How to get people to join your list

33 replies
Basically the question is in the title

But i have never had a list before.

At the moment i am building my first site that i am thinking about putting a list building soft ware on such as aweber or get response

But in your experiences whats the best way to get people to join you list?

Thanks

Eric
#join #list #people
  • Profile picture of the author Lambert Klein
    Give them something of value for free. Maybe a special report.
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  • Profile picture of the author Clark
    Write compelling content and your audience will find YOU.

    I know, it's a simple answer but it doesn't have to be complicated to be effective.

    Find your niche and your voice so folks can tune into your frequency.

    That of course is the "what" part of the question.
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    • Profile picture of the author Eric Land
      Well actually i was thinking about making a free report

      Because i see lots of people do that
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    • Profile picture of the author jireh
      Originally Posted by Clark View Post

      Write compelling content and your audience will find YOU.

      I know, it's a simple answer but it doesn't have to be complicated to be effective.

      Find your niche and your voice so folks can tune into your frequency.

      That of course is the "what" part of the question.
      You are absolutely right cause content is king. When you write a rich content website that over delivers to needs of your visitors, you geta book mark and you can easily get subscribers
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
    Hi Eric,

    Just wanted to make a quick point.

    Even if you are giving something away, you still need to write compelling copy.

    Also, make it easier for them to opt-in than it is to say no.

    All the best,
    Michael Oksa
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    • Profile picture of the author semmyw
      also you can used pop up or exit pop up to increase your optin rate
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    • Profile picture of the author esr
      Originally Posted by Michael Oksa View Post

      Hi Eric,

      Just wanted to make a quick point.

      Even if you are giving something away, you still need to write compelling copy.

      Also, make it easier for them to opt-in than it is to say no.

      All the best,
      Michael Oksa
      You made an interesting point, Michael. How exactly is that done? Making it easier for them to opt in than to NOT opt in?
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  • Profile picture of the author Eric Transue
    I just started building my list on my site and I chose to go with giving away a free ebook. I don't have much traffic to my site yet, but think I have offered a quality product that should kick my list into gear.
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    • Profile picture of the author Eric Land
      Originally Posted by xxpansion View Post

      I just started building my list on my site and I chose to go with giving away a free ebook. I don't have much traffic to my site yet, but think I have offered a quality product that should kick my list into gear.
      Hey guys first off let me just thank you all for helping out.

      But also i have been thinking about offering a free ebook should i write my own 10-20 page report on how to make money.

      Or can i simply just find one that is already offered on the internet and offer it to people?

      Im thinking if i were to join a list i would want a ebook written by the person though so i think i just answered my own question but whats ur guys input
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  • Profile picture of the author Jim Pearson
    Eric;

    Find a topic your excited, passionate about. This make it easier to produce good high quality copy quicker...Then start writing and filling up your site.

    In doing this you will come across many good topics for a free report/manual that you can give away to build a list of like minded individuals who are interested in your topic.
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    • Profile picture of the author Zaizen
      Give people 'FREE' graphics, article, webinar, report, software test etc.,.

      then, do something on ur list to keep them loyal

      all the best!!
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  • Profile picture of the author Mary Green
    I dont do much for list building right now, but I do join lists. The first reason I join is to get really good information. Give me good information, then ask me to join for more great info. Then as part of your list, keep me warm, ask my opinion, showing me things that would have to do with the niche we are in. That sort of stuff. Oh, and no B.S. or rehashed plr, people will unsubscribe asap.

    Mary
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  • Profile picture of the author jireh
    When it comes to building a list the best thing to do is create a rich content website that over delivers on the need of your visitors. This helps to build confidence and trust it can even lead to development friendship and therefore easy for your visitors to suscribe to your news letter.

    Remember that your news letters must also has good content and not just adverts. always come up with something new with each letter if possible.
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  • Profile picture of the author Stanley Tang
    The most basic method:

    Create a squeeze page with an optin fom and drive TONS of traffic to it
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  • Profile picture of the author Marian Berghes
    well building a list depends ALOT on the niche. Ex: you have an acne website, and your trying to build a list of "acne ppl"...you make a rich content website witch in order to attract some ppl you must solve something...you cant just go around things cus then they will get bored.

    Now, if you make your website rich of content what can you sell on the backend...I mean really...you cant sell them a very big product or a high ticket item because 1. you may gave too much info on your website in the first place 2. you cant cure acne in too many ways.

    So if your going for a niche like acne and stuff, a strong opt-in page with a good bribe and then an oto or upsell wil be enough.

    I recommend going the rich content way if your targeting niches like dieting or internet marketing where you can actually give ALOT of free info and still have ALOT to sell them.

