Its ALL in the List???

31 replies
Hello Warriors,

I started in the IM world by getting into a giveaway. I got a few subscribers (like 30) and from there, promoted offers, gave gifts, and managed to get up enough money to run a solo ad. This ad brought me another 100 subscribers, and together with another 3 giveaways i took part in, i now have a list of about 200 subscribers, all in about 2 months.

I have not had one single sale of anything i've promoted for almost 2 weeks now. My list has almost completely stopped growing (0-2 subs a day if im lucky). I've read numerous list building pdfs, received lots of useful advice, and tried implementing ideas to no avail.

I've branched out into offline marketing, trying to sell mobile optimized websites to local businesses. I started with picking businesses that had existing websites, but no mobile version. I made a couple of mobile sites for them, and called them with instruction to check out my mobile site i made for them, and if they want to buy it, its theirs.

The offline stuff is a no brainer, my biggest problem is getting a chance to speak to businesses in person(im about 120 miles away from any REAL city). Thats a whole different story.

Back to the list building... I recently joined yet another giveaway, got an upgrade, and have text ads and gifts all pointing to my opt in page. I also got in on some free advertising, and spent like 200 dollars on facebook ads.

I'm following the guides and books about how to build my list... but it just isnt happening....

Any advice?

Thanks,

Joshua
#ads #building #free #hard #list
  • Profile picture of the author FromBrokeToRich
    Honestly to not see any sales in 200 leads is not terribly uncommon. There are many factors to consider when expecting sales to come in from your list. Is what you are trying to sell them congruent with the lead capture page they entered your marketing funnel from? How is the quality of the product you are trying to sell? What is the price point? Are you promoting multiple affiliate offers or just focusing on selling one thing?

    Either way don't stop at just 200 leads to see any results. You need to keep plugging away and grow your list bigger before you jump to any conclusions.
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  • Profile picture of the author marketingwithjosh
    I got them to opt in with a list building pdf. I get list building stuff, read over it, and send it (free or not) to my list.

    My question is, what else can i do?

    i got a 5iphon thing going now as well....

    just keep on doing giveaways and free ads?
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  • Profile picture of the author Mohammed Hammad2
    Did you focus on having a relationship with that list of yours first before promoting anything?

    Try to interact with them first and asking them what are their questions and what do they need.

    My favorite formula in any niche is

    C>S>C>C>P

    which is Content > Survey > Content > Content > Pitch.

    I send them valuable high quality content then I survey them and then keep on giving content two more time before pitching them.

    The trick here is when you survey them, they will feel bonded to you and will feel special even if you didn't send that information that they wanted.

    Now you will observe the results of the survey after some time and change the content thus making it more optimized for your subscribers.
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  • Profile picture of the author World Marketing
    Providing value and good content like midmido said is key to a successful list. Promoting products should be at the right time but only when you have provided them with enough free information to grab onto. The key thing in list building and making money from your list is providing value, trust and credibility.
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  • Profile picture of the author zamzung
    I would say the problem is in your traffic... giveaway events rarely put some valuable members on my list... you should use traditional traffic building methods and point them to your squeeze page... offer a pretty good incentive and keep on traffic building...

    Also, you don't need to have a list of million subscribers... one of my 350 members list produce me more money than 5000 members list...
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    • Profile picture of the author Coby
      Originally Posted by zamzung View Post

      I would say the problem is in your traffic... giveaway events rarely put some valuable members on my list... you should use traditional traffic building methods and point them to your squeeze page... offer a pretty good incentive and keep on traffic building...

      Also, you don't need to have a list of million subscribers... one of my 350 members list produce me more money than 5000 members list...
      I disagree with the giveaway traffic being portrayed as "poor" traffic...

      I have multiple lists in multiple autoresponders that are in the 5 figures...

      Several of my subscribers have come from both participating in and hosting giveaway events of numerous sizes...

      If you educate the subscribers and build a relationship with them - it doesn't matter how they got on your list...

