If you’re going to be successful in internet marketing, you need to build a list. This is the most important factor in your long-term success. After it’s built, it’s yours to use any time you want. It’s a resource you can tap at any time and generate income.
So, how do you build a list?
Here’s what you need to build your list:
- Your Opt-in Page
- The Incentive
- Your Confirmation Page
The Squeeze Page – The landing page is the page that has your opt-in form on it. This is where they will enter their email address. That’s why it needs to look like a professionally designed page. And have an easy to understand opt-in form. And your call to action must be clear!
If you fail to make a strong close, you’re wasting your efforts. This is a definitive message that tells your visitor what to do. Without this your opt-in rate will plummet. Oddly, if you don’t make it clear, people will be confused and end up doing nothing.
You can take your opt-in page to the next level if you add a video to it. You only have a few second to get your visitors attention – video helps! It also allows you to tell them what to do several times. And you can have the video just tell them to fill in your form after it’s done playing.
Now, don’t worry if you have no idea how to make videos. It’s very easy to hire people for a couple hundred bucks to make one for you. There are also list building systems that give you squeeze page templates.
The Bribe – The next thing you need is an incentive to subscribe to your list. People need a good reason to part with their email address. Nobody likes spam, so most people guard their email closely. So make your “bribe” a good one!
You have to provide value in your bribe for it to be good. It has to be something that people actually want. And something from which they can derive a benefit. For example:
- An eBook
- Some useful software
- A video
- An email training series
Basically, you just need some content. It’s got to be something helpful for your new subscribers. And nothing sells like “free”. Bottom line is it’s got to be worth more to them than their email address.
If you’re worried about creating this content, don’t be. You can just pay someone else to make it for you. Just give them a topic and they will write the content. One easy and effective bribe is a 5-part email training series. You can have ghost writers create emails for under $25 an email. So, you’ll get the whole series written for under $150.
Or again, you can find complete list building packages for sale online that include an email series. Two things to keep in mind when writing (or buying) and email training series. First, it must provide value to your subscribers. And it’s nice if it earns you some money, too. 
The easiest way to do this is to market affiliate products in the emails. This allows you to get started with no products of your own. And you can earn some commissions immediately from your emails.
Your Confirmation Page – The “thank you” page is the final piece of the puzzle. After subscribing to your list, your visitor is redirected to this page. A great thing to do here is provide some immediate value. This helps them feel they’ve made the right decision giving you their email. It also helps to build the relationship. Then they’re more receptive when you email them.
Again, a simple solution to this is to get an email marketing package that includes everything. You can also put the whole thing together on your own. And write it all yourself. Or have someone ghost write for you.
Final thoughts
Whether you decide to build your email funnel yourself. Or hire someone else to do it for you. Or go with a complete package. The important thing is that you build your own list starting now. Once you’ve got it built. You can basically write your own meal ticket.
The Free Site