    Content is king...but if you wanna make money out of it you first have to consider the market that you are into and study competition, see the amount of free info available etc...
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  • Profile picture of the author bannerdemers
    Any advice on a good autoresponder? do you have to subscribe to Ewen Chia's membership to use the monsterresponse?
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    • Profile picture of the author nick1123
      Originally Posted by bannerdemers View Post

      Any advice on a good autoresponder? do you have to subscribe to Ewen Chia's membership to use the monsterresponse?
      I use aweber and have no desire to switch to another service. It's $20 a month.

      To get people to opt in you need 2 things: traffic and conversions.

      Traffic is needed for obvious reasons.

      But not all traffic is equal.

      Try to get targeted traffic specific to your niche.
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    • Profile picture of the author Colorado Deb
      Originally Posted by bannerdemers View Post

      Any advice on a good autoresponder?
      I've used both Aweber and 1ShoppingCart (KickStartCart).

      Aweber is a stand-alone AR.

      The AR with 1SC is integrated with other software for selling your own products, automatic digital product delivery, and affiliate management, to name a few. You can start with just the AR and then add on each 'module' as you grow into it.

      They both have high email delivery rates (approx. 95% for unverified email and 99% for double-optin/verified email) and good customer service, which is a key if you are paying for an AR.
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  • Profile picture of the author hopippy
    Give a compelling report.
    Set a number of members you will take.
    Write statement like "Join early if not the price will increase".
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    • Profile picture of the author marcanthony
      I find that a more violent approach works best - like holding them at gun point and resiting this line:

      "Join my list or else..."

      All jokes aside... here are two things that work:

      1. A video on your squeeze page that presents your offer (without trying to blatantly sale it)

      2. A solid offer driven headline supported by a free giveaway
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  • Profile picture of the author JOhnny Depth
    1. Give a free e book.
    2. Mention it on a contest that you are having.
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  • Profile picture of the author Aaron Tan
    Free information in the form of Report, Mini-Courses, Softwares would be good to entice them to fill in their name and email.

    As long as it is information this market is "hungry" for....

    It is a really good move from you to decide to build a list.

    This is where you would really see your profits "grow exponentially" in the days to come.

    However, do remember that you don't just want a "normal" list..

    You would want a "buyers" list....

    I suppose end of the day.....we want to create a win-win situation to both your subcribers and your own pocket.
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  • Profile picture of the author lgibbon
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    Originally Posted by cires123 View Post

    Basically the question is in the title

    But i have never had a list before.

    At the moment i am building my first site that i am thinking about putting a list building soft ware on such as aweber or get response

    But in your experiences whats the best way to get people to join you list?

    Thanks

    Eric
    Well to start with you'll need to have something to offer your potential subscriber to entice them to sign up.
    A newsletter or course would be ideal.
    If you can't write them yourself you can usually find something worthwhile
    in the WSO forum.
    Tracie Johansen has numerous courses which might suit your niche.

    Then you need to get some traffic to your squeeze page.
    You can join sites such as Subscription Rocket or Advertising Knowhow
    which use your thank you pages to build credits and have your course or newsletter advertised on other members thank you pages.

    Another option is to use a script like Listspawner which, if you have something attractive you can give away, you can get others to build your list for you.
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    • Profile picture of the author Eric Land
      Originally Posted by lgibbon View Post

      Well to start with you'll need to have something to offer your potential subscriber to entice them to sign up.
      A newsletter or course would be ideal.
      If you can't write them yourself you can usually find something worthwhile
      in the WSO forum.
      Tracie Johansen has numerous courses which might suit your niche.

      Then you need to get some traffic to your squeeze page.
      You can join sites such as Subscription Rocket or Advertising Knowhow
      which use your thank you pages to build credits and have your course or newsletter advertised on other members thank you pages.

      Another option is to use a script like Listspawner which, if you have something attractive you can give away, you can get others to build your list for you.
      List spawner looks like a very good idea

      Even if you gave it away for free and asked the people to give referrals for free it still probably would work.
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    • Profile picture of the author Eric Land
      Originally Posted by lgibbon View Post

      Well to start with you'll need to have something to offer your potential subscriber to entice them to sign up.
      A newsletter or course would be ideal.
      If you can't write them yourself you can usually find something worthwhile
      in the WSO forum.
      Tracie Johansen has numerous courses which might suit your niche.

      Then you need to get some traffic to your squeeze page.
      You can join sites such as Subscription Rocket or Advertising Knowhow
      which use your thank you pages to build credits and have your course or newsletter advertised on other members thank you pages.

