| You're Naked Without Content: List Building |
I am sure you have heard the phrase, “The money is in the list.” But, what does that really mean?
What it means is that if you have a list of email addresses (and hopefully even names) of people who want to receive information from you, then you have a list of people who are receptive to your message.
The more people that pay attention to what you say, the more money you will be able to earn from your list. |
 |
| Separating the Boys From the Men |
It is an amazing thing. I know two people who each have a list of a half million readers. One list consistently produces sales for its owner and the other is just a hobby that seldom generates any sales at all.
You may be asking yourself what the difference is between the two lists. Well, the differences are three: 1) Professional appearance, 2) Credible content, and 3) Attentive readers.
Of course, the third is the result of the first two.
The point of mentioning this fact is that one can build a large list, even without great content. But, one cannot build a list that will be a profit-machine, unless its content is always credible and its readers are attentive.
If your content is not consistently credible, people will start to ignore your message as it arrives in their mailbox. If you maintain your credibility, people will hang on every word you write or have written for you. |
|
| What Makes Content Credible? |
Many list owners have gotten into the game of writing a sales letter every week and sending it to their lists. Many others will just pump out some crap that no one wants to read, and then they will attach sales links to the copy.
Credibility is missing in both of these cases. The reason why credibility is missing is because the list owner is consistently pitching what the list owner thinks is important to “his” goals and not the goals of his customers.
Credibility is always absent in the sales process, unless the sales person is trying to help the buyer solve a problem.
Credible content must address what is important to the buyer -- always and honestly. |
|
| Credible Content Makes A Point That The Writer Will Stand Behind |
There are a few things that writers can do to deflate their credibility in a hurry:
• |
Be unwilling get to the point, without beating around the bush, |
• |
Be unwilling to take a stand, |
• |
Be unwilling to quotes sources and name names, |
• |
Be unwilling to sign their name. |
Writers who are willing to go out on a limb and say, “something is something” get attention.
Writers, who are willing to say that they oppose a point of view, stand out from the crowd.
Writers who are willing to quote sources and name names gain additional credibility because they apparently do not fear greater scrutiny into their words.
Writers, who are willing to sign their name to their words and to include contact information, have shown that they do not fear the words they have written.
By practicing the previous, a writer or list owner can really stand out from the crowd.
How many people have you seen online who make controversial statements and then hide behind their nicknames? How many people have you seen that will sign their name to their words, and then fail to say anything of real importance?
Too many, I am sure. |
|
| Credible Content On The Inside And Outside Will Help You Expand Quickly |
On The Inside – If you include credible content in your actual mailings, you will keep your readership attentive, and many of your loyal readers will actually recommend your list to a friend or colleague.
On The Outside – If you include credible content outside of your mailing list, in your website and in other websites, you will attract attention to yourself.
People who see your articles in other people’s newsletters and websites will see you as a credible source, and they may want to read more of what you have to say.
When people come to your website and they see good, credible content on your website, they may also see your request to join your mailing list. If the reader has been impressed by your words of wisdom, they are more likely to join your mailing list and let you keep talking to them for several more years to come. |
|
| Using A Squeeze Page To Get More Subscribers |
A “squeeze page” is a one-page sales letter designed to get people to agree to join a mailing list in order to receive something of value from the list owner.
Many squeeze pages offer a free report to anyone who joins a mailing list. If one provides great information in their free report, then people will be more inclined to stick to their agreement to remain on the list owner’s mailing list.
The best squeeze pages tell readers what they can expect on the inside. And then inside the website and mailings, the list owner over-delivers on the expectations of the reader. |
|
| Final Thoughts… |
Impressive content will drive many vehicles on your road to success.
What happens inside your mailing list is just as important, if not more important to how you promote your mailing list. Credible content will keep your readers paying close attention to what you say, and it will help people recommend your mailing list to others.
What happens outside of your mailing list will attract attention to your mailing list. Great content on the outside is the best sale pitch you can offer for your mailing list. It helps people understand why your list is the one that they should be reading above all others. |
|
|
|
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 Steve Crawford believes in finding a way to get what you want in life. To get a massive library full of credible content that you can use to generate leads and sales,
visit the site: http://my-secret-articles.com
Send email to: admin@thenakedmarketer.com
|
|
