Learn How To Reach Out To People

So you’ve got a couple of posts published on your blog, congratulations! Now, the next big step is driving traffic to your site so people actually read your posts. Your aim is to build a relationship with those people and increase the amount of returning visitors.

Where To Start?

What network is available to you right now? What people would you ask to help you with something? Your friends and family. They are your biggest fans to begin with. So start with your own inner circle, and then work your way out from there.

Other great ways to build your subscriber list is promoting your blog on events, contests, social media and website forms (scroll down below for examples).

Step 1: Create a Worksheet

Begin by putting together a list of people you know, friends, family, contacts who you’ve met in person over the last couple of years and likely find what you’re writing about interesting, or customers who have bought from your in the recent past.

If your list is small, don’t worry. What we’re trying to do here is to focus on growing that number over time, by being consistent and showing that you care.

“It’s not where you start, it’s how you finish”.

→ Tip: Make sure your audience matches with the content on your website so you don’t spam them with uninteresting content. Spam is sending irrelevant or unsolicited messages to a large number of users. Doing this may hurt your reputation. So don’t do that.

Create an Excel (or Numbers on a Mac) worksheet and put in the names of everyone you know that you think is relevant.

You can use this example to start with:

excel email list jpg

The birthdate is optional. This may come in handy later on when you want to either identify your reader or send them a special greeting on their birthday.

Step 2: Ask Them Digitally

Write to people you know one by one and ask for their interest in your new blog. Let them know you want to include them in the community you’re building a.k.a. your email list. Either by sending them an email, a message via social media, or calling a friend to find out if they’re interested and then get their email.

Initial Outreach Email For Blog Interest

Ex. When you’re writing to a friend or family member

Dear [insert your friend’s or family member’s first name],

How are you? I hope you’re doing well. I am writing you because I’d love to personally share with you something I’ve been working on very passionately the last couple of [insert time].

My new website: [insert URL, e.g. www.30dayblogchallenge.com]

Seeing that you enjoy [insert activity/hobby], I think that you’ll find a lot of awesome content on my site, which will help you become even better at [insert activity]. Of course, if you have any tips for me in return, I’d be very happy to hear them!

I have so much exciting news coming up, I can’t wait to tell you! I hope you’d like to be included in the tribe that I’m building. Your opinion is important to me, so please let me know your email address so I can include you.

Looking forward to hearing what you think!

[insert your name]

[insert your job title e.g. Editor]

[insert your blog name e.g. The 30 Day Blog Challenge]

[insert your phone number e.g. 1(705) 677 – 5643]

[insert Social Media Links]

Ex. When you’re writing to a previous customer, colleague or acquaintance

Before you send out your message, make sure that you follow the next tips.

1. Use a professional email address

2. Stick to a professional lettertype/font.

  • Use Times New Roman or Arial.
  • Write your email in a good font size such as 12 point type.
  • Don’t use any highlights or multicolored fonts or background.
  • Don’t use all CAPS. They make you seem like you’re shouting at the recipient.

3. Use a short and clear subject line.

  • Don’t use a vague subject line such as “Quick question”.
  • Use your recipient’s name in the beginning of the subject line. If you don’t know them enough to use their first name (or you don’t know it), use Mr/Mrs/Ms and their last name instead.
  • Use a title that makes your recipient curious about what is inside the email.
  • Keep the title short and clear.
  • For example:
    • John, are you in or out?
    • Great news John – my new website is live!
    • Huge announcement: Mr Jonsen, this is about you

4. Use formal language

  • Keep a professional and polite tone in your email.
  • Use complete sentences and check for grammar.
  • Avoid any slang, emoticons, emojis, profanity or jokes.  

It can look something like this:

prof email ex jpg

Email Outreach Template

Dear [insert recipient’s name],

I hope this email finds you well. I am writing you because I would like to share my new project with you:

[insert what your project is about]: [insert website URL].

I remember that you love [insert activity/hobby] and I think that you’ll find the content on my website helpful to develop your [insert activity/hobby] skills even further.

There are some exciting events coming up and I want you to be the first to know. Your opinion is important to me, so I would like to include you in the community that I’m building.

If you have any advice or feedback in return for me, I would appreciate it.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

[insert your name]

[insert your job title e.g. Editor]

[insert your blog name e.g. The 30 Day Blog Challenge]

[insert your phone number e.g. 1(705) 677 – 5643]

[insert Social Media Links]

What If They Say Yes

Hooray! You have a name and email address to put in your worksheet and email list. Now, let them know that you’re grateful and appreciate their support.

Ex. Response to use for both personal and professional network

Dear [insert name],

Thanks for the reply and your support! Great that you want to join the club, I’ll put you on my email list. You’ll be the first to know about [insert events/subject/news item].

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards,

[insert your name and contact details].

What If They Don’t Respond

If they don’t respond, send them a reminder email. Give them some time to respond, but don’t wait too long. If you haven’t heard anything within a week after sending your initial email, send them the reminder.

Ex. Reminder to use for both personal and professional network

Dear [insert recipient’s name],

A week ago I sent you a message about my new project [insert name]. I’m very excited to share this with you, and would love to hear what you think.

I hope you don’t mind me following up with you. Please let me know if I can include you in my email list. You’ll be the first to know about any exciting events that are coming up!

Thank you,

[insert your name and contact details]

Ex.2  – You’re not sure if you have sent your email to the right person

Dear Sir, Madam,

Just a quick follow up to see if you received my previous email regarding the launch of my new project [insert name project].

If I have contacted the wrong person, could you please  direct me to [insert the name of the person that you want to contact]? I look forward to speaking with them about being part of the community that I’m building.

Any help would be highly appreciated.

Thank you,

[insert your name and contact details]

What If They Want More Information

So they are interested, but they need more information? Let them know you appreciate their reply and offer them what they want.

Ex.2  – Response to use for both personal and professional network

Dear [insert recipient’s name]

I really appreciate you getting back to me. I’m happy to provide you with more information.

[insert what they want to know]

Hopefully this helps! If you’re keen, I would like to put you on my email list so you’ll be the first to receive the latest news and upcoming event dates.

All the best,

[insert name and contact details]

What If They Say No

If you get a negative response, still send them a follow-up email to let them know that you really tried to reach them personally and it’s not part of a SPAM campaign.

Ex.2  – Follow-up to use for both personal and professional network

Dear [insert recipient’s name]

Thank you for coming back at me so quickly.

I understand that you don’t need any extra emails in your inbox, but I promise you I won’t spam you. The content that I share and the benefits you’ll receive from being part of my online community are worth signing up for. If you change your mind, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Best regards,

[insert your name and contact details]