List Building

List building is crucial to long term success in the Internet Marketing industry. But, did you know it’s also a great way to build a social or support networking group?

The mention of ‘list building’ brings to mind a sole purpose for many marketers. Yet list building is so much more. And when you start realizing that, your list will grow - for the right reasons - with loyal followers who become customers.

List building should be about “offering” something of value to your subscribers. Something that will enrich their lives, provide insight, or teach new information and facts. Depending on whether you specialize in a particular [niche] area, provide products, self improvement tips, or something else - the most important thing to remember: Your reader should always come first, everything else is secondary to that.

Providing quality content is a must, but it takes more than just presenting facts or figures. Did you know that your ‘writing’ has a personality all its own? And your readers will pick up on that personality. Words are more than mere content, in an attempt to ’sell something’ to someone whether they really need it or not.

If collecting names [and email addys] is your chief purpose, you are already sabotaging your writing experience - and offending your readers, thus alienating them. And if you think your readers can’t or don’t pick up on your subtlety, you are more naive than you ‘think’ your readers are.

The Gurus don’t want you to know the real truth. And we’ll get to that in more detail later. I will share real information with you. Information that you can put to work, with a little effort. So if you are serious and ready to learn, come along for a fabulous journey to build your skills.

If on the other hand, you are looking for a “get rich quick” scheme, you might as well move along to the next website for now. And when you learn the futility of that mentality, come on back.

Right now I want to pose a few questions and I also ask that you take a few minutes to think about the before you come to any conclusions:

  • Who do you think the Gurus are selling all their products to?
  • How are they raking in all that money they show you screenshots of ‘deposits’ to their accounts?
  • Do you really believe they want to ’share’ their secrets with you?
  • Do you really believe they ‘care’ about you or your success?
If you came up with the same answer for the first two questions - “YOU” - there’s hope for you yet. And if you answered the last two questions with a resounding “NO” - you are going to want to follow my future additions on this topic for sure.
Until that time, ask yourself which you would rather have:
  • A database of 10,000 names and email addys of people who are only looking for those freebies; hoping you can convert some to buyers? (Average conversion 2% or less)
  • A list of 1,000 loyal (subscribers) readers, who know they can trust you (something you never abuse) with an average conversion of 40%, 50%, or even as much as 80%?
Building a list is more about building a reputation - long term. The best way to do this is through “branding” yourself. But, you must take heed to how you present that branding. There are many ways of doing this: forums, blog comments, product reviews, article writing, offering quality products, in addition to press releases, word of mouth, friends and social contacts. But, the key point here is making your “brand” synonymous with words such as: Expert, Concise, Accurate, Credible, Fair Value and Trustworthy.
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