How do you recruit people to your list?

[Lee Campbell]

Currently on my website if someone comes to my website they either sign up or the leave. It seemed to work at first but has really dropped off.

I am curious if you guys and gals still find success if you promote your affiliate products/your own products through your website then offer a free something or other on top of that to get people to join your list.

I kind of feel like I am letting a lot of people not even get a look at what I am trying to sell and it really effects the fact that I have 0 sales so far. Yet at the same time I would like to make sure I build a list.

[JamesFrancisIM]

Originally Posted by SEO.Expert

Offer Free Downloads: eBooks, php Scripts, and/or Access to Useful Information

Request Name and eMail Address before Downloading

(This is one option that works well, but you need to do it "right" for it to be effective.)

You may want to require users to verify an eMail account to insure the validity of the eMail address that the person uses.

Exactly right.

Offer something with immense value which outweighs the cost of them giving you their personal details.

However, make the free item relevant to your niche and something which can be used as an "introduction" to your main product/service.

- James.

[Lee Campbell]

Well my website is about improving your golf game so I offer them seven free lessons on how to improve your golf swing. I still get the same amount of traffic give or take a little and I initially had 40 or so sign up of about 200 people then it only went to 50/500 or so and that is where I am now. At the same time none of the 50 people I have marketed to have bought anything.

So I am wondering if perhaps instead of not even promoting the product on the main page, maybe I should promote it and make building the list a side issue rather than the main issue.

[Michael Motley]

Offer free goodies. If you dont want to write them yourself, offer free stuff that you have to dig for to find, things the average surfer wouldnt come across. Reports on new clubs, 'the state of golf in 2009', 'where to buy the ugliest pants near you' stuff golfers would want

[cganz]

I am having the same problem. As far as I can see the whole issue is about content and volume. You need to increase the number of visitors to your site in order to have the same percentage increase your optin percentage.

I think we call face the same problem. We need to increase traffic first. Then offer a great deal of content for free with enticing offers attached to the free content. Everyone loves FREE. If they take your free stuff you need to get them on an autoresponder. Give them more free stuff with value and then always offer them your real product.

Building relationships take time. Like in any business, web based or brick and mortar, it's all about relationships unless you happen to have the best new gizmo and everyone needs it. Normally not the case....

[Michael Dunlop]

I offer them a FREE 7 day eCourse which is a autoresponder which sends a email each day, seems to be working got over 100 sign up's a day so far and not even launched!

I also offer a free ebook on my blog which has been downloaded over 4000 times so that seems to be doing good as well.

FREE is the key!

[Lee Campbell]

Just curious Michael, has anyone bought anything from you yet?

[13YearsOld]

Hey Lee, I've recently written a report on list building which is available for free on my website. Usually, it's given in exchange for a name and email adress but here's the direct download link.

[Lee Campbell]

Thanks 13, there is some interesting information there.

Any more input here?

[Alminc]

Lee,

Can I see your squeeze page ?

Almin

[Lee Campbell]

Yes, my website is Play Golf Better

[Alminc]

If you are golf expert (or at least very good at that subject)
you can try one alternative that works very well.

Here it goes.

Create a short report , no more than 8-10 pages of expertly written content.
They first need to read some really good content written by you so they want more.
Let them download it without subscribing, 100% free, no sign-up form on the page.

At the end of that report place the link to 'more information, tips, trics..whatever'. When they click that link they should come to your real squeeze page where you say:
' Subscribe to my quality newletter full of top-notch information 100% FREE'
Use some bullet points to count what you will be teaching them.

They will subscribe.

Then send them 1 top quality article about golf every 14 days.
Send them a few simple emails in between, sell nothing, just talk to
them.
During the first month send them 2-3 more freebies, but only good stuff.

Then start promoting.

[InternetMarketingCenter]

Create an opt-in that...

*directly relates to what you sell -- what kind of information/products were they looking for when they came to your site? How can you whet their appetite without giving away the farm?

*is keyword-rich, for the purposes of SEO and the general harmony of your site. Too many people forget that keywords should go EVERYWHERE.

*is trustworthy -- include a Privacy Policy!

*asks for as little information as possible: first name, last name, email address. No more, no less.

*has autoresponder follow-ups to continue to offer value, and keep you on their radar.

