List Building

Internet marketing as a business rests on the crucial role of list building. If you’ve been involved in marketing online for any length of time you will have heard the phrase and all the “gurus” will tell you “the money is in the list”. But why is this so? After all isn’t the whole marketing power of the internet based on the sheer number of consumers now searching for goods and services online. Yes, it is but the truth is most people go online to make searches for free information not to actually make a purchase of goods or services. In fact according to Google about 98% of searches fall into this category.

Studies have shown even when a visitor visits a site where they actually purchase something it can take 7 or more marketing attempts before they actually buy. This being the case it’s imperative that visitors receive continuous follow ups after the initial visit to a website. The only way to do this effectively is to build a marketing list having captured their name and e-mail from a squeeze or opt in page.

In fact it’s been said that your whole internet marketing profitability can be reduced to the simple formula of how many people you can contact by sending out a single e-mail broadcast. A marketer therefore needs a list of targeted prospects who have shown by their actions (opting into your list) an interest in your niche. Keep marketing to them and proving that you are an expert in your niche and eventually they will have the confidence in you to purchase either your own products or products you recommend to them.

Building a following of loyal customers takes time and so it is with list building. Once built however the time and effort will have been well worth it because the traffic you generate will be independent of Google algorithms, search engine optimization or third party endorsement, all of which can change in an instant. List building therefore is not some minor aspect of internet marketing but should be at the very center of your entire online business.

By: Llewelyn James

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