Today’s guest, mom of 4 grown children and 2 grandchildren, Ruthie Gray, helps women navigate Instagram and marketing for their business. I’ve known Ruthie for forevah and been a guest on her podcast, too, and it was once again fun and educational talking to her today. (insert link to the episode)

Ruthie is all about being authentic, and today we discussed ways that podcasters can be truly authentic with their listeners. First of all...

Why is an email list important for podcasters?

Basically, because you can’t depend on social media. (Remember the day Instagram and Facebook were down for 6 hours?) No matter how many followers you have...they are really not “your” followers, because they are not on your platform!

What are the steps podcasters need to take to get a strong open or click-thru rate?

These are crucial measurements for emails. An open rate is exactly what it sounds like: what percentage of your emails are opened by your subscribers. And a click-thru rate (CTR) measures if your readers are clicking on the links you provide inside the email.  If these percentages are low, here are some ways to build them up.

1. Speak to your audience’s pain points. Always “asking for the listen” actually trains your readers to NOT open your email. However, going deeper about your topic inside the email provides value even before listening and piques their interest to make that click. 

2. Stop pushing your agenda. Backing off and listening to your agenda enables you to focus on your readers/listeners.

Pro-tip: Coordinate your newsletter and podcast and reels so that the topics relate to each other or offer different aspects of the same topic. 

1. Be consistent throughout the year. Whether it’s once-a-month, twice-a-month. or weekly...deliver them regularly so that when Black Friday (or whatever other sales opportunity) comes up, you’re not a stranger peddling your product.

2. To get them to open - you need a good headline! It needs to be about your reader...what about them...how can your message help THEM. It needs to generate curiosity.

3. Get to know your audience through polls and quizzes. You can do this on Instagram or via your newsletter. Do you know who your message is for? What are their pain points? Always remember: it’s NOT about YOU!

Check out Ruthie’s Authentic Online Marketing School, where Instagram meets email for the perfect marketing blend! It’s a community-based program where lessons are presented on Zoom and you will leave with a welcome sequence that your subscribers will open! 

Grab the link below!

https://ruthiegray.lpages.co/authentic-email-marketing-school/

Follow Ruthie on Instagram @authenticonlinemarketingpod and listen to her podcast “Authentic Online Marketing with Ruthie Gray.”