[Lee Campbell]

Originally Posted by Alminc

If you are golf expert (or at least very good at that subject)
you can try one alternative that works very well.

Here it goes.

Create a short report , no more than 8-10 pages of expertly written content.
They first need to read some really good content written by you so they want more.
Let them download it without subscribing, 100% free, no sign-up form on the page.

At the end of that report place the link to 'more information, tips, trics..whatever'. When they click that link they should come to your real squeeze page where you say:
' Subscribe to my quality newletter full of top-notch information 100% FREE'
Use some bullet points to count what you will be teaching them.

They will subscribe.

Then send them 1 top quality article about golf every 14 days.
Send them a few simple emails in between, sell nothing, just talk to
them.
During the first month send them 2-3 more freebies, but only good stuff.

Then start promoting.

Unfortunately I have no expertise in golf, all the information I give out is information I gather and put together.

[rr1455]

I like what you had to say. What is your web site url???
Roger

[Lee Campbell]

I understand you have to create that sense of urgency for them and provide them with something where they will be drooling for the next bit but that is always easier said than done.

Still my main question is would your rather try and straight out get a list or promote a product at the same time as trying to get a list.

For example: My website has no affiliate links, in fact it has no links besides those that will lead you to another post asking you to sign up for the list. I offer free golf lessons on how to improve your golf swing as my freebie.

vs

A website where there is a pitch to sell an affiliate product then if A) they buy it they are put on a list which is a somewhat tempting way to do it. B) You offer affiliates and on the side try and get them to sign up with just the offer on the side rather than making that the main issue at hand. C) Just providing raw information whether it would be (in my case) golf news, golf tips, or something to that effect no affiliates and just hope that they will sign up with my freebie offer on the side.

And personally I am not a fan of the pop ups. I find them annoying and personally X out of almost every single one unless I asked for it to come up or I was looking for that certain thing.

[Lee Campbell]

Anyone else want to pitch in here?

[Voasi]

Lee -

I think your really need to work on your website. The design just isn't there. I wouldn't want to put my information on the site. You need to convey a sense of trustworthiness with your users.

Here's my squeeze page: Build Monthly Wealth - Secrets to Generate 6 Figures a Month!

I've been doing really well with it.

Maybe try adding some video in there. Instead of having the form on each page, have it on a pop-up when users try and leave the site. Create some call-to-actions to your forms. I have to read a lot to understand I'm getting something for free. Make it very easy for your visitors to understand they're getting something free with graphics, etc...

And personally I am not a fan of the pop ups. I find them annoying and personally X out of almost every single one unless I asked for it to come up or I was looking for that certain thing.

Just because you don't like it, doesn't mean they don't work. Pop-ups work great. That's why people still do it. Email spam, unfortunately, still works - that's why people still do it.

[Christie Love]

Getting people to sign up to your list is not only about offering something for free. It's about offering something of value your targeted visitors don't want to miss out on. Think of things that's going to be beneficial to them like a free one-on-one session or even email session, disc #1 of your cd set and so forth. It doesn't necessarily have to be a free report.

[nicholasb]

I use to do a 7 day report, now I just give away a video, then add value continuously to the list

with the occasional affiliate offer here and there

[WinsonYeung]

Provider content that is beneficial to the user, at the end of the article, add in your opt-in form and include something free for them if they opt-in

[donrock]

Lee,
You need to give them a reason to sign up or stick around and check out your site. Put some good content on there and maybe some that would have left will go ahead and sign up for something you are giving away. Make sure you're giving away something that has some value.
donrock

[SteelDanno]

If you are asking for the "name" in the sign up. Consider not doing so. You'll notice a lot of IM leaders just asking for "email" these days.

I think the assumption is asking for name will drop sign up rates and often, people will give a fake one anyways which means when you hit them with a follow up and the fake name is echoed back to them then ... meh.

Less than desired effect :-)

[MaverickWil]

Try watching Eben Pagan's free videos on YouTube. The ones you want to watch are the "Keys to Success" series which is a 7 part compilation. Starting from Video 1/7:

YouTube - GetAltitude.com - Keys To Success 1 of 7

In one of the 7 videos, he talks about "moving the free line" which is basically giving immense value to your prospects for free in order to attract them for the bigger sale. IMO, you should prob watch the whole thing as it's all pretty valuable.