Buying a list?

[Kym Robinson]

Hi guys

just wondering about your thoughts on buying/selling a list?

I have a list of 1800 responsive members - and I need to let the site go due to other commitments.

Its a full membership site but I dont want to spend time showing anyone what to do - I do have an admin that will stay on and teach any new person though.

I guess the question is - if I just sell the list - what is it worth?
and....would you just throw in the rest for free?
the members are all affiliate marketers and are mailed to daily and very responsive - the site requires admin but is all there and running well.

my problem is that I have been offered an outstanding offline opportunity and wont be able to maintain the site to the best effect - what to do?

any advice or suggestions greatly appreciated!
Thanks - Kymmy

[ragnartm]

You most likely had "I will not sell, trade or loan your email" etc etc on the site they signed up through, in which case you cannot sell the list. It would simply be illegal. If you did not I'm not exactly sure, sounds like a weird trade though.

Ideas: Might be worth outsourcing if the site itself is profitable enough.

[Kym Robinson]

Nope! none of that stuff on there!
by becoming a member - they have to recieve mail - permission was never asked for - its just given/assumed

what sounds weird exactly?
thanks

[ragnartm]

Originally Posted by Kymmy Link

Nope! none of that stuff on there!
by becoming a member - they have to recieve mail - permission was never asked for - its just given/assumed

what sounds weird exactly?
thanks

If it's the traffic exchange there should be no problems. A lot of traffic exchanges have been sold and bought, Ilovehits arguably one of the most successful of them atm was a piece of junk before Jon Olson bought it.

[Kym Robinson]

it is the TE!
any suggestions on where to sell?
and what that list size is worth?
thanks - Kymmy

[ragnartm]

Originally Posted by Kymmy Link

it is the TE!
any suggestions on where to sell?
and what that list size is worth?
thanks - Kymmy

Where? Not really, try the NMF?

I think the current monthly income of the TE matters a lot more than the actual list size, people generally don't expect too much from TE lists, I think.

[Tony Dean]

Look for offers for the site, with list, on the Digital Point Forum. You should get a few interested people.

[Kym Robinson]

thanks for your help!

ummm not sure what to ask yet?
thats why Im doing some research including asking for advice here.

but they are a very good list!
I mail them everyday with an incentive to completely read my mail - I make good sales from this list - I wish I had the time to keep going as I am but there is only 24 hours in a day and I need to set my priorities in another direction - sooooooo..........

thats why Im asking for opinions?
what would you offer?
Kymmy

[Jason James]

In my opinion buying or selling a list is playing with fire.... there are so many remifications, many legal, that it's just not worth it to me.

Do you have a friend, or maybe a Warrior that can take over your business? Good luck.

[tommen]

Getting an income from your list is all about trust.You must build trust with your subscribers over time and only then they will buy something you recommend.It´s always a better idea to take the time to build your own list.

[MichaelHiles]

Buying a list is a science unto itself.

If you want to buy a list, it needs to be a list of BUYERS. Subscribers aren't squat if you're paying for the names.

The older the names on the list, the less response.

I could go on and on for days about the lists of dos and don'ts of database list marketing.

[SeanSupplee]

Do not sell your list its dumb for many reasons
1. They signed up for you and your site not someone elses
2. Out of that 1,000 some list how can you tell me at least 10% of them are even getting their emails? old email accounts, spam blocks etc how do i know they are actually reading it?
3. They are used to getting emails from you. When they start from me they are not going to understand what in the world just happened and hit them.

There is no point to buy and selling a list.

[NerdBoySEO]

One suggestion - why not sell 'access' to the list and not the list. Maybe send out the emails on someone elses behalf - it still comes from you etc so most of the issues go away

[Andrea Wilson]

Why not just allow advertisers to purchase email credits from you? I have seen that made in other websites where the admin promotes others product. I think that will be more profitable for you because selling a list is not so right for a membership site. As Sean said, they signed up in "your" site and not in someone elses. You can ask your admin to keep your site active and running. Dont give up on them just yet if the formula is still working.

Andrea

[E. Brian Rose]

The amount of money that you would make by selling your list is minuscule compared to what you could make if you spent a couple of days filling up your autoresponder with some meaningful posts and a few offers sprinkled in.