From stranger to email subscriber to loyal customer…
It’s an exciting process to nail down, especially if you’re looking for new ways to optimize your blog website and turn it into a more profitable endeavor.
But here’s the thing:
There are so many ways to start monetizing your blog that it can be frustrating to find the “right fit” for your own site. Onsite ads, affiliate links, and ecommerce sales are all players to be considered.
Unfortunately, as the ease (and popularity) of setting up an online business increases, most bloggers are also experiencing an increased need to really stand out in the minds of their readers and subscribers.
And your typical “strategies” don’t always pull through.
But that is exactly why the Login Optin™ list building strategy is gaining such momentum among bloggers (and online entrepreneurs) alike…
A Straightforward Strategy for Bloggers
Essentially, here’s how it works:
Instead of simply offering a one-click download for your email list opt-in offer, you present access to a robust (free) online course. A full-fledged online course that gives your readers a real glimpse of your passion and expertise.
This course is housed inside the a members-only area on your website that’s password protected (which can be easily done with a single plugin, if you’re a WordPress user!)
As soon as they sign up, each new subscriber receives a unique own login, along with an invitation to view their course material.
Here’s the catch:
Since online courses take much longer to consume and digest than your average download, your subscribers must also return to day after day to access their free content. In turn, they’ll become increasingly invested in your mission.
For a more detailed explanation on how this can be set up, read The Login Optin™ Strategy: Build Your List With A Free Course (Or Many).
The workflow itself is pretty straightforward and easy to implement… but the effectiveness of this Login Optin™ strategy goes much deeper.
Here are 5 specific reasons why the Login Optin™ isn’t just a great list building tool… it’s also a way to turn your blog subscribers into paying customers:
Reason 1: Your Subscribers Become Invested In Your Mission
The typical one-click free opt-in offers that most bloggers use for their email list building have one thing in common: they’re easily consumed and then forgotten.
This is a bit counterproductive, since people sign up and stay subscribed to lists out of a desire to be a part of something big. Something relevant.
When offering a free course, on the other hand, you’re presenting a much higher-value product.
You become an expert in the eyes of your blog subscribers.
The free course material also provides an opportunity for your subscribers to grow leaps and bounds in knowledge. Far more than they’re able to when compared with what other bloggers are offering at the entry-level.
Sure, the info you’re providing in the course is all free… but you’re building a relationship with each new subscriber. They’re asked to invest time and attention into returning to your website if they want to keep accessing the content.
This creates a bond that strengthens over time, making it more likely that they’ll stick with you for the long haul.
Reason 2: You Retain Total Control Over Your Presentation
The Login Optin™ strategy is fairly unique to WordPress users especially. This is simply by virtue of the ability and flexibility of the WordPress plugins available on the market.
When you’ve built your blog on WordPress, you have total control over its design and capability.
So naturally, there are so many ways to increase the impact of your free course… one of which is by creating a natural “upsell” to a paid online course (if you’re a course-building machine!), or even to your books and other paid content.
In other words, once your blog subscribers are fully invested, you can choose the best way to maximize the upsell process to other income-generating endeavors.
One great method you can use is to create a dashboard that displays all the courses together…
The “intrigue” is generated naturally by graying out the icons of any content that your subscribers don’t have access to yet:
Since this is the first thing your subscribers see when they login to access their (free) course, the array of “what else is out there” naturally builds curiosity over time.
Just link each icon to the corresponding sales page, and anyone who’s interested can quickly see what it’s about – and purchase when they want to gain access.
This customization ability, of course, varies depending on which plugin (or web developer) you decide to use!
Reason 3: It’s A Unique Experience For Each Subscriber
The benefit of a free membership site course using the Login Optin™ strategy is that you can go a step farther and make it a unique experience for each subscriber.
One way to do this is by adding cool features like progress tracking, checklists, and quizzes to your free course with a good LMS WordPress plugin.
Another way to really personalize your new blog subscriber’s experience is by utilizing the capabilities of tag-based CRMs. (ActiveCampaign, ConvertKit, etc.)
Tagging automations might seem a bit complex, especially if you haven’t spent a lot of time using them for your blogging, but they can really help you to fine-tune and personalize your message.
Tag-based activity within a membership (or password-protected) site is also known as smart content syncing. And there are innumerable ways to make it work.
Reason 4: It Can Be Totally, 100% Automated
Speaking of those tag-based CRM systems…
Choose your membership site plugin wisely, and it will be able to integrate with your CRM system. The benefit of this integration is that your Login Optin™ sequence – from initial opt-in to paying customer and loyal blog follower – can be totally automated.
Essentially, here’s how the sequence runs:
- User Signs Up
- Tag applied and sequence begins
- Login info sent to new subscriber via email
- User purchases a paid course
- Tag applied automatically, granting access
Here’s a sneak peak of how such a sequence would run in Infusionsoft to direct the access and flow of your membership site:
Reason 5: The Opportunity For Growth Is Unlimited
The room for growth is unlimited when you use the Login Optin™ Strategy as a way to increase your blog subscribers and loyal fans.
(And yes, when built right, you’ll definitely be grateful to have room to grow!)
Earlier, I mentioned the fact that you can upsell (or cross-sell) products and courses from within the members-only area on your blog… but maybe you don’t have anything else created yet. That’s just fine!
Start with a free course and a simple membership plugin (many are free). Then, as you start offering a paid product or two (maybe that’s a Kindle book or another online course), you can just add them to the same members-only area.
Many bloggers who have used this strategy in the past to build up their blog subscribers have reported even needing to upgrade hosting providers from the sheer volume of new traffic.
The growth flexibility is such good news for those who are starting out with smaller blogs, but have a huge vision for expanding it into a business. (Word of warning here: not all membership site plugins will integrate with every CRM. Do your due diligence and choose your tools wisely!)
Bonus Reason 6: There Are Professionals Who Can Help You Every Step of the Way
Good news for WordPress users!
There are so many amazing professionals who have the skills and savvy to help make your blog (and membership site dreams) a success.
You can start out here with Kikolani’s own list of blogging resources.
Then, start looking for professionals who specialize in the systems you want to use to help your blog grow.
If you’re using a specific plugin or CRM system, for example, you might check their sites for certified specialists who can help set things up quickly.
There’s always someone out there with the knowledge you might need to grow!
Will the Login Optin™ Strategy Help Your Blog To Grow? The Choice is Up To You…
The moral of the story is that when you invest wholeheartedly in the journey of “putting it all out there” for your blog readers, you’ll reap the benefits.
The Login Optin™ Strategy is unique and can be extremely effective, but it’s main power lies in the fact that you’re willing to give your subscribers something of value. Something that other bloggers (or business owners) would refuse to offer up for free.
It doesn’t mean you have to put all your cards on the table when you’re creating your free course! Instead, include enough value to make it totally worth your new subscriber’s time, and withhold just enough so that they’re hungry to seek out more of what you have to offer.
Ultimately, by turning your new email list subscribers into raving fans, you’re also paving the way to create a truly profitable sequence for your blog.
