If you’re reading this blog post, chances are you’ve probably seen my posts about mini sessions, and how i’ve been able to host $10k mini session days for nearly 5 years now. While there are several components that go into the success of these mini session days, I can confidently say that one thing has consistently been at the top of the “essential” list for success: Flodesk. The most powerful email marketing tool i’ve ever used to grow my audience. I love Flodesk so much, that i’m so excited to share I am officially a Flodesk Partner- helping others see and fall in love with the platform I utilize so much! I’ve had so many requests to share how exactly I grow my audience with Flodesk, so I wanted to go ahead and write it all out (and include screenshots) in a blog post.
Before I dive in, let me preface this by saying I was NOT an automated/email marketing girlie before Flodesk. I attempted to start an email list, but the two systems I previously tried were just not user friendly (in my opinion) so I gave up.Believe it or not, my “email list” was in a spiral notebook. Years later, I kept seeing Flodesk on social media, and decided to give it a try 2023. It was the BEST decision i’ve ever made for my business. If I can use it, so can you. You don’t need any email marketing experience.
For the purpose of this blog post, we’re going to pretend that I’m setting up Flodesk for the very first time to grow my audience for my “Santa Minis.” Keep in mind, I do this exact same process for EVERY type of mini session I host. And the earlier you can do it, the better! My Santa Minis are not until November 2025, but I have already created the 2025 segment and am starting to allow opt-ins to grow the awareness and desire that I will be hosting the sessions later this year.
STEP 1: CREATE A SEGMENT
At the top of the home page, you’ll see a menu option that says “AUDIENCE.” Click here, and then you will see three options. All Subscribers, Customers, and Segments. Click on “SEGMENTS.” The best way to describe a segment is to think about it as a list- you can have as many different segments as you’d like. Later on when you go to send an email, you can choose what segment to send it to. For example, say you photograph weddings, seniors, and families. You can have a segment for each of them, so that you aren’t sending an email about wedding album sales to your senior clients. Or say it’s senior season, you can email your senior segment about your availability, but not your wedding couples.
For mini sessions, I always create a segment specifically for that type of session. In this case, I will create one labeled “Santa Mini Interest 2025” using the New Segment button. Simply insert the name you’d like your segment to be called, choose a color, and press save. That way, when people opt in to the email list (which will come next), I can clearly make note of who opted in that was interested in Santa Minis.
STEP 2: CREATE AN OPT-IN FORM
Now that i’ve got the segment created, I want to create an opt-in form that I can share online to allow people to opt in, and start collecting emails. Click on the menu option “FORMS” from the home page, followed by “New Form.” You’re going to see a ton of different templates, which is another thing I absolutely love about Flodesk. I create two forms: a FULL PAGE and an Inline. I always do Full Page first.
Choose whichever Full Page Template you like, and keep in mind you will customize it with your brand colors, images etc. I personally recommend doing one that has an image, just to be able to showcase a promo photo and build up the excitement.
Once you choose the template and click “Customize It,” you’ll get the popup that makes you choose what segment you want subscribers to be added to. I’ll select the same segment I just created, “Santa Mini Interest 2025.” Click save, and then you’ll see the template appear. On the right hand side, you have so many options in terms of fonts, colors, button shapes, etc to use to design your form. I highly suggest either importing your own personal fonts, or using one as similar as possible to your website font, just for cohesive branding. When you click on the blank options for “First Name, Email address” etc. you will see the form details pop up on the right hand side. I always make sure all fields are REQUIRED, and I also add a field for last name. I had 8 clients named Brittany one year, want to make sure I know which email address to update if there ever needs changes!
Here you can see what my final designed Full Page Form Looks like:
The last thing to do before you save and share the form is to go to SETTINGS. I change the form link to be something similar to the mini sessions, for example “santawaitlist” instead of a random combination of numbers and letters.
After changing the link, click over one tab to “Link Preview” and you’ll want to change some of the text and add an image, just to make it more visually appealing to your followers. Here’s an example of mine:
Once that’s done, you can hit SHARE up in the top right corner, and copy the URL! I keep this URL saved in Notes on my iPhone, and share the link to stories regularly in my Instagram Stories! Sharing it to social media regularly lets people see it frequently, and be able to add themselves to the list at any time. I always add a caption like “Join our VIP Email List today!” or something to remind them that it’s an email list and they will get early access to bookings.
The second form I create is an Inline form, which gets embedded onto my website directly. You will follow the exact same steps as above to create your Inline form, the only difference is instead of a url, it will give you an Embed Code. You will then copy/paste that code into your website design software (Showit, Pixieset, etc). Once you embed the code onto your site, it’s live and you don’t ever have to worry about sharing it. I like having this form on my site at all times, incase I forget to share the URL link, or clients are viewing my site and missed the URL link on social media.
STEP 3: SHARE, SHARE, SHARE!
Now that you’ve got your forms completed, it’s time to regularly post to social media about your sessions, announce the dates, and share that URL link so followers can opt in! Don’t be afraid to overshare. Remember that not everyone sees your stories, and posting it once a week or so in the “off season” is okay! I just posted mine the other day in April, and 10 people opted in.
It’s crazy to say, but the Segments and Forms feature alone allow me to grow my audience with Flodesk! Allowing clients to opt in and have the system categorize them for me, it’s so worth it!
STEP 4: SEND EMAILS
As it starts getting closer to your mini sessions, you’ll want to start sending out emails. Once you’ve decided when you are going to open bookings, send out an email that says “Santa Mini bookings will open on XXXXX date, and you’re on the VIP list!”
It’s as simple as that! Create the segment, create the forms, and share! It’s a simple, effective, and streamlined way to grow your following and build up anticipation months in advance to launching mini sessions!
I have a discount code for you! Click here to earn 50% off your first year. 🙂
If you’re interested in learning more about what mini session emails I send out and when, I highly suggest checking out my course Mastering Minis, where I give you all of the email templates and walk you through step by step how to launch and execute your minis!
I hope this has helped you!
Hugs,
Leslie
