Your list is all ears - waiting to hear from YOU

Has it been awhile since your mailing list has heard from you?

In this age of perpetual messaging, it’s tempting to convince ourselves that we don’t want to “clutter” the inboxes of our clients and contacts with yet another self-promoting email. And that by abstaining, we’re taking the high road.

But how much business do you think NOT SENDING an email will get you?

Which is why I say, go ahead, send emails to your mailing list. Just make sure those emails are welcome, entertaining, and useful.

As I … Read the rest >

On the path to find our “authentic service in the world”.

I’ve been writing since I was a kid.

And ever since I was little, writing has been about 3 things.

Catharsis.

Reframing.

And telling better stories.

I first started writing in a journal. Writing helped me make sense of what was going on. I got to live the event three times – first when it happened, then as I wrote about it, and again when I read what I had written.

It was my way of feeling less alone.

It was the way I became okay, no matter what.… Read the rest >

Are you feeling bad about asking for business? If you’re in this boat, just notice it.

Your newsletter gets compliments all the time. Your friends and clients keep telling you they like it. They are inspired by it. You give good ideas. You send it regularly (more or less).

And still, it’s not really bringing you business.

What gives?

When you’ve got a list that isn’t bringing your business, here are the usual suspects:

1) Your numbers aren’t big enough yet. Maybe you’ve got 100 people on your list. That’s a good start – but it’s not enough to support … Read the rest >

Stella, what should I call my program?

One of the questions I get asked all the time is: Stella, what should I call my program?

And I’ve watched many, many business owners really wrestle with the naming process.

The truth is, what you call your offer does matter. But I also want to urge you to stop putting so much pressure on yourself to come up with the PERFECT thing.

I was thinking about renaming one of my copywriting programs recently, and realized that I was going about it in a specific way. I thought I’d share my process with … Read the rest >

How to stop a target market train wreck.

I had a great conversation with a woman who joined the Write Your Website lab yesterday, and it brought something up that’s worth knowing.

There is a simple way to avoid spending a lot of time and energy on a “target market train wreck” – that is, talking to people without money, strong motivation to act, or self-esteem.

So she and I were talking about what she was working on.

To put this in context: she’s doing everything right. She’s getting new leads onto her list. She’s following up with a warm … Read the rest >