Top 12 Things to Offer/Sell to Your Subscribers
copyright 2001 by ThomasLeonard.com

a.k.a.Plugging Products & ServicesVia Emailing Lists)
One of the key reasons to develop a subscriber base is so that you can market things to them. A list of such things is below. Usually, you would include a marketing plug/notice at the end of each of your broadcasts. Only a small percentage of subscribers will respond (between 1/10th of 1% to 3%) to any one message, so this is very much a numbers game.
 
PLEASE NOTE: I've made up most of the names, tests, websites and people below.
 
1. Coaching/Consulting/Professional Services
You can mention in the 'plug' area of your broadcast that you are available as a coach, with a nice two or three sentence plug, i.e.
"Have a personal or business problem that you're ready to solve, but could use some assistance with? Hire a coach such as myself who specializes in problem-solving. If it has to do with money, time, balance or marketing, I can probably help you solve your problem in record time. My name is John Smith and I've been coaching entrepreneurs and professionals for 10 years. The first month is always free; that way you'll know if I'm the right coach for you. Questions? Feel free to ask: xxx-xxx-xxxx or visit my website at http://www.johnsmith.com."

2. Specific Coaching
A VERY effective way to sell coaching services is to relate your plug directly to the exact content of that day's broadcast. So, if the tip of the day is on time management, you might write a plug like this one:
"Feeling pressed to do it all? Do you sometimes lose yourself in the day? Are you juggling plates and wondering when one will crash? You aren't alone. And time management probably won't be enough to help. Most of my clients are extremely busy, so we work instead on 'space management' instead of time management. I help them to simplify, not juggle. The process takes about 2 months and the fee for this is a total of $400 -- use me asmuch as you like for 2 months -- until you solve your time or juggling problem. Results guaranteed. Read the testimontials from my clients at http://www.johnsmith.com."
 
3. Audiotape Sets
The idea is to develop several audiotapes or tape sets which you can sell via many channels -- the plug in your broadcast being just one of them. People who subscribe to your free newsletter ARE the type of person who orders audiotapes, so you should have at least a 1/2 or 1% order rate. (So, if you have 10,000 subscribers, they'll order between 50-100 tapes within 2 weeks of your first plug running.)
 
4. Free TeleClasses
"Sell" free TeleClasses? Yes, if the TeleClass is a preview of a fee-based TeleClass series or program. These previews/Q&A sessions are a great way to get subscribers started 'getting to know you.' A free TeleClass involves subscribers and warms them up to you and what you offer. Here's a plug you might write:
"Having time management problems?" I'm leading a 3-session TeleProgram called "Time Management: From Oxymoron to Mastery" In the four weeks, you WILL make the changes necessary to have at free up at least 10 hours a week more than you feel you have right now. Invest 4 hours via this class and have an extra 520 hours a year; not a bad investment. Intriguided? Come to the free Time Management Q&A session on xxxxx, fromxxx-xxx. To register....."
 
5. Plug a Colleague
One of the best ways to strengthen your professional network is to help your colleagues become more successful. And if you've got space to run plugs for/about them, why not!?! This will lead to more business for them; you can either give it way or get a commission/referral fee from them (assuming that is legal in your state). Here's something you might write:
"If you've been looking for an expert in personal turnarounds, I'd like to recommend my colleague Jane Smith. Jane's life used to be a mess, but she pulled herself up beautifully and has since coached over 100 people who were in real trouble/overhwhelm and they are walking/talking testimonials for the power and competence of her work. Jane really is that good and she's got a very strong network of other experts who she works with so there's almost no situation she can help you with. etc."
 
6. Sell Books via Amazon.com
You may know this already, but did you can know you can become a marketer for Amazon.com? And receive a %ag of the sales of books that people buy from your 'portal' to Amazon.com? And, it's free to set up! Just visit http://www.amazon.com for details on their 'agent' program. So, your plug might read something like:
"If you liked today's topic on SuperSensitive Listening Skills and want to read more about this, I suggest the Power Of Listening by Jane Doe, and the What You Don't Hear Can't Help Them, by John Smith. Both books are available for online ordering via a direct link to Amazon.com and you'll receive the books within 3 days. Tap HERE to order."
 
