Photo courtesy socialtriggers.com

List Building is still rather underused in internet marketing. Mostly, I think it is a result of a lack of knowledge. I’m not sure that small business owners understand the power of list building as far as their website is concerned.

How does List Building Work?

Has this ever happened to you?

You walk into your favorite retailer, and shop for your favorite things. At the checkout, your cashier smiles really big and asks,’Do you have an email address you’d like to share with us? You’ll save 10% on your next purchase if you do!’

You start thinking, ‘10% off my next purchase? I’m in!’

You happily surrender your email address. A week later – you start receiving ‘this week’s specials’ in your email inbox….

You just consented to become a part of the retailer’s email list. Hmmm…  To add to that, a month later you return to the store before your 10% off coupon expires. GENIUS!

List Building With Your Website

This same process needs to happen with YOUR website. Without it, you’ll wind up having a lot of browsers, but not being able to connect with them. What’s worse is that you’ll have buyers, and no way to offer them 10% off their NEXT purchase! By instituting the practice of list building, you will have a way to capture those visitors that come to your website, whether they buy anything or not, AND market to them in the future!

Here are 4 Ways you can ROCK List Building with your website!

• You need to leverage a service that allows you to generate, distribute, and track emails through easily built forms that are added to the home page of your website.

• Place the form ‘above the fold’, meaning: Don’t make your visitor scroll to get to it. Make sure it’s prominent. Using a pop-up is also an option. Test and track to see how this works for you.

• Bribe your visitors! OK… maybe bribe is a little too strong. Simply offer your client something irresistible for giving you their email address. With people being so skeptical these days, you’re gonna have to make it good!

• Your email list is nobody else’s business! Assure your clients that you will maintain their email privacy. Do not spam them. Do not sell your list.

You can cash in on your list building

The money is in the list. Remember our example at the beginning. You consented (gave permission) to allowing the retailer to email you. They emailed you weekly with their specials. A month later you returned to get the discount.

In other words…

They asked you to opt-in. In exchange for your email, the retailer offered you 10% off your NEXT purchase. They emailed you weekly. You responded a month later by returning to the store to BUY SOMETHING ELSE, to get your 10% off.

The process is the same online. Give people a reason to come to your store (website). Ask them give you their name and email (opt in) in exchange for something valuable to them (discount, free report, etc). You get permission to email them, and eventually they will respond.

If you are not building your list, you are wasting your time and effort. You are also leaving money on the table.

Get started with your list building today!

Keep marching forward,