Missing Ingredient to Building Your Own List

I am assuming you are here because you are an aspiring online marketer and are still looking for more success.

If you have been around the internet for very long, you have heard that "the money is in the list".

That sounds simple enough but the question is, "Okay, how do I get the list?" In fact, after awhile, you scream, "Tell me what button to push and I will push it!"

Before I reveal the missing ingredient, let's take inventory of what you might already have.

auto responder product or opportunity to sell a web page to direct people a way to collect payments

All the above are good and important. You need to understand how to properly use them... but none is the missing ingredient.

Maybe you have purchased lists, software or programs that promised to bring traffic. This traffic would help you build a productive, personal list. It didn't happen. You begin to realize there is no magic formula for you. In fact, you wonder is there anything that will work for you?

In summary, you can have all of these yet not have that elusive list. Why? Because you don't have the traffic you need to build the list! It's a mad cycle. You're mad. You become frustrated, very frustrated.

Time out!

So have you figured out what is missing? You might be thinking it is a certain method you have overlooked. No, not really.

Your head may be spinning from all the different methods successful people have shared for building their lists.

You have come to the conclusion these methods don't work. False! They are scams! False! In most cases they are probably legit. (Don't get me wrong, there are scams but sometimes people are too eager to call a good product a scam.) So what is missing? There are several things I have learned through this process of frustration and learning:

There is more than one way to build a list and get traffic - various effective methods Most methods you have heard about probably work to some degree.

The missing ingredient, I discovered was not the method but my Determination and Consistency to apply one method at a time. Wanting things to work quickly (perhaps false expectations because of the hype), I had given up too soon and become discouraged.

My next move was to jump to another method or plan and I would repeat the same downward cycle. This may sound simplistic but it truly is the key ingredient to building a wildly profitable list. Determination and consistency in my efforts.

Are you ready? You probably already have many of the tools. Let's go! Now that you are ready to apply yourself, where is the best place for you start?

I suggest a free seven part e-course that will have you on your way to creating the big, responsive list you have always dreamed of. This course will help keep you on track. Be determined and start today!

Surefire Ways to Boost Your List Using Article Marketing   Your First Giveaway Event   

An Email List Building Key: Creating A High Converting Squeeze Page

Building an effective responsive email list full of eager buyers for your product or service has more than just one step, however where it all starts is with a high converting squeeze page that entices your web site visitors to join your email subscribers list.

Having a list of this kind will enable you to directly send valuable relevant content to your subscribers from your target market, so you can develop a positive business relationship with them as well as establish yourself as an expert in your particular niche market. If you are someone who would like to know some of the basic elements for identifying or creating the most effective squeeze page you can, below is a quick description of what your page will need.

Headlines That Grab Attention And Compel

The squeeze page's headlines ought to be the primary thing that the web site visitor spots and so it must draw in their attention, while keeping them concentrated for enough time to allow them to become a validated subscriber of your email list.

The size of your headlines text needs to be bigger than all of the other text in your squeeze page, and then for enhanced visibility, you can add color to your headline font (red and blue is very effective).

You might like to think about highlighting your headline as well as any sub headline which you use. You may use the "h1" and "h2" tags to increase the size of your headline text, that won't just aid in getting the attention of your site visitors but will in addition notify search engine crawlers that this bigger text is different and significant.

Make every effort to make sure your headline is properly centered on the template and attempt to position your opt-in box so that it is nearby the headline. If you work with a CSS structured squeeze page, your opt-in box may be put in a right column, that includes a bullet-ed list of benefits presented in the primary body of your page.

The Body Or Content

It is important when creating your content to keep it down to only the most important information you need to give. Stay away from squeeze pages that contain to many paragraphs an words with worthless information. The main reason for your squeeze page is to convert your visitors into subscribers, stay focused on keeping your content straight to the point, clear, compelling and certainly understandable.

Split testing your squeeze pages to see which one does the best is a good idea for increasing your rates of conversion, but here is a brief description of how you could format your squeeze page content so that is more understandable, easy to read, and get you more sign-ups.

1. Highlight Your Benefits By Using Bullet Points

To point out the important features and bring out the specific benefits of signing up to your email list make use of bullet points. For directing your visitors to the benefits and what you have in store for them in exchange for them joining this is an awesome and effective technique.

