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The Real Truth About
E-mail List-Building
By Chip Tarver, Author – First Contact Secrets
In a nutshell, I built my lists like EF Hutton: one subscriber at a time. Too many people forget that our subscribers are individuals-- NOT groups. Every list is built of single
e-mail addresses and individuals who look at your message one at a time. I have not used and will not use the various bogus "Get ten million subscribers today at zero cost," FFA, or "buy this CD of opt-ins" nonsense. I have also not used
co-registration methods.
Most of the people I know who have co-reg lists complain that they are unresponsive, or take too long to 'warm up.' That's not what the people who sell co-reg services would have you believe... and yes-- there are, of course, exceptions to what I just said. So if you want to try co-reg, then try it. But watch your metrics and your budget carefully.
And from what I understand of these services, use one that offers blank ballot boxes (not pre-filled) and insist on a double opt-in mechanism. That cuts the numbers and increases the price, but the names are more targeted and less apt to generate spam complaints. Food for thought... in addition, at this point, I have not used PPC (Pay-Per-Click) search engines and keyword campaigns. These are part of my Tier-2 Marketing Strategy that I'll employ in 2004.
Again, if you use these... test, test, and test some more. Watch your metrics every day and quickly kill the ones that don't convert. And be very specific. (And of course, always do whatever
you need to do to comply with the new CAN-SPAM laws, too.)
I have used personal contacts, JVs, articles, press releases, forum posts, sig files, sponsor ads, word-of-mouth, endorsements, referrals, my affiliate program, and of course created the premiere resource anywhere on beginning and building solid relationships--"First Contact Secrets."
And that's what list-building is REALLY all about... relationships. People also are so misled by others who insist that joint ventures (JVs) are about great products. No.
JVs are all about relationships-- and nothing else.
So be you - that's all you know how to be. You don't need a clown suit and orange hair (no offense meant to Conny Torney) unless you're a clown by profession.
That's how I got 43 international marketers who are masters at every facet of marketing ... including Ted Nicholas, Jay Conrad Levinson, Joe Sugarman, Marlon Sanders, Declan Dunn, Yanik Silver, Chris Bloor, David Garfinkel, Joe Vitale, Paul Myers, Armand Morin, Stephen Pierce, and many others to be contributors to my 800-page project "First Contact Secrets" (when many of these folks normally and consistently turn down these sorts of
projects). People with honor and integrity who are properly focused long-range thinkers could care less about making a few bucks with you today. They care about one thing-- their lists-- and how to best serve them. They also deeply care about their reputation.
Your list is like your family ... so treat them that way (or better!). And if you find a potential JV partner who only cares about the money-- run. If, however, your potential partner first says, "How will what you have add value to and benefit my subscribers?"-- that's a good sign of a good potential partner for you.
(So you'd better have your answers nailed down before you get asked those questions.)
In summary, differentiate yourself through conscious and obvious adherence to issues of character, honor, trust, morals, and integrity. Those qualities are so rare these days that people will be drawn to you over time as you faithfully prove that you are worthy of their trust.
Follow these steps, and your list cannot help but grow. Then, be consistent with your folks. Don't confuse or surprise them. And don't send them an endless stream of ads. Quickly answer
e-mails and phone calls personally.
Treat people like you want to be treated. Don't try to cram your hand into their pockets for their credit cards every time you correspond with them. And don't try to trick them.
Add value to their lives. Load them up with benefits. Every time. Show them some grace, love, humor, fun, and give them great content. Give, give, give before you ever ask anything in return.
And one final word ... you'll hear lots of marketers brag about the size of their lists (list envy?).
The first question to ask them is, "How many of these people buy stuff from you?" A big list has no value in itself.
It is now and will always be the responders who give the list value. The other majority of list
members are just energy vampires.
So resist the temptation to waste your money trying to gain big numbers fast, and embrace the wisdom in attracting highly targeted folks who know you, like you, trust you, and look forward to the
e-mails you send them.
Build a sense of community, camaraderie, and "experience" with them.
Do these things in the proper way and in the proper order, and your list will grow over time. Do the right thing every time, and the rest of this stuff takes care of itself. And you’ll have a real list worth having …
For a wonderful, fr*ee eCourse on making excellent first contacts with anyone for any reason at any time (and learning to build solid lists over time the right way), go to the exit pop on Chip’s site. It’s much better than a lot of stuff you buy! (Of course, you cannot block popups and still sign up!)
http://www.FirstContactSecrets.com
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