My action plan to create a mailing list that I expect will result in actual income :)

I have set a goal date of 2/1/15 to have the basic "set-up" complete (the autosponder series and the basic website which captures the leads). I have learned all of this info by reading articles by Alexa Smith regarding list building and article syndication.

Before I get started, I was hoping that I could get a review of my plan so I know that I won't be wasting my time doing things incorrectly. I will write out my action plan first, and then I have a couple of questions at the end on some things that I'm not 100% sure about.

After the "set-up" is complete, I will then focus my time on finding relevant websites that I can syndicate my articles to. This will be my primary traffic-generating strategy. I may also try paid traffic in order to "scale up" at a later date (assuming my email series proves to actually make sales...see action plan below). All of this stuff is taken directly from reading and taking notes on Alexa Smith's older forum posts.

Action Plan:

Step 1: Make Simple Website

• The purpose of the "website" is simply to get people to join my mailing list.
  
• The home page will contain an excellent article that will not be syndicated, and can not be found anywhere else. The purpose of this is to also get them to download my "freebie" (in exchange for their email address obviously).
  
• At the initial stages, I will only have 2 to 3 articles on the site (not including the home page article). These articles will be what I use for syndication purposes (the articles that I will be offering larger websites that have targeted traffic to use in exchange for a back link back to my site at the end of the article).
  
• My website will have 3 tabs: Home, Blog, Affiliate Disclaimer.

Step 2: Create the Free Giveaway

I'm not quite sure what exactly this will be (whether it's just an eBook/report or if it's something even cooler). What I do know is that the primary purpose of the free giveaway serves the following purposes:

Brand myself and my site - Explain what I do, establishing that I know what I'm talking about regarding the information that they are there specifically to learn about. I will explain that, in addition to my own content, I will also be recommending both products and free resources along the way. They will understand clearly that I am affiliated with the products that I recommend along the way. They will also understand that buying through my recommendation will cost them absolutely no more then if they were to buy direct from the original source. How exactly I intend to do this in a way that will result in customer trust will obviously require some tweaking along the way.

Fulfill the promise of offering genuine value - The freebie as well as every single email in the email series will be GOOD.

Set my subscriber expectations - The freebie will let them know exactly the types of things that they can expect to gain from following along in my email series. I will explain that they will be receiving genuine information from me as well as recommendations to paid and free resources. Obviously I am affiliated with the paid resources (and they will know that as well).

Step 3: Set-up Email List

I will write perhaps 10 emails to start for testing purposes. As for exactly how many I intend to get done by my deadline of 2/1/15, I'm not sure exactly. I will say that it will definitely be 10 minimum though.

The first one will come with the freebie.

The next one (which is the first of the actual "series") will come on the following day.

The remaining 9 will be spaced out accordingly.

QUESTION: Does anyone know how to create a second BUYERS LIST? Basically it's a list that people will be transferred to once they click through an affiliate link and make a purchase; they will no longer be on the "freebie list". I know this is thinking too far ahead and focusing on the wrong thing (money instead of building customer relationships via. HIGH OPEN RATES). However, I've always wondered how to do this using AWeber, but I was never able to find the answer. If anyone knows how to do this, I'd be greatly appreciative if you told me how to do so .

Of course all 10 emails (and everyone beyond that) will be PROVIDE EXCELLENT VALUE.

Branding myself in their minds that I am an upfront, honest guy, that knows what he is talking about is my goal.

Step 4: Write the 2 - 3 articles that will go on my website.

As stated above, the article on my home page will be unique and will not be used for syndication purposes.

The 2 - 3 articles will be available by either clicking on the "Blog" tab or some other non-prominent way of finding them on my site.

The main purpose of these articles is not to have people "browse my site", but rather just simply as an "original creation destination" point. The primary purpose of these articles, rather, is to give them to prospective website owners (in exchange for a backlink to my site's homepage of course).

QUESTIONS: Should I display my "freebie/opt-in form" on all of these articles as well, or just my home page?

Also, should I "monetize" these articles via. affiliate links? Or is that just a waste of time, and actually counter-productive? I'm guessing that the answer to this question is "no, just use the list to promote products". However, I was just wondering what the consensus was with this.

*All this must be done by 2/1/15 per my own goal*

After getting all of this "set-up" complete, I can then focus on promoting my cute little homepage link that will ultimately result in making me millions of cents!

Thanks to everyone!