AutomationLinks

1. Repurpose Like a Pro: After making a video, don’t stop there. Turn that content into a blog post, maybe a LinkedIn update too. It's like getting several bites of the cherry with just one piece of content.
2. Teach, Don’t Sell: Focus on giving your audience real value through teaching and useful guides before you even think about selling. Help first, sell later.
3. Keep It Transparent: Always be upfront about costs on your landing pages. It builds trust, and people appreciate knowing what they're getting into right from the start.
4. Automate the Routine: Once you’ve got the content down, automate the mundane tasks. This frees you up to focus on creating even more awesome stuff. Keep educating and the rest will follow.
   

1. Introduction: How I Grew My Business Without Ads
2. Building Your Sales Funnel: A Step-by-Step Guide
3. Creating Engaging Content: Choosing the Right Topics
4. Turning a Video into a Whole Lot More
5. Effective Strategies for Low-Pressure Sales
6. Keeping Engagement High with Valuable Content
7. Closing the Deal: Timing and Gentle Reminders
8. Conclusion: Patience and Education

Connect With Us On X

Connect with AutomationLinks owner Brad Smith on X (formerly Twitter) here to learn more about advertising. Feel free to message him with any questions about X advertising and marketing.

Alright, let's dive into how I build a sales funnel that pulls in leads without any ad spend. It's all about guiding potential customers from Google, through YouTube, to a landing page, and wrapping up with automated emails. I'll break it down so you can easily replicate it in your own business and start seeing more traffic, leads, and sales.



Using ads can sometimes feel like you're shouting at people to buy your stuff, which can turn them off. By using a funnel that gently guides them through a process where they get to know you and your product through useful and engaging content, the experience feels more natural and less pushy.

Quick Setup Tips:

• SEO Your Way to Visibility: Optimize your content with the right keywords to pull in traffic from Google searches. Make sure your posts answer the questions your potential customers are asking.
• Lead Them to YouTube: After they've read your blog, direct them to your YouTube channel for more visual content. Keep these videos informative and engaging to build a stronger connection.
• Capture Interest on a Landing Page: From YouTube, funnel viewers to your landing page. Make sure it's clean, focused, and has a compelling call-to-action, like a free download or a signup form.
• Engage with Automated Emails: Once they're interested enough to provide their email, keep the conversation going with automated emails. These should be informative, helpful, and personalized to guide them towards a purchase.
  

When it comes to building content that attracts and retains attention, the first step is always choosing the right topic. Each week, I pick a topic based on the common questions people ask me. These questions are usually about practical skills like "How do I make a YouTube video?", "How can I start a blog?", or "What goes into creating a newsletter?" By focusing on these, I ensure that the content I create is not only relevant but also highly sought after. This method keeps my content aligned with what people genuinely want to know, making it far more likely to catch interest and engage viewers.

Once I've nailed down the topic, it's time to get in front of the camera. I know my goal is to help you master content marketing, so I make it a point to teach in a clear and straightforward manner. Sure, my videos might not have flashy graphics or high energy, but that’s not what they’re about. They’re about delivering valuable information in a way that’s easy to understand and implement. I focus on teaching and providing useful tips that you can take away and apply immediately. It's all about making sure that when you finish watching, you feel equipped and ready to tackle these tasks on your own.

Key Steps in Content Creation:

• Identify a Relevant Topic: Listen to your audience and choose topics that they are actively asking about. This ensures your content is always on point and highly engaging.
• Keep It Real and Educational: When you create your videos, focus on the educational value rather than flashy aesthetics. Teach in a way that’s straightforward and easy for your audience to grasp and implement.
• Engage and Empower: Your main goal should be to empower your viewers. Give them the knowledge and confidence to try what you've taught on their own. This builds trust and increases the value of your content.
  

When I pick a topic, it's all about what you can learn from it—something practical and useful. I spend about an hour each week whipping up a YouTube video on topics like how to automate your website or improve your content marketing. Once that video's good to go, I send the transcription over to my team. They're awesome at turning videos into blogs. This way, we're hitting multiple channels with the same piece of content, which really gets the word out.

You'd be surprised how many folks stumble across my YouTube channel from a Google search, not just from YouTube itself. Here's the scoop: Google loves to show off blog posts and videos right at the top of the search results, especially since they own YouTube. Let's say I tackle a topic like automating your website with quizzes and landing pages. I saw that not many people were covering this, even though it’s a hot question among my audience. So, I jumped on it, made the video, and let my team do their thing with the blog post. This brings more viewers not only to my blog but also drives subscriptions on my YouTube channel, fostering a growing community.

Quick Tips to Extend Your Content’s Reach:

Once I've picked a topic and created a video, the rest of the process can be largely automated with some help. I have virtual assistants and team members who take it from there. This isn't just about making life easier—it’s about creating a system that reaches people on multiple fronts: Google searches, YouTube, and LinkedIn. All these channels drive traffic to my landing page, where I offer something valuable for free. For example, you can download the Marketing Machine, which is designed to encourage visitors to subscribe to my newsletter.

This is a key part of my strategy because only about 1% of people are ready to buy the first time they hear about you. Many of my clients tell me they’ve been watching my videos and learning from the content long before they decide to engage my services. That's why I don't expect new visitors to make a purchase right away. Instead, I focus on nurturing those relationships over time. Whether they convert a week later, a month later, or even a year later, the important thing is that they do, and they feel confident about their decision when they do.

