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can we succeed without a list

by tamtu
35 replies
Hi everybody,

I like IM but I don't want to make a list, I do have Aweber account, but I don't actually use them, so I am thinking to unsubscribe. Do you I can succeed in IM without a list. Is there anybody who is making money without a list?
#list #succeed
  • Profile picture of the author Nicholas Ho
    Owning a list is actually a long term strategy for building your business into a bigger scale.
    Yes, you May or may not make money with a list.
    But if you don't want to spend money in near future marketing stuff, I suggest you build a list now and leverage on them.

    Check all those big dogs like ebay, facebook, myspace and so on..
    They are owning your email address, aren't they building list?

    -Nicholas Ho
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  • Profile picture of the author Tony Hetherington
    Why do you want to make it so hard on yourself? Creating a list (or indeed lists) allows you to make free offers to attract people interested in you and your products and services and then send them messages to build a relationship with them to gradually build to sale after sale after sale for years to come.

    Without a list you have to make your call to action to buy from you in one step. Very, very few people will be prepared to do that meaning you'll have to work so much harder to make a fraction of the sales that a nurtured list can bring,

    Tony
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    • Profile picture of the author lindajess
      I am actually building my list. And it is a great way to make long term clients who want and use your stuff. Also, it is a terriffic way to test out your new stuff so that you can market it to get yourself an even bigger list.

      I know, I said "list" a lot...LOL

      But it's true. A list is the best way I know of to make any kind of money quickly off of your stuff. And when it comes down to it, they kind of become your online buddies because they will start to ask questions that you, being an expert in your field can answer and they will grow to trust you. When two of the same product come out, and yours is one of them, who do you think your list is going to go to? Someone that they have no idea if the product is any good? Or yours who they know they can count on?

      So, um, yeah, I happen to think that a list is incredibly important in IM.

      Does that make any sense?
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  • Profile picture of the author violationz
    You can generate consistent streams of income without a list by promoting membership sites/monthly services and somewhat consistent money using Jason Moffat's fancy YouTube trickery (just watched that 40 somethin' minute video, gonna' try that sucker out), monetized sites that get organic traffic, etc...

    But why don't you want to build lists? It's long term and it just makes life easier.
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    • Profile picture of the author Solidsnake
      Banned
      I don't have any sort of lists but I can say I am getting into a stable status... The only thing I have is an RSS that has around 5k subscribers built since February...
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    • Profile picture of the author tamtu
      Thanks for your kind response, I know list is important and we can leverage on it but do you think it actually works. I am on many peoples list and I get at least 30 e mails a day, but I only open 1 or 2 that I really am looking forward to because if I sit and read the others I get distracted from my job on hand. And I feel my list also would do the same if not for the same reasons.
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      • Profile picture of the author James Schramko
        Unsubscibe from people who pound you.

        Yes you can make huge money without a list.

        A list can be a way to leverage your business through automation and relationship building.

        I recommend you build a list even if you don't want to send much to it. Once you have emails and you need to scale up it will be much easier.
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        • Profile picture of the author Anthony J Namata
          Owning a list isn't the be all and end all, you can hack it without a list. I used to have a list with GetResponse for several niches. I canceled it in the end... after many years of pouring money down the drain with it. The only list I maintain now is my SFI list - which comes with the program - I recruit and build a downline "list" off the back of that. End of story. I asked this question at the CYN recently, wanting to know if people read their 'guru' mail and guess what? Hardly anybody does - from that survey alone! Nuf said.
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          • Profile picture of the author soffell
            as a IM ... very important to build list..
            not only to sell your product but also you can sharing new programs release, or just give your subcribers tips and tricks..
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            • Profile picture of the author jhongren
              Hi Tamtu, there are many ways you can earn money without a list.

              You can sell services and expertise you have.

              Maybe you can share with us your strengths?

              John
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              • Profile picture of the author Faisal Anwar
                I believe building a list now is the best move in IM as you can always know who is interested in what and easier to target them, however I am too lazy to compile a list
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                • Profile picture of the author lincolnn
                  can anyone recommend any great e-books on building lists?
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                  • Profile picture of the author jhongren
                    Originally Posted by lincolnn View Post

                    can anyone recommend any great e-books on building lists?
                    Hi Lincolnn,
                    I am not really sure about this.

                    Maybe the other Warriors can recommend you some?

                    Personally I do read Jay Conrad Levinson's books though not in particular about list building. But he did share that listbuilding is one of the very powerful marketing mechanisms.

                    Cheers,
                    John
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                    • Profile picture of the author Simon_Sezs
                      Don't be fooled. Listbuilding is not the end all, save all to making money online with marketing. Really, it largely depends on your business plan. Are you into building niche sites and are you an authority on it? Are you a good writer/storyteller? Is so, then building a list may be something for you.

