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87 subscribers from a "dead site", this is why you need to build a list!

by Scott Kennedy
19 replies
Hey guys,

I received an email today from namecheap informing me that one of my domains is about to expire. I started this site last year as a little side project and it was just a WP blog with a few articles and an email opt-in for a free Ebook I wrote. It hasn't been touched since July 2010.

Around the same time I had to start my thesis and thus it got put on the back burner. I decided to check my mailchimp account just for a laugh and found that 87 people had subscribed! Needless to say I was shocked as hell. As you all probably know, mailchimp doesn't allow you attach documents so in my response email I had to send them to filefront in order to download the Ebook.

According to GA, 92% of traffic came organically and the site averaged 40-60 UV per month, making my conversion rate quite high. So I really have my keyword research to thank for this. But it just goes to show the potential of building a list. Now I'm left wondering how much money I could have made if I was proactive and kept with the site
#build #dead site #list #subscribers
  • Profile picture of the author techservice
    Chris is right but it's a nice boost for you and shows potential! Go get it!
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  • Profile picture of the author Scott Kennedy
    Originally Posted by Chris Kent View Post

    An 87 person list is not worth your time. And it isn't worth renewing a domain for a site that brings in a meagre 87 leads per year.
    Hence why I didn't renew the registration. However for a site with only 5 articles and 3 Ezine backlinks, I think it did pretty well getting any subscribers let alone 87.

    This thread is really meant for those people who come here and complain that they are making no money and flat out refuse to build a list. This just goes to show that building a list is a lot easier than certain people make it out to be.
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    • Profile picture of the author tomewer
      Originally Posted by Scott Kennedy View Post

      Hence why I didn't renew the registration. However for a site with only 5 articles and 3 Ezine backlinks, I think it did pretty well getting any subscribers let alone 87.

      This thread is really meant for those people who come here and complain that they are making no money and flat out refuse to build a list. This just goes to show that building a list is a lot easier than certain people make it out to be.
      For what's worth I agree - 87 leads for little to no work is impressive, regardless of how "worthless" it is. Maybe you could've generated a lot more if you had put the work in...I think that was your point?
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      • Profile picture of the author Scott Kennedy
        Originally Posted by tomewer View Post

        For what's worth I agree - 87 leads for little to no work is impressive, regardless of how "worthless" it is. Maybe you could've generated a lot more if you had put the work in...I think that was your point?
        Exactly my point.
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    • Profile picture of the author Scott Kennedy
      Originally Posted by Chris Kent View Post

      So how come don't now write 50 articles and get 30 Ezine backlinks and end up with 870 leads?

      I think if these subscribers were valuable then you would. But your action would indicate that they are not.
      As I said in the OP I had started writing my thesis at the time I started the site. It was on the golf niche, which isn't one I'm particularly interested it. The site was more of an experiment in customizing a WP theme than anything else. Hence I let the domain expire.

      Originally Posted by Chris Kent View Post

      Hey Scott,

      I'm not bashing you, mate. Just bringing you down to earth.

      IM is a roller coaster of emotions but a heavy dose of reality helps. Getting worked up over what are near-worthless leads is not worth it. That's all I'm saying.
      I think you've completely missed the point of this thread. My intention wasn't to "brag" about getting subscribers or anything like that. It was directed at those people in the IM business who refuse to build a list. I was merely just trying to show that building a list of potential customers is A LOT easier than they think.

      Having a discussion on whether or not 87 subscribers is worth the time of day to try and promote to is NOT what I had in mind when I started the thread.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kirk Ward
    Originally Posted by Chris Kent View Post

    An 87 person list is not worth your time. And it isn't worth renewing a domain for a site that brings in a meagre 87 leads per year.
    With the right product or service, 87 leads is certainly worth the time.

    Imagine a $497 product and a 10% conversion (a conservative rate for one of my products in that price range which normally averages 30% to 40% when I promote it.). That's around $4,000, give or take a bit.

    You like passing up $4,000? And, then there's always the potential for an upsell from there and a continuity program.

    Numbers are relative, and a blanket statement like 87 leads not eing worth the time is a blanket statement worth denigrating.
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    • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
      Originally Posted by Chris Kent View Post

      87 average leads are indeed worthless. Over time I have several lists like the OP is talking about in several niches. I once tried promoting to all of them and realised it was a major waste of time.

      Now a list of 87 buyers is a different matter altogether.
      Not necessarily. I've converted a healthy number of freebie seekers into buyers simply by making an offer so good it was hard to refuse. I posted a thread about it here a year or two ago. Made almost $3,000 from these "non-buyers" on one mailing selling a $10 package. One sale is all it takes to break the ice, then they'll buy again and again.

      If he got 87 subscribers from a dead site, just think how many he might have gotten had he tried. Of course, the list he built is probably useless now because he never communicated with them. Most probably won't remember signing up now, but it's a mistake to think people who sign up to a list to get a freebie can't be converted into buyers.
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      • Profile picture of the author DaveBeattie
        87 leads may seem worthless, but each of those leads is an individual, who is obviously interested in what you had to offer.

        How about asking the 87 people (rather than leads) on your list what they'd like, and build up a relationship with them - you might be able to give them exactly what they're looking for, and put some cash in your back pocket at the same time!
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    • Profile picture of the author magnates
      Originally Posted by Kirk Ward View Post

      With the right product or service, 87 leads is certainly worth the time.

      Imagine a $497 product and a 10% conversion (a conservative rate for one of my products in that price range which normally averages 30% to 40% when I promote it.). That's around $4,000, give or take a bit.

      You like passing up $4,000? And, then there's always the potential for an upsell from there and a continuity program.

      Numbers are relative, and a blanket statement like 87 leads not eing worth the time is a blanket statement worth denigrating.
      I could not agree more. It you build a proper relationship . You can still monetise your list of 87 people . It is response that matters not so much the size of the list . You want them to buy .If 10 people buy like he rightly said , you got your money back and some profit .
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  • Profile picture of the author rockyonfire
    WOW that's is great. Now you should put some time in developing that website.
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  • Profile picture of the author Andrew S
    nice job but the longer those leads age the colder they get

    you should spend more time on the site and make something out of it, judging from your conv it could be a winner for you
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  • Profile picture of the author Coby
    Originally Posted by Chris Kent View Post

    An 87 person list is not worth your time. And it isn't worth renewing a domain for a site that brings in a meagre 87 leads per year.
    87 leads...
    Cost of domain $8-$12...

    Cost per lead = $0.09 - $0.14 each...

    I'm not genius, but anytime I can get a lead on my list for less than a dollar I consider it a smart investment...

    Why didn't you renew this domain?
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    • Profile picture of the author Gary J Martin
      Originally Posted by Coby View Post

      87 leads...
      Cost of domain $8-$12...

      Cost per lead = $0.09 - $0.14 each...

      I'm not genius, but anytime I can get a lead on my list for less than a dollar I consider it a smart investment...

      Why didn't you renew this domain?
      You have a point, however I can see the reason he didn't renew the domain was because
      its a niche he has little interest in. And it's a dead list.
      If he emailed the 87, many would either ignore his email or unsubscribe.
      The reason he wrote the post was to show that "building a list isn't that hard, look at my example. Imagine what you could do if you put some effort into it."
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