You can Build an Email List for Free, but be sure in the end that it’s going to be profitable…

So you just realized that you need a good email list, or what is known in the industry as an “opt-in” list. After all of your time spent reading countless articles and hours of webinars seeking expert advice. You’ve determined for yourself that in order to create your own success story, you need a good list. Then even after thinking you had all the knowledge, you’ve followed the advice, you did everything down to the most minuscule detail, it happens…you still weren’t able to make a profit.

In fact, by this point, you may even be losing money. Did you outsource writers to help you out, or maybe you had other expenses: autoresponder service, graphics, etc.  Even if you have a big list, but only a very small percentage actually buy from you, your still not making a profit.  Maybe it’s months later when you balance the statistics, that you find out you’re lucky you broke even.

So what did you do wrong? Why does it always seem that others succeed where you have failed? The most common mistake is that you jumped right in. You chose a topic you thought could be quite popular and would earn you a little money. Just because you wrote people from the list as soon as they subscribed, doesn’t mean they are going to buy from you right away.

If you are so inclined, I will offer you a little advice…you CAN rejuvenate your failed venture. For those who are starting, here are three quick and simple ways to build an email list for free that’s profitable.

Step 1 – Build trust with your customers, then show them products you trust.

Just diving head-first into your email list will not make you an expert and a believable seller. Be sure to put together a good selection of articles on your blog site before you start such a list.  Write about a topic you know and begin to position yourself as an expert in your field.  You could network to build a subscriber list first, then work around the bulk of your subscribers to accommodate them, but this can have varied results because you’re list will contain various types of customers.

Whenever you create content, do your best to provide expert advice and recommendations.  When you feel that people trust you and recognize the talent you bring to the table, you will be able to start to build an email list for free. You can start with other forum users. You can ask them to sign-up for your “newsletter”.  Friends are always good customers.  I recommend putting a link to your website in your forum signature, so that they are able to see what you’re business, or blog site, is all about.

The certain truth is, money will only come in when the consumers and subscribers believe and trust in you. They want a product or service that will be a good exchange for their money. People are not going to buy something out of your recommendation if they don’t know you.  People invest in people, not products.  Take the time to engage in your list and you’ll find that a responsive list has the greatest potential for creating the kind of income you desire as time goes on.

Step 2 – Find a product or service that people want and need.

Although it may not be your forte, if you provide a service or product that you have researched and learned about well enough, you can carry it forward. Invest your time, effort and money in products that you could sell as well as ones the buyers or subscribers of your opt-in list can use.  Join some forums to gain knowledge about your customers, get to understand their wants and needs and target those wants and needs.

While it is wisest to sell something that you have already invested in, not all of your buyers will have the same interests as you.  Don’t try to work with too many products at once or you may find yourself trying to sell things that are not entirely popular or profitable. Do your research well and you will see the profits come in.  At the point of sale, try to provide your subscribers with promotional material that they could actually use and spread around so you can acquire more sales based on referrals.

Step 3 – Make friends with other email marketers.

This strategy is beneficial, especially if you make friends with someone who has already launched a successful mailing list. These are people that have the experience and experience is still the best teacher. While there are many sites and articles available on the internet (just like this one) that can give you general advice on list building, there is nothing like getting a first hand account from someone you trust.

Experienced list builders will be able to tell you the “ins-and-outs” because they have gone through it. While no two lists are ever really the same, the general concepts can still be very helpful. There are many things to avoid and these are people who will be able to tell you what those things are.

Even though you can build an email list for free, one that’s profitable just doesn’t happen overnight. There are many preparations and effort on your part. List building starts from “scratch”, and as your list grows you should try to maintain the quality of your list. Keep it organized and manageable. Outsource the necessary help if you must, just make sure that your subscribers are happy and satisfied and they will be paying customers for years to come.

Always remember that your subscribers are all potential customers, treat them fairly and with professionalism and your list will begin to grow by leaps and bounds!

My Best to Your List Building Success!

BONUS!  I recommend two highly effective internet tools for people just starting out in internet marketing.

1. To get a brand-new newsletter started, I personally recommend Mailchimp.  You can build a list of up to 2000 subscribers before you need to shell out any coins at all over there.  Click Here!

If you’re ready to jump in with both feet, and want to play in the big leagues, I recommend you use a professional pay-by-month autoresponder service.  Though these systems have a monthly fee that ranges from $15-$20/mo., you can take a $1.00 30 day trial at Aweber or get a no-cost 30 day trial over at GetResponse.  Click on one of the banners at the bottom of the page to get started.

2. If you looking to build those cool opt-in (also known as “squeeze” or “capture” pages), and want to begin with your very own budget autoresponder, get in touch with me and  I’ll send you places…just mention this post.