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What if? (List building question)

by tiroberts
19 replies
Hi Warriors,

I like playing the "what if" game so here's one for you...

If you had to build a list of 1,000 high quality subscribers in just 30 days, from scratch, using only 2 marketing/list building methods, which ones would you use and how would you implement them?
#building #list #list building tips #question
  • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
    Banned
    Call me pedantic, but I don't monitor anything according to numbers of subscribers, myself. I think it's a mistake. (Every time I've split-tested things, by building lists in two different ways, the smaller list has always been the one that's earned me significantly more money over my 6-month test-period, so I'm just not instinctively a believer in "numbers subscribed" as a very meaningful parameter!)

    However ... perhaps the fastest way to do this, if wanting 1,000 high-quality subscribers, would be through PPC advertising, simply because it's mostly scalable. That's for people who don't mind effectively buying targeted traffic, of course. It wouldn't be my first choice.

    My first choice would be to get a few decent articles published in high-circulation ezines. If you catch their publication-schedules just right, that can easily bring 1,000 high-quality opt-ins in well under a month (to put it very mildly - clearly it can actually bring in far more than that!). You're dealing with pre-targeted, well qualified traffic, that way, without having to do the targeting and qualifying yourself. And then from there, I'd use the list-building and list-management methods outlined in this post: http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ml#post6123982

    Again, it's not a method that suits everyone, of course.
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    • Profile picture of the author tiroberts
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      Call me pedantic, but I don't monitor anything according to numbers of subscribers, myself. I think it's a mistake. (Every time I've split-tested things, by building lists in two different ways, the smaller list has always been the one that's earned me significantly more money over my 6-month test-period, so I'm just not instinctively a believer in "numbers subscribed" as a very meaningful parameter!)

      However ... perhaps the fastest way to do this, if wanting 1,000 high-quality subscribers, would be through PPC advertising, simply because it's mostly scalable. That's for people who don't mind effectively buying targeted traffic, of course. It wouldn't be my first choice.

      My first choice would be to get a few decent articles published in high-circulation ezines. If you catch their publication-schedules just right, that can easily bring 1,000 high-quality opt-ins in well under a month (to put it very mildly - clearly it can actually bring in far more than that!). You're dealing with pre-targeted, well qualified traffic, that way, without having to do the targeting and qualifying yourself. And then from there, I'd use the list-building and list-management methods outlined in this post: http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ml#post6123982

      Again, it's not a method that suits everyone, of course.

      Hi Alexa,

      Thanks for your input. I agree with your ezine method. I'd much rather have a list of 1,000 subscribers from content marketing rather than paid marketing any day. As you've mentioned, they're much more targeted and of significant higher quality.

      I've yet to spend any money on advertising to build my list. I just relaunched my blog about a month and a half ago and I've only been focusing on driving traffic/list building through high leveraged content promotion, social media and other alternative outlets - outside of seo.

      I can see how having a smaller list of high quality subscribers can be more valuable and profitable in the long term.

      If I was given the option of having a list of 500 subscribers built from content marketing and having a list of 1,000 subscribers built from paid marketing, I'd certainly pick the list of 500.
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    • Profile picture of the author Daniel Elss
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post

      Call me pedantic, but I don't monitor anything according to numbers of subscribers, myself. I think it's a mistake. (Every time I've split-tested things, by building lists in two different ways, the smaller list has always been the one that's earned me significantly more money over my 6-month test-period, so I'm just not instinctively a believer in "numbers subscribed" as a very meaningful parameter!)

      However ... perhaps the fastest way to do this, if wanting 1,000 high-quality subscribers, would be through PPC advertising, simply because it's mostly scalable. That's for people who don't mind effectively buying targeted traffic, of course. It wouldn't be my first choice.
      My first choice would be to get a few decent articles published in high-circulation ezines. If you catch their publication-schedules just right, that can easily bring 1,000 high-quality opt-ins in well under a month (to put it very mildly - clearly it can actually bring in far more than that!). You're dealing with pre-targeted, well qualified traffic, that way, without having to do the targeting and qualifying yourself. And then from there, I'd use the list-building and list-management methods outlined in this post: http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...ml#post6123982

      Again, it's not a method that suits everyone, of course.
      I like this idea, as I like just about most of your input. I feel silly for not even considering this. I think this strategy along with Solo Ads (not from just any ole provider) would be the way I go. I know ad swaps may have been the "bees Knees" at one time, maybe they still are, but they make me a little nervous.
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    • Profile picture of the author avirtt
      Originally Posted by Alexa Smith View Post


      However ... perhaps the fastest way to do this, if wanting 1,000 high-quality subscribers, would be through PPC advertising, simply because it's mostly scalable. That's for people who don't mind effectively buying targeted traffic, of course. It wouldn't be my first choice.

