List building is easier than you think. The concept is simple: find people interested in your target market and let them know they can get free information on products, services, what have you. However, the way in which you inform people about your list is critical to successful list building. You never want to spam anyone, or send out an anonymous email that your potential customers have not opted into. So what are the secret techniques to building the most successful internet marketing list in history?

Incentives, Copy, and Exposure

Incentives skyrocket your list building potential. By offering a free product in exchange for subscription, you give people the chance to see the quality in your list and you build up your subscribers at the same time. Incentives can be anything from coupons to ebooks to downloadable scripts, and in the age of outsourcing, a great incentive can cost anywhere from $10-$50.

What kind of incentive should it be? First of all, you should strive to deliver a product that is targeted towards your niche. Second, you should make it a solution to a common problem. “How to unclog a sink” for the do-it-yourself market would probably attract a lot of attention. In contrast, “The Super Affiliate Report” might attract those who are into affiliate marketing. Plan your product to suit the needs of your customers.

Once you have your incentive, you’ll need award winning copy. While the product might sell itself to a few people, your sales page is what will really convert visitors into subscribers. Whether you write copy for forum threads, blog posts, or a full-fledged mini-site, you’ll need persuasive and compelling copy that makes readers jump at the opportunity to get your product and onto your subscriber list.

You can get this award-winning copy a few ways. First, you can write it yourself. However, if you’re not a skilled writer, you can also ask a friend or business partner to write something up for you in their spare time (make sure to offer something in return!). The final solution is simply to hire a copywriter. If you do hire someone, make sure you get examples of previous sales pages, and conversion rates. The goal is to get copy that sells.

Now let’s say you have your incentive and your fantastic copy. How do you get people to actually download your product and subscribe to your announcements? First, you can setup a min-site and drive traffic to it via SEO and social media attention. Second, you can join up forums and participate in the community, using your signature, avatar, and threads in the right categories to promote your list and your incentive. Thirdly, you can setup a blog related to your topic, and use interesting posts and contests to drive in subscribers. There are other endless possibilities, but you’ll find that these three are the most effective methods.

Over To You

What are your essential steps to building a profitable list? Do you believe that incentives are extra, or that they are required for getting people to subscribe? Share your thoughts on email marketing list building!

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1. FREE Report: Unstoppable List Building