Nurturing Customer Relationships Through Multiple Platforms:

• Offer Value First: Use your landing page to offer something free in exchange for email sign-ups. This introduces visitors to your newsletter where you can continue to engage with them.
• Build the Relationship Gradually: Understand that most visitors won't buy immediately. Focus on building a relationship through regular, value-added contact.
• Encourage Diverse Engagements: On your email list, invite subscribers to follow you on YouTube and other social platforms where you're active, like LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. This helps to reinforce your presence and ensures they see your free training or content, no matter where they spend their time online.

Once visitors are on your email list, they start receiving your emails and seeing your posts on social media. This is crucial for deepening relationships. I also take this opportunity to introduce them to my sales page. For example, the entry price for my Marketing Masterclass is $297. Here, I break things down further, and users can literally copy and paste techniques for their own use. It’s important to note that the conversion rate at this stage is quite low—less than 10% of people actually purchase right away. This is expected because we might not have built enough trust yet, and they might not feel ready to commit to a purchase.

Despite the low initial conversion rates, it’s a vital step in the sales process. Showing the price upfront on the landing page sets clear expectations. Most new visitors won’t make a purchase immediately, and that's okay. The goal at this stage isn’t necessarily to make a sale but to familiarize them with what’s available. It's about letting them know the price upfront and setting the stage for future purchases.

Key Approaches to Enhance Customer Conversion:

• Maintain Transparency: Always show prices upfront on your landing page. This transparency helps set the right expectations and builds trust over time.
• Keep the Pressure Off: Understand that most new visitors will not buy immediately. Focus on building a relationship rather than pushing for a sale.
• Nurture the Connection: Use your emails and social media interactions to continually provide value, educate your audience, and build that necessary trust. Over time, this approach leads to higher conversion rates as customers feel more connected and confident in the value you provide.
  

After you’ve drawn in subscribers with your initial offers and landing pages, the next step is crucial: keep them engaged with valuable content. This is where educational newsletters come into play. For instance, my next email will link subscribers to a free guide that’s based on one of my YouTube videos and a related blog post. This approach ensures that when subscribers receive an email from me, they have a reason to visit my website where they can find a video and a guide that help them achieve something specific.

This strategy of continuous education is key because it’s not just about selling; it’s about providing ongoing value. You want to keep feeding your subscribers useful content without immediately pushing for a sale. This builds a stronger relationship and establishes your credibility as a helpful resource. For example, consider what type of free guide, blog post, or video you could offer that would genuinely help your subscribers. The goal here is to make them feel supported and informed.

Strategies to Enhance Subscriber Engagement:

• Provide Continuous Learning: Regularly send out educational content that adds value, such as guides, tutorial videos, and informative blog posts. This not only keeps your audience engaged but also positions you as an authority in your field.
• Use Content to Build Relationships: Before trying to sell anything, focus on building a solid relationship. By teaching and helping your subscribers for free, you increase trust and loyalty, which are crucial for long-term engagement.
• Encourage Action: Remember, less than 1% of people will actually implement what they learn from free resources. Highlight the benefits of taking action, like joining a more structured program like a masterclass, which can motivate them to commit and follow through.

When your subscribers are finally ready to make a purchase, that's your cue to step in—not with pressure, but with a gentle nudge. That’s why the next email in their inbox might say something like, "Hey, looks like you forgot to sign up for the masterclass!" It's a friendly reminder, not a hard sell. People get busy, and they appreciate the reminder if they were initially interested but got sidetracked. This approach helps bring them back without feeling like you're pushing too hard.

Furthermore, I introduce an upsell in a way that feels like an extension of my help: "You can learn to do it on your own, and I’m here to guide you through it. Or, if you're part of a bigger company and need more hands-on assistance, you can hire us to handle it for you." This gives them options, which is great for making them feel in control rather than pressured. As you continue to provide value, you'll notice something incredible—the free traffic sources like content creation keep expenses low while naturally increasing the average order value and overall sales. This is a sustainable growth model that doesn’t rely on ad spending but on real, valuable interactions.

Strategies to Convert Subscribers into Customers:

• Send Timely Reminders: Use emails to remind subscribers about what they’ve shown interest in, especially if they haven't completed a purchase. Make it casual and friendly.
• Offer Choices, Not Pressure: Present options like self-guided learning or hands-on services. This caters to different needs and budgets, making it more likely they’ll find an option that suits them.
• Highlight Your Low Costs and High Value: Keep reminding them that your resources are mostly free and that you're all about providing value. This reinforces the idea that you're not just after their money but are there to help.
• Encourage Taking the First Step: Address common fears directly. If your subscribers are hesitant about creating videos or engaging with the content, reassure them. Position yourself as an educator and remind them that everyone starts somewhere.

So, here’s the scoop: Over the past eight months, I’ve been pushing out this strategy twice a week, and guess what? It’s really paying off. We're now getting new leads and customers every single day, all without spending a penny on ads. It’s all about sticking with it, being patient, and really focusing on the content. This isn’t just about making quick sales; it’s about building a system that keeps on giving.

Remember, the real goal here is to teach and educate your audience. Once you’ve got that down, you can start automating the stuff that eats up your time, which lets you focus even more on creating great content. Just keep at it, stay chill, and let the process do its thing. You’ll start seeing how powerful content can be in driving your business forward without dropping loads of cash on ads. Keep it real, keep it educational, and watch your business grow.

AutomationLinks

AutomationLinks is a digital marketing agency located in Wilmington North Carolina. We have worked with over 6,000 businesses and nonprofits over the last 10 years. We believe in a relationship marketing approach to help you turn visitors into customers using automation.