How To Build A Subscriber List Using Safe Lists! Is It Worth A Try?

13 years ago

STAY AWAY FROM BOUGHT EMAIL LISTS.

No AR company worth their salt will allow customers to use such lists on their email servers. Unless they have opted in to receive information from you then you are sending bulk unsolicited email which is another way of saying you are spamming people.

Not to mention you have no idea how targeted the people in those lists are anyway, or how the lists were even generated, so building your online business's main asset on such foundations is just asking for trouble.

Have you head of the saying, "never build a castle on sand?"

Chris

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Vogin

13 years ago

Safelists and Traffic Exchanges are just crap, figured out that much after a month or so trying doing IM.

Stay away from it.

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Matthew Shane Roe

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Vogin

Safelists and Traffic Exchanges are just crap, figured out that much after a month or so trying doing IM.

Stay away from it.

Have you used them enough to justify calling them crap? I have made about $600 the past two months from just one traffic exchange. In addition to that I have built my list up to danm near 400 subscribers by setting a campaign and forgetting about it.

It's no different with the safelists. When I worked with them a bit, I built a list of around 100 people that made me some affiliate commission sales. Only reason I stopped using them is because of some personal problems I had awhile back and I lost my login details to the site (including email...).

Originally Posted by Shaun OReilly

'Safe' lists are not worth the steam off your piss.

Remember...

There are no shortcuts on the road to success -
including list building.

The sooner you get to work on building your own
legitimate list, the better.

Dedicated to mutual success,

Shaun

Just like anything else, traffic exchanges and safe lists both require time and patience. They are NOT a shortcut to list building or any other business models on the net.

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

Yes; quite sure.

I think so. My understanding is that all the more recent systems involve a requirement actually to open the emails and a system of verification for that.

If we get lucky, Bob Puddy may post and clarify that point ...

This is certainly exactly what I've heard from other "sources".

I'm not Bob Puddy... But yes, all safelists now require you to open the email and click on a link in the footer that will lead you to their site as well as the readers credit.

Most safelists have a timer of about 10 seconds, just like with Traffic Exchanges, safelists are more or less built on branding and getting users on your mailing list rather than selling them directly. Only difference is, safelists are a bit harder to work than traffic exchanges because most users are signed up with multiple safelists each sending anywhere from 8-12 emails a day.

For everyone.... I would suggest checking out this thread about topics like this. Highly informational and there is some actual conversations made on it rather than an entire thread full of comments.

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...nges-work.html

Matt

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Ouroboros

13 years ago

Everybody on a Traffic Exchange or Safelist is just clicking your stuff to build up credits so you'll click their stuff...People have managed to build lists this way i guess but by the time you figure it out you could have a "REAL" list built the normal way.

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Shaun OReilly 13 years ago

'Safe' lists are not worth the steam off your piss.

Remember...

There are no shortcuts on the road to success -
including list building.

The sooner you get to work on building your own
legitimate list, the better.

Dedicated to mutual success,

Shaun
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- Vogin 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Shaun OReilly
  
  'Safe' lists are not worth the steam off your piss.
  
  That's an excellent definition, thanks :rolleyes:
  
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- raceway 13 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Shaun OReilly
  
  'Safe' lists are not worth the steam off your piss.
  
  You only get steam off your piss when it is cold outside, so maybe they only work when its warm outside... Great one liner, happy i read this thread just for that.
  
  I used to use safelists say 10 years back, did alright with them. Everyone likes getting something for free, you really never know who you are going to hook. Once you have them on your list you might possibly make a sale to them.
  
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Sphinx

13 years ago

I think we need to hear from someone who has really used it, even spent money with the safelist on solo ad.... anyone? Let's share.....

Jay, I haven't tried this before, and I believe earning free credits by reading emails and clicking may not be the way to go, perhaps the paid solo ad will work if your offer is right. I don't know though, if you have tried it, don't mind to share ya....

Keep in mind, people in the so-called "safelist" are mostly inexperienced marketer, think about something that add value to this group of people and send them an offer.

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Alexa Smith

Banned 13 years ago

Safelists are not "bought email lists".

The IM world is full of people who think safelists are "crap traffic". Many of them have tried to build lists using safelist traffic when what they were promoting wasn't suited to safelist traffic.

You have to match your offer to the market. It's just like anything else: if you try to use it for a purpose different from its purpose, then you're probably going to be disappointed.

If you try to sell stuff to safelist traffic rather than just opting them in first by providing, free of charge, a product directed specifically at safelist traffic, then you're probably going to be disappointed.

There are people adding 200/300/400 per week to their subscriber lists using safelist traffic, and making five-figures per month from doing so, and no amount of whingeing that safelists are "crap traffic" is going to change that.

The forum's full (I exaggerate: sue me) of people saying variations of "Article marketing doesn't work". And when one looks at how they're trying to use "article marketing", one understands immediately why it isn't working for them.

Exactly the same is true of safelists.

