When I noticed an automatically generated note from one of
my email list hosting accounts at ProfitAutomation warning
me that the account was approaching the 200,000 subscriber
limit, and that I needed to increase its size, I realized
that I finally had all of the subscribers that I really
"needed." That account is one of five that I have with
ProfitAutomation, and I also have one with Aweber.
So, while I still have a goal of building my database to
over 1 million subscribers before the end of 2008,
subconsciously I have to admit... that's somewhat for
"bragging rights."
As I studied list building over the years, I eventually
realized that a more important question than how to grow
your list is "How do you keep loyal subscribers."
Growing a large list is fairly simple... depending upon
your definition of large.
It's as simple as:
- Having a subscribe box on every page of your website
- Having a subscribe box somewhere in the backend of each
sales processes
- Giving people a very specific reason for subscribing
(telling them what benefit they'll gain from being on your
list)
- Using testimonials from happy subscribers to prove that
other already enjoy your ezine
- Focusing your ezine on a tightly niched topic that your
audience has a real interest in
There are other things that you can do such as joint
ventures, and finding ways to get in front of other
publishers' audiences, but it all centers around answering
the question of "What's in it for me?" that all of your
potential subscribers have.
Once you get subscribers though, how do you keep them?
My friend Paul Myers, in his ebook, "The Amazing List
Machine" taught me that you simply deliver to your
subscribers what you promised them when they first joined
your list.
If your ezine is on affiliate marketing, then your content
teaches them affiliate marketing.
If your ezine is on website traffic generation then your
content teaches them about website traffic generation.
If your ezine is on cooking (as one of mine is) then you
teach them to cook.
Sounds fairly simple doesn't it?
If you give your subscribers what you promised them when
you enticed them to join your list, they should stay on
your list, and read your newsletters, provided their needs
don't change.
For many ezine publishers, the tougher question becomes
"How do I monetize my list without driving off
subscribers." After all, isn't that why most of us started
a newsletter?
Yes, it's fun writing something that people enjoy reading.
It's nice getting emails telling you how long they've been
a subscriber, and how much of a difference your lessons
have made in their lives.
However, that won't put food on your table. So, how do you
monetize your list?
The answer is that you offer them goods and services
directly related to the topic of your list. If your list
is on cooking, then you offer them cookbooks, and cooking
gadgets, and perhaps cooking videos... or live workshops.
If you ezine is about list-building then you offer them
supplemental courses on list-building. You offer them
software that automates the process more. You offer them
case-studies that show how others are building large,
responsive lists.
The whole process is fairly simple when you step back and
look at it. You entice subscribers to join your list by
promising them exactly what they want (that you can
deliver). You keep them by delivering what you promised.
Finally, you monetize your list by selling them things that
make it easier for them to get what they were looking for
when they first joined your list.
Take a few minutes now and examine your process. Honestly
look for weak points in your system... and then fix them.
Then you too will one day realize the you no longer need to
focus on growing your list. Then the challenge becomes
deepening the relationship that you have with list members,
although you should have been focused on that all along too
:-)
----------------------------------------------------
Willie Crawford has been running an online business,
largely driven by email marketing, since late-1996. He is
the author of the popular ebook "How I Boosted My Ezine
Sign-Up Rate By 5200 MORE Subscribers Per Month - Virtually
Overnight - And You Can Too." Get your copy now at
http://TheRealSecrets.com/5200/
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