Do You Need a Blog, Face, and Name Before a List Will Buy From You?

6 replies
I'm curious, will a list buy from you if you don't have a "personal" blog, real name, and picture to associate your expertise with? I have two sites that have list-building potential but they don't have a real person associated with the blogging or website in general. They are informative blog types of sites where it wouldn't be hard to build a list but I don't want to put in the effort and pay for the auto-responder if the list will be unresponsive.

Thanks Warriors!

blueboy
#blog #buy #face #list
  • Profile picture of the author Warren Tibbotts
    I think if your content is good enough, and of enough value, then I for one wouldn't hesitate to join your list. The proof of the pudding is really in your followups, and how well you treated me as a prospect. If you started bombarding me straight away with sales tactics, and upsells, I'd probably be back out of your list pretty quickly.
    So the fact you're relatively anonymous I don't think will be the determining factor. It may prevent you getting some signups, as people do like to deal with people that they can get to know, like and trust, so if you can personalize it somehow, I think you should do OK.
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  • Profile picture of the author entrepreneurjay
    I think you would be fine but a picture would help but it is not mandatory.

    Your offers and the titles of the emails you send is what is gonna make you money. Send a catchy title and a good product at a decent price than people will buy.
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    • Profile picture of the author EdgeStorm
      Prior to this, I've been marketing successfully using a pen name without showing my face. I believe there are many others who are doing the same thing...

      John Delevara is one of them.. (only recently, about a few months back, he started showing his real photo)

      And most of us haven't seen Allen Says' face either...

      Of course you can build more trust from your prospects and customers by being more personal but it's certainly not mandatory.
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  • Profile picture of the author Brendon Zahrndt
    Originally Posted by blueboy9 View Post

    I'm curious, will a list buy from you if you don't have a "personal" blog, real name, and picture to associate your expertise with? I have two sites that have list-building potential but they don't have a real person associated with the blogging or website in general. They are informative blog types of sites where it wouldn't be hard to build a list but I don't want to put in the effort and pay for the auto-responder if the list will be unresponsive.

    Thanks Warriors!

    blueboy
    Why not set up a squeeze page and do some split testing of your site/product?

    That ought to tell you if you are on to something. If you don't get sign ups, either your squeeze page was created incorrectly or your product is useless.
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  • Profile picture of the author blueboy9
    Some good points, thanks guys! I use a pen name for my articles that I post in directories so I was thinking of just using that name since any research done by the list members would find it anyway.

    I actually expected answers of the opposite stance so I'm relieved. I've read a lot of blog posts stating that a real name and face can save you weeks of trust building before you should begin to trickle in sales emails. Any thoughts on that?
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    • Profile picture of the author JamesGold
      From a customer's point of view, I would definitely trust someone with a real name and face a lot faster than an anonymous seller. Not to mention, I am more likely to buy from you too since I'm assured that, when I do buy something from you, you'll deliver good value and you won't just "run away" with my money.

      However, if it's a niche you don't want to particularly associate with your real persona, the using the pen name you used in your articles for that site would be a great idea.

      I agree with Warren and enterpreneurjay, in the end it will all boil down to the quality of your content and the product offers you will send. As long as you treat your customers with respect, pen name or real name, I think you'll do just fine.
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