I don't have an IM subscriber list...smart to rent those large volume lists?

16 replies
The question is pretty much in the Title...

I recently paid $57 to rent out someone's 1.5 million subscriber list...so far I have made zero sales from it.

Do these things work? Renting other people's massive IM lists? Or are these lists super out-dated?

I imagine that people abandoned their emails because of the huge amounts of spam they were probably getting from these rented IM lists...
#large #lists #listsmart #rent #subscriber #volume
  • Profile picture of the author Richard Tunnah
    Unless these are verified co-reg leads (that can be worked) then you are wasting your time and money. Plus you could be in trouble for spamming!
    Start you own list of people that want to hear from you or work with someone that already has a list by offering a swap or a product.

    Rich
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan Ambrose
    I would say 100% no. I have had many affiliates of my membership site say they bought a list of x amount only to have zero clicks. It is only when I suggested that they grow a list themselves (much better in the long run) or at least research PPC that they started getting seriously high clicks and many sales.

    Plus, buying these lists can be bad for the website owner, because many people on these lists don't know they are on them.. so when they get an email - they consider it spam and report the website.

    From personal experience, I have had random emails, which suggests Im on these poxy lists somehow and I can tell you I hate...HATE! being sent an email which I haven't directly subscribed to.

    I highly recommend you start building a list of your own.

    If you sold a product, got the customer to fill in his/her name and email address into the form, that ONE person would be 1000 times beter than 1,000,000 dead emails.

    Daniel
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  • Profile picture of the author toddperk
    Thanks for the feedback fellas.
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    • Profile picture of the author alanchansg
      I would never get these bulk list, these are no real subscribers, their email are extracted from the website or other source where they are not potential buyers for your products.

      the best way is still to build from the scratch... it will pay off in long run
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  • Profile picture of the author Solidsnake
    Banned
    I believe those are old lists and not working anymore.. that is a terrible result..
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  • Profile picture of the author Norma Holt
    There is also the possibility that you emails are never sent anyway. I tried it once years ago with zero results. Nothing happens in 5 minutes and building your list might take a while but, as others have said, it is worth it in the long run.

    Norma
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  • Profile picture of the author Adrian Jock
    Originally Posted by toddperk View Post

    I recently paid $57 to rent out someone's 1.5 million subscriber list...so far I have made zero sales from it.
    1) The sale is the job of YOUR landing page. Therefore the number of sales you got is not relevant.

    If you really want to analyze the result, then you need to look at the CLICKS you got (you used an ad tracker, didn't you?). The number of clicks depends on you (your ad, the product you promote, etc.) and also depends on that list.

    If you got a significant number of clicks but no sales, is the fault of your landing page. If you got a few clicks, then it may be your fault or it may be a problem with the newsletter.

    2) The above is general theory. When I'm looking at the price you paid for 1.5 million, I know for sure who is at fault: both you and the list owner.

    If you plan to ask me why you are at fault, here is the answer: you cannot rent a REAL list of 1.5 million subscribers for only $57. You should know that. If the list you rented really exists, then most probably it's a list of safelists email addresses (=throw away addresses), not a list of newsletter subscribers.
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    • Profile picture of the author toddperk
      I should have been a bit more specific...I don't think what I purchased were actual "subscribers" from a list. What I purchased exactly was the 'Sponsor Ad' package at the following URL:

      Online businesses & ezine publishers work together in a successful, win/win cooperative effort.

      Is that legit or a complete waste of money? The site says this for that sponsor ad that I bought:

      "A sponsor ad can be in one of 3 locations in a publication. Top, Middle or Bottom. Your Ad can be up to 70 words in length, and positioning means it will be on its own in its immediate vicinity, and surrounded only by content and not other ads. Next to a Solo ad, this is the best type you can purchase in an E-publication. "

      Thanks in advance for the feedback guys.




      Originally Posted by ezine ads View Post

      1) The sale is the job of YOUR landing page. Therefore the number of sales you got is not relevant.

      If you really want to analyze the result, then you need to look at the CLICKS you got (you used an ad tracker, didn't you?). The number of clicks depends on you (your ad, the product you promote, etc.) and also depends on that list.

      If you got a significant number of clicks but no sales, is the fault of your landing page. If you got a few clicks, then it may be your fault or it may be a problem with the newsletter.

      2) The above is general theory. When I'm looking at the price you paid for 1.5 million, I know for sure who is at fault: both you and the list owner.

