The List.
More specifically, the email list you keep of your prospects and customers is your online business’ most valuable asset. These email addresses are from people who have expressed an interest in what you do or, even better, have already given you money for doing it.
Why is the List so important?
Because it allows you to keep in touch with these VIPs on a regular basis.
This is how you keep yourself on people’s minds.
This is how you build relationships.
This is how you earn their trust.
This is how you make it easier for them to buy from you.
Another reason the list is so powerful is that email will likely be the most effective tool you have to drive traffic to your site and sales to your business. This is because email is very personal form of communication and the traffic you drive from email will generally be much more targeted and productive than traffic from other sources.
Be sure to pay special attention to your customer email list. Many marketers ignore customers, past and present, when marketing. This is a huge mistake. It is FAR easier (and cheaper) to get money from people who have already shown a willingness to do so than going out and try to convince new prospects to spend their money with you.
So how do you build your list?
Simple – use bribes. No, not an unethical kind of bribe. Use a bribe like a newsletter, whitepaper, special report, or some other piece of useful content.
Have a sign up form on your website and/or blog and let people know that you’ll be happy to send them some free awesome content in exchange for their email address. (FYI – I’ve heard the statistic that if your sign up form asks for more than a name and email address your response rate will fall by 50%. So don’t ask for more than those two pieces of information unless you absolutely need it!).
Once you have their email address, send them the content and then keep in touch. The easiest way to do this is to use an auto responder. An auto responder is a program that will automatically send an email, or a series of emails to people on your list. If you’re not familiar with auto responders, you can learn more about them here.
One last note about your email list. DO NOT SPAM YOUR LIST. If you send spammy, hard-salesy type emails, you will lose the trust of the people on your list and they’ll unsubscribe in droves. It’s okay to mention new products, services, special offers, etc. – just don’t overdo it.
So as you set out marketing online, try to get people to opt-in to your email list. Build your list, respect those on your list, and provide them with quality content and your list will definitely become your business’ most valuable asset.
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I found your blog on google and read a few of your other posts. Keep up the good work. Look forward to reading more from you in the future.