Building a List Is Very Valuable

[ryanmacca]

A lot of people underestimate the value of building a list. I am still learning the value and learning how to turn my list into a money making machine.

Consider this.

Tyler Cruz makes $1-$3/RSS Subscriber per month (and email subscribers are at least this valuable) and he has 2,000 subscribers

John Chow makes $1 per RSS subscriber per month and he has 40,000 subscribers.

There is a lot of money to be made. If you have just 10,000 newsletter subscribers you can easily make $100,000/year.

I currently have over 600 newsletter subscribers and am learning and attempting to implement ways I can earn $1/month per subscriber.

Here is the best way to get subscribers

GIVE AWAY A FREE EBOOK!!!

Giving away a free ebook and asking for people's first name and email address is the easiest way to get subscribers. Then market your product in forums in your niche. I have gotten 400 subscribers in the last 2 weeks....not bad seeing as it took me 2 years to get 200 subscribers.

So write a free ebook and give it away and start making money from subscribers.

[Suthan M]

Hi Ryan,

I agree, building list is actually very profitable indeed, but it also depends on the quality of subs.

If they are only freebie seekers, it aint worth anything.

Test whether the list actually pays you to keep.

[radhika]

Profitable only when you do these things consistently:

1. Promoting the list
2. KEEPING CONSTANT CONTACT WITH YOUR SUBSCRIBERS
3. Knowing your list and promoting exactly what they want to buy

.

[maxhomebits]

People have so much choice nowadays, so its important to give your subscribers valuable content, free ebooks and reports if promoted in the right way can build your list, but i think a lot of marketers will agree that you need to have a solid reputation. For sure having a list can earn you a lot of cash, but only if you use it the right way

[MichaelPaul]

I agree, list building should be your main focus... I use to always chase after that initial sale...

Until, I figured out that all the money is on the back end (in the follow up)...

It's good to make money on the front as well, but for me I will give up that front end sale just to get them on my list by giving something away for free like a report, case study, video or something...

I know that once there on my list I can make money from them multiple times...

To Your Success,

Michael Paul

[Doug Simons]

How about the 7 dollar script idea sell something of greater value for $7 and let the person who bought it sell it as many times as they can for $7 but have the people register the product with you. I believe that is a great way to build your list. You can also have a back end on it and make some money there. Here's the guys link. If you see his script below, I have just replaced the example with my pay pal email and i would automatically get paid instantly if you were to buy from this link. Hey its a great motivator for me and i think it would be great for anyone else also.

http://www.7dollarsecrets.com/?e=sal...glassimons.com

[TLTheLiberator]

Originally Posted by Doug Simons

How about the 7 dollar script idea sell something of greater value for $7 and let the person who bought it sell it as many times as they can for $7 but have the people register the product with you. I believe that is a great way to build your list. You can also have a back end on it and make some money there. Here's the guys link. If you see his script below, I have just replaced the example with my pay pal email and i would automatically get paid instantly if you were to buy from this link. Hey its a great motivator for me and i think it would be great for anyone else also.

http://www.7dollarsecrets.com/?e=sal...glassimons.com

That tactic only works if you're operating in the "how to make money" niche and yes list building is probably the most important online business activity.

But first things first.

Once someone learns how to slap up any type of page and get visitors to that page on command they can write their own ticket.

TL

[Tyson Faulkner]

This is the same thing I have been learning as well. By having a list you can guarantee (well, almost) yourself free targeted traffic whenever you need it. Just send out an email blast and your off!

However, it's not quite this simple. No one will listen to you if you don't build some rapport with those that subscribe.

I do think that giving away a free ebook can be a great way to build a list, I would think something that you write yourself would be better than just rehashed resell rights. If you write the ebook yourself, people will feel like they are getting to know you by reading your words. Any connection that you can make with your subscribers is a plus.

Plus if you write it yourself you can be SURE that it's top-notch information, and that it will be worth your visitors time for opting in.

[Troy McDonald]

I believe that too many people underestimate list building. I know a lot of people that focus on SEO, when their time would be better spent on list building.

I turn a profit and they are still "SEO-ing" to this day.

