Buyers List - Freebie List - Or Both?

30 replies
Hey there guys,

So I'm about to re launch launch a product I sold a few months back. It sold quite well.

I was getting about 20 sales per week on average at $14.97.

Anyway after reading a lot on this forum about list building and adding value - I realise I was a little naive back then and didn't bother capruring people on to a list... So just ended up making one off sales.

Anyway, I have now added more content to my product. Some videos and valuable reports all original and written by me.

I also have a more advanced course to sell which will be prIced at $67.

Now knowing I can make 20 sales a week, My plan is to just build a buyers list and send out my new content solely to my buyers.

However there are some conflicting stories with people saying either you should definitely or definitely not build a freebie list. So I'm a little torn.

Should I just focus on my buyers and forget the tire kickers or build a list for both.

Some people say the time and effort it takes to turn a freebie into a buyer is not worth the effort.

Thanks in advance
#buyers #freebie #list
  • Profile picture of the author jamescanz
    It can never hurt to build a list of both, it's that valuable.

    And while a list of buyers is infinite amounts better...

    You can always convert your freebie seekers to the 'good side'
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    • Profile picture of the author Easy eBay
      Originally Posted by jamescanz View Post

      It can never hurt to build a list of both, it's that valuable.

      And while a list of buyers is infinite amounts better...

      You can always convert your freebie seekers to the 'good side'
      Thanks mate,

      I'll have to start brain storming, the info I'd be giving to my buyers has been made to enhance the product they will be purchasing... So if I send this out to freebie seekers it will probably not make much sense.

      I'll really have to think about what to offer them now. What do you guys send out to freebie seekers?
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  • Profile picture of the author gcbmark20
    Hi,

    That is why you need to create an effective 7, 14, 30 day email campaign.

    That turns prospects into BUYERS.

    Sure there will always be those who are never going to buy anything.

    But that just comes with the territory.

    What you can do is start sending out a broadcast email every day as soon as
    you start building your lists.

    You can offer your PAID product to those leads right off the bat.

    Then those that BUY get added as BUYERS to your lists.

    Those that don't shall continue to receive your daily broadcast emails from you.

    Then after 30 days, you can look back at your 30 days worth of emails and see
    which ones were effective enough to turn those prospects into BUYERS.

    NOW you have begun the process of creating an AUTOMATED email campaign
    that goes out automatically to any NEW fresh leads and prospects.

    This way any fresh leads that enter your funnel can receive these set of
    emails on auto pilot and become buyers.

    Not all will of course.

    But at least you're now using a system that gives you more time, freedom
    and flexibility to focus on the more important things like:

    Increasing conversions.

    Thus making MORE sales = MORE profits.
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  • Profile picture of the author skyro
    I would say both because some freebie take a little while longer than others to become buyers but a buyers list will be alot more valuable. It would be a Your goal to build a relationship with your freebie and turn them into a buyer, whether it be from $1 or $100 product.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brent Stangel
    or build a list for both
    You may even segment your list further.
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    • Profile picture of the author heavysm
      Originally Posted by Brent Stangel View Post

      You may even segment your list further.
      Yep, lots of segments so you can send more targeted emails specifically to the interests of those portions of your list.

      I've always thought of this in terms of the following:

      person becomes subscriber -> they see product and buy -> they get put onto your buyer list for that particular product

      or...

      person becomes subscriber -> they see product but don't buy -> AR sequence slowly persuades them to buy -> get transferred from freebie list to buyer list upon successful sale

      Some people try to only build buyer lists while others try creative ways of monetizing freebie lists. The buyers list will always have more value in the end, so i think that should be your primary focus.

      Your entire subscriber funnel should be created such that people end up becoming your customers rather than staying as freebie seeking click-oriented subscribers.
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  • Profile picture of the author David Keith
    the idea that the buyers list will always be more profitable is just plain old nonsense. yes, if you just plan on sending them offer after offer to buy the latest secrets, then that probably is true.

    but by far, the biggest online earners are freebie sites. they offer a product or service for free to users and then they find ways to monetize the fact that have the attention of a huge number of users.

    some people have a very simple understanding of online business and the many various ways of making money online to the point where it costs them money and causes them to give some really crappy advice sometimes.
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    • Profile picture of the author heavysm
      Originally Posted by David Keith View Post

      the idea that the buyers list will always be more profitable is just plain old nonsense. yes, if you just plan on sending them offer after offer to buy the latest secrets, then that probably is true.

      but by far, the biggest online earners are freebie sites. they offer a product or service for free to users and then they find ways to monetize the fact that have the attention of a huge number of users.

      some people have a very simple understanding of online business and the many various ways of making money online to the point where it costs them money and causes them to give some really crappy advice sometimes.
      To be fair 99.99% of users here are not corporations with huge budgets who can hire email specialists to entertain their subscribers.