      We all started out as freebie seekers until we come across someone that changed it for us... You can be that person to your list and if you are then they will never forget the guy/gal that helped them make their first dollar and they will be a loyal customer for a long time...

      Okay - now to address the question of the OP...

      I often tell my students to not stress about making sales until they have at least 1,000 people on their list...

      Now, if you had 200 buyers (rather than freebie seekers) and you weren't make sales there might be an issue...

      But if you have a freebie list - then don't worry - any sales made are just a bonus... but don't let that stop you from promoting - you need to get into the habit of promoting.

      Just keep building your list - it's big enough now that you can start doing some ad swaps and stuff and grow it a little faster. You might check out the JV section of this forum and other places like Ad swaps, sell solo and buy solo mailings at Safe-Swaps and keep buying solo ads as you can afford them

      Oh - and 5iphon is awesome, it works great

      If you have questions let me...

      Cheers,
      Coby
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  • Profile picture of the author Osman_M
    You have to assess the market your list is in. Maybe you are in the wrong place to begin with. Maybe the market itself has nothing but freebie seekers. Sometimes it pays to step back and reassess your market stance.
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  • Profile picture of the author marketingwithjosh
    I'm in the IM niche... trying to market to marketers....

    I've got a couple new list building things going now. We'll see.

    Meanwhile, im researching other niches that might be more profitable.

    I started off with the "opt in, freebie, sell sell sell.

    I'm going to find a different niche, and try midmidos idea: "which is Content > Survey > Content > Content > Pitch." on whatever niche i go with.

    I just dont want to overload myself with information.... gettin there.

    I appreciate all the advice everyone....

    Thanks,

    Joshua
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  • Profile picture of the author AmandaT
    Ya, you can't just sell, you have to build a relationship by offering content and making sure you are giving them things they want. You want to be giving value and show you understand your niche so your subscribers actually trust your opinion when you try to sell to them.
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  • Profile picture of the author marketingwithjosh
    I'm having a really hard time deciding what niche to go into.

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  • Profile picture of the author feliciayapsl
    I saw a WSO by Rob Stafford about list building the other day. You can find it here http://www.warriorforum.com/warrior-...ll-system.html (not affiliate link).

    Although I haven't bought it, it seems good at its price. Rob Stafford is known to put out quality products. Maybe this can help?
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  • Profile picture of the author DotComBum
    I must say your list is too small now to make an impact on what you're promoting to them, keep your focus on building a larger list now.
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  • Profile picture of the author marketingwithjosh
    I dont get it.....
    For example.. I see baby pre-walking shoes is a not so competitive niche.
    So... i sell pre-walking baby shoes?
    i write articles about them and how cool they are?
    i got buy a pair for my baby and write reviews?
    Wheres the money in this.... selling them through amazon?

    Thanks,

    Joshua
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    • Profile picture of the author AmandaT
      Originally Posted by marketingwithjosh View Post

      I dont get it.....
      For example.. I see baby pre-walking shoes is a not so competitive niche.
      So... i sell pre-walking baby shoes?
      i write articles about them and how cool they are?
      i got buy a pair for my baby and write reviews?
      Wheres the money in this.... selling them through amazon?

      Thanks,

      Joshua
      Yes, or ebay or any other merchant selling them with an affiliate program.

      Personally I prefer info products because the commission per sale is higher, but it is all preference.

      Don't be afraid to go after competitive niches either! You just have to target a good keyword and promote your website well.
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  • Profile picture of the author marketingwithjosh
    Where in the world would i find information products about baby shoes......
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    • Profile picture of the author AmandaT
      Originally Posted by marketingwithjosh View Post

      Where in the world would i find information products about baby shoes......
      Well, obviously there won't be information products for every niche out there. I just choose to go after ones that are full of information products.
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      • Profile picture of the author marketingwithjosh
        This is pretty frustrating.