The most ironic touch of all is when people say "Safelist traffic isn't targeted". If you're giving away an e-book called "A Totally New Way To Get Free Traffic To Your Website" or "A Totally New Way To Build A List", then it's very highly targeted. If you're not doing that, or something similar ... well, then you probably shouldn't be using safelists at all, because it's your business that isn't targeted at that sort of traffic.

Originally Posted by Jay Vikaz

How To Build A Subscriber List Using Safe Lists! Is It Worth A Try?

It depends what your business is, of course. But if it's got anything much to do with the things in your sig-file, then my own impression is that it wouldn't be a very good idea for you.

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JasonWright

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

Safelists are not "bought email lists".

The IM world is full of people who think safelists are "crap traffic". Many of them have tried to build lists using safelist traffic when what they were promoting wasn't suited to safelist traffic.

You have to match your offer to the market. It's just like anything else: if you try to use it for a purpose different from its purpose, then you're probably going to be disappointed.

If you try to sell stuff to safelist traffic rather than just opting them in first by providing, free of charge, a product directed specifically at safelist traffic, then you're probably going to be disappointed.

There are people adding 200/300/400 per week to their subscriber lists using safelist traffic, and making five-figures per month from doing so, and no amount of whingeing that safelists are "crap traffic" is going to change that.

The forum's full (I exaggerate: sue me) of people saying variations of "Article marketing doesn't work". And when one looks at how they're trying to use "article marketing", one understands immediately why it isn't working for them.

Exactly the same is true of safelists.

The most ironic touch of all is when people say "Safelist traffic isn't targeted". If you're giving away an e-book called "A Totally New Way To Get Free Traffic To Your Website" or "A Totally New Way To Build A List", then it's very highly targeted. If you're not doing that, or something similar ... well, then you probably shouldn't be using safelists at all, because it's your business that isn't targeted at that sort of traffic.

It depends what your business is, of course. But if it's got anything much to do with the things in your sig-file, then my own impression is that it wouldn't be a very good idea for you.

I agree with you Alexa.

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Jay Vikaz

13 years ago

That's quite a tip. I'll try this in my little experiment.

It makes perfect sense though. When you try to sell them directly from the safelist they don't know you. They don't have a relationship with you.

Once they have opted in to your subscriber list, you have the chance to build a relationship with them ... and presell and sell.

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

Safelists are not "bought email lists".
The IM world is full of people who think safelists are "crap traffic". Many of them have tried to build lists using safelist traffic when what they were promoting wasn't suited to safelist traffic.

You have to match your offer to the market. It's just like anything else: if you try to use it for a purpose different from its purpose, then you're probably going to be disappointed.

If you try to sell stuff to safelist traffic rather than just opting them in first by providing, free of charge, a product directed specifically at safelist traffic, then you're probably going to be disappointed.

That is encouraging to hear. So, it is working for some real people.

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

There are people adding 200/300/400 per week to their subscriber lists using safelist traffic, and making five-figures per month from doing so, and no amount of whingeing that safelists are "crap traffic" is going to change that.

Thanks for sharing this approach. I now see a way to create a targetted list outof what most people would assume is not targeted traffic.

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

The most ironic touch of all is when people say "Safelist traffic isn't targeted". If you're giving away an e-book called "A Totally New Way To Get Free Traffic To Your Website" or "A Totally New Way To Build A List", then it's very highly targeted. If you're not doing that, or something similar ... well, then you probably shouldn't be using safelists at all, because it's your business that isn't targeted at that sort of traffic.

That's a good point. No, it has got nothing to do with the things on my sig file at the time of writing this post

I am trying to build a brand new IM list from scratch.

I want to see what approaches work best, how fast they work and how effective they are.

Safelists intrigued me because I did not think they worked. But, I was surprised by some folks who said they built their lists that way.

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

It depends what your business is, of course. But if it's got anything much to do with the things in your sig-file, then my own impression is that it wouldn't be a very good idea for you.

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Colin Palfrey

13 years ago

Alexa, that all sounds logical...but it doesn't work in the real world.

Before anyone assumes this is going to be one of those "It doesn't work for me so it wont work for you" replies, let me prove it to you.

What They Are
A safelist is a group of people that agree to receive each others promotional emails in exchange for being able to send their own.

The Problem
So you find that most safelists only have a few hundred people on them, though there are some into the tens of thousands (shudder), and you've read the rules.

Question: As you now understand that you are going to be receiving at least 300 emails-a-day from other members - what do you do ?
Answer: You make a new email account for all that crap to be funneled into...just the same as everyone else does!

Experience
Way back...I thought about what people using safelists would want, then created a giveaway product and tried it out.

The result was that in-spite of the fact that my email was going to over 100,000 people (I joined every safelist I could find), not one email was ever opened, and not one link ever clicked.

The reason is because nobody wants thousands of emails descending on their email address, so they make a new email address that they never use, just for that purpose. Wouldn't you?

It doesn't matter what you offer to a safelist as nobody will ever read it.

