I know you have heard, “A list” is what an internet marketer calls the the people who sign up to receive something of value from them. Usually the marketer has a squeeze page or opt-in box, on their blog or website. This is where they get people to sign up by offering something of value for free.
This can include:
- a report
- an ebook
- a newsletter
- tips and info
- a podcast
- insider secrets
- an ecourse
- a teleseminar
As someone signs up for your list, they get the freebie and you get their email address. You might ask, “why is this important?” Well, once you have their email address you can set out to building a relationship, earning their trust and selling them products you recommend.
Studies have shown that it takes a marketer an average of seven contacts with each person before they will consider buying from you. Therefore, a list is a must. Yes, there are some marketers who can have someone come to their website and buy right then and there. That is usually a one time buy. You do not know if that person will ever come back to your site. They may have found it by accident while surfing the web. But if you got them on your list you can get them in your autoresponder where you can market to them again and again as you create more products or promote affiliate products.
You will not only be able to sell to your list but you can get feedback from them about what products they would like you to create next. You could set up a survey or poll to find out what they want. You can even gather up the questions that they have sent you and turn around and create a product out of that. You have now just created a niche product for a targeted group that have asked for the product and are probably ready to buy it.
A Cold List vs. A Warm List
You could consider a cold list as one that comes from giving away something for free in a giveaway event. There you have lured these people in for the freebie, but now you may have to do some work to keep them. Give them some value before you start promoting to them.
Start by sending emails showing some of your personality along with some no-strings-attached information. This will go a long way towards building a relationship with your subscribers. You will eventually start throwing in a few promotions also, but there is no rush. You can expect some freebie seekers to opt out of your list as soon as they receive their freebie but they were probably not going to buy from you anyway.
Now a warm list may have started out cold but they have been primed and are eager to buy from you. Many of them probably already have and because you have given them great value, they will buy from you again. Just remember to not get sloppy and stop sending value in those emails. If you keep sending nothing but promotional emails you are abusing your list and those once happy people will unsubscribe.
A list is one of the most important and best things for an internet marketer to have. It can bring you great success. You having a big list is great but the most important point is remembering they are real people. A good rule of thumb would be to send out emails that you would like to receive. That way you can ensure of them coming back for more.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:56 am
Building a list and building a relationship is the biggest thing all internet marketing need to do.
This should be the prime focus at all times.
October 3rd, 2009 at 11:40 am
Andre, I dully agree, a list is a must have. To have a warm list is certainly what everybody likes to have.
To get that you got right to the key point: A good rule of thumb would be to send out emails that you would like to receive.”
Fred
October 3rd, 2009 at 12:45 pm
You make a good point, we need to make sure to stay in regular contact with our subscribers in order to keep the list warm. If we don’t talk to them for a month, the chances of them remembering who we are is not good.
October 4th, 2009 at 11:21 am
I agree, having a list is important but what you do with that list is even more important. Once you have a trusing relationship with your list it becomes even more valuable
October 4th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
You’ve hit the nail on the head with this one, Andre – there are 2 skills that can take any marketer from zero to hero once they’ve mastered them – the ability to drive massive targeted traffic and the ability to build big opt-in lists. Great post!
October 6th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
I agree that building a list is one of the most important things that an internet marketer can do to build his business. I like the way that you describe a warn and cold list. Building a relationship with your subscribers so that the become warm to you is one of the keys to building an effective list.