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Need a bit of guidance

by syntax
8 replies
My website gets quite a bit of traffic, so I'm thinking of starting a list, but I'm on the fence.

My site is on how to make customized life sized cardboard cutouts ( almostbreathing dot com ) and has two major targeted groups.

1. Those who make it for decoration, with a celeb (instead of buying a regular standee)
2. Those who use it to make props for parties and events (birthdays, graduations ect) and to remember a family member (who has died or is out of the country)

In the list I want to be able to occasionally promote my software/ebook, and also promote other products but also give interesting and useful free content.

Should my list be purley on make standees? (there is only so much content)
or should I choose a wider subject? therefore a lot more third party products to promote.

I'm stumped to what sort of bonus I can offer the potential subscriber..
I'm thinking of getting a PLR re-written..

any ideas?

thanks heaps
Brad
#bit #email list bonus #guidance
  • Profile picture of the author Will P
    I would test the waters with multiple ways and see which one converts best for you. From my own personal experience I have found that promoting free stuff through lists works the best for me. Then after they get their freebies I present my up sellers from there.
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    • Profile picture of the author syntax
      So you give them a freebie but don't tell them they are going on a list?
      To me the freebie is the opt-in in disguise.. no?
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      • Profile picture of the author Will P
        Originally Posted by syntax View Post

        So you give them a freebie but don't tell them they are going on a list?
        I was referring to the opt-in lists I have already, but Yes.. from my own experience I have found that I get better results when building an optin list to advertise a free product and then before they get the actual product it requests opt-in.

        Originally Posted by syntax View Post

        To me the freebie is the opt-in in disguise.. no?
        Yes and in my opinion freebies are some of the best weapons to use.
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      • Profile picture of the author Bill Farnham
        Originally Posted by syntax View Post

        So you give them a freebie but don't tell them they are going on a list?
        To me the freebie is the opt-in in disguise.. no?
        Hi Brad,

        You absolutely want them to understand they will be on a list where you will be giving them valuable future emails. If you try to trick them you'll be wasting your time and possibly suffer unintended problems like having spam complaints up the wahzoo.

        Trading an email address for a freebie is a good method and works almost universally. Provided the niche wants continuing correspondence from you.

        I went to your website and checked it out. I like the product.

        If you can give the ebook away for free and sell the software as the profit center you may find your sales will increase once your ebook gets them hooked on how easy and affordable creating the cutouts is.

        That would mean the software has an important role to play. In other words, the majority of people who get the free ebook will need the software to accomplish the task.

        Pretty cool concept those cutouts.

        ~Bill

        PS. Don't forget the shooting self defense/sports crowd. I didn't see what the costs of the finished product are, but it would be cool if you had a few bad guys you could sell OTC folks could take aim at if you get my drift.
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        • Profile picture of the author syntax
          Thanks Bill..

          Can't really give the book away because half of it is to explain how to use the software. And it's fairly useless without it.
          "valuable future emails" ...... that's what i was initially asking
          How should I theme my list? a broad niche list or staying on the standee theme?
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          • Profile picture of the author Bill Farnham
            Brad,

            People that sign up on your list are generally looking for you to stay on topic.

            If they sign up because they like the idea of you showing them how easy it is to use your product and perhaps different uses (ideas) for the product such as more decorating, party atmosphere, uses like you mention on your site, etc, you want to keep your topics broad enough to get general appeal yet specific enough that they don't go WTF when they get an email from you.

            A wild example of an off topic email would be if you suddenly sent them an email on how to repair screen doors because you found a cool way and just wanted to share.

            Can't really give the book away because half of it is to explain how to use the software. And it's fairly useless without it.
            I would say you need to think about that for a minute...you want the free ebook to entice the reader with enough information that they get excited about the product and also if it gives them a better understanding of how the software is used and what it does it will help to eliminate some of the hesitation in taking the risk of buying the software, and that's a good thing.

            One of the ways you could impliment the free ebook give away is to use the exisiting ebook as a basis for the free one and tailor the new free ebook to make it more generalized about the product and its' benefits, features, and coolness. But leave enough meat as to how the software works so that people will feel familiar with the software if they buy to be comfortable using it.

            You want the ebook to presell the software, and a great way to do that is to make the software portion of the ebook sort of non technical but specific enough that they can capture the essence of how the software works. If you have images/diagrams as part of the instructions that would be a valuable inclusion even if it seems extranious at first glance.

            Remember, if you can remove some of the technical mystery you can remove some of the resistance to buy the software.

            ~Bill
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            • Profile picture of the author syntax
              Thanks Bill..

              Fantastic answer...
              So glad there are guys like you around here.
              I'm really going to have to work my arse of to "pay it forward"
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  • Profile picture of the author miklanderson2
    Along with the eBook, maybe you could offer a free pack of high celebrity pictures that could be used to make stand-ups...then upsell them on a much larger pack with more celebs after they buy the software.
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    "A bargain is something you don’t need at a price you can’t resist."
    -Franklin Jones

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