Maybe things have changed in the last few years, but I very much doubt it. Why not try it though, if you have some spare time on your hands.

Just don't forget that if you create a new email address for the safelist, you can be damn sure that everyone else has done the same.

If anyone has any evidence to the contrary then I welcome it. I would be more than delighted to be proved wrong, as I'd learn something. However, if it is the same as it used to be, and nobody opens the emails, then it doesn't really matter what your offer is as nobody will see it.

Solo ads are a totally different beast, and I have had success with them. Of course, I am referring to solo ads in an actual newsletter, not to a safelist. They can be very effective, as the JV section of the Warrior Forum demonstrates.

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Alexa Smith

Banned 13 years ago

Thanks for your thoughtful and clear reply, Colin.

Originally Posted by Colin Palfrey

Why not try it though, if you have some spare time on your hands.

I'd like to, some time, because I do know people who are make a living from it (and I'm not talking about safelist owners).

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Colin Palfrey

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

Thanks for your thoughtful and clear reply, Colin.

I'd like to, some time, because I do know people who are make a living from it (and I'm not talking about safelist owners).

Interesting.

They must be using a different type of safelist to the ones I found. Still, if everyone receives 1000 emails a day then nobody will read them. It simply isn't humanly possible. Are you sure they aren't just misnaming solo ads as safelists?

On the other-hand, maybe someone has taken the old safelist model and done something with it. My experience with safelists is admittedly years out of date, so possibly even the definition itself has moved on.

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Alexa Smith

Banned 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Colin Palfrey

Are you sure they aren't just misnaming solo ads as safelists?

Yes; quite sure.

Originally Posted by Colin Palfrey

On the other-hand, maybe someone has taken the old safelist model and done something with it.

I think so. My understanding is that all the more recent systems involve a requirement actually to open the emails and a system of verification for that.

If we get lucky, Bob Puddy may post and clarify that point ...

Originally Posted by Nathy Curiel

Use a splash page and offer something for free that they need. And send it over and over again. And you will see the results.

I use own a credit based safelists and known IM people use to buy traffic from us for listbuilding.

This is certainly exactly what I've heard from other "sources".

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Colin Palfrey 13 years ago

Oh I see, those credit based ones. Yes they were just coming out when I stopped doing it, and they didn't used to count them as safelists.

The credit based ones are effectively traffic exchanges, and I think should be thought of and used in exactly the same way.

The only reason the other readers open the email or click on the site is to get a credit to...promote their own site. So provided you offer a freebie that teaches them better ways to get traffic, you can do quite well.

I got there in the end, I just needed a run up :rolleyes:
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- Jay Vikaz 13 years ago
  
  Wow! Thanks for all the responses. This certainly helps open up the discussion.
  
  Just to clarify. I haven't actually used this method yet. But, I signed up just to get familiar with how they work.
  
  ...... and I did not create a new email address to signup. (Didn't think of it. Could there be others out there like me?)
  
  ...... I actually clicked on several links that interested me.
  
  ...... and opted in for free offers that interested me.
  
  ...... I did not buy anything from the offers.
  
  So, this is from a subscriber perspective. I haven't send out a single email that I'm entitled to. I'm allowed a single mailing to 3000 at this point.
  
  Maybe I'll send out an email today or tomorrow and post back the results here.
  
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Robert Puddy

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Alexa Smith

Yes; quite sure.

I think so. My understanding is that all the more recent systems involve a requirement actually to open the emails and a system of verification for that.

If we get lucky, Bob Puddy may post and clarify that point ...

This is certainly exactly what I've heard from other "sources".

Hmm i was going to stay out of this one Alexa...let the nay sayers stew in their own piss steam was my thought

Modern safelists now require users to open the email and click on a link inside to get the credits needed to send their own emails to the database.

Just like anything else it rquires the knowhow of how to use them, and as they come from the same gene pool as traffic exchange users then you shouldnt be selling them anything

You should be enticing them on to your own list with a freebie just like you would if you were using squeeze pages.

I have built a list of over 120k using mostly traffic exchanges, but some safelist promotion. And those same freebie seekers who people say aren't buyers have bought everything from a $7 ebook all the way up to $1000 seminar tickets, and ultimatly onto 2 3 and 5k coaching packages

You are correct though they are predominantly in the make money online niche

Currently there are between 100k and 200k users of traffic exchanges and safelists, all looking for make money opprtunitys, they are also very active affiliates for those programs. (pinning the exact number down is hard as they use multiple programs)

the only question in someones mind should be how can i leverage this group.

And the best way to leverage them is to pull them into a membership site or onto a list promising them tools or help in getting their message out.

offer them a life line on how to make thier first sale, or increase thier downlines and they will snap your arm off and hit you with the sticky end

If you can build list with squeeze pages then you can dominate traffic exchanges and safelists.

There is a whole lot more than i can put into a forum thread, in fact i have home study course on this subject which includes 6 hours of video and 8 workbooks

But done right i can get a new subscriber every 80 to 100 page views in traffic exchanges and thats better than most PPC campaigns.

