Best List Building

There are so-o-o many ways to build a list especially if you go for some automatic software to do it for you.  This is not the best way, in my own opinion, to get your list built.  It takes a plan, time, and (yes) effort.

Some affiliate sites such as micro-sites based on one CPA product do not really lend themselves to list building.  If you create a theme-based site, however, such as on a topic like health, diet, dating, forex, or one of the many other popular (or not so popular) topics, a list is the best way to share products that you recommend and therefore can receive affiliate commissions for your recommendations.

As you grow your list and provide value in your blog posts and auto-responder emails, your income will grow.  It can be a slow but reliable and valuable way to increase your income.  Many believe that the only way to really make money online is to create and sell your own products and have joint venture partners who also promote your product.

I beg to differ.  If you build a good list, provide great value to your followers, and have good product recommendations, you certainly can make a good living online.  Then the question is “how do I build this effective list?”

First of all, you have to “care” about those who subscribe to your list.  What do they need?  What are they looking for?  How can you help them?  If it is all about you and how you can make an extra buck, it isn’t going to work–at least not anytime soon.  People can tell when you care about them.  If all you do is promote, promote, promote, then your unsubscription rate will outpace your subscribers.

Next if you care about your list, you won’t worry about its size as much as you worry about their loyalty.  If your subscribers are loyal, it means that you are providing them with the valuable information they are looking for.  It is actually easier to make a good living with a small good loyal list than a huge list you acquired with list swaps and that sort of thing.  It all boils down to “relationships.”

Now to build that relationship with new subscribers, you will need to create some follow-up emails.  The first one should just be a thank you for their trust in giving you their email.  This is a big deal to many folks who don’t want to be on a gazillion lists (another reason for not list swapping).  They should be reassured that you will try to provide them with value and never share their email with anyone else – at least not without their permission.

How many follow-up emails you create or how often you send them out is up to you.  It is often said that you should always promote something in every email or you will be losing money.  Hog wash!  Let’s worry about the subscriber, his/her needs, and developing the relationship so that they can trust you when you DO recommend a service or product.

What about broadcast emails?  They are important as well especially to share new found knowledge about your topic or area of interest.  These also do not always have to be promoting a specific product but are more likely to do so.

You are also probably aware of list building using the social networks and that is a whole different area to work in — on another day.

For now, look around and check for ideas on how you can get started with your own list building path.  You may try making a mindmap of the steps you will take being specific in each of your action steps.  Then just get started as that is the hardest part!