Are you sure that you need to rely on Google to become super successful online? Just imagine building a massive online following and generating a 7-figure income without relying on Google traffic. Sounds impossible? Well, Lucy Simkins did it! She created "English with Lucy," a hugely popular way to learn English. Now, she has 17 million followers around the world. Lucy's new method of teaching English has changed how people learn the language. Everyone's wondering: how did she do it?
In this article, we’ll share with you some of her secrets.
Lucy Simkins
Lucy's journey began in 2016 when she started her YouTube channel as a part-time project while attending university. Fast forward to 2021, she began selling courses and landed her first sponsorship deal for a whopping $60. Today, her channel has 11.1 million subscribers, and her videos have been viewed over half a billion times.
But Lucy's success isn't limited to YouTube. She has 1.5 million followers on Instagram, 2 million on TikTok, and 2.7 million on Facebook. She's even landed a series on Amazon Prime! So, how does she do it?
Lucy's content creation process
Lucy's content creation process is a well-oiled machine. She uses a spreadsheet to brainstorm and organize her long-form video ideas, ensuring her content stays fresh and engaging.
For lead magnets, she switches between Google Slides and Canva, depending on the project. When it comes to filming, Lucy relies on a teleprompter to maintain clarity and consistency. She also has separate editors for her long-form and short-form content, allowing for specialized focus on each type.
Lucy categorizes her content into three main types:
- Algorithm-pleasing content: Videos designed to maximize reach by aligning with platform algorithms;
- Subscriber-pleasing content: Content aimed at satisfying her existing audience;
- Personal interest content: Videos that Lucy creates based on her interests, ensuring her passion remains evident in her work.
Platform-specific tactics
Lucy tailors her content endings for each platform to optimize engagement and retention. For example, she might use different call-to-actions (CTAs) on Instagram compared to YouTube. She also allocates content creation tasks to specialized teachers based on their strengths, ensuring that each piece of content is of the highest quality.
Email marketing
Lucy heavily relies on her email list to promote her YouTube videos. She sends weekly emails packed with high-value PDFs, exercise packs, and exclusive content. These emails often include free lead magnets, which are strategically promoted using QR codes across various platforms. By offering exclusive content to her email subscribers, Lucy has created a loyal community that's eager to engage with her brand.
Lucy's platform performance overview: What works and what doesn't
As a successful online entrepreneur, Lucy Simkins has tried her hand at various platforms to reach her audience. But which ones have yielded the best results? Let's take a look at her tiered list, ranking platforms from worst to best in terms of performance:
- YouTube Shorts: High views, but poor ad revenue and low engagement. Lucy's not a fan of the limitations on YouTube Shorts, particularly the lack of link options;
- TikTok: High views, but limited conversion rates. Lucy's found that TikTok's algorithm favors English-speaking audiences, which has limited her sales potential;
- Facebook Reels: Attracts a different audience, less likely to purchase products or services. While Facebook Reels haven't been a game-changer for Lucy, she still sees value in using the platform;
- Instagram: Surprisingly effective for lead generation, particularly using ManyChat. Lucy's found success with Instagram, especially when it comes to generating leads through ManyChat;
- YouTube: The best platform for overall reach, brand building, and long-term audience engagement. Lucy's YouTube channel remains her bread and butter, with over 11 million subscribers and counting.
SEO insights and website performance
Lucy's website has seen a significant uptick in traffic following recent Google updates. However, she acknowledges that her website content is currently underwhelming, and there's a significant opportunity to optimize it for lead generation and better engagement. With Google's increasing emphasis on brand signals, Lucy sees a valuable opportunity to strengthen her brand's online presence, which could lead to further growth in organic traffic.
Lead capture and email marketing
Lucy uses ConvertKit for email marketing, a tool she finds effective for managing her large and segmented list of subscribers. She also utilizes Deadline Funnel for timed promotions, creating a sense of urgency that drives conversions. When it comes to CTAs, Lucy emphasizes the importance of front-loading them in her videos, which has significantly boosted her lead generation efforts.
Keeping subscribers engaged
Lucy uses storytelling in her email sequences to keep subscribers engaged and invested in her content. She frequently runs monthly challenges and mid-month promotions, which have proven successful in driving higher engagement and sales. By segmenting her email list based on language proficiency and country, Lucy can tailor her content more effectively and keep her subscribers happy.
Funnel optimization and revenue growth
Lucy's seen a 10% boost in revenue by incorporating order bumps and upsells in her checkout process. She continues to test different pricing strategies for her tripwires, aiming to further optimize her sales funnel for better conversion rates. Retargeting ads have also been a game-changer for Lucy, significantly increasing her conversion rates.
Personal insights and reflections
Lucy finds the high-quality content and positive feedback from teachers and students to be the most rewarding aspects of her business. However, she also identifies the lack of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and an under-optimized funnel as areas that need improvement. Looking to the future, Lucy is excited about the potential improvements she can make in her business, particularly in optimizing her funnel and refining her content strategy.
Conclusion
Lucy Simkins' story shows us that success online doesn't always need Google. Her journey from a part-time YouTuber to a language-learning empire proves that creativity, hard work, and understanding your audience are key. Lucy's success came from making great content, using different platforms smartly, and building a strong connection with her followers.
What can we learn from Lucy? First, find what you're good at and passionate about. Then, create content that helps and entertains people. Use different ways to reach your audience, like social media and email. Most importantly, always listen to your followers and give them what they want.
Lucy's story isn't just about teaching English. It's about believing in yourself, trying new things, and never giving up. So, whether you're dreaming of online success or just want to improve your skills, remember Lucy's example. With dedication and the right approach, you too could build your own empire — no Google required!