P.S. I'm all for SEO, but straight SEO, I've seen not work out more often than not, and it can be short term.

[Doug Simons]

true very true

[dsmpublishing]

Have you thought about using giveaway events. it can add 100+ a week to your list easily!

[Sarah Johnson]

I agree that list building is a very important component of being successful at Internet Marketing. I recently read "Web Copy That Sells" by Maria Veloso and came upon a section about list building. According to Maria, "Relationship marketing is at the very heart of all e-commerce." Building relationships is vital to a successful online business. I think the bottom line is to keep your list happy...send them quality material and don't always try and sell them products, give them freebies too.

~Mrs. Johnson

[gopaldev]

Having a list of subscribers you can contact at anytime and keep informed with regards to your business is such a powerful tool. Obviously it takes time to build and you really need to keep people on your list and interested, which requires a lot of hard work. Provide useful information and do so in a relaxed manner, always avoiding over the top sales pitches and useless hype. There are so many people pitching so many things online, your potential audience has heard and seen it all already...numerous times. Best,

[Troy McDonald]

100% Sarah.

The relationship with your list is very important.

The better relationship, the better the open rate, the better the open rate, the likelihood of an increase in conversions.

You can't sell if they don't want to open. And for sure, if all you do is sell, they probably don't want to open.

Originally Posted by Sarah Johnson

I agree that list building is a very important component of being successful at Internet Marketing. I recently read "Web Copy That Sells" by Maria Veloso and came upon a section about list building. According to Maria, "Relationship marketing is at the very heart of all e-commerce." Building relationships is vital to a successful online business. I think the bottom line is to keep your list happy...send them quality material and don't always try and sell them products, give them freebies too.

~Mrs. Johnson

[ryanmacca]

John Chow just wrote a post of how valuable it is to have a list. Check it out by going to How I Made Over ,000 In One Day | John Chow dot Com
This has definately encouraged me to keep building my list and I hope it encourages you too

[ryanmacca]

If John Chow can make $4,000 in one day then by golly I can make $4,000 in one month.
I know I can do it....I will do it.

May will be my month where I will earn $4,000 in one month.

[elliot]

Building a list has been tough for me, im really starting to concentrate on writing my own ebook, but a question first, A free product would increase your list probably more than a paid one, but if you do charge for your product, wont that list be a list of buyers, whereas the free product idea might get you a list of freebie seekers?.

Is that true?.

[Samuel Lee]

Some great posts, and I agree totally Ryanmaccca, free E-books and Reports are definitely the way to go! By having an emailing list you can pretty much guarantee yourself a great stream of free targeted traffic whenever you need it.

I do think you have to build up some rapport first with your subscribers, by emailing them free ebook sources opportunities then moving into payable products (if that's your goal).

The ebooks that tend to work in my experience are the ones that you write yourself that caters to your subscribers needs directly, (building traffic for one!) If you write the material yourself, you know it's going to be good quality!

[COLDKALL]

How effective is it to spend hundreds on adwords just to give away a free ebook or have people sing up for your newsletter?

[dlyn]

How often do you recommend responding to you list?

[Dexx]

I think the thing with lists is you need to have a niche that constantly can benefit from new products and recommendations.

I currently have a decent list in the weight loss niche, and you can only recommend so many "new" weight loss information books and products before it just seems like "hey, you should buy this book this time, since the last 4 I recommended didn't seem to do the trick"


I think you need a list where they are constantly working to improve on themselves or something else: hobbies, self help, financial gain (business, stocks, etc.)

[moran711]

If you are trying to build a list , try selling an med - low end PLR ebook on whatever niche you are using. Sell it small. Try 4.95 or 9.95. That way you know , your subscriber is someone who isn't looking for freebies

[Michael Nguyen]

Which is why "make money online" niche is the best people are always looking for ways to make money.

I'm in the gambling niche and I'm aiming to slowly bring them into the MMO niche. I've built a list of 35 subscribers in 6 days (most by adwords though) I really do need to get my articles approved to see more results though.

Originally Posted by Dexx

I think the thing with lists is you need to have a niche that constantly can benefit from new products and recommendations.