2. At All Times Be Sure To Maintain Focus

Stay focused on converting your visitor, don't add any external links in your squeeze page. This may act as a distraction and direct your potential email list subscriber to leaving your page before they sign-up. The only thing your visitors should be directed to is opting in to your list. Be sure to keep your purpose clear and to the point, and that's to get that sign-up.

You don't want any widgets, plug-ins, or menus to act as distractions so don't use them. Your squeeze page should only consist of headlines, opt-in box, bulleted list, and a privacy policy all on one page. If any information is not designed to getting subscribers leave it out!

3. Make Your Call To Action Loud And Clear

This is one of the most important elements of an effective squeeze page, you need to make sure your visitor knows what you want them to do. So tell them exactly and specifically to fill out your opt-in form then confirm if you want to successfully gain new subscribers.

Keep in mind, you have to make it clear what you want your squeeze page visitor to do, everyone will not be familiar with this sign-up process, you have to let them know.

The information mentioned above will certainly aid anyone in creating a squeeze page that is sure to convert visitors into email list subscribers. The information will also help you recognize an effective squeeze page template when you see one.

Surefire Ways to Boost Your List Using Article Marketing   Your First Giveaway Event   

How to Build an Opt-In Email List

If you own a website or blog, you might want to consider building an opt-in email list on it. While this is not a necessity for every website or blog, it still can be beneficial to have it.

Given that this is the age of spam, building an opt-in list may not always seem easy to do; nevertheless, it can be done. Thus, you should give it a try for the sake of building followers.

Building an Opt-in List

The first step to building an opt-in list is having an area on your website that allows people to sign up. There are differences of opinion as to where you should place this subscription button on your site.

However, a good rule of thumb is to give visitors a chance to sign up from your home page. After all, this is where their search will likely begin. Therefore, having a sign up option at this particular location gives you a chance to capture their attention firsthand.

When designing your opt-in list subscribe button, make sure you do not go overboard. If you do, people will be turned off by it instantly. Additionally, add a disclosure. This states that you will not spam or sell any email addresses. Believe or not, this one step can grow your opt-in list more than you can imagine.

People like to feel they can trust whomever they're giving their private information to, and with a disclosure, you're assuring them that they can trust you.

Reasons to Build an Opt-in List

People often wonder why they should build an opt-in email list in the first place. Here are the reasons why you need to:

· You'll have vital information such as the names and email addresses of people interested in your site and any future offers from it.

· You can use this same email opt-in list to make sales in the future.

If your website or blog represents a store front business, then having an email opt-in list is much better than cold calling. With cold calling, you are taking a risk on whether people even want to be bothered with you.

On the other hand, an opt-in list provides interested parties with the opportunity to sign up and follow your site for more information, including future offers.

Building an opt-in list is a grand opportunity for your business to thrive. So take full advantage of it. It's well worth it in the end.

Surefire Ways to Boost Your List Using Article Marketing   Your First Giveaway Event   

Why Writing Good Copy Can Save Your Business Today

There are a lot of posts out there about marketing strategies, lead generation and brand building but what I've noticed is that there aren't a whole lot of posts about how to write good copy.

In my opinion, I think being able to write good copy is the most important skill in online marketing.

Why?

It's what enables you to turn leads into buyers and business partners.

What's the point in having hundreds or thousands of leads if you can't convert any of them into sales or new recruits?

So I'm going to take some time here to share with you some really good copy techniques that I've learned from buying courses and attending copy writing webinars so you can take your business to the next level.

Some Principles You Must Take Into Consideration When Writing Good Copy

Now before I share with you my little nuggets I'll define what copy writing is so you fully understand what I'm about to tell you.

Copy writing can be defined as "the act of writing copy for the purpose of marketing, and advertising a person, business, opinion or idea".

So just to set things straight, copy means words or text.

Now the purpose of writing good copy is to persuade the reader, listener or viewer to take a certain action.

Now this could be asking them to subscribe to you, buy a product, or leaving a comment on your post.

Good copy technique #1: Write How You Talk The reason why this is important is because you want your readers to be able to relate to what you're trying to say, and you can't do that if you're writing like you're aiming to get an A+ or 100% score in an English exam.

