2 Questions About Lists

[Sterling_Sherrell]

Just started my first list and I have about 200. It is easy to find affiliate products to pitch, but what are the freebies I should be giving my list to keep them happy?

Also, is there a good place besides WF to look for ad swaps?

[Darren Warmuth]

Hi Sterling,

There are many freebies out there you can give to your list like re-brandable reports and e-books with master resale rights, but in my opinion, the freebies you should be giving are something created personally by you. Or at least commissioned by you.

You are trying to 'build' a list, therefore you want to give something of value so that your current list readily refers other people to you - because of the value you provide.

It may take a little longer but works a lot better.

cheers,
Darren

[John Taylor]

Sterling,

Why do you want to give your list "freebies"?

Take a step back and ask yourself what you want to achieve
with your list and then think about how giving stuff away will
help you to achieve your objectives.

I'm not saying you shouldn't give your list freebies. I am saying
that you should use freebies to reward the people on your list
who take the action you want them to.

Why train your list to become freebie seekers when you can
train them to take actions that make you money?

Give freebies to people who buy through your affiliate link in the
form of bonuses.

John

[Ryan Ringold]

I agree with John.

You have to train your list.

[Michael McMillan]

I certainly respect John's opinion, and I agree 80%, but I also believe that a big part of your list maintenance work involves relationship building so I sometimes think it's important to meet them a little more than half way and give some good stuff once in a while.

Another thing about lists I've been playing with is the idea of setting time limits. Here is what I mean. It's easy for subscribers to say, "Hey, I'll read that later" and move on to something else. On a couple of my lists I've use a title such as, "12 hour incredible download". Of course it's important to give them an incredible download or it falls apart. Having said that, I've used this with an annoyingly unresponsive list to move it from an 18% open rate to over 30%, which is in my mind quite significant.

This gives them a reason to open your emails NOW. Sure, I get a couple complaints from people who say they didn't check their email until a day later or so--but overall, doing this once in a while seems to have a positive impact. Still testing, but it seems to work.

[falcon1959]

Hi Michael
Thats a great Idea i may try that myself, Do you take the offer down after 12 hours though?

I do agree about what you said regarding giving your list free stuff now and again, and one of the best ways is to find some free software that they may find use of. It makes a big change to them receiving a report.

Garry

[John Ellis]

I agree...

1) Give them free PDF's or videos that you've created yourself
2) Don't give them too often, maybe once a week and/or as bonuses to buy through your affiliate link.
3) Take them down after 24-48 hours, it will train your list to open your emails NOW.

[Dean Holland]

I believe it to be an important part of relationship building to offer free quality content to your subscribers

Sure you want to train them to invest and spend money but this wont be accomplished usually without building that trust and letting them know you are someone that a) they should listen to and b) that you can help them.

They can be on any number of 100's of lists that can send them sales emails but if your mixing that with free content that you have created to help them then you will do better IMO

Hope that helps

Dean

[mjbacch]

I guess it really depends on what you would consider a "freebie." I have found that to keep your list on the hook and pay attention, first offer part 1 of the freebie for signing up and tell them that you will give them part two in a couple of days, this way it's an ethical bribe to continue to open your emails.

Future emails themselves should contain great tips or advice allowing your viewers to absorb the information inside the email itself. In other words you are "training" your list to read the emails and a small portion of the emails (about 20-30%) will have a valuable download. This teaches them to 1.) open you emails. 2.) Read your emails 3.) click on any links in your emails.

I have lists that are quite responsive as much as a 30-40% open rate, consistently and 9 out of 10 times a 95% click through rate just using this method.
But remember to always, always give great content. One crappy email can kill it.

Cheers! 8)

[John Ellis]

For adswaps, you can visit the IMAdswaps forum, Safe Swaps or List Swapper.

If you Google them you'll find them..

Hope that helps.