I currently have a decent list in the weight loss niche, and you can only recommend so many "new" weight loss information books and products before it just seems like "hey, you should buy this book this time, since the last 4 I recommended didn't seem to do the trick"


I think you need a list where they are constantly working to improve on themselves or something else: hobbies, self help, financial gain (business, stocks, etc.)

[Dexx]

Oh agreed, gamblers are risk takers looking for big pay offs for little investment, not to mention the adrenaline rush of it all.

I think you take that type of personality and show them any sort of ways to make money and they'll go for it!

That and entrepreneurs are always good for buying stuff for possible big pay outs

[jimmorris]

Hey Ryan,

That's HOW I started my first list (a free ebook)!

In fact, it was an 8 part fully stocked course with videos and drawn
out over a bunch of days (I shoulda sold it now that I think about it).

I released it in 2005 and got 6,500 subscribers on the course.

More importantly, the affiliate links inside the course (because it
was free and valuable data at the time) made me over $20,000
in commissions over a few months with a mailing list to boot!

Now, you say give away a FREE EBOOK -- that's all good.

But I learned something recently with my little puppy dog I got:

My Wolf Dog Juno ?

I realized that the TASTIER the treat, the better my little doggie
would listen, pay attention and do EXACTLY what I wanted her
to do (muhahahahah).

So you really can't just say, okay, I'm gonna give away a FREE book.

It's NOT that easy I tell ya!

You've gotta put it through the Puppy Treat Test (PTT for short).

Ask yourself, if someone were interested in the information in that
free ebook you have, and the visitor read your information about
the contents, HOW TASTY of a treat would it be?

If the treat is not tasty enough, find SOME WAY to make it tastier.

Make sense?

Spruce up the title, add videos, talk about the secretive data you will
give away, you get the point.

You want to get the TREAT on your website for your visitors to a
point where just the appearance or the title of the ebook or whatever
explanation makes the visitor SALIVATE after consuming your teaser
copy.

A free ebook is not just like a GOLDEN PRIZE to anyone anymore because
a LOT of people are doing it.

So the real impact to the visitor from the title of the ebook, along with the promised information in the squeeze page is what collectively creates the
most intense state of WANTING desire. (Okay Jim, are here to seduce
a woman because you ARE a married man!)

Anyways, if you want to see what I believe is one of my BEST squeeze pages that gets that DESIRE up, check it out below because this page converts at 50% (but now you are going to screw up my stats) -- but I wanna help people out so screw it...

MyOptInPage.com

Gotta go get ready to go do some boarding in Tahoe up in Heavenly!

[ohgworld]

Yes, I very much agree ... Listbuilding is very important, and is a major part of having success or not ... however, the lists have to be maintained, and should not be 'overused'.

[ryanmacca]

Originally Posted by elliot

Building a list has been tough for me, im really starting to concentrate on writing my own ebook, but a question first, A free product would increase your list probably more than a paid one, but if you do charge for your product, wont that list be a list of buyers, whereas the free product idea might get you a list of freebie seekers?.

Is that true?.

This is definately true. That is where you need to toss things up. It is good to have both. Build up your free list first (it gives you credibility) and then build up your paid list.
The good thing about paid lists is that people will market your product for you. Because they get a commission they will work hard to market your product. Then you reap the rewards by building a list full of buyers.

Even if you made no money per sale but each time got one buyer added to your list it would be worth it in the long run.

in conclusion....do both

[Earl Smith]

I say this applies to anything you have on your site. I have a site that provides video advertising, logo and graphic design, music composing and beats, and here soon clothing. and on every page I give away something.

Videos i have a effects package, button package for the logos and graphic page, and 2 songs and 2 beats for the music page i give away all with resale rights if you are truely creative and really plan on being around for a while do this.

By giving away a sample of what you have to offer gives your potential clients confidence that you are serious about your work.

[Michael Nguyen]

not sure if you can...... but do you send a paid customer to another opt in box so they go to the paid list ? How do you do this with aweber ?

[ryanmacca]

Originally Posted by michael_nguyen

not sure if you can...... but do you send a paid customer to another opt in box so they go to the paid list ? How do you do this with aweber ?

