Weekly newsletter brought to your inbox every Wednesday, by your friends at Elite Blog Academy®—full of valuable marketing tips, tricks and inspiration to help you keep pushing forward when the days get long. 

FEATURED READS

Hobby or Online Business?

Do you truly consider your blog a business? As bloggers, it can be challenging to take ourselves seriously. After all, how can a job be deemed serious when it can be done in comfortable pajamas?

When our founder, Ruth Soukup, first started her blog, Living Well Spending Less, she definitely didn’t think of it as a business. There was no business model or even a plan, for that matter. As a mom of two young girls, she thought it was fun—and a great way to put some focus into something other than going to Target!

She then had that moment, the one many of you have probably had too, where she realized she COULD make real money with her blog—and that so many people out there already were. 

So, how do you go from treating your blog as a hobby to making it a true online business? 

Read our latest post from the vault, Is Your Blog a Business or a Hobby?, where Ruth walks through her journey from hobby to business—and what she wished she knew sooner.

POWER MOVES

Create an Irresistible Referral Program

Just as word of mouth helps to grow a brick-and-mortar business, it can do the same for your online business—with even more impact!

Referral programs are like the key to unlocking a treasure trove of new customers. They create a system that encourages existing customers to spread the word about your products or services to their friends and family. And let's face it, who doesn't love a great recommendation from a trusted friend?

So, how exactly can a referral program benefit your business? Well, for starters, they're excellent for expanding your reach. By implementing a referral program, you tap into the powerful networks of your current customers. Their word-of-mouth recommendations can extend your reach far beyond what traditional marketing efforts can achieve.

Not only that, but a referral program also helps you establish trust with your customers. People are more likely to trust recommendations from friends and family. By leveraging a referral program, you harness this inherent trust, making it easier to convert leads into satisfied customers.

Furthermore, referral programs bring you quality leads. These leads come from satisfied customers who already understand and appreciate what your business has to offer, increasing the chances of conversion.

In addition to all of that, referral programs also boost customer loyalty. Engaging your current customers through a referral program not only encourages them to spread the word but also fosters loyalty. They become advocates for your brand, contributing to long-term customer retention.

And finally, a referral program is a cost-effective marketing strategy. Traditional marketing efforts can be quite costly. However, referral programs offer a cost-effective way to acquire new customers. You leverage your existing customer base to do much of the heavy lifting for you.

So, how can you create a referral program that is sure to have your existing customers happy to hop on board? 

1. Incentivize like a pro: Offer awesome incentives that will make your customers think, "Wow, I have to share this with everyone I know!" Whether it's exclusive discounts, freebies or VIP perks, make sure the rewards are too good to resist.

2. Seal the trust factor: When it comes to gaining trust, your inner circle's recommendations matter. So, it's crucial to highlight the reliability of your brand in your referral program. When friends recommend your business, potential customers are more likely to convert.

3. Keep it simple: Your referral program should be a breeze for your customers. Make sharing effortless and ensure redeeming rewards is as smooth as can be.

4. Track, analyze, optimize: Make sure to keep a close eye on how your referral program is performing. Track the data, analyze the results and make adjustments based on what's actually working and what could use a little extra love.

A well-executed referral program can be a game-changer for your business, helping you to attract great leads while rewarding the customers you’re so thankful for now. 

MINDSET MATTERS

Cultivating Creativity

As online marketers, we often find ourselves in a constant cycle of content creation. Sometimes, though, we hit a wall—and that's perfectly normal. We've all experienced those moments of staring at a blank screen or an unfinished project, wondering where our brilliant ideas have disappeared to. 

But don't worry, if you’re feeling the creativity block right now we have some easy tips to get the ideas flowing again.

Change your environment: Sometimes, a simple change of scenery can work wonders. Head to a local coffee shop, your favorite park or even your own backyard—anywhere that sparks your creativity.

Embrace brainstorming: Grab your spouse, a friend, a co-worker etc., and dive into a brainstorming session. Hearing different perspectives on your topic can help to bring out some seriously out-of-the-box ideas.

Expand your knowledge: Take up a new hobby, explore books outside your usual go-tos or enroll in a new online course. New knowledge has a magical way of unlocking some brilliant and new ideas.

Embrace writing prompts: Don't be afraid to seek out writing prompts and creative challenges. They can provide the push you need to explore new ideas and beat your writer’s block.

Take a digital detox: Even those of us who work online need some time away from the screen. Take a break, unplug for a while and let your mind wander freely. Disconnecting from the digital whirlwind can bring clarity and fresh perspectives. It's important to step back and recharge!

So, fellow content creators, here's to mixing things up, embracing the unexpected and summoning those awesome ideas back into your creative realm. You've got this!

WE’VE GOT TO TELL YOU ABOUT

Free Online Training

Want to learn all the ways we are shaking up our business in 2024, and the steps you can take to do the same? Join us for our newest free training where Ruth spills it all. It’s called Fuel Your Fire: 3 Business Secrets for a Fulfilling Path to Freedom in 2024 and if you’re ready to make 2024 YOUR year for business—it’s a must-attend event! Just click HERE or the button below to sign up.

SHE MEANS BUSINESS

We can probably all relate to that, right?

Jessica has been trying all of the things. Throwing all of the spaghetti at the wall, she knew it was time to shake things up a little bit and moved over to EBA® Powerhouse when we recently launched the Beta program.

Just like many others, she recently attended our very first full-day intensive. We simply had to give her a huge shout-out because, upon reviewing her submitted work, our team recognized that she absolutely crushed her assignments from the event. She truly rocked it!

It was so evident in her work that she has found so much clarity and we can already tell how well this is going to serve her AND her business in the coming months.

Jessica says:

“This program is just getting started, and I can already see how it will help me rethink my business. I appreciate that it's all about taking simple actions without overthinking. It's about moving forward, taking steps to drive revenue in my business and make real changes for my customers.”

We love witnessing this kind of transformation happening so soon in our Beta program. We're so excited for the incredible progress that will unfold in our students' businesses this year!

If you are looking to either start a business this year OR take your business to the next level, we invite you to join us for our free training, Fuel Your Fire: 3 Business Secrets for a Fulfilling Path to Freedom in 2024. 

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MARKETING FUN FACT

The average reader spends only 37 seconds reading an article or a blog post. With the abundance of information available online, attention spans have drastically decreased. Therefore, content marketers face the challenge of capturing and maintaining readers' attention within a short time frame. This emphasizes the importance of creating engaging and compelling content right from the start to make an impact and drive desired actions from the audience.