                      That said, Listbuilding is an art all to itself and the masters (there are couple on this forum) really know how to work them and squeeze them dry. Listbuilding is not something that you can just inundate your people with offer after offer and hope to make a living with them (...wait a minute...did I just say that?....actually there are affiliates that do this with reckless abandon everyday).

                      The ones that really do a good job have a penchant for tying stories in with their offers. They know how to sell someone with a good story and you wind up clicking through not even realizing you have been pitched to. I don't think I am good at that (although maybe in a few years I may be.)

                      That said, just to give you a real world example on the power of lists, a buddy of mine in the offline world that owns a restaurant and has a list of roughly 15,000 customers recently did a favor for a guy who was trying to launch a underground sprinkler business.

                      My buddy managed to pull nearly 200 potential leads for his friend. How did he do it? He sent off his typical email (which had a coupon to his restaurant) and asked his list if they knew any good and reputable underground sprinkler companies in the area. The response was incredible.

                      • He had people suggesting businesses in the area.
                      • He had people telling him to stay away from certain businesses in the area...
                      • But here is the kicker...he had people writing back saying that they didn't know but if he found one, let them know....
                      Now this is a list of people who come to his restaurant and subscribe to his list for his coupons to eat, not to buy sprinkler systems. However, because his list trusts him, he is able to leverage that trust into other things.. And for me, it was a definite eye opener and a very good lesson that I could draw from and hopefully others can draw from as well.. But more importantly, it shows the power of having a list.
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                      • Profile picture of the author jhongren
                        Don't be fooled. Listbuilding is not the end all, save all to making money online with marketing. Really, it largely depends on your business plan.
                        Well said, Simon.

                        It really depends on your business plan and which one suit your own style and your customer most.

                        Lets say your targeted customers dont have emails, list building is not a good way.

                        At the same time, if you don't enjoy public speaking, running a free workshop (with backends) is not a good idea too.

                        So leverage on your strengths and what you want to do and do fine tuning from there.

                        Everyone starts off somewhere.

                        Cheers,
                        John
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                        • Profile picture of the author tamtu
                          Thanks , great infos, pleased to know we can also do without a list, I am not good at building one thats my problem, I tried but I didn't get it right, maybe when I get time I will try to learn the art.
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                          • Profile picture of the author jhongren
                            Originally Posted by tamtu View Post

                            Thanks , great infos, pleased to know we can also do without a list, I am not good at building one thats my problem, I tried but I didn't get it right, maybe when I get time I will try to learn the art.
                            the key difference to success is being aware of your weakness and being willing to do whatever it takes to learn and be better each day.

                            John
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                            • Profile picture of the author wellymulia
                              Hi Tamtu,

                              You probably can make a little or some money without a list.

                              However if you are not building a list, you are not leveraging your efforts.

                              This means that you have to find new buyers every single day, and expect them to buy on first contact with you, which is very hard.

                              Building a list or lists so that you can build great relationships with your subscribers is key to your success. If you want the big money, you have to build a list.

                              I can't imagine if I don't have a list. I'd be dead broke with no money!
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      • Profile picture of the author Michael Lee
        Originally Posted by tamtu View Post

        Thanks for your kind response, I know list is important and we can leverage on it but do you think it actually works. I am on many peoples list and I get at least 30 e mails a day, but I only open 1 or 2 that I really am looking forward to because if I sit and read the others I get distracted from my job on hand. And I feel my list also would do the same if not for the same reasons.

        That's why it's crucial that you balance between giving valuable content and promoting products. You can stand out and get your email read if you regularly send out stuffs that actually help people.

        And yes, you can still make money without a list. But nothing can be as sweet as pushing one button and immediately seeing orders coming through within the next few hours.
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        • Profile picture of the author clawson44
          Banned
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  • Profile picture of the author MicahF7
    Yes, you can make money without a list.
    But you can make money with a list!

    You can use a list to make money online ANYTIME. And its free (you just have to pay for an autoresponder account.)

    The bottom line is it's better to build a list so you can "print money on-demand" when ever you want!

    -Micah Rush
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    • Profile picture of the author Jill Carpenter
      Sometimes people are not ready to buy the first time around. I have made sales on the reminder email that went out to the list.

      I'm able to get a nice little surge to a blog when something new comes about.

      It is easy to make the costs pay for themselves.

      You can go without it, but I wouldn't at this point.

      You can succeed, but with a list you can dominate.
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      "May I have ten thousand marbles, please?"