Now wether you believe this or not i dont care

The less people who know how to leverage this resource the better for me

Now everyone can go back to pissing into the wind and getting their own back

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Jay Vikaz

13 years ago

Yes. Robert that's been my experience while testing the waters the past few days. They do require you to click a link and stay on that page for at least 30 seconds or so. If not you don't get credited. Now it was in those 30 seconds that some offers caught my eye and enticed me to optin.

Originally Posted by Robert Puddy

Modern safelists now require users to open the email and click on a link inside to get the credits needed to send their own emails to the database.

Just like anything else it rquires the knowhow of how to use them, and as they come from the same gene pool as traffic exchange users then you shouldnt be selling them anything

You should be enticing them on to your own list with a freebie just like you would if you were using squeeze pages.

Dang! And I was thinking I'd be lucky to generate a list of 1K this way.

Now, I haven't looked at traffic exchanges. How do they work? And how are they different from safelists?

Originally Posted by Robert Puddy

I have built a list of over 120k using mostly traffic exchanges, but some safelist promotion. And those same freebie seekers who people say aren't buyers have bought everything from a $7 ebook all the way up to $1000 seminar tickets, and ultimatly onto 2 3 and 5k coaching packages

This is a big "AHA" moment for me. Membership site...

Originally Posted by Robert Puddy

the only question in someones mind should be how can i leverage this group.

And the best way to leverage them is to pull them into a membership site or onto a list promising them tools or help in getting their message out.

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Robert Puddy 13 years ago

[QUOTE=Jay Vikaz;3220581]This is a big "AHA" moment for me. Membership site...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Robert Puddy View Post

the only question in someones mind should be how can i leverage this group.

And the best way to leverage them is to pull them into a membership site or onto a list promising them tools or help in getting their message out.

It should be a free to join membership site...and this isnt because they are freebie seekers its because they are busy surfing right now and dont want to make decisions.

Make it simple to join now and read later

you pull them into your site or list and then market to them
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Nathy Curiel

13 years ago

I totally agree with Alexa. You can build a list on safelist.

Use a splash page and offer something for free that they need. And send it over and over again. And you will see the results.

I use own a credit based safelists and known IM people use to buy traffic from us for listbuilding.

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webpromotions

13 years ago

You can't see a post here about safelist or traffic exchanges without people saying you are just pissing in the wind (or piss steam in this case?)

All you have to do is simply turn around and that wind might just work for you.

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Vogin 13 years ago

Allright, maybe I was using the wrong ones... all I know is that I worked (several hours per day I might add) with safelists & traffic exchanges and I was forced to doubt their very concept in the end...

I mean, even if you have to open each email and click on the link (as I have), what's stopping you from opening multiple emails? A Captcha maybe? Still, I was able to fill multiple Catchpas simultaneously...

I know for a fact that I was promoting a scam at the time, so little to no results are then hardly surprising. But as pointed out many times, I again know for a fact that in case I became a regular user, I wouldn't care at all about any offer, so therefore I couldn't expect a good conversion rate either - not to mention the fact that I'd be reluctant to pay for any of those "blasts".

But since I'm more than able to admit my mistake and error in judgement, do you people have any recommendations for those, what did you call them, "new types" of safelists please (apart from the one already mentioned)?
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incomeguru

13 years ago

Basically, i don't believe in safelist, rather i prefer article marketing. Very good in driving massive traffic.

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Jay Vikaz

13 years ago

Ok! Here are the results of my little experiment.

Mailed out to a list of 3000 using a reputable safe list.

Directed them to a squeeze page with a free "info-marketing" report.

Got one signup.

Of course I understand that there can be many variables..... and I cannot make any assumptions and judgements based on one mailing.

So, I'm just sharing my results on this post. I'm not drawing any conclusions....yet.

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James Clark

13 years ago

To the OP,

I don't know about Safe Lists. I never tried that. But I can tell you what my experience has been.

Follow this guy: Perry Marshall's Google AdWords Advertising & Pay Per Click Program

Buy his book and read it. Here is what I did. A friend of mind gave me a gift card. I took the card and use it to open up a PPC Adwords account. After reading Perry Marshall book I had a good idea of what I was during.

Keep in mind, not suggesting that I'm an expert here.There is a learning curving in PPC and a big one. I set-up an account and then drove traffic to a squeeze page and collected names and email addresses.

Now let be clear, PPC can suck up some money real fast but all you looking to do is get a seed list.(something like 50 or even 100 names)

Closed down the account and start during Ad swaps. You can find people just like yourself with a small list. Now what you do is keep working on building upwards.

After you have two hundred on your list look for people with the same. Work all the way up to thousands. One of things that puzzle me about the Warrior Forum I don't see this being discussed.

I didn't worry to much about the original investment because it was a gift. If you want to do it correctly you must spend some money.

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Jay Vikaz

13 years ago

James,

Sounds like a solid strategy.

