Comment posted on How to Build a List: Rich Man, Poor Man List Building by Ana | Traffic Generation
I need to start doing it - see how it goes. 
AdSense? I am sure might be a hot topic, since most bloggers don’t make a dime at it. Well, maybe a dime here and there.
Ana | Traffic Generation also commented
- We all love feeling special, don’t we?
Thanks for coming by, Heather; always a pleasure. Look forward to tomorrow’s post!
- So glad you came, Riya - this is definitely a great topic to walk into.
I’ll thank Shailender next time I see a comment!
- I am all into poor man’s tips, Lou; they are the best.
Yes, believe it or not, it is a real picture and that guy has some problems - no question about it.
- Thanks, Ray - good to see you back.
- I’ll check out FlyLady.net, Heather - always looking for a fresh solution to an old problem.
Love all your feedback on these comments! I can’t believe you’ve grown so much since we met… seems like yesterday.
Listen to me, now I am talking like an old lady.
Recent comments by Ana | Traffic Generation
- Top of the Crop: Best Internet Marketing Tools Best Marketers Use
You’re welcome and thanks for compliment, Thomas.Truthfully, you’ll never know if a tool is right for you until you try it. However, these are the ones that worked for me.
Good luck on your blog!
Ana
- Sunday Coffee with Ana: Family vs Business
Thank you so much, Mavis!My family is my top priority that’s why I always make sure that every weekend is to spend my time with them.
- Best Aweber Autoresponder Review? You bet!
Really don’t like it when I don’t have a first name to answer to.Aweber allows you to turn off double opt-in.
That’s what I did for a long time, but turned out (I just found out today) that I ended up with a list where half of my subscribers haven’t opened an email from me for months.
Lesson learned: I was a responsive list, not a big list.
Something to think about.
Ana
- Best Aweber Autoresponder Review? You bet!
Definitely, Shiva.And if you read some comments below, you’ll see people had huge problems with MailChimp shutting down their lists; so I wouldn’t go anywhere near that service.
- Best Aweber Autoresponder Review? You bet!
Do you have a list, Staci?
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{ 55 comments }
Another bril post Ana - though that pic at the top made me feel quite sick…. Loving what you write and seeing how much you know and wondering if I’ll ever manage to catch up with how all this works. Just wondering about themes, I know you are keen on Thesis - but (like list building) I’ve just googled “why do i need a wp theme” and come up with loads of sites selling themes….. I reckon you probably know the answer so, why do I need a WordPress theme? What will it do for me that standard wp + plugins won’t? Cheers Fiona
Fantastic post Ana!
I’m trying to get caught up on all your list building goodness.
I love the idea of password protecting some of your posts, for your “subscribers eyes only!” Makes the subscribers feel like they’re part of something exclusive…the good ol’ velvet rope policy!
Love it!
Heather
Heather C Stephens @ Business Blog Marketing Forum´s last blog ..Join the Clever Marketer Mastermind Community- Blog Commenting Tribe!
We all love feeling special, don’t we?
Thanks for coming by, Heather; always a pleasure. Look forward to tomorrow’s post!
Hi Ana,
I also searched about list building in google and find nothing just waste material. You have really come up with nice post about list building. I really liked it.
.
This is my first visit to your blog and it’s really great for me. I got to know about your blog through Shailender. He was totally correct about your blog Ana!
Riya @ Couponseasy´s last blog ..Web CEO Promo Voucher Of 40 Discount
So glad you came, Riya - this is definitely a great topic to walk into.
I’ll thank Shailender next time I see a comment!
Password protecting thing can work real well. I remember one blogger with a post on how he made $100 in one day via adsense. Oh he got lots of subscriptions for that on e.
Dennis Edell@ Direct Sales Marketing´s last blog ..Poll- Is it Spam – Ignorance – Language Barrier – What Would YOU Do…
I need to start doing it - see how it goes.
AdSense? I am sure might be a hot topic, since most bloggers don’t make a dime at it. Well, maybe a dime here and there.
Hi Ana,
I must admit that by thetime I read through this post, I had forgetten my thoughts about that picture. Just curious…is that a plastic action figure or a real person? If he’s real, he looks in danger of exploding.
List building is something I have embarked on, I recognize its importance, and I sure am grateful for these tips you have shared here. I have the elements of list building covered, but I have a long way to go with the other areas. I am slowly finding blogs that are in my peculiar niche, so I should be able to try some of your tips for “poor men”. Thanks again.
Louo
Lou Barba@informationhighwaycardandgiftshop.com´s last blog ..Sometimes the Fish Market is Cheaper
I am all into poor man’s tips, Lou; they are the best.
Yes, believe it or not, it is a real picture and that guy has some problems - no question about it.
