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Okay, let’s talk email lists. Why are they so important? For starters, emails land directly in someone’s inbox. No algorithm, no guessing games. And on average, each subscriber can bring you an extra dollar of revenue per month. Yep, $1 per email! So, imagine 1,000 engaged subscribers—that’s $1,000 a month in potential income. Not too shabby, right?
Email lists are the foundation of a sustainable, profitable business. Whether you’re launching a new course, booking mini sessions, or promoting a freebie, your email list is your secret weapon. But here’s the golden question: How do we move people from Instagram to our email list without spending hours replying to DMs or chasing leads? That’s where automation comes in.
The tool I swear by is Manychat. If you’ve never heard of it, it’s basically like having a personal assistant in your DMs. Someone comments or messages you with interest, and Manychat steps in to deliver your freebie, collect their email, and save you heaps of time. Let’s break it down into three easy steps.
Create an Irresistible Freebie:
Think about what your followers want. Maybe it’s a “PDF on how to prepare for a photoshoot” or a ‘What to wear guide’, ‘Or a VIP subscription so they are eligible to discounts and session releases before anyone else’ The key is making it something valuable enough for them to trade their email for it.
Post with a Call-to-Action Keyword:
Create a Reel or carousel post talking about your freebie or VIP list. Your caption should include something like, “Comment ‘VIP’ below, and I’ll DM you the link!” Once someone comments, Manychat automatically sends them a message asking for their email.
Automate the Delivery:
Manychat collects the email, syncs it with your email platform—like Mailchimp or Flodesk—and sends them the freebie. Meanwhile, you’re off doing your thing, knowing your list is growing on autopilot.
When I first started using Manychat, it felt like magic. Instead of spending hours replying to DMs, I could focus on my shoots, my marketing, creating content and coaching photographers, knowing that my followers were getting the resources they needed. It’s been a total game-changer for my business.
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If you want to set this up, here’s how you can get started:
Once it’s live, you can promote it again and again, tweaking the process as you learn what works best.
Another way you can use Manychat is to use keywords
Such as newborn or family
What happens is ,anytime a client sends a DM for pricing and availability about either of these sessions, an auto reply will be sent that is specific to the topic. Instead of the generic one we have set up through instagram. To be honest, the generic one is quite irritating to a consumer. You’re better off not having an auto reply in my opinion.
Or, if you choose to have a generic auto reply through instagram, my advice is to provide a link to book a call with you or a link to your enquiry form so that the potential customer is making progress with their enquiry and moving to the next stage in the process.
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