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Wednesday, June 19, 2024 edition
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Well hi there, Reader
Welcome to the very first edition of The Strategist's Scoop—your weekly, hot-off-the-press download of copywriting and funnel secrets, from yours truly.
If you've been around here for a while, you know that email is my love language. It helps me connect, nurture, and sell day in and day out.
One thing I've felt was missing from my own email marketing strategy?
A curated weekly email newsletter. Now yes, I send emails everrrry week, at least 2 x per week. I share stories, tips, off-the-cuff thoughts, offers, all of the things. But a curated email newsletter is different.
IMO, a curated weekly email newsletter delivers valuable, hand-picked content and expert insights that you can glean from and implement right away. It's like having your own mini magazine or newspaper (but only the really good stuff).
But if I'm being honest with you, I've kind of questioned the whole "weekly email newsletter" thing for my own business. I'm a huge believer in the copywriting rule "one email, one goal" and having a curated newsletter kinda breaks this rule. I've personally consumed email newsletters I've LOVED and have glanced at others and felt overwhelmed by all the information and clicked the "x" button.
On the other hand, as a former journalism student and magazine editor, it feels fun to create my own "publication" and share valuable tips, tangible takeaways, and current happenings.
So, let's view this as a test, shall we? If you like this kind of content, if you resonate with what I share, would you please reply and let me know? This tells me what kind of content to make more of.
What can you expect in this drop?
- BTS of a waitlist strategy that generated 200+ sign ups in 1 week 😱
- 7 high-converting subject lines (swipe & use them!)
- The #1 resource you need if you're gearing up for a launch
OK, OK, that's the skinny of it! Now, let's get into it...
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Case Study: 200+ on her waitlist in 7 days
Last month, I worked with Megan Weeks, a graphic designer and educator, to plan the first launch of her graphic design membership. We mapped out her sales messaging, offer positioning (to make it utterly irresistible!), client-attracting lead magnet ideas, 10 weeks of pre-launch content, a launch content plan, and a sales page framework. Yes, we got a LOT done during her 1:1 Launch Sprint!
The thing that warms my heart the most? 🥰 She hit the ground running with her pre-launch content. Within ONE WEEK (yes, 7 days), she brought 200 people onto her waitlist (like, whaaaat??). I need to check in with her to hear how the waitlist is growing!
Here's what I recommended she do to grow her waitlist:
- Tease her membership: Lots of course creators and coaches make the mistake of pre-launching (sharing the right kind of content) but NOT ever mentioning their program. Megan is sharing it in every piece of content, which is generating SO much awareness about her offer.
- Include a CTA in every piece of content: All of her pre-launch content includes a CTA to join the waitlist, whether it's on Instagram, YouTube, or via email... and the results are telling. 😉
- Pre-launch content: This is key. You can't simply expect to open the doors to your offer and for people to join right away. That won't happen. You need to connect and nurture your audience long before you open the doors. Megan's sharing 10 weeks of pre-launch content. 8-10 weeks is always ideal!
- Results: Using the launch strategy I gave her, Megan has already brought 200+ prospective buyers onto the waitlist for her membership 9 weeks out from her launch. This is an incredible result that gives her confidence that she's going to be launching to people who have already put up their hand and said "YES, I want to know about this!"
Curious about what it's like to work with me for a Launch Sprint where we map out your launch plan, positioning, and content? Megan shared about her experiencing working with me in this video.
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Peek Behind-the-Scenes:
My Own Email Metrics
Throughout June, my email open rates have hovered between 35-37%, a lot lower than my usual average (in May, open rates were between 42-49%, which is incredible).
I put the decline down to having just come off an email-based launch of my membership, Inbox to Income. It's pretty typical to see open rates decline during a launch, as you're emailing people every day and not everyone is interested in the offer. I expect to see my open rates increase as I get back to my regular programming.
Here's how I'll be increasing my open rate:
- A/B Testing Subject Lines: Testing two different subject lines with each email. I do this with most emails, but sometimes I run out of time if I'm sending an email on the fly. I'd like to be more intentional with this.
