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OK I'm building a huge list, but how to monetize it?

by Alp Bozkurt
19 replies
Hello Warriors!

I listened to you saying "money is in the list", and with adwords/squeeze page combination I now have more than 50 signups per day which costs me $0.5 per signup in a big & competetive niche. This is with only 5 adgroups and I'm able to increase it to 500 signups/day if want to scale it.

BUT BUT BUT... I don't know how to monetize this list. The only thing I know about them is that they all want to... build muscle.

Should I find one affiliate product and push it to the list in autoresponder series until they buy or unsubscribe? Or should I start a monthly newsletter with useful info and some aff links in it? Or both?

And how much money should I aim to earn per 100 people on my list, per month? Is there any guideline or statistics about it?

I very appriciate if you give me some idea please.

Thanks,
Alp

P.S. Here's what I did:
Last week I tried a different concept and instead of driving visitors to my product based landing pages, I drove them to my generic, content based landing page which dont push any particular product at all. This boosted the number of keywords that I can bid on and boosted my signup rates to the roof - like %65.
#building #huge #list #monetize
  • Profile picture of the author Nathan Denton
    Hi Alp,

    In order to monetise your list I would take a step back and take a look at what you really want to offer your subscribers. Your main goal should be to provide your subscribers with content and valuable information and amongst this info, you can slide in some affiliate offers.

    Try and buy the actual products before recommending them so you can verify the quality of the product and make a sound recommendation.

    Well done on putting your signup system in place. Sound like you're well on the way to building a great list.

    Nathan
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    Online marketing, offline marketing and various other things.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chaiwriter
    Yes, I'd take a step back and decide what you can offer this list that they'll find valuable. It doesn't have to be anything major but it should be something that makes them glad to be part of your list.

    Then you can also offer a poll or a short survey about what types of things they want or need. Then create a product and sell it to them. In exchange for the poll/survey (keep it short) offer them a little report or something.

    In other words, give them value for free and create loyalty. Then try to sell to them. If they trust you and they're happy with what you give them then they'll be much more likely to buy from you whether it's an affiliate product or your own product. Just make sure you don't give them too much for free because then they might refuse to pay for anything since they'll expect it for free.

    Just my two cents...

    Chai
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  • Profile picture of the author Chris Lockwood
    I'm curious why you would spend money to build a list without an idea of how to monetize it.

    Aren't there lots of products related to that niche?
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    • Profile picture of the author mjbmedia
      Hi start off your autoresponder emails and on say the 4th one, ask them bluntly to go to a feedback page and tell you what they want to know, invite them to go there and ask questions on the topic. then find the answers , develop the product or find affiliate product or get an interview from expert giving the answers etc etc and youre off and running.
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      Mike

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    • Profile picture of the author Alp Bozkurt
      Originally Posted by Chris Lockwood View Post

      I'm curious why you would spend money to build a list without an idea of how to monetize it.

      Aren't there lots of products related to that niche?
      Hi Chris, thank you for the comments.

      I already have aff links in the thank you page and they are working well.
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  • Profile picture of the author maximus242
    Hey any advice about how to build a list so cheaply?
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    xResponsive Advertising Agency | Direct Marketing | Online Advertising | Create Breakthrough Campaigns for Your Business http://xresponsive.com

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  • Profile picture of the author Johnson Tay
    Hi,

    You're paying too much to a build a list that may not contain a single buyer.

    Trust me on this, send traffic to your affiliate link (direct linking) OR a presell page that leads to the merchant's page via your affiliate link.

    You'll make MORE money.

    Only then do you build a list out of those who have bought from you so you can sell more stuff to 'em
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    • Profile picture of the author Alp Bozkurt
      Originally Posted by Johnson Tay View Post

      Hi,

      You're paying too much to a build a list that may not contain a single buyer.

      Trust me on this, send traffic to your affiliate link (direct linking) OR a presell page that leads to the merchant's page via your affiliate link.

      You'll make MORE money.

      Only then do you build a list out of those who have bought from you so you can sell more stuff to 'em
      If someone dont buy from me, it doesnt mean he's not a buyer.

      If someone is interested in my niche and he gives me his email address, I will always have another chance to sell him something in future. It's always better than losing him forever, isnt it???
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  • Profile picture of the author Christopher R Everson
    They will buy something, you may just not sell them enough on the value, or maybe just not the right product.

    If they don't have enough money, don't sell them on the price, sell them on the value.

    If they aren't interested, it's just not the product for them.

    You have done more than most people here. Just keep trying. If you manage to profit 500 subscribers a day, you will be a wealthy man within the year, in a big way.
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    Money isn't real, George. It doesn't matter. It only seems like it does.

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  • Profile picture of the author Christopher R Everson
    Sell them clickbank products on how to build muscle.

    Give them articles every now and then on how to pack on weight, but not too often, you dont want a list of freebie seekers.

    I never give content to my list anymore, I get more positive feedback when I sell something, than give it away for free.

