How did you start building your first list?

1) create a free stuff to give away (report, ebook, video, audio...)

2) sign up for aweber (I use it currently)

3) set up a squeeze page

4) start generating traffic to your squeeze page.

Fees that I've paid aweber is worth it in long term :-)

Back in November 2003, I started off with 1ShoppingCart
(it had a $2.95 30-day trial and then it went to $19/month).

I've used many other autoresponders since then (AWeber,
Infusionsoft, iContact, ActiveCampaign, etc.).

The bill has always been worth it because once you've
developed the skill to write e-mails that convert, your
autoresponder is a profit center.

If you're ready to take Internet marketing seriously and
want to start list building...

1. Get an account with AWeber

2. Set-up a Test List

3. Play around with it to learn how to use the tool

4. Select a niche to focus your efforts on

5. Set-up a squeeze page

6. Drive traffic to your squeeze page

7. Send your list content and offers that are highly
relevant to them

That's a brief overview of the process.

The most important thing is getting started and to
learn the SKILL of list building.

So, get out there, pick up the tools and improve as
you go along.

And remember...

"You don't need to be great to get started.
But you do need to get started to be great."
Les Brown

Dedicated to mutual success,

Shaun

Did you all get started with aweber right away? or did you use a free autoresponder service before switiching to aweber?

I would agree with Shaun, when I started out in early 2000's autoresponders were less reliable - I remember going with a company called ProAutoresponder who were good for years, but then decided to get out of the business.

By that time, spam was a big issue so Autoresponder service companies did not look kindly on importing lists from other platforms which meant re-targeting all of those prospects and bringing them into a new system. That was painful, case in piont - go with the platform that you see yourself with 2-3 years out - don't just make your decision based on today.

List building for me has always come rather naturally as an extension of building a broader platform online - blogs, social networks, articles, Youtube videos - all feed back to sites where list building is one of the main objectives.

Jeff

I put together a squeeze page. I put together videos and web 2.0 sites for traffic.

If you are on a very tight budget, there are better options then Aweber. For example, Mail chimp is free for up to 2000 subscribers.

I've always used aweber - dunno why, i think it was the first one I came across. Been using them ever since.

To build the list I just built a few websites and gave away a free gift on sign-up. Have a good image on the page, I find it helps to entice more subs rather than the "sign up for my great newsletter...." type of offer.

The key then is to get as much traffic to that page as possible. Track your stats and concentrate on the areas where your seeing the best results from. The old 80:20 rule comes into play here I find...

I started with Aweber and started using video marketing and article marketing to build the list. Over time I grew into paid advertising. Solo ads.

When I started I went right ahead and got Aweber.

Now I will say that in SOME niches I have actually found a free offer and building a list has hindered sales.

But in the long run having been in a quite a few niches it is ALWAYS worth building a list and you will make the bill back by the sales you get.

I started with a blogger blog and just had the email box on the side.

Then I progressed to using a wordpress blog.

Then I went to building a squeeze page just to collect emails.

Chris

I used AWeber in the penny stocks niche.

It was actually easy to get a few opt ins per day just by getting a great opt in, good posts and plenty of great quality opt in bonuses.

It was worth the 19 bucks a month within the first month or two. I made my first sale after about a week and just kept at it. Every month, the list was worth keeping around.

i started building my IM list a couple of years ago but didnt start building it properly with customers untill april 2011 when i created my first product

i also use aweber and have never had any problems with them what so ever

the most importnt thing about list building which most people dont take seriously is

(you must have a great free gift)
if you just give away the same old drivel and crap and just be the same as everyone else your not going to get much attention and your subscribers are not going to pay any attention when you next send them an email

have you ever been on someones list and when you see there email you think to yourself "cool i cant wait to see what he has to talk about today"

you want to be one of those guys that people want to hear from you

but it alls starts with the free gift, if you mess this up then it doesnt matter what else you do you will lose all trust and credibility from the get go if you just send them drivel and nothing of great value

paul

Forum marketing helped build my my first 1000. I was getting like 20-30 optins a day using different forums.

This may not be a sustainable strategy but it gave me my first break into listbuilding.

Basically what everyone said.

Dont need to repeat anymore. haha

if not i will be saying the same things.

Started building my first list a couple of months ago using Aweber and forum signatures on forums within my niche. Built that up to a few hundred and then approached some other mailers in my niche and have slowly grown it that way since.

Sitting at about 800 subscribers at the moment

I started with webinars it's a great way to get quality traffic. Good luck to you.

I started right off the bat with Aweber. In fact, a typical noob mistake that I made was to join up, and I did NOTHING with it for the first 6 months - but then I started using it and regret that I wasted that 6 months. It's pretty straightforward to use, just keep testing and sending stuff to yourself and you'll learn heaps.

I don't care how much traffic you think you can get, but GET YOUR SALES FUNNEL organised and fine tuned before you start promoting your squeeze. It will make life much easier and having a killer funnel is the absolute essence of this whole exercise

are there cheaper alternatives to aweber and getresponse that are equally as good?

Start building your first list by focusing on building relationships ... whether on forums with like-minded IMers or your prospects.

I JOINED DCSX 30 DAY CHALLENGE AND LEARNED STEP BY STEP WITH THEIR PRODUCTS TO SET UP MY SQUEEZE PAGE, SEND TRAFFIC, TRACK LINKS, AND DOING PAID SOLO ADS, THAT'S HOW I STARTED TO BUILD MY LIST.

Before you spend a dime on an autoresponder, you want to make sure your list building method is working. You can do this by installing the free word press plug-in on your site called WP EMAIL CAPTURE.

I believe your site must be using wordpress though.
But it has saved me a lot of money. Once I get my system going and get some subscribers, then I start an autoresponder service.

Aweber is only $1 for the first month and $19 after that. It was 100% worth it for me. Remember, the key is turning one time visitors into repeat customers, and my list does that for me!

When I release a new product, I can let all of them know and I generate instant sales. If I post a blog post I think they will find useful, I email them and I get instant traffic.

It is WAY worth it.

I think we've talked about it a bit for your site. Even setting up a weekly newsletter where you tell them about new blog posts you did that week will help keep those people coming back to your site every week.