How To Make Money Online – List Building

Do you find building your list difficult? Are you find it hard to get started? Well, often this is because there is a deluge of advice that is overwhelming. So here is a simple primer to cut to the chase and get started. Elsewhere I’ve covered topics from A to H. So let’s begin with :

I which is is for Inspiration. Sometimes list building can seem a real slog. It can be a hassle: there seems (at first) to be no return; you get no sign-ups, no opt-ins. And you run out of ideas. What do I write about now? What is there left to say? Well, take heart from the greatest of German writers, Goethe, who said, “All that;s worth saying has been said. Our task is to say it again, and say it better.” I take great comfort from that, and inspiration too. Don’t feel you have to re-invent the wheel. When you read an article ask yourself, “Can I say that better?” Almost certainly, you can. And, ideas are likely to strike you at the least expected moment, so make certain you jot them down then and there.

J is for Joint Ventures. What does this mean? Simply, finding someone who will help you build your list. It could be by agreeing to swap advertisements for each other;s products. Or, you could recommend each other’s ezine. The thing to do is to identify someone who is about the same level as you in the list building food chain. In other words. If your list is 300 members, find someone whose list is around the same size. Make contact, see if there is interest, and suggest a way forward. Don’t expect an immediate response, but it can be highly effective. You will find someone you click with, and the rest could be history.

K is for Knowledge expert. Aim to become an acknowledged “thought leader” in your niche. In the end, what everyone wants is information. “How do I…?” is the a potent question, and if you can answer it, or point to someone who can, you Internet future is assured. Set up a blog centered on answering niche problems; write articles that handle niche queries; you could create podcasts; you can develop downloadable mp3 tracks; the opportunities are endless as are the rewards.

L is for – you’ve guessed it! – Lists! Notice the plural. Personally, I have a limited attention span. Don’t feel you have to confine yourself to one particular niche. While I’m well known for publishing a lot of material to do with building lists and generating income through them, I have also a relatively high profile in the personal development field. But now and then I discover a passion and I like to express this by creating information products. It’s fun! So don’t limit your aspirations and set a height on your ceiling – it IS possible to become well known in several fields. Enjoy!

M is for Music. Now, what on earth do I mean by this, you may be thinking? I agree, it’s a bit fuzzy but it has to do with how you come across to your readers. In other words, what is the “look and feel” of your emails to your lists? How do you sound? What is your “music”? You see, I’m on the receiving end of emails that I have opted in to receive that make me cringe. They are aggressive. They are pushy. They are, frankly, nauseous. And – let me tell you – some come from major players in the web marketing field. Their “music” is loud, acoustic, with the bass turned on full volume. I don’t like it and – when you raise this in forums – a lot of other people dislike it too. So don’t feel you have to copy them. Be yourself.