Thanks for sharing. I'll give it a try.

I didn't realize I could do ad swaps with smaller lists. Where can I go about finding ad swap partners for smaller lists?

- Jay

Originally Posted by James Clark

To the OP,

I don't know about Safe Lists. I never tried that. But I can tell you what my experience has been.

Follow this guy: Perry Marshall's Google AdWords Advertising & Pay Per Click Program

Buy his book and read it. Here is what I did. A friend of mind gave me a gift card. I took the card and use it to open up a PPC Adwords account. After reading Perry Marshall book I had a good idea of what I was during.

Keep in mind, not suggesting that I'm an expert here.There is a learning curving in PPC and a big one. I set-up an account and then drove traffic to a squeeze page and collected names and email addresses.

Now let be clear, PPC can suck up some money real fast but all you looking to do is get a seed list.(something like 50 or even 100 names)

Closed down the account and start during Ad swaps. You can find people just like yourself with a small list. Now what you do is keep working on building upwards.

After you have two hundred on your list look for people with the same. Work all the way up to thousands. One of things that puzzle me about the Warrior Forum I don't see this being discussed.

I didn't worry to much about the original investment because it was a gift. If you want to do it correctly you must spend some money.

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James Clark

13 years ago

There is a section right here on the Warrior Forum. But before you jump in you should use some street smarts. Get on their list first and see how they operate.

Once you start receiving emails from them pay attention to how they send out emails to their list. If the emails are full of hype you don't want to dance with them. I don't know how to explain hype to you but I know it when I come across some.

Take a look at the product or services that they offer. If they are suggesting something and they are not during it themselves, a flag should go up in your head.

Look at the signature. There a people on this forum that are trying to teach Internet Marketing that couldn't sell Horse S*** to a farmer. And he needs that for fertilizer.

You can't learn this stuff by reading. You have to test and see what works for you, and your business. Don't get me wrong, if you are a reader then keep on reading. But keep in mind that unless you test what you are reading the exact way it's written, it won't work.

All you will be during is learning words. Well, thats not so bad though! You will sound smart but you won't be making any money.

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Jay Vikaz

13 years ago

That's great Advice, James. Thanks for the tips too.

I agree the key is to TAKE ACTION from the feedback on these posts

.......and TEST, TEST, TEST.

I believe that is the best advice any reader of this thread can take away. We can learn all the techniques we want in theory.. but until we put them into practice, the money won't start flowing in.

Okay... i'm now off to take ACTION on your suggestions.

- Jay

Originally Posted by James Clark

There is a section right here on the Warrior Forum. But before you jump in you should use some street smarts. Get on their list first and see how they operate.

Once you start receiving emails from them pay attention to how they send out emails to their list. If the emails are full of hype you don't want to dance with them. I don't know how to explain hype to you but I know it when I come across some.

Take a look at the product or services that they offer. If they are suggesting something and they are not during it themselves, a flag should go up in your head.

Look at the signature. There a people on this forum that are trying to teach Internet Marketing that couldn't sell Horse S*** to a farmer. And he needs that for fertilizer.

You can't learn this stuff by reading. You have to test and see what works for you, and your business. Don't get me wrong, if you are a reader then keep on reading. But keep in mind that unless you test what you are reading the exact way it's written, it won't work.

All you will be during is learning words. Well, thats not so bad though! You will sound smart but you won't be making any money.

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AllanJames

13 years ago

Originally Posted by incomeguru

Basically, i don't believe in safelist, rather i prefer article marketing. Very good in driving massive traffic.

Oh, B.S - for at least 90% of people. as a quick look at http://ezinearticles.com/ will show, for most people each article accepted draws darn all clickthroughs.

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san1091

13 years ago

Safelists do work and I build my list daily using them.
Text ad exchanges too.

The fact is, if you use exit pops, long copy, or loud video's, you're
missing the boat.

What is it that every safe list user wants?

More Traffic
More Leads
More Money

I give them a free incentive that gives them all three for free. They
simply opt in to my list to get it.

From the list I've built I have been able to send an email offering a
webinar training for 39.99 and have gotten 25 to 40 sales.

Affiliate commissions and sign ups are common from this list.

It works if you understand how it works.

I could say Paid to click advertising doesn't work either except I paid
for 1000 clicks and got 37 sign ups. Go figure eh? lol

Just my 10 cents worth.

Thanks
1 reply

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Alexandros mathopoulos

13 years ago

Originally Posted by san1091

Safelists do work and I build my list daily using them.
Text ad exchanges too.

The fact is, if you use exit pops, long copy, or loud video's, you're
missing the boat.

What is it that every safe list user wants?

More Traffic
More Leads
More Money

I give them a free incentive that gives them all three for free. They
simply opt in to my list to get it.

From the list I've built I have been able to send an email offering a
webinar training for 39.99 and have gotten 25 to 40 sales.

Affiliate commissions and sign ups are common from this list.

It works if you understand how it works.