      If you plan to ask me why you are at fault, here is the answer: you cannot rent a REAL list of 1.5 million subscribers for only $57. You should know that. If the list you rented really exists, then most probably it's a list of safelists email addresses (=throw away addresses), not a list of newsletter subscribers.
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      • Profile picture of the author Adrian Jock
        Originally Posted by toddperk View Post

        I should have been a bit more specific...I don't think what I purchased were actual "subscribers" from a list. What I purchased exactly was the 'Sponsor Ad' package at the following URL: ...

        Is that legit or a complete waste of money?
        I have some bad news for you.

        Some of the ezines you bought ad space in ... are NOT published anymore since months or even years.

        The list of ezines supposed to publish your ad is here: Online businesses & ezine publishers work together in a successful, win/win cooperative effort.

        The truth is that some of the ezines listed there don't have that number of subscribers, and some of the ezines are not published anymore.

        For example, item 29 Boaze Publishing Ezine (over 200,000 subscribers) is not published anymore since 2008.

        If you need a proof, read my article Don't throw away your money (published on February 22, 2009) where you can see a screen capture from Steven Boaze's blog containing our conversation and where he acknowledged that he does NOT publish his ezine anymore. You can also contact Steven Boaze (ex-publisher of Boaze Publishing Ezine) by visiting his website located at "boaze dot com".

        This explains everything, right?
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        • Profile picture of the author toddperk
          Yeah that explains it, thanks.

          Originally Posted by ezine ads View Post

          I have some bad news for you.

          Some of the ezines you bought ad space in ... are NOT published anymore since months or even years.

          The list of ezines supposed to publish your ad is here: Online businesses & ezine publishers work together in a successful, win/win cooperative effort.

          The truth is that some of the ezines listed there don't have that number of subscribers, and some of the ezines are not published anymore.

          For example, item 29 Boaze Publishing Ezine (over 200,000 subscribers) is not published anymore since 2008.

          If you need a proof, read my article Don't throw away your money (published on February 22, 2009) where you can see a screen capture from Steven Boaze's blog containing our conversation and where he acknowledged that he does NOT publish his ezine anymore. You can also contact Steven Boaze (ex-publisher of Boaze Publishing Ezine) by visiting his website located at "boaze dot com".

          This explains everything, right?
          Signature

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  • Profile picture of the author Fabian Tan
    I would agree with ezineads.

    Most article marketing or pay per click advertising doesn't work as well. More people lose money or time than they actually gain from it.

    The trick with list renting or coregistration is to find the reputable providers. The only way to do that is by testing.

    Start small, and then scale it up from there.

    Fabian
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    • Profile picture of the author toddperk
      Good advice, thanks Fabian.

      Originally Posted by Fabian Tan View Post

      I would agree with ezineads.

      Most article marketing or pay per click advertising doesn't work as well. More people lose money or time than they actually gain from it.

      The trick with list renting or coregistration is to find the reputable providers. The only way to do that is by testing.

      Start small, and then scale it up from there.

      Fabian
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  • Profile picture of the author wbakhos
    One little thing to remember..

    its not how many leads you have... but how many quality leads you have.

    Quality leads are people who you have developed a relationship over time and who trust you. These people will buy from you... and love it.. and then ask for more.

    At least you learnt your lesson with only $57 Work hard on developing your own and you'll benefit form these guys for years and years to come.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dmitry
    The question is pretty much in the Title...
    ...and the answer is pretty much in the Body

    huge amounts of spam they were probably getting from these rented IM lists...
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  • Profile picture of the author Igor Kheifets
    Hey Todd,

    In order to get response from a paid list
    you either have to have a super copywriting
    skill where you can get the attention of the
    recepients or an amazing product which sells
    itself. But the results you will get with a paid list
    will never measure up to a list of your own.

    Igor
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  • Profile picture of the author Anomaly1974
    Given the number of jobs I have seen on the freelance sites of people spending thousands of dollars to generate tens of thousands of bogus email accounts, I doubt that I will ever trust anything other than my own list ever again.

    That being said ...

    I have seen a number of list exchanges offered on the JV Forum and if you do know other marketers in similar niches (or even the same one) and you are not "threatened" by sharing your lists, that can be a great way to increase your lists and your conversion rates.

    Just my two cents
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    “They did not know it was impossible so they did it”
    -Samuel Clemens" (As Mark Twain)

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