Folks keep talking about “having a list.” This is referring to your email list and you can create a healthy 6-figure business with an email list less than 1,000 people. (I did!) You don’t need a ton of people, you just need qualified and targeted people. While having a big list is GREAT, but it doesn’t matter how many people you have on it if they aren’t people in your target market who want to hear from you.
Having an email list is important and it grows over time so don’t get discouraged if you are first starting out.
Here are top 3 ways to build your email list:
1. Telesummits
This is one of my favorites because you expand your list quickly AND it’s a lot of work and A LOT of details. You will likely need a VA for this because there are so many technical details to manage in addition to managing the speakers you host on the telesummit.
A telesummit is when you gather top experts that compliment your message and invite them to be interviewed by YOU on a telesummit (also called virtual workshops, virtual training, etc). The people you invite to be on your telesummit send a solo email to their list. That email includes compelling copy of this fabulous online event and encourages their peeps to sign up. The people sign up on YOUR website and are now a part of YOUR list.
Why do people want to be on your telesummit? They can offer something for free on the call so now their freebie is exposed to everyone who has signed up for this telesummit. It’s also a way for them to be exposed to other people’s lists. Everyone wins. The people who sign up really win because they get great content from experts at no charge.
After this online event happens, nurture this list of people. Build a relationship with them. Put them in an autoresponder series for at least a few weeks before they become part of your main list and get your regular e-newsletters.
These people who sign up to be part of your virtual event want to trust you. So give them good reasons to trust you. Give them valuable content.
2. Speaking and Exhibits
When you speak at events, always make a free offer to the audience. Give them an ebook, something to encourage people to give you their card. After the event, give them the valuable goodie and just like after hosting a telesummit, nurture these relationships for a few weeks before putting them into your regular newsletter list.
The same strategy works for exhibits or booths at events. Have a drawing at your booth. When you have a sign on your table that announces your freebie, make sure you say something like “You will also receive a complimentary subscription to ________ valued at $________.” Having this note just keeps you in integrity and it lets people know they can opt out at any time so there is no pressure.
3. Website Freebie
Having a “freebie” on your website is a TOP reason to have a website in the first place. Your website should do one thing and that is to make you money. How do you do that? By capturing people’s information as they visit your site – you do that by having a compelling freebie. This can be a video series, a DVD or audio file or an ebook just to name a few options.
>>> Check out the Top 10 List of Dos and Don’ts of what to do with your email list here. Be sure to leave your comments of what your favorites are and share what email tips work for your business.
