If you are new to marketing,  or even not so new you may already know how difficult it is to get a list started.

Plenty of people will give you all sorts of great advice,  and even give you little examples and lessons.  But, unfortunately most of the ways they show you all require that you already have some kind of a list.

They may tell you to “ad swap” with other people, or enter into some of the many giveaway events that are being held.  These are the two most common (and good) ways to build lists,  but you need a list to qualify to do them.

What’s a poor newbie  (or someone who’s been trying for a while)  to do?

Really –  almost every way to build a list – isn’t – they are mostly ways to ADD to your list,  but not how to start it!

If this is where you are at,  or you are trying to help someone without a list to get started,  then I have a great answer for you.

My newest Little Gems Mini Book  gives 15 ways to start a mailing list using  (mostly)  free methods.   How about some of these:

**  Getting friends and family to help get some of those new names.  I tell you how.

** Using Social Media..  it’s not as complicated as you may think.

**  Using safe lists.

**  Writing articles

**  Chatting in Forums

**  Using Ezines

**  and even advertising.

These are just a few of the things possible,  and  - – Hey you “old timers”  there may even be a few things that could help you along the way too.

So grab a copy of the mini book …Right there, next to this post,  and Enjoy!  Oh yes..  did I tell you it was free?

Your Marketing Pal,

How many times have you  heard that?

If you are struggling to grow a small list of subscribers into a real
good sized list you probably hear “The  Money Is In the List”  many
times each day.

Would you like to scream now?   Go ahead!    (lol)

The truth of the matter,  the “money,” your online income,
IS contained in your list.  Statistics have proven over and over
again,  that repeat customers are the life blood of any business,
either online or off.

Here is the real secret why the money is in the list because repeat
customers are a necessary part of every business.   The real “secret”
is YOU!   NO,  I’m not being funny,  but down to earth serious!

Here’s how it works.  Have you ever noticed something about
yourself,  how you will usually go back to the same businesses

over and over for your own shopping?  People will always buy
from someone they know before buying from a stranger
(whenever presented with that option).  And will definitely
buy from a friend before a stranger.

We recognize Brands,  store names, chain establishments, in
their own way they become that “friend” to us.  We are
familiar with their reputation,  and the service or product
they produce, so we buy from them over and over.

It’s no different online.   I’ve been marketing online for quite
a while now.  I personally know many of the top marketers,
many of us “came up through the ranks together.”  I will always
look at their products and buy their products before I will buy
from a name I’ve never heard of before.   Statistics prove that
you will too.

What does all that have to do with list building?  Plenty!  Well,
not exactly Plenty… but Everything!  Your list in not your
personal ATM machine!   You want that list to be a list of your
friends,  and preferably friends who have bought from you before.

You want people to get to know you,  when they get to know you,
you want them to get to like you,  then when they know you and
like you,  they will begin to trust  you, and trust  your judgment
and recommendations.   It’s then that they will buy from you.

Naturally, everyone will be a first time customer at one time,
but what I am talking about here, is a continuing business
relationship.  Then, truly the money will be in your list,  a steady
flow of buyers who will repeatedly purchase products from you.

Beware though,  if you bombard them repeatedly with nothing
but sales letters,  you might find out how fickle those ‘friends’ can
be and how fast they find that unsubscribe button.

How to build that strong positive relationship with your list in
order to monetize your list to the fullest  will be the subject of
subsequent articles here on my List Building Secrets Blog.

If you subscribe to my list here, you’ll not only get that great
report on mistakes not to make,  but you will be notified when
new articles are posted here.   I welcome your comments too.

Daylynne Starr

[Want a copy of this article for your own blog or website?  Just

drop me a line for permission.  Thanks.]

Don’t make these common mistakes if you’re marketing online and using an email marketing list to sell your products.

List marketing is one of the most effective methods to market your products online.  Many internet  marketers, both newbies and experts,  often are faced with some list building mistakes, which may cause them some real problems.

Lots of unsubscribing members, and poorly responding lists are among the major problems faced.  Avoiding these common mistakes can make a profound difference in your relationship and your future income streams.

Not Sending Often Enough or Too Often

This is the most common mistake that marketers make.  As soon as someone registers for their list or services, they tend to get excited. Then immediately start to send their new members information about the products they are selling.

They may even forget to send a Thank You or Welcome message to their new members.  This is the first and the most important thing to do. Members are sure to get annoyed if you send them loads of information about your products, or if you flood their mailboxes with a lot of emails. Chances are they’ll just ignore your emails or even decide to unsubscribe. On the other hand, if you don’t mail too often, they tend to forget everything about you.

Solution: For new members, try to send them a thank you or welcome note first and include an  introduction about your service and some other helpful tips. Meanwhile, if you’re sending updates and new information, always keep your emails simple and readable. And as much as possible, send emails at least once a week.  Two to three times a week would be a good normal pace,  unless  you have a newsletter or ezine that is timed to go out on a certain schedule.

Sending Too Many Advertisements

Many internet marketers are likely to advertise more than provide new information and updates to their members. Always remember that people sign up for your service or websites not just because your products interest them but also because they want more information from you. And if you fail to do it, they surely won’t be happy and will just decide to unsubscribe from your service.

Solution: Know what your members really want and give it to them. If they want information about how to make money online, then provide them that information.  Once in a while, you could include an affiliate link of an eBook that you sell which will further help them make money online. Don’t flood their mailboxes with emails that talk about nothing but the great products that you offer. Always balance offers with real valuable content.

Getting familiar with other common list building mistakes will, at least, give you an idea of how you can effectively build your email marketing list. Such mistakes often happen due to lack of knowledge. As you build your list learn to use the techniques and strategies you learn now. Use them to build and establish a strong and better relationship with your members.

Daylynne Starr

In running your online business you are probably using the most effective marketing tool used to increase profits—list building.

Like in traditional marketing strategies, list building is still based on the same simple marketing concept, which is, to reach as many people as necessary to succeed.  However, in an online business, gathering a wide email list can be a tricky and hair-pulling task. Through effective list building techniques, you can
realize a good customer base and add to successful
profits.

One of the most useful ways to expand your email list is through the use of a squeeze page.  Offering free e-courses that would provide useful and valuable information and services, you are likely to attract more people’s interest.  This can have a greater chance of turning them from a visitor to a valued subscriber.  Remember that to be able to effectively introduce your products and services to them, you have to catch their attention first.

On your squeeze page, it is important for you to create awareness about your product.  Give them information about how the product will  benefit them.  It is also important to totally convince them to join your list by citing some of the exclusive benefits that a member or subscriber can enjoy.  Do it in an eye-catching way by playing with fonts and colors so as to make it interesting.   After drawing the visitor’s attention, then put up the “opt-in” box where  they  can sign up for your list by putting in their name and  email address.

Many people are sometimes afraid of losing their
privacy,  so it is good to add that their information is safe with  you,  and their privacy is protected.

Social networking sites like MySpace,  Facebook and Twitter can also play a role in efficiently increasing the number of your email list.  Being the most widely and commonly used internet sites, such social networking sites, can effectively generate more traffic on your website. Gathering a relatively huge number of twitter followers ,for example, can give opportunities to create product awareness.

Writing articles is also a good way to reach more internet users and readers. It is one of the most utilized list building techniques by most online marketers.  Use functional keywords and choose interesting subjects and write it in such a way that would keep and draw the reader’s attention. This could be in the form of helpful tips or how-to articles that would be beneficial enough for the reader to take the time reading and finishing it. This way they are most likely to go to the resource box and subscribe to you.