Secrets to Building
Massive Email Lists
An email
list is the absolute most effective marketing tool available on the Internet.
Not only do they provide you with a direct line of communication with your
target market, but they also enable you to develop a trusting relationship
with your subscribers.
The key to using an email list effectively is to develop a large subscriber
base. If you've struggled with increasing your subscriber base, this article
will reveal some of the most effective methods used to build an email list.
If you're not using these methods, you're losing hundreds of new subscribers
each week.
If you really want to build a massive email list, you MUST provide your potential
subscribers with an incentive. The competition on the Internet is fierce.
You can no longer simply tell your visitors what your publication will provide
and expect a large percentage to subscribe. It simply won't work.
There are thousands of email publications online and most of your visitors
are probably all ready subscribed to many. Why would they want to subscribe
to another one? Sure...you'll get some new subscribers, but how many? Enough
to build a massive email list? The truth is, if you continue to build your
list simply by displaying a sign-up box on your site and listing your publication
at the listing sites, it will take years to develop a massive list. You MUST
give your visitors a reason to subscribe.
Incentives
Using
incentives is a highly effective method of obtaining new subscribers. However,
your incentive must be of value and be of interest to your target audience.
Some popular incentives include:
- Exclusive ebooks that provide valuable information that will be of interest
to your target market
- Special reports that provide exclusive, detailed information in regard
to a specific subject
- Special software programs that will assist your visitors
If you're not comfortable developing your own incentive, there are hundreds
of great ebooks available online that you may freely distribute. You can
find some here:
http://www.web-source.net/free_ebooks.htm
Subscription
Exchange Incentives
In addition
to using incentives to gain new subscribers, you can also use a subscription
exchange. In exchange for your visitor's subscription, you could provide
any of the following:
- Provide access to a "members only" area of your website
- Provide a service
- List their website within your Directory or Search Engine.
In order for your visitors to use your services, they agree to receive your
publication.
Popup
Windows
Although
popup windows can be irritating if not used correctly, they provide a highly
effective means of obtaining new subscribers. The key to using popup windows
effectively is to combine them with your incentives.
Design a small popup window that utilizes "cookies" and only displays the
first time your visitor enters your site. This window should contain information
about your publication and incentive. It might read something like this:
Subscribe to A1 Marketing Tips and receive a copy of the highly acclaimed
ebook, "Secrets of the Internet Marketing Gurus" completely free.
Your subscription box should follow this sentence.
You can find a nice popup script that utilizes cookies here:
http://www.web-source.net/javascript_popup_window3.htm
You can find a complete list of sites offering free scripts here:
http://www.web-source.net/web/JavaScripts/
You can find a collection of popup window FAQ's that will answer just about
any question you may have here:
http://developer.irt.org/script/window.htm
Alert
Boxes
Although
using popup windows with incentives is a highly effective method of obtaining
new subscribers, there is one other method that is even better. When combined
with an
incentive, this method will literally double your subscriptions instantly.
It's similar to a popup window, but it doesn't require your visitor to fill
out a form.
When a visitor enters your site, an alert box will appear. This alert box
should display text requesting their subscription and information about your
incentive. Your visitor can choose to click on "OK" to subscribe or "Cancel"
to close the alert.
The alert box is displayed via a script that extracts your visitor's name
and email address. If they choose to subscribe, it then sends their subscription
request, via email, to your subscription address and adds it to your database.
In addition, you can send personalized messages to your subscribers, use
autoresponder follow-ups and provide your subscribers with "one click"
unsubscribe links within your messages.
To increase your subscriptions even further, you can also place a subscription
box on each page of your website.
For further information, visit:
http://www.web-source.net/cgi-bin/web/jump.cgi?ID=513
Conclusion
No matter
how many new subscribers you may acquire, the key to a successful email list
is keeping them. The relationship you build with your subscribers will determine
your success. Above all, you must provide your readers with quality content.
They subscribed to your publication for a reason. If it doesn't meet their
expectations, they'll simply unsubscribe.
Once you've developed a trusting relationship with your subscribers, your
personal recommendations will be a very effective method of closing sales.
However, it is very
important that you only recommend a product or service that you truly believe
in. Your professional reputation depends on
it.
Copyright © Shelley
Lowery
About the Author:
Shelley Lowery is the author of the acclaimed web design course, Web Design
Mastery.
http://www.webdesignmastery.com
And, Ebook Starter - Give Your Ebooks the look and feel of a REAL book.
http://www.ebookstarter.com
Visit Web-Source.net to sign up for a complimentary subscription to Etips
and receive a copy of the acclaimed ebook, "Killer Internet Marketing
Strategies."
http://www.web-source.net
You have permission to publish this article electronically, in print,
in your ebook or on your web site, free of charge, as long as the author
bylines are included.
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