- Recycling past subject lines: Why reinvent the wheel if you don't have to? I'm going to go through my email archives and identify which subject lines drove the most opens... and give them another crack.
- Seeing what catches my attention in my inbox: AKA, sussing out other people's subject lines. Seeing what gets my attention. And giving it a go myself.
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Swipe it for Yourself:
High-Converting Subject Lines
These subject lines have driven the highest open rates this year. Try them on for style...
- Highest open rate: *womp womp* (45.1% open rate)
- 5 Ways to Make Your Email Newsletters Unmissable (Yes, Really) 💡 (44.9% open rate)
- I've got a confession to make... (44.1% open rate)
- the math ain't mathin' 😵💫 (43.7% open rate)
- I recorded a video for you!! 👀 (43.4% open rate)
- Quick reminder... 😉 (43.3% open rate)
- I won’t be winning any friends for this (or will I? 😏) (43.2% open rate)
Use these subject lines in your next emails, then LMK what your open rate is. 😉
You'll notice that only ONE of those subject lines explains what's actually in the email - 5 Ways to Make Your Email Newsletters Unmissable (Yes, Really). The other subject lines are more about sparking curiosity.
One thing I'm ALWAYS thinking about when I craft a subject line is "what would pique my curiosity? What would make me HAVE to open the email??" Start thinking like this and you'll write better subject lines.
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On my Kindle:
Day Trading Attention, by Gary Vee
This week, I'm reading Gary Vee's new book, Day Trading Attention. The principles are fairly similar to what he shares in his other books (and his normal content, for that matter). It feels like a good reminder to be mindful of where I'm spending my attention when it comes to marketing.
- Am I doing something just because I've always done it?
- Or is it actually the best use of my time and budget?
Some food for thought!
If you've read the book, what are your thoughts? How are you applying the insights to your business?
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Resource of the Week:
The Ultimate Course Launch Planner
Is a launch or promo period in your near future?
You need to get your hands on my Ultimate Course Launch Planner. It's 90 pages of value-packed launch goodness and it takes you through every single step of launching, from running a pre-launch campaign right through to the actual "cart open" period and providing a downsell to pick more money up off the table.
This is the kind of stuff I take my clients through, and they pay me $4K+ to do this with them. But you can get access to my strategy for the price of a large takeaway coffee. You're welcome. ☕️
While you're at it, add on my 6 Pre-Launch Nurture Emails. For only $27, you get access to copywriter-crafted emails that are designed to turn your subscribers into raving fans, primed and ready to join your offer. Which, by now, you should know is absolutely key to the success of your next promo. 🔑
Grab The Ultimate Course Launch Planner here >>
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Content Roundup:
Must-Read Articles on the Blog
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How We Can Work Together:
Let's Make You More Money 💸
If you're looking for personalised help with your sales copy or planning your next launch, here are a few ways we can work together:
- 1:1 Launch Sprint: I’ll strategise and plan your next launch for you, so you can cut through the noise and make it a roaring success – minus the headache of piecing together allll the moving parts 😉 — from $2,997 USD
- VIP Days: This is an intensive, focused day where we dive deep into a copywriting project of your choice. Whether it's a complete sales page overhaul, a sales email sequence, a welcome email sequence, a refresh of a web page, or any other high-priority copy, we'll work together to get it polished and perfect in just one day— currently $2,000 USD for spots booked by June 30 ($3,000 USD from July 1)
- 90-Min Copy Edit Session: Book a 90-min sprint where I dive into your copy—tweaking, polishing, and jazzing it up— currently $550 USD for spots booked by June 30 ($950 USD from July 1)
Interested?
Just hit reply and let me know which offer tickles your fancy, and I'll provide all the details you need to secure your spot. ✨
Not sure what you need? Book a discovery call, and we can chat about what will work best for you. ❤️
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That's the scoop!
xo,
Elise
P.S. Liked this style of email? Reply and let me know. I take your feedback seriously and want to ensure I create content that truly serves you.
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