16 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
16 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

OMG I did it, 27k list, Now Please advise me on a plan...

by laurieslegends
14 replies
I did it. I actually exported my database of authors on articles411.com and imported them into my autoresponseplus site. It was a piece of cake.

Autoresponse plus rocks, thanks Neil for this awesome tool, I have never regretted investing in this since the 2nd month I was in IM back in March of 2002.

Questions I have now,

I have a list that although is huge, will filter down some I am sure, but I have required my authors to confirm both the database directory script email and the contact list one to keep their articles in my database.

I plan on cleaning it up, I may even change it to a better database, but that is something for the future months.

I want to start sending out regular emails to this list, (the conditions of the script the directory was built under made this next to impossible.)

I want this list to adore me, and understand that I care about them.

My plan,
1st to let them know I am attending to their needs, installing a wordpress blog with specific pages where certain questions can be addressed, commented on and answered.

2nd. Tell them why I haven't stayed in regular contact. (I have been building this directory since Aug of 2005.)

3rd. Make some small offers that can generate some income for myself and my family before Christmas.

(Even at 1% response, that would be a nice chunk on a 10 purchase.)

Maybe tell them about my write a review software. (Maybe run a dimesale or new special)

Make this list work for me the way it should.

I really would appreciate some of the people who have great responsive lists to give me suggestions.

I am not past offering article writing services, but worry about getting overloaded if I offer a service oriented product rather than a info learning or using product.


Thanks in advance to all of you who can help me set up a profitable plan that I can work on step by step to do this right this time.

Laurie
#27k #advice about list contact #advise #list #omg #plan
  • Profile picture of the author laurieslegends
    Why is no one responding to my questions. I really want some advice from those who have successful responsive lists.

    Laurie
    Signature
    http://lauriemademe.blogspot.com/
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[291964].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Eric Land
      Your plan sounds good to me

      Though i actually have never had a list so i really couldnt give you much advice
      Signature

      I am looking for ad swaps pm me if you are too!

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[291979].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Ken Preuss
    Laurie,

    1) When was the last time this list heard from you?

    2) Are these article authors who write in all different niches?

    3) Are you saying that you have 27k confirmed folks, all with current e-mail addresses?

    Ken
    Signature

    Coming soon for all you IM junkies... The Internet Daily Show

    A Secret to Success: Making serious money online or offline is not complex unto itself - we're the ones who complicate it. Simply sell them what they are already buying.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[291984].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Scott Million
    Interesting situation. You're doing the right thing by thinking this through before you start blasting the emails out...your first couple send outs will be critical.

    My thoughts...

    Start a blog immediately and throw up a couple of your best written articles on secrets/tips for your niche.

    Use your first couple of emails to send your list to your blog posts. Make sure they can comment easily.

    The goal here is to get them warmed up to you as fast as possible and blogs are great for that.

    Allowing interactivity and hitting them with awesome free content for a week or two will make them quickly forget how they got on your list in the first place.

    I would refrain from apologizing and explaining why you haven't contacted them before; if I received an email like that I'd opt-out.

    Instead, just start hitting them with awesome content and get them involved. After a week or two you should have no problem throwing in your own and affiliate promotions.

    Either way, think it through!

    You might even consider hiring someone to write the first few emails for you for a JV split or flat fee. I wouldn't mess around with an opportunity like this...

    EDIT: Oh, Yeah...Next Time, HAVE A PLAN BEFORE YOU BUILD A LIST!

    Scott
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[292007].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Steve Faber
      Originally Posted by Scott Million View Post


      I would refrain from apologizing and explaining why you haven't contacted them before; if I received an email like that I'd opt-out.

      Instead, just start hitting them with awesome content and get them involved. After a week or two you should have no problem throwing in your own and affiliate promotions.

      Either way, think it through!

      Scott
      I totally agree with Scott here. You need to give your first email a super compelling headline that really makes them want ot open it, weather they've heard from you recently or not. Concentrate on giving them value in the information, and they won't care if they've every heard fomr your before. They'll be looking forward to hearing from you again.

      Steve
      Signature
      For Killer Marketing Tips that Will Grow Your Business Follow Me on Twitter Now
      After all, you're probably following a few hundred people already that aren't doing squat for you.....
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[293300].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author laurieslegends
    Scott,

    That was part of my idea. Creating a wordpress FAQ for the directory, and adding some of my content to it.

    Yes it is 27 k of emails that had to be confirmed to submit articles to my directory. I am sure several will be bounced and cleaned out as no longer valid. Many use garbage emails for these purposes.

    But I have updated my signup page and will be systematically deleting articles from my directory from those who do unsubscribe.

    I also plan to do this to get rid of the automatic submissions, that are plain junk.

    As I will be going through these, I will personally email some who I believe have quality submitted.

    But, all in all, even if a tenth of those addresses aren't good, it is still a substancial list, and grows by about 100 every day. Now they must confirm both the script list and the autoresponse list to get their articles approved. This will set me a step above the other AD sites that are still out there.

    Once I can start getting some regular revenue, I do plan on updating the script on the site to a more interactive social network type article directory with lots of extra options for authors.

    Thanks for the advice.

    Laurie
    Signature
    http://lauriemademe.blogspot.com/
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[292082].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Scott Million
      Originally Posted by laurieslegends View Post

      Scott,

      That was part of my idea. Creating a wordpress FAQ for the directory, and adding some of my content to it.

