How to Build a Responsive List

Everything you read concerning Internet Marketing tells you
that you must have a list to succeed. That's true but it
doesn't go far enough! If no one pays any attention to what
you have to say, your list is worthless.

Here are some tips on how to get the response you want from
your list:

Give Your Subscribers Time and Reason to Trust You.

Most marketers are too impatient. They think that just
because someone has agreed to receive their ezine, emails,
etc. they are going to run right out and buy everything
they recommend. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

It takes time to build rapport with those on your list. You
have to let them get to know you; learn what makes you
tick. Here are few ways you can do that:

If you have an ezine or newsletter that contains nothing
but ads, with maybe an article thrown in here and there for
good measure, you aren't going to build anything but
disinterest. Tell your readers about you! Let them into
your life. Let them know what's important to you; what your
thoughts are. Just relate to them like a real person.

You have to prove to them that you aren't just focused on
the almighty buck. You have to show them week after week
that you want to help them succeed. Give them ideas and
tips that will help them along the path to that success.

Don't Throw Every Product That Comes Along at Them.

If you want your subscribers to trust you, you have to be
very careful what you recommend to them. Make sure it's a
quality program or product before you endorse it. That
means you have to have personal experience with it. How can
you honestly recommend anything that you've never used or
been a part of?

If you're selective with your recommendations, eventually
your list will trust what you say and at least check out
your recommendations. If the product or service is
something they can benefit from you'll have a new customer
or affiliate.

If you always make the best interests of your subscribers
your first priority they will come to realize that.
Remember, if you want a responsive list you have to provide
solutions to their problems. The only way you will ever
succeed is to help them succeed.

Don't Bombard Them!

How many ezines or lists have you subscribed to where you
receive multiple emails everyday? How long does it take you
to click on the "unsubscribe" link? No one wants to feel
that s/he's being hounded.

Most people understand that we all have to earn money and
they will be receptive to the occasional extra mailing.
However, if you abuse that understanding you'll find the
size of your list decreasing rapidly.

Sure, if there's something exciting that you feel will
really benefit your readers, by all means let them know
about it. But . . . we all know this doesn't happen every
day. The more "exciting" announcements you send, the less
your subs will respond. Finally, horror of horrors . . .
they'll just stop paying any attention to your emails at
all.

Finally, Follow the "Golden Rule" . . .

Treat your subscribers the same way you want to be treated.
Respect their time and intelligence. Let them know you're
there to help them and, when they ask for that help, always
go the extra mile to provide it. The Internet may be a
gigantic network but in many respects it's a small,
interwoven community. If we help one another, we all
succeed.

"You will get everything in life that you want if you just
help enough other people get what they want." - Zig Ziglar