3 Easy Steps to Build Your List

The Money is Definitely in The List.

That’s a recurring affiliate marketing theme. A list of buyers is an absolute necessity for making money online. The common saying is “each name on your email list is worth $1 per month.”

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Successful online top earners know how to grow a customer/prospect email address list. They regularly use these three key methods.

Many online marketers usually build a list the wrong way. Their lead magnets are not focused and attract only those wanting freebies.

These non-earners read countless articles, search out expert advice, maybe even buy a cheap ‘how-to’ course or book.  Because someone says “this is how to do it” doesn’t mean they have done it.

Top dog Internet affiliate marketers have huge lists. You do not need a huge list. You need a good list. A good list is reliable buyers who open your emails. They are fans. Do it right and they become family. And they reward you with recurring purchases.

Consider This

You think you know everything there is to know about opt-in lists and follow sage advice to a “T” and still can’t make a profit.

Ever shop at Home Depot or Lowe’s? The most profitable aisle in those stores is detergent and cleaning supplies. That aisle is like the dairy aisle in a supermarket. Go to Lowe’s and that aisle is usually the first thing you see entering the store.

What is your “dairy aisle” niche? Are you in a niche offering recurring sales? It costs too much to get a customer who buys only once. In fact, you may be losing money. The larger the list the more costly an autoresponder.

Know your customer before building your list.

Perhaps only a very small percentage of your list actually buys from you. The big (bad) list means losing money.  Week after week you see weak statistics and sales figures.

Perhaps you’re like the guy or gal who goes to a sporting goods store and buys every piece of fishing gear imaginable and clothing that matches without a clue of how to actually catch fish. There’s a big difference between going fishing and actually catching something.

It’s said that only 10% of people who go fishing actually catch fish. That’s like the 3% of all people who try to make money online who really make money online.

So what could have gone wrong with your list building and profiting from that list? Why have others succeeded where you have failed?

The most common mistake is that you dived straight right in. You chose something to sell you thought would be quite popular and would earn you money.

Then you built a list. Or you bought a list. Just because you wrote people from the list doesn’t mean they are going to buy instantly what you offer.

Steve Jobs Said . . .

“Don’t find customers for your products. Find products for your customers.”

 

Let’s Build a List The Right Way

Remember: You can do this. You can create a money-making list. You can be successful online. 

1) Get your customers to trust you and your products first. Just launching your opt-in list would not make you an expert and a believable seller. Publish many articles before you start an opt-in list.

Write about the topic you know. Don’t get bogged down in language that doesn’t sell. Learn the language of your ideal customer. I don’t mean Spanish or German or Italian. Master the language of your niche.  Visit forums and social media groups gain knowledge about your customers’ wants and needs.

Then satisfy those wants and needs.

Post to forums and social media groups. Provide expert advice and recommendations. When you feel that people trust you then start your own opt-in list.

You can build a base as well with other forum users. You can ask them to join your list. Friends are always good customers. Put up a link to your site so that they may be able to see what you’re business is all about.

The certain truth is the money will only come in when the consumers and subscribers believe and trust in you. They want a product or service that could be a good exchange for their money.

People are not going to buy something out of your recommendation if they don’t know you. The idea of a list is to create customers, not one-time sales.

Think of it This Way

Would you approach a stranger on the street and expect them to buy at that moment what you sell online? Of course not.

Communicate so you are not a stranger. Establish yourself as an authority. Make sure you write in a friendly manner. Be likable. Give advice that is easily implemented. Always add a link to your site when posting on social media or guest blogging.

Be the go-to guy/gal for your niche. Be unique and add value. Study your niche and see what sells. If you are marketing weight loss create visions of the results, not the technical aspects of the process.

This is Not a One Size Fits All World

Find unique tricks that make your solicitations unique. Pass them along to your readers before asking for the order.

Create engaging lead magnets. The idea is to offer something new, or information presented in a new way. The easiest lead magnet is a tip list. Perhaps you’re attracting those wanting to lose weight.

Offer 20 Things to Do to Lose 10 Pounds. I bet that gets more downloads than an eBook or video. Here’s a start:

• Drink a glass of water 30-minutes before a meal
• If tempted to grab a between-meal snack brush your teeth instead
• Do a small chore that takes your mind off food.
• Don’t eat while watching TV
• Avoid any colas

Your tips don’t have to be earth-shattering worthy of a Nobel Prize. What you offer contributes to your authority presence. Be real. Be brief. Be engaging and original. Use bullet points. Make your tips easy to digest.  No pun intended :).

2) Find a product or service that people actually want and need. Remember the big three: Relationships (dating), wealth creation, and weight loss.

When you gain some experience you can venture into other niches. Perhaps you have a hobby many people share. That presents an excellent opportunity for you to build a list.

Case Study

A friend started a business selling fishing rods by mail. He is an Internet expert but did not offer his custom rods online. He researched his market and quickly understood his customer base would not buy online and most likely did not own a PC. He was right and sold by mail.

He didn’t focus on email addresses. His list was actual snail mail addresses. Within a year he reached $1 million in sales.

If you decide to sell something that is not entirely popular or profitable. Do your research well and you would see the profits come in. Also, provide your subscribers with promotional material that they could actually use and spread around.

Successful affiliate marketers serve an existing market. They do not try to make a market. 

3) Make friends with other opt-in list users.

This is basically beneficial especially if it is someone who has already launched a successful opt-in list.

These are people that have the experience in this venture and experience is still the best teacher. While there are many articles available for you on the internet to use, there is nothing like getting a firsthand account from someone you trust.

Go to Meetup.com and look for meetings of affiliate marketers. I attend such meetings and get a lot of good ideas over lunch.

Don’t be afraid of asking for help. Don’t abuse the helper. Many of us make money online teaching others how to do what we do. Don’t be a pest.

Experienced opt-in list users will be able to tell you what to do and what not to do because they have gone through it. While different situations occur for different people, the general concept can still be very helpful. There are many things to avoid and these people will be able to tell you which ones.

Building a profitable opt-in list doesn’t just happen overnight. There are many preparations and efforts to do. Opt-in lists are built from scratch. As your list grows, you should also maintain the quality of your list. Keep it organized and manageable.

Get or hire help if need be, just make sure that your subscribers are happy and satisfied and they will be willing to buy from you.

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