer their employees and why you should be their contact for all things health related.  By setting up a series, you can display what you offer and continue to bring in new topics of interest when you come back.  As a health resource, people will probably have many questions so following up the series with a Q&A can have a great impact on how you are received as an expert in your field.
  • Industry Happy Hours– These are fun ways to get business owners out in the town and be able to connect outside of work.  These are great events to build relationships, see what the needs of businesses are, and have a little fun while doing it.  They are low-pressure but be sure to have business cards or samples of what you do.
  • Join Organizations– By joining local organizations, you are showing the neighborhood that you are invested in the community and care about what happens in it.  You will also get opportunities to be more involved in the local events.  The more you can get out into the neighborhood, the more people will get to know your face and what your business stands for.

These are just some of the ways to that you can build up relationships, get involved in your community, and support the local people in their health journey.  Relate to where your business is and fulfill a need.  Once people start to see you around more, see that you are invested in the community, and see your passion/knowledge of what you do, you will start to become the first person they think of when they think of health topics.

Professional Networking #networking #businessnetwork #supportlocal

Content Upgrades for networking #cheatsheets #checklists #freetrial #challenges #promocode

 

Nothing is more frustrating than spending time, money and effort only to find out that you’re not getting the results you want. You sent out emails, printed flyers and blasted your social media followers. Despite the effort and hard work, you’re still not getting the leads you need to grow your company.

If you’re having trouble generating qualified leads, you are not alone. There are several reasons why you’re not getting the leads you deserve. Here are some of them.

You’re targeting the wrong audience

When working on your marketing campaign, the first and most important things you need to do is to identify your target audience. This is a critical step that shouldn’t be skipped. If you don’t know who your target audience is, how could you possibly attract one?

Learn as much as you can about your target audience – demographic, interest, buying habits etc. If you fail to identify accurate buyer personas, you may end up reaching too broad of an audience or marketing to the wrong customers.

Your content sounds like a sales pitch

Creating new content is a great way to capture the attention of your audience and generate leads. But if your content sounds like a sales pitch, then people are not going to notice them. With the amount of advertisements we see every day, people learn to ignore them and focus on things they need instead.

If you want to capture the attention of your target audience, you need to come up with unique, interesting and informative content. Share your knowledge with them. Write blogs on a regular basis and make sure they are share-worthy. Eventually, people will see you as an expert and convert into a loyal reader or a customer.

You didn’t provide a call to action

A lot of marketers and business owners will take the necessary steps to acquire qualified leads. Your customers are actually where you want them to be. The problem is that you failed to provide a clear call to action.

People don’t know what exactly it is you want them to do unless you tell them. Keep your call to action simple – subscribe to our newsletter, get a quote now, contact us today.

You’re not active on social media

We know how powerful social media is. It allows you to interact and build a relationship with your target audience. If you are looking to drive traffic to your website, we highly recommend that you share your content on social media. With just a few minutes, you’ll be able to reach thousands and thousands of people. Not everyone who visits your site will turn into a paying customer, but you need traffic to get qualified leads.
How your business can generate leads | Business leads online | Email incentives | Email opt-ins | Content upgrades

How your business can generate leads | Business leads online | Email incentives | Email opt-ins | Content upgrades