      The primary method of monetization for most people on this forum is either to sell or get people to take some specified action. In some ways those two can be put into the same group, because the cpa people tend to be able to produce sales from their leads eventually.

      Of course having a buyers list isn't the only way to go about things but considering the target audience (the people on this forum) it's definitely the overwhelming majority. Solo ad vendors/people don't apply here because I don't actually consider that email marketing.
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      • Profile picture of the author David Keith
        Originally Posted by heavysm View Post

        To be fair 99.99% of users here are not corporations with huge budgets who can hire email specialists to entertain their subscribers.
        to be fair, you dont need to be a corporation to profit from the attention of people who are not spending money with you.

        also, the VAST majority of people on this forum are in fact not making money. yet they are using many of the strategies folks here insist work so well. There is something to that.

        i have been doing this almost 20 years now. by far, my most profitable niches are ones that i dont sell a damn thing on and that i never ask users to buy anything via email with... spend a few minutes thinking that one over.

        oh, and they use the exact that same methods that worked 19 years ago when i started...i haven't changed a thing. the emails are 80% the same. the total system 70% the same. no google, nofb, no solo ads, no selling any products.

        and no need for a huge budget. i started with some saved up lunch money back when domains costs way more...hosting cost way more. autoresponders didnt exist...you had to program one using cgi and perl....lol. (i dont even think that stuff works anymore)

        the guys that jump up and down here and scream "do it this way" are just repeating stuff they heard. most aren't making any respectable income from using the stuff they keep repeating.

        and yes, it can be done today...numerous ways. i am about to win a bet from a fairly well know marketer because i proved it once again in a whole new niche.

        most gurus could never make more than enough to pay their business expenses if they were in other markets.
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        • Profile picture of the author jasondinner
          Originally Posted by David Keith View Post

          by far, my most profitable niches are ones that i dont sell a damn thing on and that i never ask users to buy anything via email with... spend a few minutes thinking that one over.
          Went through this in that 'list buidling churn and burn thread' and got slammed by some people who probably don't make in a month what I spend in traffic in a day.

          I couldn't agree with you more.

          Originally Posted by David Keith View Post

          most gurus could never make more than enough to pay their business expenses if they were in other markets.
          Agree with this one 100% too lol For many, they are nothing without their jv partners.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gambino
    It's probably not to late to capture those emails that you sold to previously. If you use a responder like Constant Contact, you can put their names and email addresses into an Excel sheet (I'm assuming you had to deliver the product electronically and have this info.. at least the email). Then you can email them through Constant Contact. I'd recommend sending out an "I'm sorry, here's a free gift or ridiculous discount on my next product.." type of email.
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  • Profile picture of the author newideamarketing
    Banned
    Add as many backend montenzation methods as possible so you can make more . The backend is were you make the real money
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve B
    Originally Posted by Easy eBay View Post

    Should I just focus on my buyers and forget the tire kickers or build a list for both.
    How many times have you heard the saying . . . it takes on average seven contact points to catch someone's attention? If you dump the freebie seekers, how do you turn them in to buyers eventually?

    There are lots of reasons why someone doesn't buy at any given point of contact but they will buy next week or next month. Since you work so hard to drive traffic to your site I think it's a mistake not to try to nurture your prospects over time.

    What do you send them? Send them something that will introduce your $67 product to them and tell them why they can't live without it. You're focusing on a specific niche, right? So give them some valuable information about the niche. You're trying to build trust and let your readers know that you care about them and want to help them.

    Be genuine and accommodating. People can tell when all you are after is a sale.

    Good luck to you,

    Steve
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  • Build both list, not everyone is ready to buy right now.

    Just make sure you have a kick ass good will campaign for everyone. Your selling campaign should be built around value and education with a way to dive deeper with your product. No one wants to be beat over the head day after day to buy something. Teach them awesome stuff, and then hit their emotional,and logical reasons why they need and desire to buy.

    Also in your advertising ensure you have polarity.

    For example, you have a target market that will buy your product, turn on your target market and turn off those that won't buy or you don't want to sell to. This will get you less tire kickers on your list.

    Hope that helps

    Any questions hit me up at http://shawnandrewwalker.com

    Enjoy
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  • Profile picture of the author SunnyDelight
    I would build a list of both. Buyers list is the target but free lists have their strengths as well. Not everyone is going to buy from you the first go round. Some people need a little extra TLC to move them along the buyer's line..
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  • Profile picture of the author Easy eBay
    Wow,

    Thanks for stopping by everyone. Your addvice is really appreciated.

    By the sound of it I'd be stupid not to do both.

    Might just create a mini course for the freebie list.

    Also those of you advising me to segregate the list... Are there ways to somehow automatically remove a freebie seeker from the free list and have the buyer list take over the minute they become a buyer.

    I'm sure it would probably be annoying potentially receiving the occasional email promoting something they've already purchased. In fact just potentially receiving two emails on the same day would get annoying.

