Hi there, I'm Greg Merrilees from Studio1 Design, and welcome to part four of our five-part series on proven ways to attract new customers with no hard selling. This is based on the incredible insights I gained at the recent Traffic and Conversion Summit, which was an absolute goldmine of marketing strategies and tactics.

In this episode, Alan and I are going to dive into three different presentations that really stood out to me. First, we'll explore Oliver Bilson's approach to using automation and SMS to turn cold leads into warm prospects ready for a sales call. Then, we'll look at how Peter Caputo from Databox advises marketing agencies to position and package their services. And finally, we'll unpack Stu McLaren's proven strategies for launching and growing a successful membership site.

Now, the overarching theme here is all about attracting customers without resorting to pushy, hard-sell tactics. As business owners, we know those days are long gone. Today's consumers want to feel understood, valued, and guided - not aggressively sold to. And these speakers have cracked the code on how to do that.

I'm really excited to share these insights with you, because I know they can make a tangible difference in your ability to bring on new clients. Whether you run an agency, have an online membership, or sell high-ticket products, there are gems in here that you can apply to your business.

So sit back, get your notepad ready, and let's dive in. Alan and I are here to unpack these powerful strategies in a way that's easy to understand and implement. By the end of this episode, I'm confident you'll have some fresh ideas to attract your ideal customers without any hard selling required.

• Effective ways to attract customers, including automation and strategic positioning without hard selling
• How to use SMS to deliver value, build trust, and close sales with personalized, interactive conversations
• The power of niching down, securing recurring income, and using tools to sell value effectively in marketing agencies
• How delivering value, setting fair prices, and guiding clients can boost membership retention and acquisition in service-based businesses
• The benefits of membership sites for future-proofing your business, along with effective launch strategies and incentives to boost growth
• The power of waitlist promotions, member referrals, and SMS strategies to build an exclusive list, increase conversions, and improve your sales funnel

Proven Ways to Attract New Customers (Without the Hard Sell)

As business owners, we've all been there - the dreaded hard sell. That aggressive, pushy approach that leaves prospects feeling uncomfortable and turned off, rather than excited about your offer.

The good news is, those days are long gone. Today's consumers want to feel understood, valued, and guided - not forced into a purchase. And after attending the recent Traffic and Conversion Summit, I discovered a treasure trove of strategies for attracting new customers in a more authentic, relationship-building way.

In this article, I'm going to share three of the most impactful presentations I experienced, covering everything from automated lead generation to positioning your agency for success. Get ready to say goodbye to hard selling for good.

The Phone Funnel: Automating the Path to a Sales Call

First up, we have Oliver Bilson's session on "How to Predictively Drive Qualified Leads into Sales Calls." The key here is using a combination of Facebook ads, messenger bots, and SMS automation to turn cold traffic into warm leads ready for a one-on-one conversation.

The process starts with a Facebook lead gen ad that kicks off an automated conversation in a tool like ManyChat. Through a series of multiple-choice questions, you can quickly qualify prospects and determine their level of interest. From there, you can trigger an SMS sequence to deliver relevant videos and content, all while monitoring their engagement.

The goal is to build trust and get them excited about your offer, without ever feeling "sold to." Then, once they've demonstrated enough interest, you can invite them to a sales call - but they'll be a much warmer lead at that point, making the conversation infinitely easier.

What I loved about this approach is how it removes the need for constant manual follow-up. By setting up the right automation, you can keep nurturing leads even when you're not actively working on your business. And by using SMS as the primary outreach method, you're meeting prospects where they're most likely to engage.

Positioning Your Agency for Success

Next, we heard from Peter Caputo of Databox, who shared insights on how marketing agencies can position themselves for maximum impact. One of the key takeaways was the importance of specialization.

As Caputo pointed out, it's tempting to try and be a "Swiss Army Knife" and offer every service under the sun. But the most successful agencies tend to have a clear, defined niche. Whether it's CRM implementation, Facebook advertising, or website design, choosing one area of focus allows you to become the go-to expert in the eyes of your ideal clients.

Along those lines, Caputo encouraged agencies to package their services into set offerings, rather than selling by the hour. This accomplishes a few important things:

1. It allows you to price based on the value you deliver, not just your time.
2. It creates a more predictable revenue stream through retainer-based agreements.
3. It positions you as a strategic partner, not just an order-taker.

To support this type of value-based pricing, Caputo recommended using a tool like the Inbound Revenue Calculator. By plugging in your conversion rates, average order value, and other key metrics, you can determine the exact revenue you need to generate - and then reverse-engineer your offerings accordingly.

The key, as Caputo emphasized, is to truly deliver on the value you promise. Don't just say you can get results; prove it through case studies, testimonials, and over-delivering for your clients. That's what will allow you to command premium pricing and stand out in a crowded market.

Growing a Thriving Membership Community

Finally, we heard from Stu McLaren, the renowned membership site expert, on how to attract new members to your online community.

McLaren stressed that there are two critical components to a successful membership model: getting new members, and keeping existing ones engaged. In this session, he focused primarily on the acquisition side, sharing a step-by-step framework for launching and promoting your membership.

Some of the key tactics he covered included:

- Starting with a "beta launch" to build anticipation and curiosity
- Hosting a live webinar to share your vision and get feedback from potential members
- Leveraging limited-time openings and exclusive bonuses to create urgency
- Encouraging member referrals through special incentives
- Offering a low-cost trial period to get people in the door

The overarching theme was all about appealing to both the head and the heart of your target audience.