Well I know that you can automatically have someone unsubscribed from your freebie list when they subscribe to your paid list. Though I don't know if you can automatically sign them up to a paid list....This I am still learning
Part of the reason why I want to do Yaro's Blog Mastermind course

[Troy McDonald]

In aweber, go to:

My Lists > Automation

in order to move them from one list to another.

---------------

Getrespones also have a move from list to another feature.

---------------

AutoResponse Plus has this feature too.

Originally Posted by michael_nguyen

not sure if you can...... but do you send a paid customer to another opt in box so they go to the paid list ? How do you do this with aweber ?

[ryanmacca]

Originally Posted by Troy McDonald

In aweber, go to:

My Lists > Automation

in order to move them from one list to another.

---------------

Getrespones also have a move from list to another feature.

---------------

AutoResponse Plus has this feature too.

Thanks for the info and help. Really grateful.
I really really really need to learn more about this because there is so much money to be made if you do this properly

[eagleeye]

Yes, I agree that building a list can be very valuable. But you can't just build a list and start slamming them right away with offer after offer. If you do they will scroll to the bottom of your email and click that unsubscribe link so fast you won't know what hit you.

You need to build trust and credibility with your subs first before you can expect them to start spending their hard earned money with you. Start out by giving away good quality content for free. Do this for several emails first.

It would be nice if you had a product that you produced yourself that would help make you look like an expert in the niche you're promoting. This would help in building credibility.

Once you gain their trust then you can slowly start sending them offers but make sure they are only top notch offers related to your niche. Don't promote some useless junk just so you can make a buck or your subs will unsubscribe.

They opted in to your newsletter because you had something they were interested in so keep giving them good content. If you keep doing this the money will come eventually.

Later,
Jeff Sargent

[Stu784]

Hi all,

I'm pretty new to the IM game and understand that the "money is in the list".

Can anyone recommend a good website where I can obtain targeted email lists from (I'm interested in any and all but for now specifically gambling)? I've come across many sites; some have been alerted to scam sites like Rip Off Report and some want to charge thousands for a small mailing.

Also any recommendations on desktop mailing software would be appreciated (I've tried mailboy but it doesn't seem to work and their constantly working on it to no avail). I'm trying this way until I make enough sales to introduce an autoresponder (I'm just been tight really and don't wnat to pay the monthly fees yet ).

I have however put together a product for poker players teaching them how to make money from poker tournaments, been one myself I understand how to play the game on a winning level and have read plenty of material from the named pros you see on TV. If anyone with a gambling list would be interested in a JV I'd be more than happy to do a 50/50 split. One of the biggest benefits I've covered in this product is "what hands to play and when" which I've noticed this is probably the main questions asked in the poker forums. Please PM me if interested.

[Nitro]

I just learned some techniques on building a list. I'm still new to IM but hopefully I can build up a decent list with a free ebook. If anyone has any additional tips when building a list, i'd love to hear them.

[RandyW32]

Interesting thread! Thank you for giving me insight on this topic!

[coreytucker]

I have heard that giving away a free ebook is a great way to build a list. I know alot of people say that you want buyers on your list but I have also heard from many that you can convert these freebie seekers to buyers.

I have a list of right under 200 double opt in's right now, I just started building this list arounf 2 weeks ago. Im have 20-30 new double opt in's coming in every day!

Yea its not that great but im giving away a free guide related to my niche and getting around a 50% opt in rate for my free guide. So far I have not tried to make a sale on my list but my first offer is coming up in a day or so. So far I have sent around 6 emails that have just been helpful and im getting a 70-80% open rate which is great.

So I guess I will find out if I can convert these freebie seekers to buyers, I think my first offer will be a ebook in the niche and I will price it at perhaps $2.99 just to test the waters and convert some of my freebie seekers to buyers

[ryanmacca]

Originally Posted by Stu784

Hi all,

I'm pretty new to the IM game and understand that the "money is in the list".

Can anyone recommend a good website where I can obtain targeted email lists from (I'm interested in any and all but for now specifically gambling)? I've come across many sites; some have been alerted to scam sites like Rip Off Report and some want to charge thousands for a small mailing.

