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.

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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