Ana | Traffic Generation´s last blog ..Blog Post Promotion- Increase Your Blog Popularity Like the Pros Do
Good stuff as always Ana
Ray Higdon´s last blog ..When To Use Your Approach to Build MLM Business Opportunities
Thanks, Ray - good to see you back.
Hi Ana, this post is even bigger than the guy in the picture! You gave a ton of great tips, and I agree on the pop-ups. For most niches it’s a big fail, but you never know until you test.
One way to build your list via social media is to use a landing page in your profile that links to a landing page just for them, complete with your email-opt in. While they will receive the same ebook, you can customize the messaging for the social network their coming from, and tell them how it’s pertinent to them.
Personalization FTW!
Robert Dempsey@Internet Marketing Strategies´s last blog ..The No Name Podcast That’s All About Action
Funny you say about building a landing page with your opt-in form.
Pat Flynn is my guest writer today and that’s what he’ll be talking about.
Completely agreed, by the way.
Ana´s last blog ..Blog Comment Traffic Research- Signed- Sealed- and Delivered
I absolutely love this idea Robert!
Another idea I thought of for a landing page, as I was reading Ana’s fabulous post is to create a landing page for all the links leading to affiliate products that we’re promoting on our blogs. Give away a special tips sheet for using the product or a review or something like that. So for example, when someone clicks on “max blog press subscribers’ magnet” they are taken to a page to opt in to a review and tips sheet and then taken to the mbp affiliate link page.
Heather
Heather C Stephens´s last blog ..Join the Clever Marketer Mastermind Community- Blog Commenting Tribe!
Interesting idea, Heather…
Something to munch on…
My thinking is that you want your potential buyers to get to the product as quickly as possible. If you make them go through several pages or especially opt-in, they might bail out.
What do you think?
Ana | Traffic Generation´s last blog ..Think Outside the Blog- External Ways to Explode Your List
aS always Anna,
You deliver true content and value, what alot of people miss in list building is that when they have some sort of a list, they then bombard it with offers..
This never works in the long term as nobody want to be continually sold to..
Thanks for sharing..
You are very welcome, Jack.
I am still trying to figure out the balance between value and promotion as far my list is concerned.
But that’s another post.
Ana´s last blog ..How to Build a List See Beyond The List To Make The Real Money
I think, one a week is good after 6 or 7 content e-mails..
I like what u do which is give good content with an offer at the end..
How does this work for u?
Jack Foley´s last blog ..Have Faith and Move Forward
Hi Jack
One of the best uses of promotion with value is FlyLady.net. Her emails are always packed full of helpful tips for taking care of your home, your family, and you, or a testimonial from one of her readers, and at the end she shares tools that will help to make that particular task easier.
The same could be applied to our purposes as well. Just like Ana’s post here where she gave value and then shared her favorite tools that she uses to accomplish her list building goals.
I think if we’re always providing value like this our subscribers won’t mind the “plug” at the end.
Heather
Heather C Stephens´s last blog ..Blog- Video- Audio- and Article Marketing Reverse Engineering Content Creation
I’ll check out FlyLady.net, Heather - always looking for a fresh solution to an old problem.
Love all your feedback on these comments! I can’t believe you’ve grown so much since we met… seems like yesterday.
Listen to me, now I am talking like an old lady.
You have made very good points here Ana. And I like the thing about listing the paid and free methods of list building.
Leveraging other blogs is a brilliant idea. I have thought about using Facebook ads in the past, but was alarmed by the price. So you said that you are going to do that soon, let us know how it works for you.
Jane.
Jane@Blogging Tips´s last blog ..Overcoming Procrastination To Achieve Your Goals
I need to do the leveraging part more, Jane; somehow I haven’t given it much thought before I wrote this post. Need to get on with it!
Hi Ana,
Awesome post. Great list building tips as well. If content is king then promotion is queen. You have to do some smart work when promoting your content or blog. It is ok to give your leaders a little ethical bribe. That was good brief review of the list building products. I personally use Getresponse autoresponder and I am also a fan of subscriber magnet.
Lali
Good morning, Lali - you are so right, content always does hand in hand with promotion and list building is the cherry on the top.
I think many bloggers (understandably) try to save money on the front end on products that could really change their business; big mistake.
Looks like you are in good hands as far as that is concerned.
Ana,
Wow very exhaustive list here some of them I need to look into. Not a one of the paid ones would I waste my money on they are almost obsolete with what social media has to offer in my opinion. That pop up you mention so true I don’t how blogs I come to and wham I’m like doesn’t so and so have the same one!!! Great information as usual.
