People have told you (maybe even me) that it’s really helpful (critical, let’s say) to have a way to keep in touch with folks–blog, email newsletter, something.
So, chomp chomp, you bite the bullet and decide to get it going. But you haven’t quite started it yet. And another week goes by. And another month.
You still haven’t started. . .
Because you have no free download. Argh! Curses!
“Will anyone really join my list if I don’t have one?” you ask. “But aren’t they really just a manipulative attempt to lure unsuspecting subscribers to their doom?” you argue.
What A Free Download Is Not Doing
Let’s get this one out of the way right now. Please do NOT use your free download to lure people to subscribe. You want people on your list that want to be on your list, that want to hear from you.
What’s the point of having people take your download if they don’t care about what else you might have to say?
That’s cleared up–the free give-away is not to “get” people. Except that having one does increase subscriptions. So what’s really going on?
An Act of Mercy
Someone is visiting your website, because they need help–the kind of help you provide, for the kind of problems you handle. They need help now.
If you’re the world’s most prolific writer and publish every day of the week, this isn’t quite as relevant to you.
But, if you’re a once-a-week, or once-a-month, or once-in-a-blue-moon article writer, then whenever you publish that next tidbit isn’t going to be right now. It’s going to be later.
But they need the help now. That’s why they’re looking now.
The free download remedies this. You are delivering some kind of help immediately. Your free download is an act of mercy, to tide them over until the next article appears.
Don’t Argue With Me
This is no time to be modest. You’re here to help, and whether you entertain, educate, transform, heal, or whatever it is you do, your clients need and want what you do. That’s why you have clients.
Your free download can do that for people. No it can’t replace you and your presence any more than your articles or blog posts can. Thank God. You don’t want them to.
But you can give them a taste, a baby step, a foundation.
So get your blog or email list started already, and add the free download later, even if it’s months later. Don’t mention it to anyone, just start offering your content to folks.
And, here’s some tips on getting a download together:
Keys to a Download of Mercy
- Fancy Up Your First Articles
You’ve got a list, so you’re going to be writing articles, right? Try and write your first articles about some of the most common problems your clients face.
Fancy up two or three of the articles, and turn them into a workbook of sorts–just 5 to 15 pages. Make it pretty, get some pictures, turn it into a pdf, and voilá, you’ve got a download.
- Write a Manifesto
I’m guessing you’ve got some opinions about how things oughta to be in your field of work. Some of those opinions might even be viewed as controversial or radical by certain old-fogey elements.
Write ’em up! Have fun. Be respectful–there’s no reason to drag anyone through the dirt–but get your opinions out there as a manifesto. And, as above, fancy it up, give people some steps to take, get some pictures and a nice design. Badaboom badabing- you’ve got a download!
- The Dreaded Self-Assessment
I only write that because I’m in a relatively small minority of people who hate self-assessment tests. But there are gazillions of people who love self-assessments, especially depending on who you’re trying to reach.
Create a self-assessment, give folks some implementable steps to take, and fancy it up. You’ve got your pdf download.
I know I’m being a little cavalier, and realize it can take some real thought, time and effort to create a high-quality download which is why I say get started without your download!
Don’t wait! People need your help now, and so start delivering it. The more you write, the more you start to gain subscribers and readers, the easier it will be to come up with a download that is an immediate act of mercy.
