Here's How To Make $$$ From A List Without Being An Expert

A lot of people never build an email list because they think they have to be an IM expert to make money from their list members. I think it's foolish to let that stop you.

Here's what I would do if I was not an expert about anything in IM, but if I had some experience doing some of the things IM'ers value.

First, write a "process" manual - a simply step-by-step guide targeting newbies. Make it about the one thing you know how to do best that most IM'ers need at some point in their business (keyword research, site building, backlinks, writing, etc.). By a "process" manual, I mean the nuts and bolts of how to do it.

Trust me, many newbies would love to have such a simple step-by-step guide when they're just starting out. So give it to them and only ask for their email address and permission to email them occasionally. Promote it here in your sig file. Maybe even run a WSO to get list opt-ins. Whatever you have to do to keep a flow of people signing up.

It's at this point that a lot of people get stuck. They get 100 or 200 people on their list and suddenly realize they don't have anything to say to them. Sound familiar?

Here's the answer to that...

Sign up to some of the more popular IM newsletters, like Web Pro News and Clickz.com. Get on several. And then become the person your list members look to for breaking news, insightful updates, the latest Google changes, what's the coming wave in social marketing, etc. etc..

Do you see how that is a great way to position yourself as a useful resource for your list members, even when you are not an expert on those subjects yourself?

Make it a point to email your list at least once a week with some new tidbits from these sources. Be sure to credit those sources! Give your opinion on what you've read.

The point of all of this is to become trusted by your readers. It's not about being seen as an expert. It's about being trusted. This is the mistake too many people that don't build a list make... they think they are not expert enough.

Trust is the key factor. Sure, if you're trusted AND an expert, you're really gonna do well with your list. But trust alone can get you a long way.

Think of journalists. Many have loyal readers, even though they are not experts. They merely report in a way that creates trust with their readers. That's your goal, too. Become a "go to" guy or gal. Get your list members to anticipate your next email because you always alert them to some cool news about online marketing.

Now you're wondering how that's going to make you money. That's actually the easy part once you've laid the groundwork and become trusted. Just find and become an affiliate for WSO's and other IM product/service sellers that get rave reviews and recommend them. Your best bet is to buy and go through them before you recommend, but that's not always feasible if your income won't support it. Fair enough. Just be really careful and only recommend the ones that get really positive reviews for at least a couple of weeks.

You should also put out a follow-up to the free "process" manual you wrote and sell that to your list. I highly recommend that step, because then you become not just trusted like a reporter, but trusted AND seen as an expert on that subject. That will result in more buyers.

There you go. I was going to take what I've just laid out and expand and give examples and make it a $7 WSO. You just got it for nothing. Act on it. As someone that makes a nice income from my IM list, I promise this is the way to go if you've been scared or unsure of how to get a list going or how to make money from it yourself if you're not an authority in this marketplace already.

John