Also any recommendations on desktop mailing software would be appreciated (I've tried mailboy but it doesn't seem to work and their constantly working on it to no avail). I'm trying this way until I make enough sales to introduce an autoresponder (I'm just been tight really and don't wnat to pay the monthly fees yet ).

I have however put together a product for poker players teaching them how to make money from poker tournaments, been one myself I understand how to play the game on a winning level and have read plenty of material from the named pros you see on TV. If anyone with a gambling list would be interested in a JV I'd be more than happy to do a 50/50 split. One of the biggest benefits I've covered in this product is "what hands to play and when" which I've noticed this is probably the main questions asked in the poker forums. Please PM me if interested.

DONT BUY SOMEONE ELSES LIST!!!
I cannot stress this enough, it is not worth it. You will pay heaps and then lose a lot of money

Use aweber to devliver emails. It is really cheap ($19/month for up to 500 leads) and they are great at getting through people's spam filters. Most of the home office email stuff gets caught in spam filters when dealing with a lot of emails.

Aweber is far above the rest. You can check it out at Email Marketing Software, Email Newsletters and Autoresponders by AWeber if you want to

To build a list give something away for free. You mentioned knowing how to make money from poker. Well make a free report about it (don't give them all the info so you can sell an ebook later) and promote it in your signature in the poker/gambling forums. DO THIS and you should get a growing list fast

[dean_holland]

Hey...

Yes build the list.. Of Course ... **BUT**

Its the relationship you have with your subscibers that will make the difference between some beer money and some SERIOUS cash !

You have to constantly over deliver ...

Remember each number in your autoresponder list is an actual person... That persona joined your list not just because you offered a free gift but because they believe YOU may be the one to help them live a better life

Dont get them on the list to sell.. sell.. sell !! Grow your list to help the people on there and it will pay !

Dean

[Stu784]

DONT BUY SOMEONE ELSES LIST!!!
I cannot stress this enough, it is not worth it. You will pay heaps and then lose a lot of money

I've paid so far about $30 which has given me access to a members area where 20 - 30K opt in email addresses get added each week from various partners. This is a life time membership. I did my due diligence and found no complaints.

Use aweber to devliver emails. It is really cheap ($19/month for up to 500 leads) and they are great at getting through people's spam filters. Most of the home office email stuff gets caught in spam filters when dealing with a lot of emails.

I spoke to Aweber last night (live chat) and they won't let me import the opt in lists I have totalling so far over 100K. They said I have to use lists where people have opted in to me. I check out a couple of other sites like "Getresponse", "Salesautomater" etc and I decided to try "Big Response".

Big Response offer for $10 per month on a pay as you go basis a 500 mail blast (other options available) and I can import the lists I have. I tried this out last night on their free trial, which allows me to send 100 mails and it actually provided me with statistics and cleaned the list I used. Out of 100 it confirmed 89 and bounced back 11 which I deleted. I think I may give this a go for a few months.

To build a list give something away for free.

This is what Im doing, to; A) drill down these lists into my own more targeted optin lists, B) get people to "Raise Their hands" and C) any money I make I plan to put back some of it into sendng out more emails per month as well as other campaigns.

I'm doing this by offering freebies. My plan then is to offer "freebie" vs "product offer" on a 10-1 basis so I give alot of incomplete content building up to my offer.

As I gain these targeted leads I'll probably use them for JV's and stuff later but I'm not quite there yet.


I've been teraing my hair out for the last week trying to find one of these desktop mailing software programs (one I've used was Mailboy) and the lists I used just bounced back. With "Big Response" 89% of the emails from the list I used were successfully sent according to the statitics page.
Before I commit money has anyone used "Big Response" and what was your experience with them?


Wow didn't mean to type so much.

[Stu784]

You mentioned knowing how to make money from poker. Well make a free report about it (don't give them all the info so you can sell an ebook later) and promote it in your signature in the poker/gambling forums.

Oh yeah, thanks for the advice here I'm currently watching a couple now.
Have a look at my website opt in page: http:FREE Poker Tips & the main sales page is http:Untitled Document

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated

And if anyone wants to buy it it would even more appreciated.