      Yes it is 27 k of emails that had to be confirmed to submit articles to my directory. I am sure several will be bounced and cleaned out as no longer valid. Many use garbage emails for these purposes.

      But I have updated my signup page and will be systematically deleting articles from my directory from those who do unsubscribe.

      I also plan to do this to get rid of the automatic submissions, that are plain junk.

      As I will be going through these, I will personally email some who I believe have quality submitted.

      But, all in all, even if a tenth of those addresses aren't good, it is still a substancial list, and grows by about 100 every day. Now they must confirm both the script list and the autoresponse list to get their articles approved. This will set me a step above the other AD sites that are still out there.

      Once I can start getting some regular revenue, I do plan on updating the script on the site to a more interactive social network type article directory with lots of extra options for authors.

      Thanks for the advice.

      Laurie
      Laurie,

      If you're getting 100+ subscribers per day then here's what I would do if I were you.

      1) Hold off on emailing the 27,000 subscribers and have your new opt-ins go into a separate list (you can email both at anytime, but you'll need to segregate for this to work)

      2) Start a blog and throw up the awesome posts. Email your new subscribers with links to your awesome content.

      3) After your new subscribers have added comments THEN send emails to your 27K list. This way they'll see others already interacting with your content and be much more likely to interact and add their two cents.

      Good Luck!

      Scott
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[293234].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Ken Preuss
        Originally Posted by Scott Million View Post

        Laurie,

        If you're getting 100+ subscribers per day then here's what I would do if I were you.

        1) Hold off on emailing the 27,000 subscribers and have your new opt-ins go into a separate list (you can email both at anytime, but you'll need to segregate for this to work)

        2) Start a blog and throw up the awesome posts. Email your new subscribers with links to your awesome content.

        3) After your new subscribers have added comments THEN send emails to your 27K list. This way they'll see others already interacting with your content and be much more likely to interact and add their two cents.

        Good Luck!

        Scott
        I rarely say this to anyone on this forum. Really outstanding advice Scott.

        Segregating the two groups (old and new) and establishing some great content and comments is more than worth holding off on blasting the 27k folks right now.

        Remember Laurie that nothing grows until you plant seeds.

        I realize you want to plant those 27k seeds right now. But they are well past season.

        Before you plant them the ground will need extra watering and care. When you plant them after that they will bloom.

        Ken
        Signature

        Coming soon for all you IM junkies... The Internet Daily Show

        A Secret to Success: Making serious money online or offline is not complex unto itself - we're the ones who complicate it. Simply sell them what they are already buying.

        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[293285].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Lance K
        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
        That's a great idea, Scott.




        EDIT: Ken beat me to it. lol. He's absolutely right though!
        Signature
        "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
        ~ Zig Ziglar
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[293292].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author laurieslegends
    Laurie,

    1) When was the last time this list heard from you?

    2) Are these article authors who write in all different niches?

    3) Are you saying that you have 27k confirmed folks, all with current e-mail addresses?

    Ken
    1-- its been more than a year, more like a year and a half.
    2--Yes all the different niches in my directory, the only thing they have in common is they are promoting their sites through article marketing.
    3-- Like I said in the above post I am sure some are outdated or no good.

    However, I had a test message when I imported the list, and only had about 50 unsubscribes.

    Laurie
    Signature
    http://lauriemademe.blogspot.com/
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[292094].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author ryanjohan
    Banned
    [DELETED]
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[292202].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Jared Alberghini
      Originally Posted by ryanjohan View Post

      sweet! thats marketing at it's finest. keep up the good posts
      and that's trying to bump your post count at it's finest...

      at least try and be specific and add to the conversation if you must...

      - Jared
      Signature

      P.S.

      Join The Future: Telekinetic Marketing

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[292218].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Jared Alberghini
    If it's been over a year and a half, you need to finesse your list into warming back up to you...

    My best suggestion is to give them some valuable FREE stuff... that's the best way to warm your list up.

    Here's the definition of 'finesse' :

    1 : refinement or delicacy of workmanship, structure, or texture

    2 : skillful handling of a situation : adroit maneuvering

    3 : the withholding of one's highest card or trump in the hope that a lower card will take the trick because the only opposing higher card is in the hand of an opponent who has already played

    Thought that would help you...

    - Jared
    Signature

    P.S.

    Join The Future: Telekinetic Marketing

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[292213].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Chris Stigson
    Dude... This sounds dangerous to send out if they are not verified... Try not to mess up and get your ISP banned for spam... Just a thought.. I don't know the situation fully, but it CAN happen (been through this one

    Anyway, good luck and $27K is a good size list!

    Awesome,

    /Chris
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[292225].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author laurieslegends
    Well, I had more problems with that problem on the list they were on, and the autoresponse plus list that they are at now, has been established since 2002.

    They are both hosted on a quality hosting platform, with awesome support and remarkable understanding of the internet marketing forum, in fact I have been comunicating back and forth with the owner of this hosting company about the legistics of all this throughout the transformation process.

    He just informed me he believed that autoresponse plus was one of the best quality scripts available for autoresponders as far as he knows.

    I am sure they have seen plenty.

    I will let them know when I send out my first offer.

    Wondering, with your explanation above Jared,

    How often should I contact them within the first few weeks?

    Laurie
    Signature
    http://lauriemademe.blogspot.com/
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[292258].message }}

Trending Topics