List Building Questions

Just a couple of quick thoughts:

1. Everyone does things a little differently. Some people use an AR series and some use an e-zine which is ongoing. What you choose to do is up to you.

2. A rule-of-thumb formula for content vs. promotion is 75% content to 25% promotion. It can vary a little of course, but remember that your content is the "main dish" and your promotion is the side dish.

The ongoing gift of content is what builds the relationship, which is critical to the success of your e-mail and online marketing efforts. A constant barrage of promotional e-mails will get you labeled as a spammer and a lot of unsubscribes.

That said, once you've done this, don't be afraid to send out solo e-mails which are pure promotion. Solo mailings often get a much higher response than the promotion tacked onto the end of your regular content. HOWEVER, a barrage of solo mailings won't work unless you've previously built a relationship by sending out great content via an AR series or an e-zine. So you MUST have that.

Hope that helps!

Michelle

Thanks for all the input everyone, Does anyone have anymore advice? It is much appreciated

Hey mate...

I'm on a lotta lists that mainly sell, a few lists that sell and provide content and probably one list that nearly always provides content.

A massive part of the mix that virutally no one mentions is this...

Lots of people (ie. myself included) open and respond to emails based on my percieved opinion of the marketer. Do you open emails based on subject line or who the sender is?

For me it's never the subject line, it's rarely the content.. if they're in a niche I want to know more about, if they sell or recommend good products and I can learn even the most minute of information - I don't care if they sell 99% of the time...

Al

It is all about quality content. One bit of advice I use, that many people seem to not even consider. I will advise you it is a little off but it works.

have you ever read a fiction book? writers always plan out their book before ever writing the first page. then they can use foreshadowing to drop hints of what is to come.

this works on an email list as well. if you plan out your emails for the next few weeks or months. drop hints as to what is to come later. this will get your emails opened because people want to know what you have to say. The more emails that get read, the more likely you will be to create sales.
another thing is don't always link to a product or sales opportunity.

I send emails out with free reports, other good sites and articles I find, that are related to the niche, etc. this gets people into the habit of clicking on your links, so that when you offer a promotion you get a higher click through rate. psychologically, this also gets people to thinking if they gave all this great info for free, then paying for this information will give me even more.

I guess I am aggressive ..... no laid back..... well maybe the best of both worlds .

I send every day . I send quality content every time . I use a PS: file to sell.

If you use your emails like a well written article and the PS file as the resource box .... see where I am going ?

Thanks for the input everyone I appreciate

Can anyoen comment were the bulk of their sales come from is it when the subscriber is in the sequence or when you send a broad cast e mail? So far I have 300 subscribers in a 10 message sequence with messages sent every other day and I have only had 1 sale

Going back to basics, it all depends on what you're using to generate the list?

If you have a crappy report full of affiliate links then the chances of ever making a sale are slim to none.

A butterfly report with free content that encourages the reader to share will get you seen as a content provider in your niche, and you can JV with others in the niche who also have free reports. This whole process can be easily monitised with a OTO and plenty of affiliate banners in the members area.

The next step up is a list of buyers, and as per the freebie list it can go 2 ways. If you're product is over hyped and doesn't deliver on the salesletter then follow-up sales will be in short supply.

Conversly over delivering will have people desperate to open your emails, and jump on your recommedations.

Finally just keep on driving traffic to the opt-in page, and be yourself when it comes to broadcasting - If you find an offer that interests you, then it should also interest your list.

This assumes that you're actually interested in the niche that you're building a list for.

People here have already mention Frank Kern, when I watched his influence DVD he explained that although selling to niche markets was making him plenty of money he dreaded having to deal with the customers, and he hated what it was doing to him.

In summary be yourself, be passionate about what you have to offer, and good things will happen.