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Need to build up my list, wondering if it's time for a new website

by Imamarketer2
11 replies
Hi everyone.

I've been using Aweber for about a year to create my list. Currently my list is very small. I've got the main subscriber list (they signed up for a free e-course using a single page wordpress site) and an even smaller list of people who purchased an ebook. When I say small, I'm talking about 100 names on the main list and about 20 on the purchasers list.

Not having a larger website, I've been using Zaxaa to offer my ebook for sale.

I'm now thinking about having a larger website created to give me a better online presence. I've already got someone in mind to do this for me, but it's a fairly costly endeavor as they not only will create the site but my branding as well. This is something I definitely want to do, I'm just not sure whether I should do it now or continue trying to grow my list (which up until now I've done mainly through linked in and twitter) to larger numbers first.

Would a more impressive website create a better impression and get more people on my list? The single page I have right now is bare bones - my aweber signup form with a photo on it, and to the left of that is one column of a short description of the e-course and a testimonial at the bottom from someone who took the course.

Does it look unprofessional for me to continue using the plain Jane site and selling my one little ebook on zaxaa? Or should I grow my list further before investing in the nicer website? I have plans to add many more products including physical products, continuity products, downloadable products and workshops and seminars, so I will definite want the larger site at some point.

I also know I need to do more to get people on my list, and would do so either way. I just don't want to make a mistake by investing in the website right now if there is something else I should be doing first.

Thanks for your comments!

Kim
#build #build list #list #time #website #website design #wondering
  • Profile picture of the author JensSteyaert
    If you're creating products then you i think it's a good idea to invest in a good looking website.

    However, i wouldn't continue to build a list just because you want to have a bigger list when you launch. As you said you have 20 buyers on your list from your first product, the next you might get 50, then 80 then 120 etc...

    So if you have the talent to create products i would focus on that. Your list will grow itself for every product you launch.

    Good luck!
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    • Profile picture of the author Imamarketer2
      Hi Jens. Thank you for your input! You're right - my customer list will continue to grow. And maybe having a better looking site will help that to happen. Like I said, I know I have alot of work to do and the site won't do it all, but I was thinking it would make a better impression and create a little more exictement than what I've got up right now.
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  • Profile picture of the author JessUBotNinja
    If you have the resources to put into a better website and branding absolutely do it! Make sure you have shopped around, gotten references from the person you are working with, etc to be sure you are not going to be wasting your money, the final quality is up to your approval, and that there are not going to be any surprises in the process.

    If you can create quality products this will only enhance your list. Do you have an autoresponder set up for the people who have opted-in or purchased your book to keep them involved and you in their minds as a thought leader? This can also assist in your list growth if people are sharing your content, especially if it leads them to a squeeze page to opt in to your list.
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    • Profile picture of the author Imamarketer2
      Jess,

      Thanks for answering me! The company I'm planning to use is Bourne Creative. They're on the spendy side, but they have done many professional (and beautiful!) websites for people like myself - people I am familiar with who are doing well in the business.

      Yes, I have an auto-responder. I'm using Aweber. Right now I've got a very plain squeeze page. People sign up there to take a free, 15 day e-course. At the end of the course they are offered the opportunity to purchase the ebook. It's all very basic. I've moved very slowly with this because I wanted to be sure there would be some interest. There is, and I would like to take the next steps to make this fledgling business fly!
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  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Originally Posted by Imamarketer2 View Post

    Would a more impressive website create a better impression and get more people on my list?
    Not necessarily.

    What I've always found is that having a (slightly) more impressive website creates a better impression and therefore gets better people on my lists.

    The key difference is between "more" (quantitative approach) and "better" (qualitative approach).

    When I've split-tested various things, for 6 months at a time, I've often found that the smaller list actually produces more income.

    Originally Posted by Imamarketer2 View Post

    I just don't want to make a mistake by investing in the website right now if there is something else I should be doing first.
    I hear you. It's impossible to predict without more information, though (and may still be difficult, even with that!). Sometimes what you need is just "more traffic". Sometimes it's "better targeted traffic" (especially if you're getting search engine traffic, which can be very poor). Sometimes it's that you need a different sort of site or opt-in page. Sometimes quite small differences in appearance can even make a big difference to the opt-in rate.

