Most people create a freebie, slap it on their website, and wonder why nobody is signing up. Samantha Burmeister,founder of Nomad Copy Agency and copywriter behind multiple seven-figure client launches, says the problem is almost never the freebie itself. It is the system around it.
In this episode, she breaks down the two-part funnel that has helped her attract email subscribers and convert them into paying clients from 85 countries and counting, starting with one high-converting opt-in page and one well-crafted welcome sequence that does the selling before you ever pitch anything.
If you have a freebie that is not working as hard as it should, this episode will show you exactly why and what to fix first.
INSIDE THIS EPISODE
Why your opt-in page is the most important piece of copy you will write for your entire funnel
The one thing that makes the difference between a freebie that converts and one that collects dust
What to put on your opt-in page and what most people leave out that costs them subscribers
How to drive traffic to your opt-in page without running paid ads
The welcome sequence strategy that warms up new subscribers and moves them toward buying
Why the freebie and the welcome sequence must work together and how to make sure they do
How the Opt-In CopyBot and Welcome Sequence CopyBot can cut your writing time dramatically
What it looks like to build a business that runs from anywhere in the world and the email strategy behind it
GUEST RESOURCES
Guest: Samantha Burmeister
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomad.copy
Lead magnet: www.nomadcopyagency.com/sapphire
NEW: The Email Clinic is open!
If this episode got you thinking about your email marketing, imagine having a community where you can get help 24/7.
The Email Clinic is where freelancers and service providers come to start, grow, and sharpen their email marketing skills together. Live copy reviews, live training, community chats and more.
👉 Join us here: nestuge.com/emailclinic
EPISODE TIMELINE ⏱️
[01:26] – Sam's background: from finance and tech sales to nomadic copywriter in 85+ countries
[02:38] – Writing copy from her 79th country and landing a client because of it
[03:26] – Her first seven-figure client launch and what made it work
[04:18] – How she got her very first freelance client ,from within her own network
[05:50] – Why the opt-in page is the starting point of every great funnel
[06:25] – What goes on a high-converting opt-in page: the exact copy elements
[09:12] – How to drive traffic to your opt-in page organically, on social, and beyond
[15:11] – What happens after someone opts in: the welcome sequence strategy
[16:23] – Introducing the Opt-In CopyBot write your page in minutes with AI
[17:26] – The Welcome Sequence CopyBot and how the two tools work together
[18:44] – How to think about your freebie funnel as one connected system
I've personally seen testimonials from her Copy on Demand clients, and the feedback is incredible. Welcome to the Client Acquisition Challenge, Sam! It’s so good to have you.
**Samantha Burmeister:** Hi! It's so good to be here. Thank you!
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**Dr. Ayebanoa Benwari:** I’d love for our listeners to get to know you. Can you tell us a bit about your story?
**Samantha Burmeister:** As you can tell from my accent, I was born and raised in the United States. I went to school and got degrees in marketing and international business. Then, I went into finance sales and tech sales. Throughout that entire journey, I knew I wanted to travel long-term—not just go on holiday, but actually live in different countries.
In:
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**Dr. Ayebanoa Benwari:** Do you keep count of how many places you’ve visited so far?
**Samantha Burmeister:** Last year, I wrote an email to my list saying, *"Hey, if anybody wants to say their copywriter is currently working from a beach in Montenegro, let me know!"* Someone actually hired me because of that email! They thought it was cool that they could be in Boston while I worked from Europe.
Montenegro was my 79th country, and I’ve been to 85 countries now—working from over half of them.
**Dr. Ayebanoa Benwari:** Wow, that’s amazing! Along this journey, do you have any major wins or client milestones you'd like to share?
**Samantha Burmeister:** Hitting my first six-figure and multi-six-figure year was a great milestone. But the coolest milestones are when my clients have big wins. I remember my first client who had a seven-figure launch from our work together—she doubled her revenue and sold over a million dollars! I’ve had five or six clients hit seven-figure launches now, which is always incredible to be a part of.
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**Dr. Ayebanoa Benwari:** Do you remember how you acquired your very first client?