Cheers.

[Stu784]

Try to align your page in the center. The words on the right side are out of view.

When I open it I can see the page ok, slightly off center buy no words on the right hand side are cut out.

[wizzard2009]

Granted a list is valuable. But customer satisfaction is even more valuable. Don't just try to build a massive list of names. Sure you got 100,000 names but how many of them are buyers? Use your small list, give your customers more than what they expected, keep them happy and let them use word of mouth to their friends to build that list.

[Yskho]

Few years back , Giving away ebooks can have op-in rate of more than 50% ... but it's getting hard now. As my experience, free softwares is much more effective than ebooks nowsaday ...

[DavidSaaf]

List Building is an ART.. it's not 1 + 1 = 2
You need to test what works for you and what you should avoid doing..
> So building a list is one thing and turn it into money is totally an other topic.

[Alminc]

Building a list just seems to be simple, but it is not.
And it is absolutelly not the first step in internet marketing.

Before you can start building your list of subscribers you must have
already created several products and you must already know how to drive massive targeted traffic to your squeeze page.

First you need to own at least one so-called 'self liquidating' product that you can give away (offering 'self liquidating' product means that the product is actually worth $97 but you sell it for $7 or give it away in exchange for email address, no-brainer product).

Then you even need at least 2 back end products ( also no-brainers, high value for bargain price) to sell in order to cover your traffic generation expences. If you can break even you are good, because you can pay for quality traffic (or for SEO work to get good position in google) that builds your list AND pays your traffic expences.

So I would say that building profitable, targeted list is doable first after you have developed your own products and after you know how to drive traffic.

Give away events subscribers are freebie seekers and thus almost worthless.
Coreg subscribers are totally non-responsive and thus worthless.
Purchased leads are the dark side of the business and NOT recommended.

Only if people are really interested in your 'secrets' and therefore subscribe to your list in order to get more info you can sell to them.

[TimRobinson]

I find JV's are by far the best way to build your list, just asking around sending people free copies of your products to see if they are interested and perhaps would like to promote them to their list as a free product with an upsell it awesome

[DavidSaaf]

Yes JVs is one powerful way to get targeted members in a short time!! Cross-promotion also is very effective..

[Stu784]

Originally Posted by wizzard2009

Granted a list is valuable. But customer satisfaction is even more valuable. Don't just try to build a massive list of names. Sure you got 100,000 names but how many of them are buyers? Use your small list, give your customers more than what they expected, keep them happy and let them use word of mouth to their friends to build that list.

The 100K names is just an opt in list from a membership site . They add new lists each week. The data is collected from their partners opt in list and sing up lists where people say they are happy to receive stuff from people.

I'm looking for the best way to start email marketing to these lists (which as I'm a life member) will keep growing.

If the site I got these lists from is a scam then I haven't lost alot. Have any of you come across before; it it's free-leads dot net.

[ryanmacca]

This has turned out to be an awesome thread.
I got this great email from one of my subscribers yesterday

Hey Ryan, I wanted to send you some positive feedback on your message. Recently I have been unsubscribing from a lot of "Guru's" email lists because they never actually send anything worthwhile, they basically just use crafty tactics to get me to open the email and then try to ram stuff down my throat.

Anyway your message in this one was totally cool, I've read mountains of IM info and this one pressed the right buttons. It's about building that rapport now and making people feel like they matter. You told a cool story, it contained interest and valuable information, and your plan to send something cool every week is perfect. As a result of all this, I'm much more likely to open your next message than Frank Kern telling me it's really important or bad news or some other load of bull.

I'd like to send you a free copy of my eBook which normally sells for $27. It's 330 pages and is a serious work on entrepreneurship. Maybe you've even heard of it? "Alex Newman's Complete Guide To Making Money While You Sleep." I'm not trying to sell you anything here, or bait-n-switch you into another product. I've just got something that I'm really proud of, want to get it out there and think you will really like it. It goes pretty deep. Let me know if you'd like a copy and I'll attach it as a PDF.

Best regards,

Your continued subscriber!