      Another option is to use a script like Listspawner which, if you have something attractive you can give away, you can get others to build your list for you.
      Hey thanks for the link to Tracie Johansen page that looks great i didnt no that people did stuff like this.
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  • Profile picture of the author Nathan Denton
    The best way to try and "make" visitors subscribe is to offer them something of extreme value up front, no strings attached. If you can create an enticing free offer which adds value many visitors simply wont say no.
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    Online marketing, offline marketing and various other things.
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  • Profile picture of the author esr
    Everyone says that, offer something of value, etc. etc.

    I just started a niche blog this week. According to my Google Analytics, I've had 54 unique hits as of yesterday. I offer a free report in PDF format that is directly related to my niche.

    And not ONE subscriber!

    I mean, I seriously wondered if something was wrong with my Aweber account. Not ONE subscriber after 54 uniques? How is this possible?

    Call me dumb because I know as well as anyone how important having a list is, but I'm just about to give up on list building because I'm not having any success with it.

    (Bitter, party of one?)
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    • Profile picture of the author Alibubble
      Originally Posted by esr View Post

      Everyone says that, offer something of value, etc. etc.

      I just started a niche blog this week. According to my Google Analytics, I've had 54 unique hits as of yesterday. I offer a free report in PDF format that is directly related to my niche.

      And not ONE subscriber!

      I mean, I seriously wondered if something was wrong with my Aweber account. Not ONE subscriber after 54 uniques? How is this possible?

      Call me dumb because I know as well as anyone how important having a list is, but I'm just about to give up on list building because I'm not having any success with it.

      (Bitter, party of one?)
      If you are going to give up after a week then you will never succeed in list building or pretty much anything that requires work.

      Just because you got 54 uniques and no subscribers doesn't mean that you should give up.

      Your conversions are bad. That's it. Find a way to make people want to subscribe and not get distracted by the other content on the blog. You have to decide what you want more:

      Subscribers or blog readers.
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    • Profile picture of the author Razvan Rovinaru
      Originally Posted by esr View Post

      Everyone says that, offer something of value, etc. etc.

      I just started a niche blog this week. According to my Google Analytics, I've had 54 unique hits as of yesterday. I offer a free report in PDF format that is directly related to my niche.

      And not ONE subscriber!

      I mean, I seriously wondered if something was wrong with my Aweber account. Not ONE subscriber after 54 uniques? How is this possible?

      Call me dumb because I know as well as anyone how important having a list is, but I'm just about to give up on list building because I'm not having any success with it.

      (Bitter, party of one?)
      Just having a report that is directly related to your niche doesn't mean your readers are actually interested in reading it. Like I said in the post above, you have to find a topic that is asked/searched a lot in your niche and write a report about that. There has to be demand for the offer to present interest from readers.

      Even so, 54 visitors is very little traffic. You need to generate much more than that to be able to make a correct idea regarding opt in conversions.
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      • Profile picture of the author esr
        Originally Posted by Razvan Rovinaru View Post

        Even so, 54 visitors is very little traffic. You need to generate much more than that to be able to make a correct idea regarding opt in conversions.

        Really? See, I used to have an online business way back in the "old days" of the internet, from 1996 to 2001. I was actually pretty well respected back then. People knew my name.

        I had no trouble at all building a list and making money from it on a steady basis. Back then, 54 hits would've meant about 50 subscribers.

        Fast forward to 2008. Everything has changed, A LOT. Web 2.0. I'm reading and learning as fast as I can, but the one thing that is eluding me is building that list. I've been at this since last May, and as embarrassed as I am to admit it, I've gotten a total of 7 subscibers in the last six months.

        I won't give up, but it felt good to vent. I did it before and I WILL do it again. =)
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        • Profile picture of the author jjpmarketing
          Use tracking to know your optin rate... and put multiple methods for people to opt in. I have a blog with an opt in form in the header, on the side bar, and as a one time only fly in. I get opt ins from all 3 locations.

          Oddly enough the fly in, and the header opt in form seem to perform the best.
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  • Profile picture of the author babarapho
    People like to get free things. Create valuable things e.g videos, e-books etc and give away at no cost. Before time your traffic will skyrocket.
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  • Profile picture of the author Razvan Rovinaru
    It's all about the offer. Provide quality content, reports, ebooks, software etc and people will more than gladly join your list.

    Find sites in your niche with opt-in forms and notice how they capture leads.

    A quick way to come up with a great report that will interest your readers greatly would be to find forums in your niche, and see what people are talking about, what problems they have - what they need help with.

    Then, write a report based on the questions you found - practically answer those questions people in your niche are so interested in finding a solution for.

    After the report is finished, add an opt-in form to your site and give that report away for free in exchange for their email.
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