e-Business-Formula Internet Marketing Discussion Forum

[Kevin Robb]

Here is your opportunity to discuss what has or hasn't worked for you.

How have you built your list, have you used paid leads, viral methods, giveaways???

Let's hear what you are doing and or the problems you are having.

Cheers


Kevin Robb

[Guest]

Hi Kevin,

I don't offer any freebies, but I do put the ezine link in my email sig file, on articles, and in forums.

It's slow going - not sure if the topic isn't of interest or that I just don't reach a lot of potential list members yet.

Any tips?
Teena

[Teena]

OOps forgot to login!

Hi Kevin,

I don't offer any freebies, but I do put the ezine link in my email sig file, on articles, and in forums.

It's slow going - not sure if the topic isn't of interest or that I just don't reach a lot of potential list members yet.

Any tips?
Teena

[Lynn Terry]

Personally, I think the winning combination is:

[b]SEO + Sales Copy[/b]

I revamped my site recently, and currently rank #3 on google for "learn internet marketing". I changed the main page from "tips" to a strong focus on the newsletter (more of a sales letter). Not only did the rate of subscriptions go up, but the responsiveness as well - they know what to expect, subscribed with specific intentions, etc.

Also, my follow-up is more focused (confirmation page plus verification autoresponder). All of these things make a difference.

I really think that subscriptions overall are on the decline - and that the focus should be highly-targeted very focused list-building (quality over quantity) more than ever.

[Kevin Robb]

There are currently several list building programs circulating to which I get several emails from every day to join.

These are programs where you sign up and then over time you get to email a considerable number of participants...the same people that several others get to email as well.

It is called list building but in my eyes it's far from that...

I personally don't see the merit in it, in a way it is very similar to the old safelist type of marketing.

What do you think?

Cheers

Kevin Robb

[Rick Wilson]

Hi Kevin!

Me thinks one of them you're referring to is The List Machine?

While I generally agree with you about "safelists". But these aren't really safelists. Similar, though.

They're "viral list builders". The nice thing about some of these VLBs is that they have a different twist to how they get and manage these lists that you build.

For example ... John Reese's [url=http://www.cashjunction.com/opp]Opportunity.com[/url] is my favorite. It's strictly FREE. No upgrades available like with The List Machine.

With Opportunity.com, you build your list downline but when you send out an email thru them they send to a different set of subscribers (up to how many have signed up under you) once a week. A different set of subscribers each week you send so the "same" people aren't getting the same emails over & over each tyme. Heck ... you only "receive" a few emails a week unlike safelists where you get deluged with emails from EVERYONE.

I use these for promoting free or low cost (under $50) products and services. It's a rare week that I don't make at least a sale or two thru [url=http://www.cashjunction.com/opp]Opportunity.com[/url]. Takes me a couple of minutes to send it out. I've NEVER had an issue with the mailings since I signed up over a year ago.

I just signed up for The List Machine to see how it's gonna actually work. We'll see if over time it lives up to the hype.

Sooo ... My take is don't use these for your "main" list building. There is STILL nothing better than building your own lists thru your own efforts.

My nickel anyway ...

Rick Wilson aka CorpRebel

[Kevin Robb]

Hi Rick,

Yes, The List Builder is one of them...

Keep us posted on progress as you move forward.

I would certainly be interested in any results that you can share.

Cheers

Kevin Robb

[kellylowe]

Listopt at http://www.listopt.com

So far, I'm very happy with it. I can choose the price I pay (minimum of $25.00) I think. I have built my list to over 1000 using listopt, and I've had very few unsubscribes.

[Kevin Robb]

Hi Kelly,

I'm pleased you have had some success with http://www.listopt.com however would you mind sharing a little more detail

A list of 1000 + with minimal unsubscribes is great but can you give us some feedback as to how responsive they are?

Have they communicated with you, ie: Asked questions or responded to any you may of put to them?

Have you put any offers in front of them and if so what has been the response?

And finally I assume they are receiving a newsletter from you, at what frequency do you issue it and do you know your opening rate?

Cheers

Kevin Robb

[kellylowe]

I deliver a newsletter to subscribers twice a month, on the 1st and 15th. Of course, that didn't happen this month, because I was ill at the first of the month, then I was catching up on the 15th.

Since I started the newsletter last October, the responses have varied with each offer made. For instance, From each newsletter I've made one or two sales of the three affiliate programs that I advertise (YES I FINALLY STARTED MAKING AFFILITATE SALES). This didn't start happening until January. However, I think I've only gotten one writing job from a newsletter subscriber. I have gotten six article submission jobs from subscribers.

But when I released the ebook, there were 932 downloads that came from announcements made via email. Now, some of these could have been from sponsors newsletters or email announcements. I send a plain text newsletter, so I haven't figured out how to track anything that way.

When I opened Marketing With Articles, I announced it to the HomeBizTalk list and to my subscriber list. Over the next few days, I had 800 visitors to the site, but no sales.

I have had several that have communicated with me...asking questions usually.

[Teena]

Congratulations Kelly!

You're getting targetted visitors popping by to see you, which is excellent!

I don't have any sophisticated tracking in place, but I have started to create [what I call] "landing pages" for each ezine I advertise in, or if I send out a specific offer. The url I use will always have a small folder name at the end which when clicked on takes the visitors to specific pages, where I welcome them.

This is enabling me to see the results in my stats for each effort, and can be targetted per product too.

Getting the visitors is great - I'm increasing those numbers, but do you or anyone else have suggestions for "converting" those customers?

I am hoping that the visitors will like what they see and sign up for the ezine, and that I'll earn trust that way. Any other tips?

Cheers
Teena!

[Kevin Robb]

Hi Kelly,

As you know I have spent a lot of time working on different List Building methods and so I have been considering your post some more.

The leads you sourced from http://www.listopt.com were they single or double opt-in?

Did you ask them to reconfirm their subscription?

Did you import them yourself into your autoresponder or were they forwarded direct by Listopt?

What information did you provide the leads on sign up?

Lots of questions I know but your feedback would be appreciated.

Cheers

Kevin Robb

[kellylowe]

Kevin,

The subscribers that I receive through listopt are double opt-in. However, you do have the choice of single, double, or triple (i think you have the triple choice). The catch is that if you want single opt-ins, it is .12 per name, whereas if you want double, it is .20 per name. I'm sure that triple is more, but I don't use that option.

I use a standard welcome letter. List Opt does have an import feature, but I don't use it. I load them all into group mail, which is what I use to distribute my newsletter.

I was using Bravenet for this, but I felt that it limited me too much. I still have their subscribe boxes on my site, but I just import the names to group mail. I need to change those boxes one of these days - it is on my "to do" list.

Hope this help!

[Kevin Robb]

Thanks Kelly,

I'm about to do another of my List Building tests...just need to write some new letters to go with it.

I have been doing a number of tests for a while now...one day I will get all of the results into book form and distribute it.

I will throw Listopt into the mix and see what sort of results I get.

Would anyone else like to relate their experience in regards to List Building be it from purchased leads or Self generation techniques?

Cheers

Kevin Robb

[Teena]

Hi Kevin and Kelly,

I love it when I remember to select "Notify me when a reply is posted" ... you never know when the thread will be picked up again.

So Kevin ... I know you've been really busy lately, have you had a chance to look into your list building and what's working?

Cheers
Teena