If you want to make real money online, don't build a list...

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I think right now is the perfect time for many of us to take a step back and look at our online businesses from the outside. I've been reading the threads about the WSO forum changing (rule #7!) and it's been interesting to see what some people have concerns about.

The one that stuck out to me is the overwhelming amount of "Make $xxx in 2 weeks" WSO's that have big claims, a small price tag, and about 1% actionable content.

I think ultimately it comes down to people wanting to "get rich quick" by building a list through the warrior forum and making some quick one-off sales. The only problem with this is a huge email list is worthless if you don't deliver value.

I was just recently listening to an audio from Rob Toth and he brought up a very important concept. Your goal should NOT be to build a list, your goal should be to build an audience.

So instead of releasing that $7 product that promises big but delivers little, and just hope that their customers don't ask for a refund, we need to start delivering BIG on every promise and build an audience of people who like what we have to say, not who merely entered a name in a box and are now disappointed.

This is just something I take very seriously in my business and while I do screw up at times, I'm working to build an audience that likes to hear what I say, rather than a list of names who don't know (or like) me. Whether it's working or not, we'll have to see .

Thinking long-term can be a very hard thing to do, especially in our instant-gratification culture. But delivering value and committing to long term goals is the only way to make real money in this business.
#main internet marketing discussion forum #build #list #make #make money build audience #money #online #real
  • That's why I've been working for over 30 days on my new WSO and I'm still nowhere close to launching it
  • I always think of it as more of building a relationship. When we endeavor to partner with people to help them achieve success and show them that we are interested and vested in their positive results I believe that equates to sales as well so it's all one big win win situation.
  • It boils down to providing quality......in content and products.....

    Your prospects are your audience......you have to induce them to come to the show and stay for the encore....
  • Yes, the money is definitely in the list. I would say, build a quality list and start developing a relationship. It will pay off big.
  • Banned
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    • [1] reply
    • Funnily enough I'm just in the middle of sending a message out to my list telling them I'm packing in the whole list thing lol.

      I said years ago that the money was in the relationship, not in the list. And unfortunately I'm just not very good at building relationships en - masse by sending out the same message to hundreds of people.

      I'm sure lots of folks do it very well, but every time I send out an email I have to start out apologising for not sending one for ages. Instead, I get caught up with the people who've become friends by replying to my emails or from other sites, such as this one.

      For me, the list thing is going out the window. It's just not 'me'.
      • [2] replies
  • You bring up a good point.

    I think a lot of people hear "You have to build a list" and they scurry to build that list at all costs.

    They focus on getting more people on the list, but neglect the part about providing the value to the list which turns them into an "audience" or people who want to hear what you have to say.

    Lee
  • Banned
    It would be pointless to have a 10k list unless there is no relationship.

    You have the build a relationship with your list, brand yourself and give them good quality content.

    This is why I have stopped doing Adswaps with people because my list is not stupid, they are loyal to me and will always constantly buy from me if I give them value for money.
  • Hey Tyson good advice,

    It really comes down to providing value so that your subscribers look forward to your emails.
    Here's my advice...
    -Limit the # of products you promote - only promote the products you've personally found to be good products - if you don't do this say good bye to your credibility
    -Limit the # of ad swaps you do (seriously you need to find other sources of traffic) once again it comes down to what your promoting
    -Make sure your products always over deliver for the price

    I've made these mistakes in the past... but I'm definitely recovering from them and now I have a core audience (that's where the real money is made)
    • [1] reply
    • Great post. One thing I might add is at what point do you decide to get rid of those that never make a purchase? I delete subscribers if they don't buy within 90 days. It works out to be about 40% including attrition. The rest are my real "audience".
  • Nice topic, Tyson, and I think your reasoning is very smart and sound. I
    also believe you're on the right track.

    I think someone touched on it, above, but not only focus on your audience,
    but what they want. This is an obvious point, but there are so many who
    seem to overlook that.

    The only way to make a connection, and thus build a relationship, is to talk
    about what concerns them. You know, what matters to them. Not only talk
    about it but offer them, either free or paid, the things that address their
    problems.

    It's like doing business either off/on line. Yes, we do it for the money, but that's
    not really it if you look deeper. Right? We do it to live our lives, provide for our
    families if we have them, etc.

    But I strongly believe if the focus is just on making money, then it's a handicap and
    ultimately will interfere with the entire business process.

    I buy things from people in here, in the WSO section - if it's a good one. And most
    of the time I immediately start getting hit with affiliate offers. I have just sub'd to
    a list and the affiliate hard sales start rolling in.

    I mean, forget about any kind of relationship, etc. And it's not like I wanna be best
    buds, or anything like that. But, man... give it some time. So I almost always unsub
    from people like that.

    Email marketing... it's not like it's top secret information, and it's not like there's a
    lack of information on how to do it right. But so many marketers totally drop the
    ball with email marketing. Kind of astounding to me.
  • Tyler,

    Very good choice in following along with what Rob is saying. He is very insightful in what he teaches and bases what he says on extensive testing.

    I know Rob and he is one I watch and follow along with.

    Thanks,

    John
  • I'm just beginning to learn, but this is how I've started doing things.

    I don't have an email list. I have a sequence of emails that I send out to one "guy." Every email I write is written to him. When I need advice, I ask him directly. If I see something cool, I tell him about it. If I think he might be looking at something he doesn't need, I tell him to save his money. When I find something that I think he'd love, I tell him he should take a look.

    Of course, Aweber doesn't know that I'm writing these emails to one guy, so they send them to every person who's signed up for my emails.

    I get a LOT of personal responses from these folks.

    The cool thing is that I can simply be myself.



    (For those who might miss my meaning, I write every email in my autoresponder sequence as if I'm writing to one person - a person whom I am getting to know via these messages.)
    • [1] reply
    • I really like this way of doing things. I used to think writing up your "perfect prospect" was something that could be skipped over. But I'm going to rewrite mine and get even more specific, so I can specifically write to him instead of the crowd. Great insight
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    If you want to make real money online, don't build a list...

    I think right now is the perfect time for many of us to take a step back and look at our online businesses from the outside. I've been reading the threads about the WSO forum changing (rule #7!) and it's been interesting to see what some people have concerns about. The one that stuck out to me is the overwhelming amount of "Make $xxx in 2 weeks" WSO's that have big claims, a small price tag, and about 1% actionable content.