Not only will this bore your readers brain into oblivion but they won't be able to get to know the real you. People want to work with people they like and trust and they won't buy from you let alone want to work with you if they don't know the real you.

Good copy technique #2: Know Your Audience I'm sure you've heard of the saying, "You can't sell steak to a vegetarian".

Be aware that if you are not talking to the right person (someone who is looking for what you have to offer), you will not get them to buy from you.

You could be the best salesperson in the world, but if you're talking to someone who does not care about what you're saying, then you're just wasting your breathe.

So what you should do is research who your target audience is. You must know who you're talking to. You can't just type your copy out hoping to pull in as many readers as you can. Not only are you spreading your message too thin, you're not attracted quality leads for your business.

Good copy technique #3: Tell Stories in Your Copy Everyone loves a good story. Even better if it's an inspirational story that makes people feel good after reading it.

When you tell a story, you're telling your readers that you're a person who has struggles, triumphs, setbacks and wining moments just like everybody else. When you take people on an emotional journey, they are more likely to associate the feelings involved in the story with their own emotions.

When they identify with the story that you're telling, you just helped your prospect form a likeable relationship towards you.

Good copy technique #4: Motion in the story Elaborating on my last point, people will become more inspired when your story starts at a low point. Now this is the point where the person in the story is either struggling, broke, or unemployed.

This creates empathy and builds an automatic want for the little guy to turn things around.

If you follow this up with an all time low phase which becomes the turning point in the protagonist's life, this not only makes the protagonist more likeable but it creates hope that everybody too, can make a change in their lives as well.

Creating hope and inspiring people is key here. Always end the story on a positive note.

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List Building Tips - Videos

In this installment of List Building Tips, I want to focus on videos. I know I talked about social media in general in an earlier installment but I feel that videos deserves a more in depth explanation because, quite honestly, most people don't have a clue how to do them properly. Hopefully, after reading this, you'll have more than a clue.

When somebody mentions the word "video" the first thing most people think about is YouTube. Granted, YouTube is the king of video sites but it isn't the only one. Also, just because you create a video doesn't mean you have to ONLY put it on a video sharing site. There are other options that I will cover in this article.

Obviously, you DO want to submit your videos to YouTube but you also want to use other video sharing sites as well. You may not get as much traffic, but every visitor counts, especially if your video is done well. We'll get to the video specifics later.

But in addition to video sharing sites, you also want to put your video on your own site, whether it be a blog, static web site or even your sales page. Sometimes, people don't buy right away. A video on your sales page, plugging your newsletter, could be an effective tool to get them onto your list so that you can follow up with them in the future and turn them into a buyer.

Another thing you might want to do with your videos is place them in your products. A one time buyer, seeing these semi promotional videos for your list just might subscribe and turn into a long time buyer. Again, if the video is done properly and the product they bought was good, the chances are quite good.

Okay, so just how do you actually create these videos? The process is really quite simple. A good list building video should be broken up into three parts.

Part One - An introduction that hits their hot buttons. You want to get them interested in what's to come next. For example, for the dating niche, you might start with an eye catching headline such as "Discover How To Get Any Beautiful Girl You Want." This will catch their attention and get them to watch what's coming next.

Part Two - The actual content where you give a brief summary of how to get any beautiful girl. You don't want to go into too much detail because you want them on your list in order to get more information.

Part Three - You pitch your list. Something like, "For more information on this subject, visit (give URL) and join my (give name of newsletter) and you'll be on your way to (give main benefit)."

The process is really that simple. Yes, it's kind of cookie cutter but it works. There is a reason why you see so many videos that are presented in this manner. There is an old saying that's quite true. You don't have to reinvent the wheel to be successful.

There you have it... a great way to use videos to build your list.

Yes... it works.

To YOUR Success,

Steven Wagenheim

Surefire Ways to Boost Your List Using Article Marketing   Your First Giveaway Event   

List Building Tips - Syndication

In this installment of List Building Tips, I want to discuss syndication; what it is and how to properly go about getting it. I think you will find this interesting reading.

I actually need to start this article off by dispelling a myth that has been going around for a long time. Many marketers feel that having an article appear in more than one place is duplicate content and will thus be penalized as such. So let me clear this myth up before we go any farther.

