List Building: Five Reasons to Start List-Building Today!

What does the phrase “The money is in the list.” really mean to you? Sure, earning a great income and achieving financial independence are super reasons to build your list, but what specifically makes list-building your ticket to prosperity?

How about the following:

1. List-building is the cornerstone of successful affiliate marketing campaigns. Some of the Internet’s best known and wealthiest personalities used affiliate marketing as their entry point. How? By accumulating a healthy list of subscribers, of course! They did not have to become product creation or copywriting experts. They simply directed their list to top quality OPP – Other People’s Products. By driving targeted traffic to landing (“opt-in”) pages on a consistent basis, your stream of prospects is assured. You can then pre-sell your subscribers with e-mails.

2. Permission-based list-building grants you the privilege of contacting subscribers on a regular basis. Think about it: most people are sales resistant, and only a small minority is really qualified to sell on a regular basis. Even campaigns masterminded by the best traffic experts and copywriters may only convert on a 1-3% basis. However, even these are often one-time sales – once the transaction is complete, the customer is gone forever.

On the other hand, if you obtain a customer’s contact information (usually a first name and e-mail address), you can focus on relationship-building instead of direct selling. The pressure to immediately convert people into dollar signs is greatly reduced – rejection is acceptable so long as you get a second chance. In fact, it takes seven exposures on average before a sale is made, so have patience!

3. List-building gives you the opportunity to establish your credentials. Marketers often cite the “know, like, and trust” factor with their subscribers as their key to success. Nothing in business is more valuable than your reputation, so take special care with the impression you create of yourself. Maximize your e-mail relationship marketing – even in the Web 2.0 era, your list remains the most reliable source of prospects. It pays to regularly demonstrate your expertise and trustworthiness within your chosen niche, because:

- It is easier to market to previous buyers and existing subscribers than new prospects.
- People really do prefer buying from those that they know, like, and trust.

4. List-building permits you to attract like-minded people. Chances are that both new and experienced marketers are looking for online personalities that they can relate to. If you operate in a laser-targeted niche, your subscribers want your guidance and will reward you accordingly. Regular correspondence offering product suggestions and best practice advice convinces them that you are sincerely motivated to help them.

5. As an outgrowth of the previous four steps, list-building allows you to attract a steady stream of hungry buyers. Cash is the lifeblood of anyone’s business – without it, the best laid plans are all for not. Avoid feeling guilty about your success! You have demonstrated beyond a reasonable doubt your worthiness as a marketer, and are now being rewarded for your hard work and genuine concern for your subscribers.

The potential rewards for mastering this highly valuable skill make every day a great day to be a list builder!

Now that you know the reasons for building a list, check out our feature article on how to use list building to grow your business.