The money is in the list. Unless you are really new to Internet Marketing I bet you have heard that before. Right?
So, just how important is your subscriber list? If you are online to make money, it is all important. Having said that, I want to qualify my statement. I NEVER talk about ‘my list’. To do that makes this business too impersonal. I may talk about my subscribers, (still too impersonal), or, as I usually call them, my people. That’s what my ‘list’ is. People. I never forget that. They have hopes and dreams. They have fears and frustrations. They have problems that I cannot begin to imagine, but I always try. I owe them that much. Without them I have nothing. I am just a voice crying out in the wilderness.
As ‘list builders’ we are at a disadvantage. We invite these people into our lives. They respond by giving us their first name and e-mail address. Initially, that is all we have to work with. We know their gender, (maybe) and not much else.
Essentially, we are blind and deaf at that point.
We hope they like what they see on our web sites.
We hope they like what they read in our e-mails.
We hope they like the product(s) we are offering them.
That’s a lot to hope for! I always wish I could look out through their monitor and see these people as they fill out my Opt-in form. I would at least have some idea of who I am dealing with.
Well, here’s the good news. We can regain our senses! How? Follow these simple steps and your ‘list’ will become your people, your allies, your customers, your friends.
Talk to them, not at them.. Remember the teachers you hated? Remember the ones you loved? Ask yourself why you felt that way and treat your people the way the good teachers treated you.
Ask them what they want. How simple is that? If they are not buying your product, don’t take it personally. Maybe it is because, although they like you, they don’t like what you are selling. There is a true story of an internet Marketer who worked for a multi-millionaire. One day he found himself having a conversation with a Billionaire. He couldn’t stop himself. He asked this man what had made him so successful. This Billionaire wasn’t offended by the question. In fact, he answered it very simply and honestly. He said, “I ask people what they really need, then I make it and sell it to them”. That Internet Marketer is now a millionaire himself. He took the advice of an expert. Ask your people what they want, and then sell it to them! Enough said?
Ask for their help. Ask if they like your product, or if they are looking for something different. Ask if they like your e-mails, or Newsletter. These people have come to you for help. They will actually be grateful that you are asking for their help. They will respond to your request.
There are many subscription sites that let you build surveys that you can send to your people in emails, blogs, or on your web site. GOOGLE has recently introduced a free, spreadsheet based survey that is simple to use and works extremely well.
Free web design, free audio/video programs and free list building tools are some of the subjects David Hardin covers in his “Write Yourself Rich” program at The Ugly Web Site at http://www.davehardinonline.com – Go sign up for his FREE “Not Just A Sales pitch” newsletter.