Duplicate content is when you take the same article and have it appear more than once on the SAME domain. The only actual penalty for that is the article will only be listed in the SERPs ONE time. But you will NOT be penalized for doing this. Your site ranking won't go down. You won't get thrown out of the SERPs. There is no benefit, but there is also no real penalty.

For proof of this, go and look up a current news story and see how many sites are running the EXACT same news story written by the same exact agency, usually AP or UPI. This is called syndication and it's a wonderful thing.

Ultimately, what you DO want is to write an article that is SO good that many authority sites in your niche pick it up and publish it on THEIR site. And if you think this is of no benefit to them because (1) they didn't write the article and (2) because the article is all over the place, think again.

There are sites out there that literally make their living off of publishing syndicated articles. They haven't got one piece of original content on their site and it doesn't make a darn bit of difference. Again, the proof is out there. Just go digging through some of the top niches and you'll find them.

The trick, for YOU, is to write articles GOOD enough to be syndicated. For some folks, that's a mountain and a half to climb.

For starters, they can't write. Their words are like those out of a 3rd grader at best. Add to that the length of some of the articles that people write (a few paragraphs in many cases) and it's no wonder that nobody wants to publish them on their site.

In order to get your articles syndicated, you must write very well, have a beginning a middle and an end, stay on topic, and have your articles be a decent length. A minimum of 500 words to get any decent site to consider publishing you and as many as 1,000 to 1,500 words or more to get the top sites to even look at your articles.

I don't write all my articles for syndication. In fact, this very one is something I wrote simply because I felt it was a message that needed to be sent to article writers today. The years of 300 word pieces of dog meat that used to pull in tons of traffic are over.

Now, there are two ways to get your articles syndicated. One is direct and one is indirect.

The indirect way to get your articles syndicated is to submit them to article directories and hope that a top site sees them, likes them, and publishes them.

The direct way is simply to contact the top sites yourself and ask them if they'll publish your articles. Don't laugh. If you have a top product, you'll get many to say yes.

Ultimately, with syndication, you write one article, submit it one time, and end up with hopefully dozens of sites publishing it because it's THAT good.

I've lost track of how many of my articles have been published elsewhere.

One last word. Don't depend on article directories for direct traffic to your site from the directory itself. You are using them for what they are intended to be used for, and that's to get OTHER sites to pick up the articles FROM the directories and publish them on THEIR sites.

The more times your article gets published, with a link back to your list opt in, the more chances you have to build your list.

Once you understand that, you'll understand just how powerful syndication is to list building.

To YOUR Success,

Steven Wagenheim

Surefire Ways to Boost Your List Using Article Marketing   Your First Giveaway Event   

The Easiest and Fastest Way To Build A List Of Targeted Subscribers in 2 Steps

This guide is intended only for internet marketers who have all the platforms ready (a targeted website, autoresponders and affiliate/ own products for sale). If you are still half way there, then get your systems go before you may proceed.

Step 1: Look for great solo advertisements ('solo ads')

Your initial step is to grow the number of subscribers. Do a search on the internet to look for reputable websites that have members who sell solo advertisements and advertisement swapping. These websites contain like-minded members who sell solo advertisements and also conducting advertisement swaps with reviews from those who have utilized and traded with their services.

What you can do is go through the reviews given to respective sellers of advertisements. Shop around on who can sell these clicks with better value for your money. Message them and ask if the clicks they offer will match the kind of niche you are targeting for.

Remember, your ultimate goal is to build a huge list first. Sales is still secondary (although there is no harm in getting some sales from these advertisements which is not surprising).

Step 2: Swap your list with others ('ad swaps')

Preferably proceed to this step when you have at least 500 subscribers in your list. How it works here is you will be looking for another internet marketer who are willing to swap his predetermined number of subscriber he has with yours.

For example, if you have decided to go for 200 subscribers for a trade, you will request a promotion email from your advertisement swapper while you will be doing the same. The swapper will forward your promotion email to his/her intended number of subscribers while you will be forwarding his/ her promotion email to your same number of subscribers.

It is not really an exchange of subscribers between two parties but it is just an agreement to promote a counterparty's product and services to an agreed number of subscribers.

Expected Outcome After Performing These 2 Steps:

After Step 1, you will experience a sudden increase of subscribers. However, you have to make sure the website is enticing enough and easily navigable for your potential visitors to become your subscribers. It takes another guide or article to teach you how to construct an enticing website.

