Why You Should Build a Mailing List

An email address is a valuable thing. People don't give them out easily, and for good reason; when you have access to someone's email address, you have access to their lives. If they've parted with this important information and entrusted you with it, they know that they will hear from you again. If they've been willing to do that, you should be honored by the trust you have been shown you and use it responsibly.

If they've given you their email address, it's because of an interest expressed in the product or information that you have to offer. At some level, they want to know more.

This is your chance to tell them more. That email address allows you to put them on your mailing list, and it's the perfect way to get your newsletter out to people, to send out special offers, or just to remind them every now and then that your site is still there, with new, updated, relevant content.

When you build your mailing list, you are not only increasing your customer base and your own business opportunities, but you are providing your viewers with a service. You have something to offer, and one short visit to your site won't exhaust that, so you are really doing a favor to your readers when you send them reminders, with easy clickable links, that you are there and you are willing to offer your products, services and information.

By building your mailing list, you have a chance to build relationships, and when people know and trust you, they'll be willing to do business with you in the future.

Link Building is Key to SEO

What is a link but an offer of support for a particular website. Links are votes online. Google the largest search engine uses those links to determine how popular a webpage is. They give this destination the term PageRank. PageRank is one of many factors that Google use to determine, page rankings for a particular search term. These results for a particular search term is displayed in the search engine results pages, or SERP for short. To get better SERPs rankings, online marketers have been involved with what is called SEO, or search engine optimization. SEO consists of two parts.

The first part is called on-page SEO. This is what you can do on your webpage and website to increase your chances of getting to the top 5 results on Google. These including having good title tags, have good on-site navigational etc.

The second part and the most important part for competitive terms is off-site optimization. This basically means getting links to your webpage.

It's best to get links with your target search term in the anchor text. Also you have to make sure your link building strategy looks natural in the eyes of Google or else your web page will be sand boxed. Meaning you will be removed from the top of the SERPs and put way, way down because Google things you are trying to cheat. That's why when you are building links you have to make sure that you are trying to optimized for more then one term at once. This way you won't got an insane amount of links just for one term, but for multiple terms.

Increasing Your Squeeze Page Opt-Ins

The object of building a squeeze page and then driving traffic to it is to collect the contact information of site visitors. That's it, end of story. There should be no promotional advertising of any sort that may distract the visitor. Presenting multiple options other than leaving their contact information will likely end in a 'none decision' with the visitor leaving your site…for good.

With the offer of a free giveaway and an explanation of the benefits they'll enjoy by opting in to your list your final objective is to make this process simple for them.

At this point you'll want to 'clearly' prompt the site visitor as to what the next step is. It is here that you want to compel them to leave their contact information. The opt-in box of your squeeze page is a very critical component of your list building campaign.

Here are the 4 key components you'll want to focus on to maximize the effectiveness of your opt-in box:

• In just a few lines prior to any text within the opt-in box itself you'll want to give clear instructions as to what you want the visitor to do. Remind them of the free giveaway and tell them EXACTLY what they need to do to get it. For instance, "Simply leave your first name and primary email address below to instantly receive your free instructional video."

Using words or terms such as instantly, immediately, or right away to describe the delivery timetable of the free giveaway appeals to the instant gratification mindset of the modern day masses.

• On the opt-in form itself avoid being overly intrusive with the type of contact information you're requesting. This could turn away many site visitors on the spot. The request for a first name is sufficient. Site visitors will feel more comfortable knowing they haven't totally relinquished their 'privacy' to a complete stranger. You want to minimize any objections they may have to give you their contact information and NOT add to them.

• When asking for their email address you want to specify their primary email address. Most everyone today has multiple email addresses but some are rarely used. Collecting active and frequently used email addresses is a key element of list building. This enables you to maintain consistent contact with your list members while also making periodic 'offers' to them.

• Edit your submit button on the opt-in form. By using text on the 'submit' button that better relates to the actual squeeze page offer itself will keep the site visitor more focused on what they have to gain. For instance "Yes, I want to lose weight now!" or "Send my complimentary gift right away!" would serve well as emotional triggers to somebody considering such an offer.

By avoiding the use of any promotional advertising on your squeeze page you're able to minimize any distractions a visitor to your site may have. Your singular focus is to clearly and briefly state your offer and its benefits. After that let the person know EXACTLY what it is you want them to do. Make this process simple for them and then just sit back and watch your list grow.

List Building - Success to the Bank

Success in list building comes through a well laid out plan. There is great competition for visitors on the internet, so in order to build a decent list the site must offer the prospective visitor a reason to click. Now recently it has come to light that wording such as free, give away and no charge have come under fire. Basically, people are tired of being promised one thing and never receiving. There have been so many empty promises and scams most have begun avoiding those worded claims. So with that being said, what does building a good list, one full of future revenue, take? Read on for the answer and solution to a successful list building campaign.

There is something in every business or industry that can be offered to prospects. It may be creative ideas, photos, a how to guide or simple advice, but there needs to be something offered. This gives a need or reason to visit and increases the chance of building a good and lengthy list of contacts. By offering something of value to the visitor they can then be asked to give their contact information. A site should also ask permission to contact the individual in the future. Because they want that information they will generally give it. This not only builds a list, but also gives the person something to look forward to. Follow up emails, offers and contact is a good way to build a positive relationship and help the business grow.

List Building the Right Way

List building just like anything else should be conducted the right way. Things such as opt in pages, landing and freebies should be only used with the permission of the potential customers. It is not good business to trick individuals to subscribing or not even asking permission before sending them further advertisements. Keeping a business on the level is a good way to maintain business over the years, with a good reputation. Sure those other guys might build a few more lists or get more contacts in the beginning, but if not done correctly it will backfire quickly. Here are a few tips that can help build a good contact list through a positive list building campaign.

First, and foremost always get the permission of visitors before sending them any other follow up advertisements or materials. Opt in lists are used to build lists and get the visitors to enter their contact information, so there should be a disclosure or other informative statement explaining why the information is being obtained. Most sites also go the extra mile and explain to their visitors that there information will not be sold to an outside or third party company. With disclosures most people will go ahead and enter their information, especially when they know that their information will not be sold.

Respecting the privacy of others is important also; all correspondence should have an Opt out link or contact information in case the individual no longer wishes to receive correspondence. These requests should be handled in a timely manner so that it cannot be said that their wishes are not being upheld.