Email list not making money?

I think the first thing that needs to be addressed is this question: how did you build your list of about 6,000 e-mails?

Did you build it yourself? If so, did you tell your subscribers up front that they could expect to receive affiliate offers?

I see you say you "add tremendous value" -- but is this on your site, or on your list?

In short, your site needs to be the 'vehicle' that adds the subscribers to your list. You need to make sure you add that 'tremendous value' to your subscribers, if you are not already doing so.

To wrap things up: I am going to assume that you built this list yourself (and did not purchase it, or some other method of procuring it that rendered it all but useless). After assuming that much, I will offer you the advice that if your subscribers were not provided the information upfront that, along with 'tremendous value,' they would be receiving affiliate offers, then I am afraid it might take a lot of work to build the list back into a profitable (and non-stressful) venture.

You need to build expectations and understandings from the very first 'welcome e-mail.' If you missed the opportunity, I am afraid you may have a list of 6,000 disenchanted subscribers.

Is this a list you send to frequently? As in once every other day, or at least once/week? Step 1 would be to make sure your audience recognizes you as a consistent & pleasant presence in their inbox. That does not mean a consistent selling presence.

What would you, as a reader in your niche on your list, like to see in your inbox each day? Send them that first, then go for the sale.

Did you actually send the affiliate offer in the first email itself? If yes, then that's probably why you received the complains because they are not used to being sold to by you.

Also, along with emails with the affiliate offers, you need to send them emails with nothing but helpful information and tips that they can use.

People don't like to be constantly sold to.

I don't know if you charge folks to be on your list, but if you don't you have to make money to pay for the service you provide.

That said get the stat on how many complained if the number is low well shucks even if it's not tell them how to unsubscribe. if they truly don't like ads maybe you could setup the same list but charge them a monthly for it.

Paul,

If you're list is not already conditioned to have certain expectations then it will be tough, but not impossible to make your list a huge asset.

Normally, when you are building a list-based asset of interested peeps, you want to do all of the heavy lifting before you even give the the opportunity to join and hear from you.

Since, it's a different scenario - you're going to have to play your cards different to match a decent outcome.

Here is what I would suggest you do:

1) Start sending out 2 - 4 emails a week that contain following criteria sprinkled inside of them:

a) Relevant material that is the basis for why they signed up in the first place
b) High value, actionable advice on a specific and/or confrontational topic
c) Links to free video's you make where you can offer great free content 90% of the vid - and 10% of the vid you can point them in the direct of a paid resource to get more of what you just introduced.
d) Give them strategies relevant to achieving goals and breaching barriers that they have.

If their on your list, I'm assuming you know where they are at, what their going through, and perhaps how to get them there.

Provide them with those tools, and they their eyes and ears will perk up when you mail them.

-Justin

i'm also assuming you built the list over time and didn't just buy a bunch of emails.
depending on how responsive they are to receiving your emails already, i'd either send them good lenght teaser messages with no selling and then redirect them back to your blog - so everytime you send an email you'd get a surge of blog/site visitors, continue from where the email left off and lead up to something for sale in some of these posts - or send good content via email and every so often link to a review of something for sale on your blog - but do most of the selling on your blog not in your email, use email to get them to like/know/trust you. and above all make certain to include a clear notice that they can click the following link to unsubscribe.

Show us 3 of the emails that are in your autoresponder.

Very Good suggestions in this thread.

1. Always think about the user experience
2. Makes sure that your SUBSCRIBERS are getting value for being a subscriber
3. Use more subtle techniques such as inserting the link in a newsletter rather than a full blown sell page

This is hard to answer without knowing the specifics. How did you build your list? How old is your list? Are you sending relevant, informative content along with your sales offer?

Personally I believe it's best to build a relationship with your list before trying to sell them anything!

You dont want to maintain the income from the blog that you have? Why cant you just scale things up? Throw some traffic from paid sources or something.

IMO my experience with list building has been:

1. Only subscribe people who have purchased from you.

2. Only use double opt in.

3. Make sure that the offers get responses else it is just a waste of list space.

The funny thing is, people always say 'send valuable info' to your list. Yet I never receive 'valuable info' in email. I get crap.

So do most people. That's why they complained. They thought your offer was crap.

hello,

you should send to your list some free tips or info, newsletter and add some affiliates links.

That should be ok. But do not just send them affiliates links you need to alternate, free info like nnewsletter and some affiliates links.

Hope that helps

Which niche is your list in? MMO niche? Then do one thing.

Create a small report and charge it $1 and sell it to your list. This way, you will be able to filter out potential customers and poodle fluffers Then, market products to this list.

My 2 cents .

A good rule of thumb is for every ad or selling email blast you should send 3 other helpful information or content. Keep emails to once every few days, not constantly.

Quick update - I sent an email to my list announcing that I plan to send paid offers from time to time. I also explained that they could always unsubscribe. Very few negative responses!