Welcome to CreativeDemand Copywriting Tips, I’m Anna, a professional copywriter. Today I’m answering the question, “How do you know if you can start selling to your audience?” 

You may have a platform and following where you’ve spent time providing free content like blog posts, PDFs, and video content. You built your list and now you’re ready to start selling products to them, but if you’re like many people, you don’t quite know how to make the transition. 

The last thing you want is for people to unsubscribe or write you snarly emails about how you turned into a salesperson. And you also don’t want your offer to go over like a lead balloon. 

So how do you know when you can start selling to your audience? 

Recognize that Your Products Have Value

First, we need to talk about how you feel about selling. You may have no background in marketing or sales so it makes you really uncomfortable to ask people for money. 

But for someone like you who’s genuinely interested in providing value, you need to recognize that beginning to sell means you’re able to offer your audience a greater level of value. The stuff you’re working on, it shouldn’t be given away. 

First, because your energy, time, and expertise are worth something, and they can provide benefits to your readers. 

Second, the price tag represents your customer’s commitment to that resource. We ascribe less value to things we don’t pay for. I might be happy to give away every copy of my book. But at some point, people are going to say, if you’re giving it away, maybe it’s not very good. 

And because they didn’t pay for it, their likelihood of actually reading it and applying the principles goes down. 

So maybe I give it away in some circumstances, but for the most part, people have to buy it. It’s a recognition of both the value that I put into it and their commitment to embracing that value. So that needs to be in your mind. 

Signals That It’s Time to Sell

Now, to get back to our main point, there isn’t a specific time period that’s perfect to start selling. You’re better off if you’ve been connecting with your audience for a while, though there are always going to be people who just want the free stuff. 

But one key signal that you’re overdue to start selling is when people start asking you for things. They keep emailing you with questions or want to know if you have a resource about X, Y, or Z. You definitely need to start developing products and services at that point. 

But even if people aren’t explicitly asking, you can test the waters with some low-barrier offers. 

Start with a Low-Barrier Offer

You don’t have to come right out of the gate with a huge offer. For example, people can buy an ebook for $7 or a 30-minute training session with you for a reasonable rate. 

Now let’s say you’re just starting out and building your list. You can start selling, but your expectations need to be low if you haven’t earned trust with your audience yet. They need some time to get to know you and what you bring to the table. 

How can you build a connection with them? One way is through consistent email marketing. Focus on value and your reader’s interests. Share stories. Give your audience opportunities to engage. 

The more engaged your audience is, the more likely they are to act on an offer. Put your energy into building a relationship, and sales will follow!