Step 2 can be repeated several times with many other members who are ready to do swapping with you. Try not to do this too often as it will dilute the quality of your subscribers due to too much exposure of other marketer's promotions. Also, you have to make sure that your counterparty is trustable enough to swap as some marketers have been found to fail their honor to not promoting the email to their own agreed amount of subscribers.

Surefire Ways to Boost Your List Using Article Marketing   Your First Giveaway Event   

How To Build Your Email List Fast - Improve Your Sales With This Method

How to build your email list fast is something that the successful internet marketers is one of the biggest problems that people have.

There are two types of internet marketers, those that put in the time and effort to build their list and reap the rewards and those that cannot be bothered to put in the effort and just go around trying to sell their product to anyone.

If you are the second type who does not want to put in the effort then I suggest you stop reading this article now. This is only for those who truly want to be successful online.

Let us start with the basics. In order to build your list you have to get the persons e-mail address. In order to do this you first have to get the persons attention. The best way of doing this is to offer them something of value that will solve a problem that they are having or will make life easier for them. The best method is to send them the item by e-mail. Most people are willing to do this but they often do not give you their primary e-mail address. This is OK though because you just need to be able to contact them.

So what sort of page captures the person's attention so that they will give out their email address? Firstly the page has to look as professional as possible. You can either create your own page or get one made by a professional. If you are just starting out then I would recommend you take the time to learn how to create your own web page. It takes a little bit of time to learn how to do it but it is a skill that can make you a great full time income. This page is what is called a squeeze page and its sole function is to captures the persons email address. Do NOT try to sell to them at this stage; you are only after their email. Now you have to decide what your free gift will be. One of the best ways is a free ebook that solves the person's problem. This can be sent to them only they give you an email address to send it to.

Do you see how it works now? Explain how your free gift will solve their problem and list some of the benefits of getting this ebook. You want to make them feel that they must get this ebook. To further encourage the persons to get it straight away you could say that the offer will be taken down very soon so they must act quickly. Encouraging urgency is the key, use your imagination to come up with ideas. You could say that after a few days they will have to pay to get it, which is why they must act now to get it for free.

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Practical Content Creation: How Well Do You Know Your Market?

Let"s say a fisherman went out to fish in the Pacific Ocean. Before going, he made the biggest, sophisticated net there was during his time. He learned all of the fishing tips and techniques available. He felt confident about what he was going to accomplish. He said good-bye to his friends and family before embarking upon his adventure. He knew what to do when he got to the Pacific Ocean... which was, to cast his net. He also knew the Pacific Ocean had all kinds of fish. Just the thought of casting his net in such a large body of water gave him great excitement.

At last he was in his ship and on the Pacific Ocean. He reached the spot suggested in his fishing courses; but he decided to go further for a bigger catch. He took a deep breath, thought about all he went through to get here. He cast his net! This was the moment for which he had longed and worked so hard.

He felt the weight of the net. He drew up the net carefully. How many fish could there be, he wondered. Just the joy of having caught so many fish on his first trip kept him going. He pulled and pulled. The task of drawing up the net into the ship was tedious.

He pulled with all his might and at last he got his net out of water. He dumped all of his catch on the floor. First, he was in awe of what he saw... He had caught so many different kinds of fish and other sea creatures. Then disappointment began to set in. Some of his catch seemed strange... he did not know what to do with them. How could he separate his catch? Which ones could he throw back into the ocean? This, he thought, would take so much time and energy. What could he do?

What would you do?

Target Market, as defined by biztazlaw.about.com is a specific group of customers which you have identified who have needs or problems which your products or services can fulfill.

Identifying a target market is a critical component to the formula of your success as a coach or business owner. Many opportunities open up for you with a target market.

Here are just few of the benefits of having a target market:

You know what your target market needs and wants to solve. You become known and recognized in that specific market. You know where to find them. You know who they are and how you can serve them. You are seen as an expert. You can write directly to them.

Three Ways to Identify a Viable Market

1. Identify a market based on who you are, your experiences, and your expertise.

2. Identify a market that you're surrounded by-- Do you have exposure to many contacts in a specific industry? Or did you grow up surrounded by restaurant owners/managers, or people in politics, medicine, sports or other markets?