      Again, it's not a method that suits everyone, of course.
      Thanks a lot and short question if I may:
      How much, you suppose, it will cost to get 1,000 high-quality subscribers via PPC?
      For IM/not IM niche?
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      • Profile picture of the author Alexa Smith
        Banned
        Originally Posted by avirtt View Post

        Thanks a lot and short question if I may:
        How much, you suppose, it will cost to get 1,000 high-quality subscribers via PPC?
        For IM/not IM niche?
        Sorry, it's been too long since I've done any PPC for my answer to be helpful to you (and I've done very little altogether). Your best bet is for others to reply to that question!
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  • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
    Video + Lead player.

    </thread>
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    • Profile picture of the author myob
      Such a small list can actually be built in less than 30 days with about 3-4 articles and/or solo ads in a few niche-relevant, high-circulation ezines. Drive traffic to a decent converting product sales page with incentivized opt-in, and voilà; you'll have a list of high quality subscribers - buyers.
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  • Profile picture of the author MarketingMinded
    1. Ad Swaps
    2. Solo Ads

    If I had to do it with no money;
    1. Forums
    2. Youtube
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    • Profile picture of the author TimK06
      List swaps and Jv giveaways simply because no other traffic techniques heard in the as much targeted traffic in such a short time
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  • Profile picture of the author ronnieavelino
    I would choose Forum and Solo Ads.

    Ronnie
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    • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
      Ah yes, the "what's the best way to build a responsive list quickly" question.

      The answer?

      Depends entirely on the niche itself. Not every market responds to the same
      tactics. For example, a niche that I build one list in responds amazingly to one
      tactic I use where another niche, using the exact same tactic not only doesn't
      work well but turns into more headaches than it's worth and ended up making
      me dump the list.

      If you are looking for a cookie cutter one size fits all approach, you are going
      to be very disappointed.

      My 2 cents for whatever they're worth.
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      • Profile picture of the author tiroberts
        Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

        Ah yes, the "what's the best way to build a responsive list quickly" question.

        The answer?

        Depends entirely on the niche itself. Not every market responds to the same
        tactics. For example, a niche that I build one list in responds amazingly to one
        tactic I use where another niche, using the exact same tactic not only doesn't
        work well but turns into more headaches than it's worth and ended up making
        me dump the list.

        If you are looking for a cookie cutter one size fits all approach, you are going
        to be very disappointed.

        My 2 cents for whatever they're worth.
        Hi Steven,

        Thanks for your input. It makes sense that different tactics would work better for different niches. I'm not necessarily looking for a cookie cutter method. I've mainly been focusing on building my list through content marketing, social media, and building relationships with influencers. I think that in almost any niche, building and leveraging relationships with influencers within your niche is by far the best way to build a highly targeted/responsive list. It's dual purpose and relationships are much more valuable in the long-term (possible JV's, affiliate opps, etc.)
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      • Profile picture of the author Mindstorms
        Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

        Depends entirely on the niche itself. Not every market responds to the same
        tactics.
        I like to second what Steven said.
        I am new here, but I have scores of lists in 4 different markets (none IM related). See many suggesting ad swap and solo ads here - from all the reading these last several days it seems that these two methods work well in the IM niche...

        Even among my lists, I have to use different methods to reach my "target market" - I have to "expose" my message to wherever my market congregates.

        With that said, again depending on the market, I have used Google, Yahoo, Bing PPCs, Facebook, Media buys, Solo Ads.

        One side point: size is just one variable. I've been earning a living from a list of around 7,000 for many years. Not a big list, but they have been my repeat customers.

        Mindstorms Mike
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  • Profile picture of the author GailTrahd
    Steven - your 2 cents are always worth more and more and more.

    The tactics you use will not only net you a different number in different niches, but also different quality. I remember the days of putting up articles in IM and getting really good optin results, both numbers and quality.
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  • Profile picture of the author obin94
    The best way to get high quality leads is going to be selling a product. There is almost no higher quality way to build a list. Everybody on your list will have a better relationship with you then with a free offer, you will perceived as more of an authority, and you know the people on your list are ok with pulling out their wallet.
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  • Profile picture of the author nerdy88
    You can buy traffic.... find it in niche groups.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Kneita
    Solo ads and swaps
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    PPC and advertising on Youtube.
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    ==>> Free book reveals make money with affiliate marketing
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