    It might be easier to offer more helpful observations after knowing what kind of site/page it is, where the traffic's coming from, whether you think the site matches the expectations (if any) of that traffic demographic, and so on.
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    • Profile picture of the author Imamarketer2
      Hello Alexa.

      Thank you for your thoughtful reply.

      I'm sure that my current page doesn't appeal to my demographic all that well. It's got an aqua colored background, my text is white. The color LOOKS nice, but the site overall isn't really that appealing. Could be a complete turn off to many. But, obviously, not to everyone.

      Most of the traffic has come from linked in - I spend time there in the groups answering questions.
      Some traffic has come from twitter.
      A little has come from searches.

      I completely agree with you regarding the quality of the list over quantity.

      If you want to see my little site (please, try to contain your laughter!) you can view it at Landing page | Just another WordPress site

      I think you'll probably agree that a new site is in order. That seems to be the general consensus here so far even without having seen the current page I have up.
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by Imamarketer2 View Post

        I'm sure that my current page doesn't appeal to my demographic all that well. It's got an aqua colored background, my text is white. The color LOOKS nice, but the site overall isn't really that appealing.
        You don't score anything more for "appealing". What you want is "highly converting", not "appealing". Some of the highest-converting opt-in pages are really ugly.

        But light text on a colored background can be a big disadvantage, I agree. For people using "small devices", it may be hard to read. For myself, I would change the colour-scheme to dark print (dark blue?) on a light background (white or very light blue? It probably doesn't matter).

        Here's a convenient site which shows you what your page looks like in various different browsers: Check Browser Compatibility, Cross Platform Browser Test - Browsershots

        I would also remove the two socail media buttons: they detract from the opt-in and come across as being there for the site-owner's benefit, rather than for the visitor's. Small point.

        I would also not ask for names as well as for email addresses.

        http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ml#post7934937

        http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ml#post8335017

        I think, myself, from reading your post above, that your page looks better than your own impression of it: it's very clean and simple and those are really big and important things! It looks to me like a page that "most marketers" would hate, because of its simplicity and comparative lack of design. In my experience, those tend to convert rather well.

        Originally Posted by Imamarketer2 View Post

        I think you'll probably agree that a new site is in order. That seems to be the general consensus here so far even without having seen the current page I have up.
        The "general consensus" is often mistaken. It will be, won't it, if you think about it? Most people fail at internet marketing. The success-rates are pretty low. So why would the "general consensus" be likely to be right? Ultimately, the only correct answer comes from testing, if you can. For myself, I'd change the things I mentioned above, make sure the site is tablet/mobile-friendly, generate as much targeted traffic as I could from places other than search engines, and not worry too much.

        .
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  • Profile picture of the author jamesfreddyc
    I think something like LeadPages would be a perfect solution for you. They will likely have all of the elements you want in a full website, great design, mobile optimized and integrates with AWebber right out of the box.
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  • Profile picture of the author logicmethod
    Get Response now lets you build landing pages for only $15/m which is alot cheaper than Leadpages and goes right to your list
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  • Profile picture of the author insidmal
    Sounds like you're on the right track but there's no reason to spend a ton on a website.. a simple wordpress site will achieve your goals by being able to create content that is already SEO friendly and just make sure you have your opt in on every page and you're already better off.. wordpress is free and you can get a domain for like $2 when they're on sale and some inexpensive wordpress hosting... it may be worth paying for a theme though but those are generally only about $25.... that'll put you off to a great start.. it's actually a little impressive your single page got as many sign ups as it did, so just keep pushing out content and make sure there are plenty of opportunities for your readers to subscribe.. no need to fork out a ton on some crazy site at this stage of the game...
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  • Profile picture of the author Developer99
    I have used leadpages before...biggest tip is that it will save you a heap of time!
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