I could say Paid to click advertising doesn't work either except I paid
for 1000 clicks and got 37 sign ups. Go figure eh? lol

Just my 10 cents worth.

I totally agree with san1091.

They are a very powerful tool.

This is the first tool I used when i got started. it does not take a lot of time but you do get results if you do it right. And best of all a lot of them are free.

I only use the credit based ones.

Thanks
1 reply

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donsean 13 years ago

I'm going to be using safelists as a means of growing my list for my business on a massive scale. I'll share my results and post it here. I think they have some merit. I've heard of people that have built massive lists from just safelists alone and make a great living from it.

So I'm optimistic.
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Rus Sells

13 years ago

'Safe' lists are not worth the steam off your piss.

LOL That is one way of putting it, and what every one else said as well.

I could not resist I had to say something about that one liner! EPIC!

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Robert Puddy 13 years ago

Originally Posted by Rus Sells

LOL That is one way of putting it, and what every one else said as well.

I could not resist I had to say something about that one liner! EPIC!

Everyone did not say this as well i just went through the replies and only about a third of replies agreed with this. read the replies again this time open your mind before you let your tongue out for a walk
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Floyd Fisher

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Jay Vikaz

I've noticed some recommendations to use Safelists as a Fast List Building Strategy. So, I was wondering if we could get some feedback from seasoned warriors for the benefit of newbies and other warriors who haven't used this method before.

Is this an effective List Building strategy for Newbies?
What kind of Results did you get?
How long did it take?
What services have you used? And would you recommend them?
What kind of offers did you use? Free Reports? Newsletters? Ebooks?
How responsive is the list you build this way?

Finally, I guess this is what I'm driving at -

How To Build A List Using Safe Lists! Has It Worked For You? Is It Worth A Try?

Thanks,

Jay

Safe lists are a great idea in theory, but they have a fatal flaw.

The only people that join them, are people interested in pitching something at you.

What you need to do, is find a market of hungry buyers, not sellers.

Thanks

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focused

13 years ago

I tried an experiment recently with Safelists.

I sent out about 20,000 solo emails to several quality Safelists. My purpose was just to test if there are initial sales.

About half the emails had a traffic offer for $17 with an excellent video presentation. The other half had a different traffic offer for $9.95 with an excellent sales page. Also, I employed several variations of the email that was sent out.

A traffic offer would be the type of offer most likely to succeed. And the relatively low-priced offers made them very affordable.

Well, there were exactly zero sales for either traffic offer. Frankly, I was hoping for at least a sale or 2.

I know of IM'ers doing very well with Safelists who harvest subscribers to their IM lists, and then sell to them down the road. The advice I've heard from one of these very successful Safelist users is that making an initial sale is rare, but the list he develops proves to be very profitable.

At least for me, that's a strategy I will be initiating soon. Creating an IM list from Safelist users.

beep beep

Thanks
1 reply

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AllanJames

13 years ago

Originally Posted by beep beep

I tried an experiment recently with Safelists.

I sent out about 20,000 solo emails to several quality Safelists. My purpose was just to test if there are initial sales.

About half the emails had a traffic offer for $17 with an excellent video presentation. The other half had a different traffic offer for $9.95 with an excellent sales page. Also, I employed several variations of the email that was sent out.

A traffic offer would be the type of offer most likely to succeed. And the relatively low-priced offers made them very affordable.

Well, there were exactly zero sales for either traffic offer. Frankly, I was hoping for at least a sale or 2.

I know of IM'ers doing very well with Safelists who harvest subscribers to their IM lists, and then sell to them down the road. The advice I've heard from one of these very successful Safelist users is that making an initial sale is rare, but the list he develops proves to be very profitable.

At least for me, that's a strategy I will be initiating soon. Creating an IM list from Safelist users.

beep beep

Yes, you've figured it out - from trial and error it seems. Offer a valuable freebie that matches their desires and needs and have them optin to your list. Trying to sell directly on a safelist is generally a waste of time. It's much better to do the selling selling down the track to the subscribers on your list.

Having said that, if you look at the bottom link on my sig - that's a common headline I use in my ads - and even though I talk about $9 I get subscribers every day that I post to my safelists.

Actually the ad leads to a site where they have access to over $4000 worth of top class ebooks, scripts and software, all for free - with a $9 upgrade it they want access to another $9000 worth and the right to make money giving away free memberships.

So why didn't I offer the freebie right up front? It simply stems from my belief that having freebie seekers on my list, rather than people who have demonstrated a willingness to spend, at least, a small amount is less productive. I want a list of potential buyers, not freeloaders.

Thanks
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focused

13 years ago

Hey Allan.

Thanks for the comment.

I did take a look at your sig... and actually signed up.

You offer some obvious upfront value for free that attracts subscribers initially, and they can later upgrade to get the more valuable products. And you also offer an affiliate program that affords subscribers with an additional opportunity to make some money.

