Having an email opt-in is a key to success in this online business world! Your email list is your business’s foundation because it is 100% yours, unlike Facebook or Instagram. The best way to build your email list is through a killer opt-in. I have a proven secret sauce to an email opt-in that will get the right people on your email list and will have them coming back for more. Want the recipe? Keep reading!

What is an Opt In?

If you’re new to the online business space, welcome! I’m glad you’re here! You may not know what an email opt-in is, so let’s start there. An opt-in can be an e-book, video series, coaching call, webinar, email series, challenge, etc. that you give in exchange for someone’s email address. The literal meaning of opt-in is to choose to do or be involved in something. It is illegal to put someone on your email list without their consent, so giving them something valuable in exchange for their email address is the way to go.

We use the terms opt-in and lead magnet interchangeably because they are the same thing. The transaction goes like this: you offer something like an e-book or webinar that your ideal customer wants, they give you their email address, and that triggers an email automation that sends them an email with the link to download your opt-in inside! Then, you build that know, like, and trust factor by sending regular emails with tips and encouragement to nurture them. The end goal is to get them to purchase your offer, but we always start by providing lots of value!

It can be hard to build your email list because giving out your email address is like inviting people into your online home. So we need to create a KILLER opt-in – something that your future customers will want in exchange for their email addresses! The goal of this opt-in is to solve your ideal customer avatar’s more significant problem. Where is she struggling? How can you help her while also putting yourself in the role of thought leader and guide in this area?

Killer Opt-Ins DON’T Include This

One of the biggest mistakes I see when teachers are trying to build their email lists is giving away too much for free as an email marketing opt-in. For example, a free resource library, a free resource like one in their TpT stores, free products with every blog post. When they do this, they are creating GIMME followers. They get so much for free that they won’t want to pay for anything and won’t need you until you give them something free again!

If you’re doing this, that’s okay! But when you know better, you do better. So I’m going to share how to flip the script and create one killer opt-in. The first step in this is understanding that we need to create something that tells your ICA what they need or what to do WITHOUT showing them how to do it. For example, here’s a killer opt in for email marketing, “10 Routines to Take Your Classroom from Chaos to Calm.” It tells the teacher who struggles with classroom management what they need to do to calm their classroom without giving them the tools or instruction.

Here’s why this works: if you were to give teachers the free resource or the tools and instruction they need as your email list opt-in, they don’t need you anymore. But if you show teachers what they need and serve them with content, they’ll come back wanting more. They will hang on your every word and start asking for your expertise and resources. 

Before They Submit The Opt In Form

One of the ingredients to this secret sauce is the TITLE. Your email opt in title needs to get their attention! It should hit your ideal customer exactly where they are and make them want to opt in at lightning speed! Let’s look at some email opt in examples and why they work:

Here’s one of my opt ins: Start or Expand Your Online Teacher Business. (Feel free to click and download it!) This title works for many of my ideal customers because this online teacher business world is so unknown. You see these successful CEO Teachers®, and you want to know how they got there. This title resolves a pain point and, I don’t know about you, but I want in on all of the secrets!

“From Cluttered to Clean: A 10 Day Challenge to Organize Your Teacher Space (and keep it that way!)” This title would work because of the transformation. As a teacher, I resonate with the constant clutter struggle. So if you can help me keep my teacher desk organized? SIGN ME UP!

The Key Ingredient for Lead Magnet Magic

Your email list opt in needs to have some QUALITY content! Your quality content should relate to your main thing. If you’re planning to launch a course, membership, or subscription box sometime in the future, you should align the opt in for your email list with that.

Our goal as CEO Teachers® is to take our customers on a journey. You wouldn’t want to go on a journey you weren’t prepared for, right? Think of your opt in as a map – a way to prepare your audience for what’s to come. 

If you’re not sure where your customer journey is going yet, that’s okay! Create an email opt in based on your niche, your north star. That way, you’re building your list with people who need you as their guide, and when you’re ready to take the next step, you’ll have your ideal customers ready to go!

This secret sauce is not for the faint of heart, as I’m sure you understand after reading this post. But when you create this KILLER opt in instead of joining the mainstream, you will surely see the results! You’ll have your ideal customers on your email list instead of a random group of people. You’ll have something you’re proud of to offer your community consistently instead of trying to think of something new and exciting to keep them interested. You’ll be building your business on your own land, not somewhere that could go away when you wake up tomorrow morning. It’s one of the most important things you can do for your business, and I can’t wait to see you put your killer opt in out into the world!