3. Identify your market arbitrarily. You do not need to be an expert in a particular market before serving them. Identifying a viable market you know little or nothing about should make you want to know more about that market; and in your efforts to learn more, you build and develop a strong rapport with this market.

What Makes a Market Viable: Three types of questions to Help You Find Out

1. Are the people in this market accessible? Can they be found in groups? Are there several ways through which I can get in front of a large number of them? Are there avenues available to access them?

2. How about the size? Is it narrow enough that I can stand out in the crowd and be able to connect with them regularly?

3. How about their purchasing power and desire? Is this market motivated to invest in their desired solution? Are the people in this market seekers who will invest in their personal and professional development?

Six Categories of Potential Viable Markets

Professional Markets (Life Coaches, Financial Planners, Lawyers, etc.) Small Business Markets (Speakers, Web Designers, Home-based Business Owners, etc.) Holistic Practitioner Markets (Massage Therapists, Chiropractor, Herbalists, etc.) Entertainment Professional Markets (Producers, Directors, Talent Agents, etc.) Position Markets (CEOs, HR Managers, Call Center Managers, etc.) Your own... Do your research and come up with your own potential viable market.

Action Plan

Ask yourself these questions as you identify your target market... write down your answers.

1. Who is my market?

2. What do they value? Are they men or women? How old are they? What are their demographics? What experiences have they had or are having? What do they do for a living? What gifts and talents do they have?

3. What attracts me to this market?

4. What knowledge and expertise do I bring to this market?

5. What do I need in order to serve this market?

Surefire Ways to Boost Your List Using Article Marketing   Your First Giveaway Event   

How To Take Simple Steps Toward Your Email List

Your business and how to take simple steps toward your email list is partly about how to help one person. Then it's about how do you take simple steps toward your email list where you're doing the same thing for lots of people!

That's because business is about serving. Your email list is how to serve lots of people so you can get paid.

How do you take simple steps toward your email list?

Step 1. You decide.

When you decide you're going to take simple steps you're doing the most important first step.

Taking action begins with a decision. You decide!

Step 2. You think.

Your own personal thoughts in being willing to do a phase of preparation matters. You'll find over time that the part where you become willing to think is a key to success online.

You think and that's a most important part of how to take simple steps toward your email list!

Step 3. You jot notes.

Nothing fancy! Simply as you start thinking about getting email addresses you jot a few words.

In fact you can start right now. Grab a piece of paper and write on the top, "How do you take simple steps toward your email list?"

Step 4. You plan.

Keep it simple! Plan to make notes whenever you think of an idea. Planning matters so you won't feel frustrated when you have a fleeting but great idea.

You don't want to forget it! But if you don't plan to capture it? You won't.

Your idea when it pops up and gets written down prompts more ideas. Plan to get in the habit. Gems will pop up. Collect your gems.

Plan to recognize any and all ideas in writing. That's how to take simple steps toward your email list.

Step 5. You notice.

As you communicate about your business notice your who, what, when, where and whys! That seems funny but it's a good way to remember.

(a) Who do you communicate with?

(b) What about?

(c) When do you tend to do so?

(d) Where does it tend to take place?

(e) Why does each message happen?

As you notice, make notes about who you are connected with. Doing so live, in the moment, is how to take simple steps toward your email list. Because you don't have to conjure up the who, what, when, where and why when you notice and record as you go.

Surefire Ways to Boost Your List Using Article Marketing   Your First Giveaway Event   

List Building Overview

With so much information out there it's easy to think that everyone (except you) is busy building their list and making money. You struggle to sell things online, when you don't need to.

The good news is that you really can begin building your own mailing list, today, by taking some specific actions.

So, why would you want a mailing list of your own?

In the history of the Internet it has been observed that a full 99% of people who succeed online long-term have a list of their own. Now that's not scientific but it's true. When you have a list of your own you completely eliminate advertising costs. I mean completely. With your own list you can promote anything you want any time you want and as often as you want... for zero cost.

To gain a little understanding, let's look at the who, what, when, where, why and how of list building.

WHO SHOULD BUILD A LIST?

There is an easy answer to this question. The answer is... anyone who is serious about building an online business or making money online.