    Thanks again!
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    • Profile picture of the author Sid Hale
      Short answer.... yes.

      Originally Posted by Easy eBay View Post

      Are there ways to somehow automatically remove a freebie seeker from the free list and have the buyer list take over the minute they become a buyer.
      I'm sure the other major autoresponders provide this, but I know that Aweber provides a facility to automatically remove a subscriber from list A when they subscribe to list B. You set the rule in your Aweber account and it's automatic after that.

      There are scripts/systems available that will automatically submit that Aweber subscription form to list B when the customer buys, so that they are not required to manually subscribe to that second list.
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  • Profile picture of the author Lightlysalted
    Build both. Have a freebie list which will then act as a loss leader so that you can graduate people onto your power seller list where the big bucks are to be made. All the very best loads like you're doing incredibly well
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  • Profile picture of the author Javisito
    Build both of course

    Two lists are better than one
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  • Profile picture of the author beasty513
    Keep both and have a longer auto-responder series to
    turn those freebie seekers into eventual buyers
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  • Profile picture of the author MuhamadEdisonA
    If you launch you first product better than if you just looking for butyer list. I have a mentor, and i'm shock when he compare beetwen freebie and buyer

    You know the comparison?

    One buyer list is the same with 100 frebie list. WOW...

    Buyer list is amazing list, but if you are looking for freebie list, the problem is not all of your freebie list has payment method to pay your product, such as paypal...

    Remember, freebie list is OK as long as you can convert them to your buyer list by adding value first, then promote them with yur product..

    -Muhamad Edison A
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  • Profile picture of the author Richard Batt
    Banned
    Nothing wrong with a freebee list and you'll probably find that with the right email sequence you'll be able to turn your freebee list into an awesome buyers list.

    I'd recommend segmenting your list though and separating anyone who buys into a separate list.. you want to look after your buyers because they will buy again and again and again.
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  • Profile picture of the author Edwin Torres
    Do both. When someone purchases put them on your buyers list.

    A ninja trick you can do is when someone visits your sales page and DOESN'T buy, you can have a exit pop set up that redirects them a squeeze page. There you can offer a free gift in exchange for their email. You now have a freebie list that you can mail to convince them to buy your main offer.
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  • Profile picture of the author andorod77
    your buyers list in this case will be more valuable, but there is no harm in having a freebie list and with a bit of monetization techniques and a personal relationship with your list, you can easily convert them to devoted buyers
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  • Profile picture of the author nicolasmd2112
    Buyers list hands down. Even if you can make a bigger freebie list, quantity is nothing compared to quality, especially if you have buyers.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jack Hunter
    Originally Posted by Easy eBay View Post

    Hey there guys,

    So I'm about to re launch launch a product I sold a few months back. It sold quite well.

    I was getting about 20 sales per week on average at $14.97.

    Anyway after reading a lot on this forum about list building and adding value - I realise I was a little naive back then and didn't bother capruring people on to a list... So just ended up making one off sales.

    Anyway, I have now added more content to my product. Some videos and valuable reports all original and written by me.

    I also have a more advanced course to sell which will be prIced at $67.

    Now knowing I can make 20 sales a week, My plan is to just build a buyers list and send out my new content solely to my buyers.

    However there are some conflicting stories with people saying either you should definitely or definitely not build a freebie list. So I'm a little torn.

    Should I just focus on my buyers and forget the tire kickers or build a list for both.

    Some people say the time and effort it takes to turn a freebie into a buyer is not worth the effort.

    Thanks in advance
    While LOT of people seem to disagree, and I think its because they are not making all that much so they are concentrating on all the wrong things like size instead of quality of lists, in my experience, freebie seekers are not worth wasting time on.

    But thats me. I buy quality traffic, and put people on a list AFTER they make a purchase.

    And my emails never end up in spam box, nor do I ever have complaints.
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    • Profile picture of the author discrat
      Of course doing both, imo, is the only way to go. To me starting out, most people are on the freebie List and it is our responsibility as Marketers to convince them with a great product to get off that freebie list



      - Robert Andrew
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  • Build a list.

    Everyone can be buyers (Of course, tag your buyers as well)

    However, build a big list, of targeted leads (Interested in your niche)

    And email them
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  • Profile picture of the author Matthew Trujillo
    Build a list of prospects, develop a relationship by providing value to your prospects and from there make consistent sales. A freebie seeker is just a person who doesn't trust you yet and hasn't made the decision to buy. Just because they are a freebie seeker does not mean they will never buy anything from anybody. Also, just because someone has bought from you in the past doesn't mean they will buy from you again and again. People buy from those that they like and trust. As the only saying goes the money is not in the list, but in the relationship with that list. If you can build a solid relationship with your prospects they will trust you and in turn buy from you.
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  • Profile picture of the author extrememan
    I don't know if you can build a buyers list without freebie seekers. I say build both. Could come in handy if you have a blog and eventually the freebie seekers may turn into buyers.
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