    If that doesn't work, maybe try using bodybuilder.com's affiliate program and sell them actual physical products. The commissions are slim, but it could be profitable.

    Go back to the source and figure out exactly where, and why they signed up for your list to begin with, and sell them on that idea, or an idea that compliments it.

    Or, go real simple, and just ask them what they want.

    Ask and ye shall recieve, right?
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    Money isn't real, George. It doesn't matter. It only seems like it does.

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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Dominic
    Find out what your list wants to buy.
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  • Profile picture of the author danto2
    Josh:
    I just paid thru paypal but it didn't send me to the download page.
    I did however, register to your newsletter.
    Please send the information to to my e-mail address. danto2@juno.com
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    Please do not use affiliate links in signatures

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  • Profile picture of the author alliance1
    Banned
    [DELETED]
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    • Profile picture of the author Li Weng
      Originally Posted by alliance1 View Post

      What is this list for ? Why would you build a list when you cannot figure out what its real purpose is?
      Yeah that's what I want to ask. What's the point of investing when you don't have a business plan to make money from it?

      But the good thing is, you have a decent sized list now, so it's not too late to start emailing them your affiliate offers in the health and fitness industry.
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      • Profile picture of the author Alp Bozkurt
        Originally Posted by Li Weng View Post

        Yeah that's what I want to ask. What's the point of investing when you don't have a business plan to make money from it?

        But the good thing is, you have a decent sized list now, so it's not too late to start emailing them your affiliate offers in the health and fitness industry.
        Li Weng,

        I already monetize them in the thank you page. But it provides no profit at the moment, at somehow covers the adwords cost partially. It just decreases my cost per signup dramatically.

        Since the conversion rates are very low in this niche, I think I need to market them over and over to be profitable. And this is why I build a list.

        You may ask why i'm with this niche since it converts bad. I just love this niche, I can write 1000 page books in this niche and I can talk about it for hours.....
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        • Profile picture of the author Li Weng
          Originally Posted by iworkhard View Post

          Li Weng,

          I already monetize them in the thank you page. But it provides no profit at the moment, at somehow covers the adwords cost partially. It just decreases my cost per signup dramatically.

          Since the conversion rates are very low in this niche, I think I need to market them over and over to be profitable. And this is why I build a list.

          You may ask why i'm with this niche since it converts bad. I just love this niche, I can write 1000 page books in this niche and I can talk about it for hours.....

          It's not necessarily that the niche doesn't convert, because as far as I know, health and fitness is a highly profitable niche. It could be that the keywords that you used were not targeting buyers, but only targeted freebie seekers. But that's only my guess.

          However, as you said, even if they're not buyers now, you can build that relationship over time and convert them into buyers. So good luck!
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          • Profile picture of the author goindeep
            Hi

            You and i are practically using the same technique only it sounds as if your way ahead. I too ma new to this and decided to build a list first.

            There is a site called survey monkey which you can set up surveys for free on. My plan is to send informative newsletters and maybe even a video or two first before making my first pich.

            Then ask them in like the 3rd email to take a 2 minute survey. Collect your data then strategize your next approach in accordance to the data. Also get in their head. you know just like a fisherman thinks like a fish in order to attract them you have to think like a body builder Let me know how you go and feel free to PM me as i think we could assist each other and maybe even have some healthy competition
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  • Profile picture of the author angela99
    Sadly, a big list is useless if it's not a responsive list: it's just a waste of your time and energy.

    An ideal list is one which is sharply targeted to what you're selling.

    Re "the money is in the list" -- means a RESPONSIVE LIST.

    Stop collecting subscribers and start marketing to them; your bounces and unsubscribes will soon sort out the people who want to stay subscribed, and who are your target audience.

    Cheers

    Angela
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    Everyone's a writer today. Get personal guidance from Angela.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alp Bozkurt
      Originally Posted by angela99 View Post

      Sadly, a big list is useless if it's not a responsive list: it's just a waste of your time and energy.

      An ideal list is one which is sharply targeted to what you're selling.

      Re "the money is in the list" -- means a RESPONSIVE LIST.

      Stop collecting subscribers and start marketing to them; your bounces and unsubscribes will soon sort out the people who want to stay subscribed, and who are your target audience.

      Cheers

      Angela
      Angela,

      How can I know if a person is responsive or not before I add them to my list? I don't think someone is not responsive if he doesnt buy from my aff link. It doesnt cost me a penny when he stays subscribed forever no matter he is responsive or not. Maybe I'll improve my marketing in near future and convince him to buy something from me?

      I'm in someone's list since 1999 and I didn't buy anything from him until 2008, but last month he earned a cool $20 from me.

      Do you prefer a list of 1000 people with 10% response rate or of 10000 people with 3% response rate? I prefer the latter. 100000 people with 1% response rate is even much better, IMHO...

      What do you think?
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  • Profile picture of the author Li Weng
    Agree with angela. I'd be interested to see what your squeeze page looks like.
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