Having your very own email list should mean much to you. However, if it doesn't, consider this. One email is sent from someone you know and the other is sent by a stranger. Which one are you most likely to open?
I would like to think it would be the one whose email address you recognize. Someone you know. Well, it is no secret that this is the same reaction you will get when you send out emails to your opt in list. They know you and are thus more likely to open your emails. Consequently if you bought a list and sent emails to them then you run the risk of being treated like a stranger. Your emails will be opened at a much lesser rate - if at all.
In a nutshell your own list will be more responsive to your emails. So why not build one? Your own list is your guarranteed traffic. We also know that traffic is the lifeblood of any website. It therefore pays to build a list of your own traffic than buying lists.
Look at it this way, if you can buy a list then so can others. In fact the list you have bought has more than likely been sold to many others. What does this mean? For starters, you will all end up sending offers to the same people who will no doubt get fed up with it all and just delete your emails without reading them or report you for spamming! This could be the end of your online business. Is it worth it?
On the other hand, you have heard it said time and again that the money is in the list. Well, this is an open secret. That the Money Is In The List is certainly not in doubt. The real question is how do you build your own email list?
Lets start with a squeeze page.
This simply a webpage with the sole purpose of 'squeezing' a name and address out of your visitor. If you are worried about squeeze pages you can simply subscribe to a squeeze page service for under $20 a month. You do not need to know html. In the long run you need a website but this will do to start your list building.
Next, you need an autoresponder.
This does the automatic delivery of your email messages once someone subscribes to your list. Make sure you use the double-opt in feature. This ensures your visitor has to confirm their email address before you send them information. Hence the term double opt-in. This protects you being accused of spam.
You must load your autoresponder with useful and very informative messages that your subscribers look forward to receiving. You can then send these at pre-set intervals. Good quality information will result in more of your emails being opened and acted on. In other words you get the right response.
The right mindset.
Building a huge and responsive list does take time, so you must have the right mindset. Are you prepared to build a long term relationship with your list? One that enables you build trust and encourages your subscribers to spend money with you time and again? It is the repeat business that brings out the money in the list.
It is important to get the right mindset so that you do not fall into that class of internet marketer who sends offer after offer and wonders why their list is unresponsive or worse why people are continually "unsubscribing". Could it be because you are seeing dollar signs instead of people? The people on your list have feelings? Treat them well and they will reward you.
Buying or renting a "safelist" can result in a poor response and spam complaints. Thinking of the people on your list as dollar signs is equally no good. Building your own list on the other hand allows you build a strong long term relationship that will in the long run bring out the money in the list!
The choice is yours. What's it going to be?
About the Author
Willi D is an online author and marketer specialising in list building and pre qualified traffic generation techniques.
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