Is offering an Email bribe still works in 2016?!

You're kidding, right?

How, exactly, is email marketing a "scam?"

I've been building my list the same way since 2008 and every year I make more and more money from my LIST.

You don't get to be in the TOP 1% of ALL affiliates on Warrior Plus if your list is a scam.


I'm not showing you that to toot my own horn, only to PROVE that list building is certainly not a scam. Not only is it not a scam, it was, is, and always will be the most efficient and reliable way to start and maintain a successful Affiliate Marketing business.

Honestly, I'm not sure what your motive is for making such a ridiculous post that adds absolutely ZERO value to this thread, but I must say that I see you are not alone in doing it, and I find it to be a disturbing trend on this forum lately.

I'm really not sure why people think it's a sound marketing strategy to join this forum and make hundreds of worthless posts for the sole reason of getting exposure for their signature links.

Honestly, I think the WF should shut down the signature function completely, at least for a time. Better yet, they should make it a premium feature. This would cut down on the massive abuse that's been happening lately.

Now, to address the OPs question.

Offering a quality course or product in exchange for an email address works great and it always will. I have been doing the very same thing since 2008 with great success. Of course, I am constantly updating the course material as the times change, but I have found that a one-off ebook or video course is actually preferable to a course that is drip fed over days or weeks.

I don't know the exact reason for this, but I believe it has something to do with modern culture and the "I want it now" attitude that most people have. I'm not saying this is a bad thing at all. I think delivering the whole course at once is beneficial because then people can go through the material at their own pace. Remember, not everyone learns at the same speed, and so it can be pretty difficult to drip feed a course. It might actually frustrate those who are quick learners and could turn them off.

This doesn't mean that you cannot set up a series of autoresponder messages related to your "freebie," however. In fact, I think it's a great idea to send out a series of messages that discuss aspects of the course. For instance, let's say you gave away an ebook that has 10 chapters. You might want to go ahead and create a 10-part autoresponder series to go along with the ebook. Each message in the series can address and review a chapter. Your first autoresponder message in the series can review chapter one and give your own personal take or insight on the material.

If you are a good salesman, you can even drop an affiliate link in there promoting a related product or software that can help you enhance that part of the course. This way you are sending helpful content and at the same time you are setting yourself up to make some sales and the message does not appear like a promo at all.

There is no denying that email marketing has evolved, and yes, it has gotten more difficult to build and profit from list building, and it will continue to do so as time goes on. This goes for any viable marketing strategy. The people who can think outside the box and continue to adjust their marketing strategies and stay relevant will be able to take advantage of these changes and thrive. Those that are unwilling to adjust will get left by the wayside.

The OP also mentioned the problem of people using fake addresses just to obtain the lead magnet. This is another problem that has always existed and the fact is that there really is no stopping it completely. However, you can deter people from doing this by using double opt-in. This way they cannot access your course until they confirm their email address.

I know nowadays double opt-in is not very popular with most marketers, but I still use it on some of my lists, and I have found that if you are offering something that people really want, they will most certainly take the extra step to confirm their email address. I don't use it on all of my lists, but the ones I do use it on don't have that much of a lower conversion rate. If you are sending quality, targeted traffic to your lead capture pages, you will find that double opt-in will not hinder your efforts too badly. Double opt-in will also cut down on your bounce rate and spam complaints, which will keep you in good standing with your AR.

Even using double opt-in will not ensure that your subscribers will open your emails. Some people create email accounts for the sole reason of using them to opt-in and get free stuff. You cannot stop this. What you CAN do, however, is always try to use compelling headlines (NOT hype or false promises) for your emails and provide value in the email body. You may just be able to catch a person'e eye one day when they are logged into their "freebie" email account and who knows? You might just be able to convert them into a valuable subscriber, or even a buyer.

I could be mistaken but ..... I do believe this comment is call sarcasm.

Here's something that has worked for me . . .

Give your subscribers something they actually want and promise them that you have more of the same for them.

You can't stop people from unsubscribing. If they want to go, assume they're doing you a favor since they don't see the value in sticking around.

You want people on your list that want to be there and that will be responsive to your offers, paid or otherwise.

Steve