Steve
Steve Shoemaker´s last blog ..Add Your YouTube RSS Feed To Your Facebook Like Page Or Profile
I am with you, Steve - paid methods are out. FB ads is the only might for me.
So good to see you on my blog!
Ana´s last blog ..Best Aweber Autoresponder Review You bet!
Ana,
I loved it. You made it so clear and simple. I Google everything and yet never thought to Google about list building, but now I don’t have to bother.
I agree 1000% about the pop-ups. They’re a complete turn off. In fact, I quite often simple x out without even reading the post. Even if they do work, I wouldn’t use them. They remind me of tele-marketers. They must be effective, or they wouldn’t still be happening, but they are so irritating.
Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.
Connie
I can’t remember one time I signed up for anything via a pop-up, Connie.
I suppose they have a time and a place - like only once ever after a person spend some time on my blog. That’s what I do on TGC and it works.
Hope you’ll use some of these tips; they are really the best ones I’ve ever read.
Here’s what I’ve done - observed from the trenches. My list building is going better than it has in the past, albeit slow. But a great retention rate!
1. Used AdWords - broke me. I was spending $350-400 a month on the program. Very few sign-ups. But I was promoting high-end, well known affiliate programs. Like a lot of other people. LESSON: Your landing page, offer must be unique. Not just another offering the person clicking on has already seen. If that’s the case, they click, but not click-thru. That’s costly.
2. Used a few autoresponders. They are a must! You can find free ones on the web, but they usually contain ads. I use Constant Contact. LESSON: Get a good autoresponder! But you don’t have to buy all the upsale ad-ons to have a great program.
3. I believe content is king! If I google my name or keywords I have the first 14 pages tied up. And it’s all my comments, and posts. Not my outgoing links. Like Lisa found, my comments rule the roost. And when I have new followers that follow the comments or posts, they are eager to read more and instinctively sign-up for the newsletter, building my list. LESSON: My readers want my content. Not necessarily my links. They want me.
4: Your offer for sign-up must go hand-in-glove with your theme and persona. Be it JV’s or other bloggers sharing, the reason for your reader to sign up on your list must be to get more of you. LESSON: A sales letter scared away my list prospects. But a special ‘Gib’ offer from ‘Gib’ about more ‘Gib Stuff’ has the highest conversion rate. You don’t want to even hint ‘Sign-up here so I can sell you more stuff!’
Great article, Ana. Looking forward to Friday’s post.
And liking the new look!
Wow, Gib - what a comment!
I always love your insights, but these tips can easily make a guest post of their own.
Agree on all points, especially the last one: your offer has to be about you, no question about it.
Were you able to fix your permalinks yet? I really hope so.
This post is very relevant to me right now as I just kick-started my first ever list building campaign. Now my next goal is to create a lead magnet.
I know this post is going to come in very handy for me while working towards building my list - Bookmarked for future reference!
Thanks Ana.
Adam Paudyal @ endeavor online´s last blog ..Is Success Really Just A Head Game
You are so welcome, Adam.
And you know you are more than welcome to use my SEO report for your magnet until you come up with yours. All you need to do is keep it unchanged and it’s all yours.
Ana, this is brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.
Well, thank you, Amanda!
Hi Ana
Thank you for the tips. Even for a poor hobby blogger like me there are some tips I can use. Great idea with the PDF and the password protected posts. That should be pretty easy to implement.
Thank you Ana.
Thomas@IT-Blog and reviews´s last blog ..Active Directory – Protect an OU from accidental deletion
I am all for poor man strategies - as a matter of fact, I never pay for any traffic, ads, etc.
Hope you’ll use some of these tips, Thomas. Sounds like some of these are a great fit for your blog.
Hey Ana,
Excellent post on list building. I have been in the game for about 5 months now and my list is still not where I want it to be. You have given me some new ideas to try, as always it is greatly appreciated.
PS I am almost finished with my graphic design webpage and you will be the first to know when it is done.
Thanks Ana and have a great day!
Ian Belanger@Network Marketing Success´s last blog ..Marketing Strategies- How To Use Forum Marketing To Generate Free Leads For Your Network Marketing Business
At least you are moving forward with it, Ian. As in, you are building a list, and that’s already ahead of many bloggers out there.
Do hope that you’ll pick up a few good tips from this post and put them to work on your blog.
Look forward to seeing your new site!
Ana´s last blog ..How to Build a List See Beyond The List To Make The Real Money
Hey Ana,
That was a kick butt list!! Thanks for putting that together for us. I really am going to look into the guest blogging. I’ve heard lots of different people tell me about it.
I’ve done the solo ad paid strategy and if you do it Daegan Smith style I think it really works. Plus you can start out with a chepear ad just to check out conversions and stuff before you pay the $200 ads.