The overall program looks to be very well thought-out and designed.

beep beep

Originally Posted by AllanJames

Yes, you've figured it out - from trial and error it seems. Offer a valuable freebie that matches their desires and needs and have them optin to your list. Trying to sell directly on a safelist is generally a waste of time. It's much better to do the selling selling down the track to the subscribers on your list.

Having said that, if you look at the bottom link on my sig - that's a common headline I use in my ads - and even though I talk about $9 I get subscribers every day that I post to my safelists.

Actually the ad leads to a site where they have access to over $4000 worth of top class ebooks, scripts and software, all for free - with a $9 upgrade it they want access to another $9000 worth and the right to make money giving away free memberships.

So why didn't I offer the freebie right up front? It simply stems from my belief that having freebie seekers on my list, rather than people who have demonstrated a willingness to spend, at least, a small amount is less productive. I want a list of potential buyers, not freeloaders.

Thanks
1 reply

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AllanJames

13 years ago

Originally Posted by beep beep

Hey Allan.

Thanks for the comment.

I did take a look at your sig... and actually signed up.

You offer some obvious upfront value for free that attracts subscribers initially, and they can later upgrade to get the more valuable products. And you also offer an affiliate program that affords subscribers with an additional opportunity to make some money.

The overall program looks to be very well thought-out and designed.

beep beep

Smart move Fred. I've just been notified that you subscribed to my list and have joined UL.

I'll shoot you my email address a bit later in case you have any questions

Welcome!

Cheers for now,
Allan

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aula

13 years ago

safelists are people who just spam eachother

noone there is buying anything, they all just try to advertise to other advertisers

waste of time

Thanks
1 reply

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Alexa Smith Banned 13 years ago

Originally Posted by ISL.Promote

I see a lot of misconceptions here about safelists and the way to use it.

That's actually putting it mildly. (Though, to be fair, that's also true of many other subjects here, and all the more so in other forums, too).

Originally Posted by aula

waste of time

As observed and discussed above, there are plenty of people adding 200/300/400 per week to their subscriber lists using safelist traffic, and making five-figures per month from doing so, and no amount of whingeing that safelists are a "waste of time" is going to change that fact.
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celente

13 years ago

Becarful with safelists.

Why not build a real list and help people out.

I hang out on high traffic blogs and help people out and direct people to my free stuff. Then they know I am not spamming and if they like it, join my list through my squeeze page. this for me has been working like a champ for many years. Why not do something similar. This is the better subscriber to have on your own list anyway.

Just sayin!

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RobertAxelsen

13 years ago

Great thread, Jay!

I just started using safelists myself, and seeing results from the first mailing. Just make sure you have an offer that works for the targe audience (free traffic offer works for me), only use credit baser safelists, and test test test (both clickthrough and conversions

Then you'll do great.

Oh..! And remember to ditch the ones with bad results

Originally Posted by celente

Becarful with safelists.

Why not build a real list and help people out.

I hang out on high traffic blogs and help people out and direct people to my free stuff. Then they know I am not spamming and if they like it, join my list through my squeeze page. this for me has been working like a champ for many years. Why not do something similar. This is the better subscriber to have on your own list anyway.

Just sayin!

Why be careful? They all have free membership levels, and as long as you sign up with dedicated gmail account you have nothing to loose.

And why not do both. Safelists AND your blog commenting? Increasing your number of marketing media is always a good thing as long as you are willing to test and adapt.

Originally Posted by Alex Barboza

O.K So Alexa's points sound very logical. Since I am preparing myself to build a list in the IM/Make money online markets I could try safe lists. Can anyone here tell me the ones you have used succesfully?

Thanks

Traffichoopla.com and trafficzipper.com provide you with good list and where to start

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quinetta1

13 years ago

I use SafeList to gain leads.

It can be pretty quick when:

You use something like a [free] product to give away like a Detailed Report or a [free] business system.

Usually in order to this, of coarse you need a good STRAIGHT TO THE POINT capture page. (if you don't know) on the capt pg you advertise your free offer to prospects.

Use an autoresponder to send them the [free] report / at the same time; your capture page should redirect to a GREAT OFFER you provide.

Using this method, myself, I capture leads all day and some of them convert. And I usually only deal with about 20 SafeLists at a time.

Safelists are free but they can be time consuming but they also CAN build your list pretty fast.

.....Also about people just wanting to earn their own credits and in turn not viewing others' offers... not always so. If you come across something that catches your eye or is too good to pass up, you're going to take a further look into it. That's anyone. + Some people also use SafeList to expand their business/ add to their already successful file.

May not be the best for everyone, but they have worked for me. (by the end of writing this reply I just got 2 sign ups .....through a SAFELIST)

Just Trying To Help....?

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myseoclub

13 years ago

safelists are bad news

I have used them in the past and you either end up being reported for spam or that the list is of a very low quality and you wont even get a 1% click through.

If you are wanting to use lists in this way you are better off with a solo ad.

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Alex Barboza

13 years ago

O.K So Alexa's points sound very logical. Since I am preparing myself to build a list in the IM/Make money online markets I could try safe lists. Can anyone here tell me the ones you have used succesfully?