If you are marketing online as a short-term thing and you aren't really committed to succeeding online, then list building is probably not right for you.

The reason is simple - once you have a list you need to stay in touch with them and let them get to know you a bit so they can like you, trust you and buy from you.

Please notice that order because it's important. They need to like you before they can trust you. And they need to trust you before they will buy from you!

WHAT IS NEEDED TO BUILD A LIST?

A squeeze page. You can use a blog (or other page), but squeeze pages work best. An auto-responder to capture leads and send follow-up messages. Something of value to get people to join your list. People care about WIIFM (what's in it for me) and providing a high-value "subscriber magnet" works well. Video series and downloadable PDF reports work especially well. Email messages you can send automatically to the people who sign up for your list. Great products to promote to your list. The goal is to make sales, so provide helpful articles about a specific problem and then offer to solve that problem for your reader by suggesting a product. Don't push the product, the sales letter of the product will do that. You just sell the click by creating curiosity. Targeted traffic. Simple, yet important. Once you have your system in place you want to market to people who you KNOW need what you are offering. It's called target marketing and it is the most important skill online.

If you have, or can learn to get, these six things you will have all you need to build a real and lasting online business.

WHEN IS IT SMART TO BUILD A LIST?

If you are not building a list now, it's time to get started.

If you see the logic of needing a list, commit to doing something every day toward building your own list.

I have spoken with literally thousands of people and can tell you that they ALL wish they had begun building their list when they started working online.

Most lost huge amounts of time trying this system and falling for this other hyped-up deal. We've all been there.

All we have is today. And today is the PERFECT time to get started building your list.

WHERE CAN I START BUILDING A LIST?

The best place to get started in my view is Aweber. Aweber is not only the best auto-responder, but they have an incredible free series of videos to teach you the steps you need.

WHY WOULD I WANT TO BUILD A LIST?

Easy: to make money by selling things. That might mean affiliate marketing or selling your own product or something else.

But if you are online to make money then list building matters... a lot.

Here's another reason - when you have a list, you become a sought-after joint venture partner. You might not believe me right now but trust me when I say that if you build a powerful list the top marketers online will come a knockin' on your door. They will want to reach YOUR audience. How cool would that be?

HOW CAN I START BUILDING A MAILING LIST?

The first step is to see the big picture. I hope this article helped you do that.

Take a moment to review the six points in the "What is needed" section above. Use it as your list-building blueprint if you like.

I will tell you that having a mailing list of my own, and knowing what to do with it and how to develop trust and relationship, has been the most profitable thing I've ever done online.

About twice a year I'm asked "what would you do if you lost everything - how would you start over?"

My answer probably won't surprise you -- I would focus 100% of my efforts on building a list and giving the people on that list incredible value.

Once you do that selling takes care of itself and becomes automatic.

And having an automated selling system (or 12 of them) is a beautiful thing indeed!

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Call to Action - 5 Creations to Get Your Visitors to Subscribe

Now, your visitors have arrived at your squeeze page. What you want them to do next? Subscribe, duh! Sounds simple, huh? However, getting your visitors' names and emails does not sound as easy as you think. That is why we need to tell them what to do using a strong call to action which we will be discussing in a short while. I've dissected a call to action into 5 parts - the 5 C's so that we can discuss each part in details.

Part 1: Create curiosity

Arouse their curiosity by telling them that you just discovered something recently or by asking them questions which make them want to know more. Try something like "Do you know why 95% of internet marketers fail to make a living online?" This rhetorical question stimulates their brain to start thinking and will be eager to find the answer.

Part 2: Create values

Next, instill values from the product you are about to offer them, regardless of whether your product is free or paid. The best value that you can provide them is the testimonials from your previous customers or subscribers that your product actually works! For example, "My friend has recently shared with me the system he used to generate a consistent 5-figure income, monthly"

Part 3: Create exclusiveness

This will be the answer to a multi dollar question that visitors always ask, "What's so special about your product?" Stress that this product isn't their buy 2 free 1 groceries they can get from every mini market. So, write something like "He told me that he spent a total of 4 years to perfect this system and I'm the first to know this"

Part 4: Create branding

When you heard somebody says "Just do it!" what do you think of? This is exactly what you want to do with your product. Give your product a brand by telling them "This Niagara Cash Flow exactly describes the perfected system which suddenly makes the money flows into his pocket like a Niagara Waterfall and it is unstoppable!"