7. Sell TeleClass/Group Coaching Programs
In #4 above, I mentioned to sell free TeleClasses/Intros as a way to sell TeleTraining or TelePrograms. But you can also sell them directly, without the 'free preview.' An example of what to write as your plug:
"Inventing Your Own Career: Why Have an Off-the-Shelf Career?" In this 3 session TeleProgram, you'll learn the tools you can use to synthesize your past experience, weave in your passion and interests, sprinking in your Values an mold into a viable business, profession or career track. To qualify to be in the Program, you'll need to be someone who is either considering a major career change or who is in the middle of one. Cost is only $79. Register via...."
 
8. Build up Specialty Networks
This is really interesting...One of the ways to add real value to others is to put people together who have similar needs or interests. You become the host of the network, but they do most of the work themselves. You just coordinate AND control the mailing list. An example would be the Association of SuperSensitive People. A plug would go something like:
"Based on the self-test above, are you a SuperSensitive Person? If so, I'd like to invite you to join the Association of Super Senstive People -- we all have scored at least 80% on the above test. We get together once a month for a TeleMeeting and chapters are forming in the major cities right now. You even get a free newsletter via email and have the opportunity to make new, sensitive-based friends with whom you'll have a lot in common. You can also get involved in some of the projects of the Association, which is 100% volunteer and there are no dues. etc."
 
I know of a coach who started the ball rolling to offer human resource executive roundtables (via the bridge). These took off like wildfire with many of these being conducted each month. The coach has made his name a household word among HR exec's across the country -- which will no doubt lead to training/coaching contracts in their firms. All because he started these free roundtables which put together HR execs who had no really easy way to interface before unless it was via a traditional conference. Each roundable can work on a specific issue or problem, so it's practical, not just networking or chatty. It's WORTH their time.
 
All you have to do is to be the host of the network to reflect in the glow.
 
9. Sell Diagnostic Tools
Diagnostic tests and tools are HOT and you can either create your own checklists/profiles or represent others. Even Coach University has such a program, described at http://www.coachu.com. You can even lead folks to a 100 point checklist, as I've done with the SuperSensitive Person at http://www.supersensitiveperson.com. A sample of what to write:
"Did you find the overview of the SuperSensitive Person-type intriguing? Would you like to take a 100-point quiz to see if you are sensitive and where, exactly? Then, just go to http://www.supersensitiveperson.com and take the online test; you'll be scored immediately and depending on your results, you'll be directed to links and other resources to make the most of your sensitivity."
 
or
 
"Wondering what is holding you back? Take the DISC Success Profile, the recognized test for those who need to resolve their issues regarding success. The resulting report contains a 40-plus page profile with specific recommendations. Cost is only $19, payable online."
 
10. Sell Other Mailing Lists/Content
You will probably start with a single mailing list on a subject that means a lot to you. But as you get into this, you will find yourself adding more lists with different topics. And you can cross sell these lists to your subscribers and even set up a single webpage that lists all of your lists so that folks can subscribe to multiple lists at one time. Remember each list gives you a chance to plug something every day, so the more the merrier. Having a breadth of content/topic choices adds toyour credibility and helps you reach critical mass in terms of the number of subscribers.
 
11. Sell Commissionable Products or Services
I've mentioned this above as related to Amazon.com and diagnostic tools. But there are other products/sevices that you can plug for a profit, such as long distance, web hosting services, and so forth. As long as you don't make your plug sound too hype-y to the point that it devalues, denigrates the content of your broadcast, you'll be okay. Remember, maintain your reputation up in every possible way.
 
12. Give Away Cool Stuff
Some of your plugs can be for stuff that you don't charge for. Such as a list of resources that relate to a particular list, or an extra tip, or free time with you on the phone (1-1 coaching), or a joke/funny story, etc. So, use your "plug space" to serve the subscriber instead of just pushing products/services on them. It will show that you're human and that you care.