**Samantha Burmeister:** It was actually my accountant! While I was still working full-time and running a travel blog on the side, she asked me to write copy for her website. I had no idea what to charge, so I billed her $25 an hour. I was terrified to send the $950 invoice because it was the most money I had ever billed! Today, I would charge four or five times that amount for the same project. It goes to show that you have to start somewhere, and often that means starting within your existing network.
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**Dr. Ayebanoa Benwari:** Let's dive into your client acquisition strategy for service providers.
**Samantha Burmeister:** In client acquisition for copywriters and service providers, top-of-funnel marketing starts with an opt-in page. An opt-in page is where prospects enter their contact information in exchange for a free resource (a lead magnet), such as a PDF guide, webinar, or challenge. This brings them into your world so you can continue marketing to them via email.
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**Dr. Ayebanoa Benwari:** How can a new freelancer or service provider apply this strategy?
**Samantha Burmeister:** Work backward from your paid offer. Ask yourself: *What is the very first step or concept someone needs to understand before hiring me?*
For example, if you are a brand photographer offering a $2,000 package, you could create a free Canva PDF guide titled *"10 Unique Poses for Your Next Brand Photography Session."* The guide demonstrates your visual quality and expertise. Inside the PDF, you include a call to action: *"To book your brand photography session in LA, click here to get on my calendar."*
Then, write a simple opt-in page detailing:
1. **What** the free resource is.
2. **Why** they should want it.
3. **How** to get it (a clear opt-in form and CTA button).
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**Dr. Ayebanoa Benwari:** Is there a specific length that works best for opt-in pages?
**Samantha Burmeister:** It depends on what your client needs to hear to feel comfortable giving you their email address. For e-commerce, an opt-in might just be a 20-word pop-up offering a discount code. For service providers, you generally need an above-the-fold section stating the transformation, followed by a brief bio or explanation of how the resource works.
**Dr. Ayebanoa Benwari:** What common mistakes should people avoid when setting up opt-in pages?
**Samantha Burmeister:**
1. **Saying too much:** Writing long, rambling paragraphs.
2. **Focusing on features instead of outcomes:** People don't just want another PDF; they want the result. Instead of saying, *"Get a 20-page photography guide,"* sell the outcome: *"Show up to your photoshoot feeling completely confident about how to pose and where to put your hands."*
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**Dr. Ayebanoa Benwari:** Once the opt-in page is created, how do service providers get eyes on it?
**Samantha Burmeister:**
* **Social Media & Email List:** Share it across your channels.
* **Newsletter Swaps:** Partner with non-competing service providers to promote each other's lead magnets.
* **Organic Search (Pinterest & SEO):** Pinterest acts as a visual search engine and works exceptionally well for design, photography, floral, and fashion niches.
* **Content Integration:** Mention the opt-in page naturally within blog posts and podcast episodes.
* **Paid Ads:** Run targeted advertising campaigns directly to the opt-in page.
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**Dr. Ayebanoa Benwari:** What are the immediate next steps once someone enters their email?
**Samantha Burmeister:**
1. **Deliver the Lead Magnet:** The first automated email must instantly deliver the download link.
2. **Welcome & Introduce Yourself:** Send a follow-up email establishing authority, explaining who you are, and detailing how you help clients.
3. **Segment Your Audience:** Use link triggers or surveys to ask what specific service or problem they need help with, allowing you to tailor future pitch emails accordingly.
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**Dr. Ayebanoa Benwari:** You’ve developed custom tools to make this copywriting process effortless. Can you explain how the Opt-In Copybot and Welcome Sequence Copybot work?
**Samantha Burmeister:**
* **Opt-In Copybot:** A custom GPT that asks a few basic questions about your free resource and instantly outputs high-converting copy for your opt-in page—including layout suggestions for CTAs and forms.
* **Welcome Sequence Copybot:** Takes the exact copy generated by the Opt-In Copybot and drafts your initial automated welcome emails, maintaining brand voice and message consistency.
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**Dr. Ayebanoa Benwari:** This makes the process simple and accessible for everyone! Where can our listeners connect with you?