        I have to find a niche, make a site/blog about it, promote it through ads and such, and use seo stuff to get it first page. I've taught myself web design (mobile/not mobile) graphic design (photoshop) so i could get a site up for whatever niche i go into, only to have to teach myself SEO (which is pretty confusing in itself)......

        Thats probably why most people who try im give up. I just want to make sure i know what my goals are/need to be so i can get myself there....

        Am i on the right path?

        Thanks,

        Joshua
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  • Profile picture of the author AmandaT
    Yes, you are. Take things one step at a time and don't be afraid to outsource the things you are not good at. Feel free to add me with any of the contact info on my profile if you want to IM me with some specific questions.
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  • Profile picture of the author nrupen
    Hi Joshua,
    I think your problem is you are spending your time and money on building list and not on training yourself how to build one. List building is a process and people have their own methods to build their lists. Therefore you might get several different methods of building list when you'll ask in public, that will do nothing good than information overload.

    So I would advise you to get your hands first on any good list building program that will teach you some methods to build buyers list and then stick to those methods until you get good list of buyers. One thing you should keep in mind nearly all free ebooks/videos have only partial information, their main motive is pre-sell and not to offer complete information. So if you have got information from any free source, no matter how much complete the information might appear, it is partial and not complete.

    Lastly hoppers don't make money and there is not best niche to make money. You should not hop from one niche to another. The best niche is the niche in which you are interested and not the one in which others are making money.

    To make it big, you must believe yourself first and you must trust the niche you are making your hands dirty on.
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    • Profile picture of the author marketingwithjosh
      Originally Posted by nrupen View Post

      Hi Joshua,
      I think your problem is you are spending your time and money on building list and not on training yourself how to build one. List building is a process and people have their own methods to build their lists. Therefore you might get several different methods of building list when you'll ask in public, that will do nothing good than information overload.

      So I would advise you to get your hands first on any good list building program that will teach you some methods to build buyers list and then stick to those methods until you get good list of buyers. One thing you should keep in mind nearly all free ebooks/videos have only partial information, their main motive is pre-sell and not to offer complete information. So if you have got information from any free source, no matter how much complete the information might appear, it is partial and not complete.

      Lastly hoppers don't make money and there is not best niche to make money. You should not hop from one niche to another. The best niche is the niche in which you are interested and not the one in which others are making money.

      To make it big, you must believe yourself first and you must trust the niche you are making your hands dirty on.
      Well..... Im not "hopping" from one niche to another. I'm not saying i want to give up on the IM niche, its just a played out niche that every one and their mother seems to try and promote..... I already got it started in that niche, so im going to continue, i know what i need to do, its just going reallly slow. TBE i suppose...

      I'm just trying to take all my eggs out of the one basket i have and move them to another basket that i'm trying to build....

      Thanks for your input,

      Joshua
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  • Profile picture of the author marketingwithjosh
    How about comissionjunction....

    Like... Find a new advertiser for CJ, find one that doesnt have much authority in google, or isnt really "out there" and blow it up as much as i can. promote their products, ya know... go all out on it. Make a website with a blog about it, get it up on google ranks to a first page for terms related to their service/product....

    then either make money continuing as an affiliate for them, or sell them the actual site as its page 1?..

    something like that? main question: Commission Junction? Good or Bad idea....

    Thanks,

    Joshua
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  • Profile picture of the author nrupen
    Its good if you are not hopping from one niche to another. But don't set new campaigns if your previous campaigns aren't making any money for you else you'll end up losing your money and important time. Focus on the current niche you are working on till it starts making you some dough.
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  • Profile picture of the author marketingwithjosh
    Thanks again for all the input, ya'll.

    I'll keep ya'll posted.

    Joshua
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    50 Powerful Ways To Build Your List, FREE.http://www.joshuakbowen.com/lbf

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  • Profile picture of the author TheJustWarrior
    It's actually not ALL in the list, its not in the relationship either only because it is such an ambiguous opaque term. You can have a bad relationship too right?

