Perhaps you arrived at the conclusion that you need to develop a good opt-in list. After you read many eBooks and blogs, after having sought out expert knowledge, after having read the glossy success stories of people who’ve made considerable money online with opt-in lists you decided to give it a try.
But, it didn’t work for you even though you followed the pattern you were given. In fact, you lost money. Why?
Perhaps you hired writers and put together a big list but only got a quite small return on your investment. As you view your statistics and sales figures you consider what might have gone wrong with your plan. Why have others been successful at building a profitable opt-in list? Why didn’t it work for you?
One of the most common mistakes is diving right in without laying the proper groundwork first. Many people just pick a topic that they think will be popular and profitable without doing any research first. Just because you built an opt-in list doesn’t mean people are going to buy from you right away.
For those of you who are starting and for those who’re trying to recover a failed project, here are three quick and easy ways to construct a profitable opt-in list.
1. Build Customer Trust First
First, you have to work on getting your customers to both trust you and the product you are offering. Simply because they joined your opt-in list doesn’t make them think of you an expert. It’s a simple fact that people aren’t going to buy something based upon your recommendation if they don’t know you or have any trust in your opinions. Here are some ways to build trust:
- Write many articles before you start an opt-in list.
- Write about the topic you know well.
- Create a web site that uses your articles.
- Get involved in forums on your topic to both gain knowledge about the topic and of your potential customers.
- Provide expert advice and recommendations on opinion and advice sites like Yahoo Answers and Squidoo.
When it becomes obvious to you that people are beginning to trust your opinion, you will be ready to start your opt-in list. You can build a starting base with forum members as well as people who you’ve helped in other areas. Ask them to join your list. Also use your web site or blog to describe your offer. This can also build trust.
The truth is that people will only part with their money when they think that they can trust what you’re saying.
2. Fill a Need
The next key to constructing a profitable opt-in list is finding a product that people want to buy. You have to fill their needs. While it is generally better to sell something that you have a personal interest in, this isn’t always the most profitable or popular route to take. You can waste a lot of time and money trying to sell ice to Eskimos or bicycles to fish. If you do your market research well you will see the profits come rolling in.
It is also a good idea to provide your subscribers with free promotional material. This would be something that they could get some use out of themselves and they might spread it around to other virally and thus increase your list as people come back to you for more.
3. Form Joint Ventures and Partnerships
Essentially this means making friends with other opt-in list marketers for mutual benefit. This can help you if you if you can hook up with an experienced opt-in list marketer who has the hands-on experience with this kind of venture. If you have had successful campaigns yourself it might be helpful for you to work with a less experienced person who has a unique proposition they’re offering or where there is market synergy.
While you can find many articles on many topic from various sources, it is always better to work with someone who has first hand knowledge and who you can trust.
It Doesn’t Happen Overnight
Creating a profitable opt-in list just doesn’t happen overnight. It takes research and effort to pull it off. Grow your list, maintain the quality of your list, stay organized and get/hire the help you need. Remember that the goal is to keep your subscribers happy and buying your products.
