List Building 101
Author: MailingListBuilder

List Building 101

Grow your opt-in list by offering visitors a free e-mail newsletter. Make it interesting by having a compelling and catchy title, and of course - great content.

The reason this is successful is because it contributes to the growth of your BRAND IDENTITY, and of course relationships with your subscribers.

Here’s how to get started.

Your topic needs to fall into two categories in order to be successful.

(1)    There has to be a demand and an interest for your content, and
(2)    You need a reliable source of quality information and research for your newsletter content.

Let’s start with the first of the two.

A common mistake that new marketers make is to launch a business or product that interests THEM but there isn’t any demand.  Use some research tools such as word tracker to ensure that people are already looking for the information that you’ll be providing.  It is often a mistake whether in online or offline businesses that entrepreneurs make … is to do this in the reverse.  It’s one of the reasons that over 80% of businesses fail in the first two years.

Next, you need great content.  Whether you’re presenting your information in written form or multi-media, the process is the same.

What are the problems that your market is faced with?  What can you solve?  What pain do they experience?

Put yourself in their shoes and get to work.

Ideally, you’ll want to provide fresh content – in other words something you have written yourself (or through a ghost writer.)  But to keep the newsletter jam-packed with content, syndicate (or re-use) existing content that other writers have already written.  You’ll find this type of content on article directories – and there are PLENTY of those for you to use.

Although the content has to be used exactly as-is (and of course you’re giving credit to the author) be sure to take the time to proof the material.  Proof for spelling, grammar, level of readability and correct use of punctuation and capitalization.
Since the newsletter is being distributed to your subscribers and your name is attached to everything you send, you’ve got something at stake.  Be sure that the quality is always first rate.

To gain subscribers, advertise your newsletter on your web site as well as on free eZine directories. Offer an incentive for signing up.

To monetize your newsletter, advertise affiliate programs that you belong to when the compliment the topic.

To get even more subscribers, translate your newsletter into other languages.  This will extend your market reach and could even increase sales of your revenue-generating products and services.

With any type of recurring communication to your list (whether e-courses or newsletters) you’ll benefit in a number of ways which includes more traffic to your site, as well as reminding your subscribers who you are … and the great solutions you have to their problems!