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      • Profile picture of the author de2e
        Hi, this video pretty much sums it up.

        http://masscontrolsite.com/blog/?page_id=9

        You'll have to watch about 30% before he starts talking about why to have a list.

        (BTW I first heard of Frank Kern on this forum)

        Cheers
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      • Profile picture of the author sideserver
        tamtu,

        Yes, it is most definitely possible to make money without a list. I personally have a network of affiliate sites using Clickbank and Comission Junction that rake in quite a bit just by organic traffic, on complete autopilot.

        Its a good way to go if you don't want to deal with the hassle of building and maintaining a relationship with your list.

        That said, having a list is definitely more profitable if you're willing to put in the effort.

        Cheers!
        David Liang
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  • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
    Originally Posted by tamtu View Post

    Hi everybody,

    I like IM but I don't want to make a list, I do have Aweber account, but I don't actually use them, so I am thinking to unsubscribe. Do you I can succeed in IM without a list. Is there anybody who is making money without a list?
    Yes, you can succeed in IM without a list.

    However, keep this in mind: In one of the niches I'm involved in, my list is responsible for 80% of my profits in that specific niche. In another niche it's responsible for 37% of my profits (different product mixes & price points).

    If you're in a business model that can make use of a list, I think you're certifiably insane for not having one. You're literally not making as much money as you could be. For many beginners, it could spell the difference between making it or not. Why make it more difficult on yourself to succeed?

    Rod
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  • Profile picture of the author drr
    It depends on what niche you're in, but in many niches (IM included) a targeted and responsive opt in list is arguably the most important asset the internet entrepreneur has.

    As mentioned by Wellymulia, most of your visitors will not purchase anything from you or take you seriously at first contact (unless you have an already established brand name). In fact, it takes about 7 points of contact before the average visitor feels comfortable enough to buy from you - when you have an opt in list, it allows you to get to that 7th contact.

    I have several lists, and I even have different lists for clients and non clients (a client list is actually far more valuable!)

    __________________
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    • Profile picture of the author martinp
      You can make good money without a list - but you can make better money with one. I wasn't keen on list building in the beginning either, but I got to the stage where I realised that for my business to progress beyond the level I was at, I needed a more long term strategy.

      By letting your customers get away you constantly need to make more sales, but by having a list (and building a good relationship with them) you can earn more consistently with less work.

      I haven't been doing list building for very long and my lists are still small, but I'm starting to see that the bigger I build my list, the more I will earn in the long run.
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    • Profile picture of the author gley
      If you want to make quick bucks you can make it without a list. But, if you want to build a lasting business you have to build a list.

      Most of people tell you you need a list to succeed but they don't tell you what to do to build a responsive list. It is not about collecting email adresses and sending them sales pitches day after day. You need to learn what to do to get a list of people eager to open your emails.

      Let me ask you a question. Do you think it is easier to sell your product or services to a complete stranger or to a person you have had contact before; whether it's an email conversation, forum participation or even an existing customer relationship (i.e. He has bought something from you).

      Without doubt, it would be harder to sell to a total stranger who does not know whether or not you are a honest seller, and whether or not they should trust your words and believe that your product or services will truly benefit them. Read more at Work At Home Start Up Guide: How To Build a Profitable Customer Base
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      • Profile picture of the author Shannon Herod
        Well first, it depends on what your definition of success is.

        You can definitely succeed without a list, but you are severely limiting the income potential of your business.

        A list can basically become instant traffic for your websites. What that means is you can instantly turn on traffic to your website by just sending a simple e-mail.

        Now once you get good at copy, you are in essence, just clicking the give me money button on an ATM machine.

        This plan has been brought up also but, you're limiting your sales also by not following up with potential customers .

        Shannon
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        • Profile picture of the author Dan C. Rinnert
          As others have said, it depends on your business to some extent. But, in general, I think it's a good idea to have a list.

          I have one site I have made a decent amount of money on over the years. I don't have an active list for it. Currently on that site, I don't think I've had a sale all month. If I had a list, I could put together a special offer and send it out and probably get some orders. But, no list.

          I also have a fair amount of repeat customers. I bet I would have a larger number of repeat customers if I had a list and kept in regular contact with them.

          A list isn't something you use strictly for "fast cash." People talk of their lists and that a single mailing can get them $XXXX in orders, but that's not the only use of a list. The use of a list is in staying in your customers' (or potential customers') memory.

          I'm on a number of lists and, like others, I don't read most of them. But, I do read an occasional message. And, occasionally, I will buy something too from one of those eMails. The important thing isn't that your subscribers read every message; it's that they remember you.

          Can you succeed without a list? Yes. But, do you have a better chance of succeeding with a list? I would say "Yes!" to that as well.
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