Thanks

Thanks
1 reply

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Matthew Shane Roe

13 years ago

Originally Posted by Alex Barboza

O.K So Alexa's points sound very logical. Since I am preparing myself to build a list in the IM/Make money online markets I could try safe lists. Can anyone here tell me the ones you have used succesfully?

Thanks

Quick List Profits is a good one. In addition to Adchiever.

If you want, pm me and I can give ya the links

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JamesRiley

13 years ago

the only way to make money from safe list is to advertise a software that will click for them and you monetize the download some how

Thanks
1 reply

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RobertAxelsen 13 years ago

Originally Posted by JamesRiley

the only way to make money from safe list is to advertise a software that will click for them and you monetize the download some how

Is that so?

As mentioned in this thread by several people money is being made on a daily based from safelist captured leads, and there had been no mention of it coming exclusively from software sales.
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anwar001

12 years ago

If your offer is right and if its either a free one or very cheaply priced then you might get some decent returns from safelists or traffic exchanges.

Suppose you put together a short report and some videos on how to make money from amazon affiliate marketing where you go in depth explaining them how to select a niche, choose some keywords, build a wordpress site etc, then for further lessons guide them to a reasonably priced product which is suitable for newbies (hint: you can join warriorplus or jvzoo and promote related wso's as an affiliate which are good quality ones), then you might make some decent money in the whole process as well as build a nice list of interested people to whom you can be a guide and mentor and promote just good quality products to them which will benefit them and put money in your pocket.

If people think that these safelist members are freebie seekers, then it is time to change your mindset. Many of them may be freebie seekers but a lot of them are also willing to buy products which they believe can help them make money online. Think that they are beginners in Internet marketing and don't know better what things to do rather than join safelists. So, change your mindset from considering these people as freebie seekers to thinking them as newbies who need right guidance. Suddenly, new opportunities arise in front of you as you can guide them properly and make some nice commissions in the process.

Become their friend and mentor and they are likely to become your buyers.

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genanovlis

12 years ago

one example i e-zine. It is successful if it achieves its stated marketing objective. if you have no written marketing goal for your e-zine, you have no way to determine whether it is worthwhile.

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dave147

12 years ago

Originally Posted by Jay Vikaz

I've noticed some recommendations to use Safelists as a Fast List Building Strategy. So, I was wondering if we could get some feedback from seasoned warriors for the benefit of newbies and other warriors who haven't used this method before.

Is this an effective List Building strategy for Newbies?
What kind of Results did you get?
How long did it take?
What services have you used? And would you recommend them?
What kind of offers did you use? Free Reports? Newsletters? Ebooks?
How responsive is the list you build this way?

Finally, I guess this is what I'm driving at -

How To Build A List Using Safe Lists! Has It Worked For You? Is It Worth A Try?

Thanks,

Jay

Hi Jay,
Yes they do work and yes it is worth a try!!!

Here are the answers to your questions (hopefully)

Is this an effective List Building strategy for Newbies?

Yes it is effective for newbies and seasoned IMers

What kind of Results did you get?

86 subscribers

How long did it take?

7 days

What services have you used? And would you recommend them?

The top 5 Safelists (look it up)

What kind of offers did you use? Free Reports? Newsletters? Ebooks?

Just to watch a video

How responsive is the list you build this way?

1 went on to purchase a $25 recurring item
13 went on to join another $19.95 recurring item

So you see they can and do work, you have to match the type of offer to the safelist, try optin pages or a great product at a low price, but works better for good offers just by opting in.

Dave

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anwar001

12 years ago

Great going. Nice to know you have worked out a strategy to make safelists work for you. Thanks for sharing the statistics with us.

Originally Posted by dave147

Hi Jay,
Yes they do work and yes it is worth a try!!!

Here are the answers to your questions (hopefully)

Is this an effective List Building strategy for Newbies?

Yes it is effective for newbies and seasoned IMers

What kind of Results did you get?

86 subscribers

How long did it take?

7 days

What services have you used? And would you recommend them?

The top 5 Safelists (look it up)

What kind of offers did you use? Free Reports? Newsletters? Ebooks?

Just to watch a video

How responsive is the list you build this way?

1 went on to purchase a $25 recurring item
13 went on to join another $19.95 recurring item

So you see they can and do work, you have to match the type of offer to the safelist, try optin pages or a great product at a low price, but works better for good offers just by opting in.

Dave

Thanks
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dave147 12 years ago

Originally Posted by anwar001

Great going. Nice to know you have worked out a strategy to make safelists work for you. Thanks for sharing the statistics with us.

Thanks...just one example to show that Safelists can and do work!
You can change the 86 to 97 now
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davejug1

12 years ago

Safelists and traffic exchanges are usually pretty crap but if you are smart marketer and have a product solving their particular need (i.e. traffic of subscribers) then as long as your message is short and to the point, you can make a proverbial ton of money from them.

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