The value of a large opt-in list is usually grossly understated. It is never good enough to simply be making sales from your affiliate products. Failing to compile a fresh mailing list will result in lack luster or stagnant sales.
Obtaining a list allows you to keep in contact with your visitors and build a relationship with them. If properly done, this can convert a high percentage of your prospects into customers. So what does it take to build a great list quickly and easily? Here are some useful tips:
* Offer incentives when possible for people to leave their name and email address. Having an incentive program is an effective way to get people to opt into your list. Offering a special report or free e-book is a very effective and easy to implement. To get the best results, it is always helpful to give them something for signing into your list. This tip alone can easily double the number of sign ups you have.
I see many people trying to build a list without offering any kind of incentive for signing up which can be a huge mistake. Incentives are so easy to create that it only makes sense to offer one. Anything with a high-perceived value that you offer free will help boost signups significantly. I’ve test both ways of list building and I must say that offering incentives will give you far better results.
* Include a privacy policy. One of the main reasons people do not opt-in is because they are afraid they will be spammed. This has been a major problem on the Internet for years. Everyone abhors spam. If a prospect has any reason to suspect that you will sell their email address to others they will simply not sign in. Give them a guarantee that you will not share their email address with anyone whatsoever. This will end the worries of people who are concerned about that. After I added one I saw over a 60% increase in the number of sign-ups I was receiving. It’s amazing that a simple thing like this can make that much difference.
* Create multiple, tightly targeted lists. Very few comprehend the power of this tactic. By offering multiple lists on one site you drastically increase the chances of people finding something that interests them enough to sign up for. One of the lists could be for general updates, another could include tips your market would find useful, while another could be a monthly newsletter. No matter which option they choose you get their email address.
Think about what lists your market might be interested in, then offer those options on your site. A website visitor may have no interest in your generic mailing list but have a much greater interest in your newsletter. If you had not provided multiple options that person would have signed up for nothing. Usually three options are enough. If your visitors have not found something that interests them after three choices they are generally not worth going after.
* Be sure to make all your lists double opt-in. Double (or Verified) opt-in lists require people to first sign up on your site, and then activate their subscription by replying to a confirmation email. There are many good reasons to use the double opt-in format. First of all, it will take away any chance of being labeled a spammer. You can show definitive proof that people actually did requested your emails.
An added benefit to you is that the double opt-in method will result in a list that is significantly higher quality than a singe opt-in list. If these people are interested in your offer enough to verify with the confirmation email, they tend to be much more serious and interested in what you have to offer.
By putting the above tips into use you will be able to build a massive, high quality list in the shortest amount of time possible. I have personally tested all of these methods and they work marvelously. They will work for you too.