Part 5: Create a sense of urgency

This is where you "force" your visitors to take action, by creating a sense of urgency. Give them a limited amount of time to think and they will act much faster. Tell them that "My friend wanted to start selling this system to help more people achieving success in online business. Now, he's asking me a favor to help him obtain feedback from 25 people who seriously want to implement his system, if you are interested... "

Each of these 5 parts is crucial to establish a strong call to action. Leaving any out will adversely affect the conversion rate of your visitors.

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How To Drive Traffic For List Building

How do you drive Internet traffic so that you can build your list? That's a question that's asked in many ways online. Especially by business owners who want to make money online.

I'm writing to share three steps that work. The reason these three steps will work for you is because you as a business owner have expertise that's useful and in demand.

In fact, you've got stuff rattling around in your head that's valuable. So valuable that you can simply sit down, spit it out and use it so you can be found online.

1. Spit it out

First, you must create original content. That's simpler than you may think.

Why?

(a) Because the most valuable original content you can produce is already rattling around in your head.

(b) Because you want it to be short.

In fact, you only need 400 words. In other words, it's going to be fairly simple for you to learn the process of how to spit it out.

So let's say you just spit one out and that you simply sit down and do it right now. Then the second part of your first step is that you must place your original content online so people can find you!

2. Invite people

Second, you must invite people who find you to join your list. That, too, is simpler than you might think.

Why?

(a) List technology exists that you can use as a tool to automate your list building efforts. You can say, "Join!" and give a tool as a link that does that job for you.

(b) You can get trial versions to play with. So you can get the power of list technology without the commitment of paying for it.

(c) Unlike cell phones and other technology, most list technology is on a month-to-month basis. In other words, no contracts.

In fact, list technology can be set up and working for you in minutes. Because there are "How To" videos, tele-seminars and all kinds of technical support no matter what list technology you choose.

So let's say you just spit one out and set up right now. Then the second part of your second step is that you must take your link to your list technology and put it somewhere online.

3. Free gift

Third? An irresistible offer!

How to drive traffic for list building includes free gifts of valuable information.

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Places to Add Email Sign-Up Forms to Build Your List

If you have a website, the best way to get more email subscribers is simple: Use more high converting email sign-up forms. Yes, you can overdo it, but the truth is, even when you think you have too many, your forms may be invisible to your visitors.

Question is where do you put them?

There's 7 high-converting places, and now I'll go through each of them.

#1) The Feature Box

It's no secret. I absolutely love using a Feature Box. It does convert well. Right now, before you continue, think about how you can add a feature box to your site, and you WON'T regret it.

#2) Top of Sidebar

If you're not placing your email signup form at the top of your sidebar, you're losing out on valuable email subscribers. And yes, even if you place it slightly down your sidebar, under some ads, you're losing email subscribers. I know this sounds like common sense, but even some large blogs fail to gather emails at the top of their sidebar.

#3) After Single Post

Think about this: When someone stumbles on your content, and reads the entire thing, they clearly love your work. So, why not ask them to sign up right after the post ends? It converts well, and it grabs a reader right when they're feeling great about your work.

#4) The Footer Of Your Site

This works off the same vein as the previous example... If people make it to your footer, they're engaged with your content. And if they're engaged, you want to ask them for action right away, hence why you want an email sign-up form in your footer.

#5) On Your About Page

Load up your Google Analytics... right now... and you'll see that your about page is one of the most popular pages on your site. With that kind of traffic, if you're not including at least 3 email sign-up forms on your about page, you're losing emails / fans every single day.

Every. Single. Day. Don't make that mistake, like countless other blogs.

#6) The Little Bar Across the Top Of Your Site

You've heard about Hello Bar and Viper Bar. It's all the rage right now, and I've had great results with them. When people visit your site, there's no better way to grab their attention than a Hello / Viper Bar, mainly because it's right at the top of your site.

#7) The Dreaded Lightbox Pop-up

The Lightbox sign up form is a GREAT way to grab emails. However, depending on your niche, it may not work. In some niches, the light box pop-up can KILL your conversions because it's annoying. In other industries it works great.

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