    Weirdly, it is actually about utility. Hot button selling is an art form.

    An autoresponmder program is special, because it allows you to "time" your mailings.

    Developing a feel for who wants what and when is the point of using an ar

    Utility is THEIR purpose for signing up not yours. I can see so much wastage and frankly unprofessional behavior from AR operators. They send all these untargeted stupid "creative" stuff just to get a higher email open rate, when all thats required is to deliver on the utility of the sign up in a timely manner.

    BTW Joshua, 200 list is too small to expect any sort of use-able income.
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    • Profile picture of the author Richard Van
      Originally Posted by TheJustWarrior View Post

      BTW Joshua, 200 list is too small to expect any sort of use-able income.
      I read recently a thread by Big Mike. He had a list of something like 10,000.

      He noticed consistently though that it was the same 300 odd people buying.

      He got rid of everyone and has, on that particular list, just 300 people now but they buy whatever he promotes, they are his rabid fans.

      So on that basis, selling a $97 course and selling 300 of them, or in your case 200 of them, will net you just under $20k. You may not but I call that useable income.

      It's not about how many people are on the list, it's about how many people are buyers. So if I had a list of 5000 and only 250 of them ever bought from me, I'd consider my list to be 250.
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      • Profile picture of the author TheJustWarrior
        Originally Posted by Richard Van View Post

        I read recently a thread by Big Mike. He had a list of something like 10,000.

        He noticed consistently though that it was the same 300 odd people buying.

        He got rid of everyone and has, on that particular list, just 300 people now but they buy whatever he promotes, they are his rabid fans.

        So on that basis, selling a $97 course and selling 300 of them, or in your case 200 of them, will net you just under $20k. You may not but I call that useable income.

        It's not about how many people are on the list, it's about how many people are buyers. So if I had a list of 5000 and only 250 of them ever bought from me, I'd consider my list to be 250.
        Hi,

        Yeah, rabid buyers are nice to find Richard.

        Note it took your example 10000 sign ups to find those 300.

        Would be nice if every agregate sign up was a core believer in our particular marketing prowess
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  • Profile picture of the author TopKat22
    Joshua,

    I think you have done great getting 100 subscribers a month starting out. Keep doing what you are doing and scale it up. More targetted traffic and you will get more wsign ups.

    Even if you do go into another niche, do not neglect this one. There are people on this forum whose posts I read almost daily about doing adsense or fiverr or something else that haven't made any money at all.

    You say you haven't made any money in the last 2 weeks so I assume you made money before that.

    So keep it up.

    If you do want to go forward in another niche that is not at all related to IM, I think it would benefit you to find a niche with less competition.

    One of my subscribers picked the niche of a somewhat rare disease and believe it or not there were products for it on commission junction and books about it on Amazon and he is doing pretty well.

    As for commission junction, I really like them. So, I would recommend you sign up.

    However, some of the companies require their own evaluation to have you as an affiliate even after cj approves you so just read the conditions of any offer you want to promote.

    Back to the IM niche list, you need more targetted traffic and here is something I found that is great for that here on WF. You have to be a War Room member, but that is well worth it and you might find a lot of other free stuff in there to help you, too.

    http://www.warriorforum.com/war-room...-networks.html

    Good luck.
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  • Profile picture of the author TopKat22
    Another thing, have you checked into this

    http://www.warriorforum.com/warrior-...list-free.html

    I don't know if it is something you would want to do, but you might want to check it out if you haven't.
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  • Profile picture of the author Isaiah Jackson
    Well damn a lot of content in this one wow I learned a lot thanks and dude don't give up on the list

    200 subs in 2 months is pretty good when most people struggle to get up to 100 so keep at it and educate your list build trust with them
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  • Profile picture of the author JasonParker
    safe-swaps.com should give you a jumpstart on your list while you master paid methods.

    That's at least what I would do if I had to start all over again...
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