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List of "new bloggers"

by mandos123
11 replies
Hello,

I've been building a list of starting/new bloggers for quite some time now, and today I hit the "magic" number: 1000 subscribers.

Here's what I've been doing so far in order to keep my list engaged:

1) Answer their questions
2) Send out 6-7 email series about getting traffic and managing blogs (very basic stuff).

Now I'm planning to monetize this list. I was thinking of starting a "private" forum where I'm always available for QA sessions + I'll set up 10 very comprehensive threads on how to make a meaningful blog (getting traffic, writing blog posts, customizing blog, making money etc)...

I thought that I would put a price of $39.00 per month.

What do you think of that kind of strategy? Perhaps you have better or more lucrative ways to monetize this list?

Best,
Mandos123
#list #new bloggers
  • Profile picture of the author Ricardo Furtado
    Hi.

    Am a bit confused.

    What do you mean by –
    building a list of starting/new bloggers??

    Can you please explain.

    Regards.
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    Ricardo Furtado

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    • Profile picture of the author mandos123
      Originally Posted by Ricardo Furtado View Post

      Hi.

      Am a bit confused.

      What do you mean by -
      building a list of starting/new bloggers??

      Can you please explain.

      Regards.
      The people who are in my list have just started a blog or looking for advice/suggestions to make their blogs better (more traffic, more followers, more appealing).

      I've been sending them useful/helpful e-mails over the past months to establish relationship.
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      None

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      • Profile picture of the author Ricardo Furtado
        Originally Posted by mandos123 View Post

        The people who are in my list have just started a blog or looking for advice/suggestions to make their blogs better (more traffic, more followers, more appealing).

        I've been sending them useful/helpful e-mails over the past months to establish relationship.
        Okay, thanks for clarifying.

        All the best. Regards.
        Signature

        Ricardo Furtado

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  • Profile picture of the author alamest
    go for it bro.. you are in the right direction.... some people have not yet been reached this level..good luck
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  • Profile picture of the author mandos123
    Any other suggestions ?
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    None

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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Gylseth
    How has the interaction/feedback been from your subscribers? The number one thing to take a look at is what they keep asking for, and then find a way to monetize that (an ebook, a software, forum, etc.)

    You are already answering their questions, so I don't know that they would see the need to pay for the same service. More importantly, you want to monetize something you can scale, and you being available 'all the time' is not scalable. Consider the following instead:

    1. Host a webinar and charge a fee for attendance
    2. Charge for one-on-one mentoring
    3. Charge for customizing their blogs, setting up various account structures, etc.
    4. Sell 3rd party software that is helpful to them. Split commissions with software vendor (Appsumo makes a bucket load of cash doing this)

    Keep some things free, but make them feel like they are 'missing out' if they don't become paying members, or if they don't buy the products you are selling.

    There's lots of other ways, too, and this forum is full of threads that can be helpful. Just make sure you listen to your customers, and that you keep their interests in mind - not yours (meaning: don't become greedy, make sure your service is always providing the best products, advice and customer service).
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  • Profile picture of the author stretch361
    You could always send out a question such as "Now that you've started blogging, what's the #1 thing that you would pay for to improve your business?", or "I'm preparing to come out with a product that tackles the biggest problems new bloggers have. Can you give me an example of the biggest problem you are having?" Take common responses and create an ebook out of it.

    Assuming you are answering their questions via email, do video tutorials on things that are common to new bloggers.
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  • Profile picture of the author JRJWrites
    Hi there,

    Congrats on taking action and building that list. However, there might be a few problems:

    1. You've been giving 'em free stuff - you haven't proved your list to be buyers.
    2. $39/month to access to a forum is WAY too high (you can get lifetime access for $37 on the WF ).
    3. You don't have enough subscribers to create a forum that will actually buzz with activity - something that you CAN charge for.

    And YES, there are more lucrative ways to monetize the list, such as:

    1. Solo ads.
    2. PPL (lots of these in the blogging/IM niche).
    3. Affiliate marketing.
    4. Your own product (except packaged differently - as an eBook, a video series, etc. for a one time payment).

    What you have is a good idea, but there should be a bit more growth before you put it into place.
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    • Profile picture of the author Riki Stein
      I like some of the ideas mentioned above.

      I also want to reiterate the point to find out what your subscribers need - i.e. ask them (via survey monkey or the like) what is their #1 struggle, what would they pay for to get help in that area, how much would they pay for it, etc.

      Also, depending on your list -- where they are currently holding in terms of success -- they may want real-life, over-the-shoulder type of step-by-step (sorry for so many dashes ) guidance to establish themselves, just as you did when starting out.

      There's only so much one can do with free tips here and there. A full-blown hand-holding course that will take them there might be a good idea for some of them.
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      Are you a newbie who would love to learn how to start making money online? Boy, do I have a free report for you!
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  • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
    Promising that you'd be always available for QA sessions is not a good business model: it's the equivalent of selling your time to a factory-owner...

    Try sending them blog related offers as an affiliate (if you don't have yet your own products). You must know by this time your open rate and CTR, so you should have a good idea how profitable the list should be.
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  • Profile picture of the author Stuart Walker
    These questions they have = problems.

    Problems need solved.

    Are their paid solutions to their problems?

    If there are in the form of affiliate products then offer them as solutions. If not consider creating them.
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    ATTENTION WARRIOR: INCREDIBLE NEW POST AT NICHEHACKS.COM
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