I was totally against popups as well but I think that the Aweber and Popup Domination are both equally annoying but they work. Plus most people have UGLY Aweber popups! And you can most definitely set up Popup Domination to show up when you want it to and how often.
Erin Smith´s last blog ..Facebook Marketing Ideas
So it’s settled: most bloggers have no idea how to set up their PopUp Domination not to show up every time you refresh the page.
Testing out the waters before jumping in with both feet is always a good idea, especially when it comes down to paid strategies. It becomes a bit like gambling when you have no idea what you are doing.
Pleasure to see you here!
Ana´s last blog ..Best Aweber Autoresponder Review You bet!
What you would suggest to newbie bloggers?. Would they consider list building for their blogs? I think list building take much time. I am not still smart blogger yet want to take my feet towards it.
As always this one article really inspirational and great guidelines.
Atul Vhale´s last blog ..Twitter- facebook and LinkedIn Contact management Tools
The earlier you start building your list, the better, Atul. The fact that you don’t know what you are doing is not an excuse.
Check out the two previous posts in the series; they’ll help you narrow down the basics.
Ana´s last blog ..Sunday Coffee with Ana- DoFollow- NoFollow and More
Another great post Ana and the topic is one that many continue to struggle with. It took me awhile to even understand a part of what you are sharing so you did a wonderful job with covering so many details.
I believe I will continue to be a work in progress with learning better and more effective ways to continue to build a list. There are many you listed here that I still have not implemented. My main concern at this time is just driving traffic to my site and I do get new opt-ins almost every day so the rest will fall into place as it should. Still have a lot to learn though so thanks for pointing some of this out.
Adrienne
Adrienne´s last blog ..What a Cool Twitter App
Thanks, Adrienne - to be quite honest, I never thought of many of these list building tactics until I sat down to write this post.
Both traffic and traffic conversion go side by side; sounds like you are working on both of them. Perfect.
Ana´s last blog ..Blog Post Promotion- Increase Your Blog Popularity Like the Pros Do
This seems so relevant at the moment Ana - list building seems to be coming up all the time with my peeps. I’ve had a lot of success with FB ads but I think it depends on the market - particularly good for consumer products I’m finding.
Cathy
Cathy Presland´s last blog ..Website Effectiveness
Definitely, Cathy.
I look forward to testing out FB ads to see how they work for my market.
Ana´s last blog ..Dofollow Nofollow Links- Is There a Happy Medium
Obviously. You’re twisting more than an arm or leg! I’ll drop you a message on skype. Hope you’ll reply.
So much tips to takeaway. I have to re-read this post over and over to be able to digest everything you’ve written.
It’s insightful, it’s complete. I’m sure you could turn that into a ebook and FORCE people to subscribe when the see the benefit:-) All in all, thanks so much!
You are welcome, Tim.
I suppose I can twist an arm or two with this post…
Ana´s last blog ..Blog Post Promotion- Increase Your Blog Popularity Like the Pros Do
Hey Ana-I’m with Steve, there’s a lot of meat to digest:). Loving the idea to start a forum, as time-consuming as that sounds. Since my niche has a bit of social stigma, that might be a good way to go…
I find it masterful, the way you’ve linked your 7 Steps To Complete Search Engine Domination throughout your post.
Thanks for the traffic generation and list building tips. Off to research forums…;).
Linda´s last blog ..Surviving the Parenting Full-Court Press in Youth Sports
You are so very welcome, Linda.
Yes, starting a forum sounds daunting, but once you get it going, it all comes down to moderation and keeping the conversation going.
Definitely a great tool.
Ana
Ana´s last blog ..Dofollow Nofollow Links- Is There a Happy Medium
Wow Ana! Building my list is something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately and you’ve given some great tips. This is indeed the best and most complete guide to list building that I have ever seen. And, like you, I was looking. There were little bits here and there but nothing like this.
Thanks so much!
Danielle McGaw@social media for freelance writers´s last blog ..What I’m Watching On YouTube
You are so welcome, Danielle.
I suppose my thinking is always - if you can’t find one, build it yourself!
Ana
Ana´s last blog ..How to Build a List See Beyond The List To Make The Real Money
Thanks, Ana. A lot of meat to digest here, at least for me. I will have to prioritize. Since I am a poor man, do you have a top 3 in the low cost category based on your experience?
Hi, Steve - I know where you come from.
To me, it all comes down to traffic. The more traffic, the more subscribers. The better content, the more traffic.
Assuming you’ve got all the conversion on your site covered (good opt-in form, aweber, etc), I would definitely do guest posting. Also one way or another “exchanging” the lists with each other is a great idea as well.
Ana´s last blog ..Best Aweber Autoresponder Review You bet!
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