Promoting your list is one of the most important pieces of the list-profit puzzle. If no one knows about your list, no one will be able to sign up. That’s why promoting your list on your web site is essential and it’s why I will keep repeating it until I’m sure that you’ve done it.
In fact, even if you get everything else on this list right but don’t have the traffic, you are never going to have the profitable list that you want.
The other steps are important, but once your list is created and ready you really need to focus on your promotional strategies to grow your list to bigger sizes!
Add Your Site to Directories
One of the best ways you can make sure you generate lots of traffic and recognition in your niche is to add your site to directories. There are some directories that are niche specific, and others that are more general. The point is that the more places that contain a link to your web site where your opt-in forms are, the better.
Another benefit to submitting to directories is that you’ll get more back links to your web site. This will help your search engine rankings for sure!
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RentaCoder
Use Article Marketing
Another excellent way to promote your web site and get more people to your web site (and therefore onto your mailing list) is to write articles and submit them to article directories.
In case the idea of article marketing is new to you, it works like this.
1. You write an article.
2. You publish it at an article directory and give others permission to use it.
3. Web site owners go to the article directory, grab your article & publish it on their web sites, blogs, or in their ezines.
4. Every time they publish your article, they must include your author resource bio (similar to your advertisement) along with it.
Your article should contain valuable information, but not so much that people feel like they’ve gotten everything they can out of the topic. If you leave out some key information in end, they will be more inclined to visit your website to get that information and sign-up for your list.
Here’s the place to submit your articles, if you’re busy and only have time to submit to one directory: EzineArticles.com
Encourage List Members to Send The Link to Their Friends
Usually your list members will have friends that have similar interests. So, why not encourage your readers to send the link to your opt-in form to their friends? You might give them some kind of incentive to do so, as this can dramatically increase the response.
This is another example of social proof at work. Because the recipient is getting a recommendation from their friend, you’ll be a lot more likely to get the sign up.
You can simply put some text in your messages that encourages them to pass your newsletter or opt-in address along. There are even web site scripts out there, such as the “tell a friend” script that will allow them to easily enter their friend’s e-mail address on the spot.
Search Engine Optimize Your Web site
One of the best ways to get traffic is to search engine optimize your web site. When people want to find something, they generally go to the search engines to find relevant web sites. If your web site is at the top of the search engines for certain keywords, you’ll be able to get a lot of targeted traffic and help your list grow in the process.
There are many different aspects to search engine optimization that you need to pay attention to. The first thing to do is research keywords that are related to your niche. It is ideal if these keywords are highly searched and have low competition in the search engine results.
Then, create content based around these keywords that will help you rank more highly in the search engines. You should also work on getting backlinks to your web site, to boost your credibility in the eyes of the search engines. Backlinks are nothing more than getting OTHER web sites to link to yours, preferably ones that are established, quality web sites.
Pay For PPC Traffic
While we all want to rank at the top of the search engines, it often takes a while.
But, there is a way that you can zoom your site to the top of the search engines in minutes. The trick is to invest money into Pay Per Click traffic. You simply bid on keywords, create a small ad, and send people to your squeeze page.
Your ad copy should be compelling, and give people a reason to visit. You might even spell out that you’re giving something away for free. Then, all people have to do is sign up for your list to get their free item. It is then up to your autoresponder messages to take over, build a relationship and help you make sales.
Of course, pay per click, like any advertising should be tested before spending too much money to ensure that you’re getting a good return.
Create a Blog
Creating a blog can be another effective way to get search engine traffic.
That is because blogs contain RSS feeds that the search engines absolutely love. If you update your blog consistently, you’ll have a lot more content that can help you rank in the search engines.
People also love to follow blogs, and will bookmark your blog as well as subscribe to your RSS feed (if they like what you have to offer!). This gives them repeated exposure to you and to your expertise. Sooner or later, they will hopefully be compelled to sign up to your list. Your blog is yet another place to put your opt-in form.
Consider Co-Registration
Co-registration is not for everyone, but in some niches it can work quite well. Basically, you find partners in your niche who will place your opt-in box on their think you page, and you will put their opt-in box on your thank you page.
This can work well since these are proven customers in the niche, but you do have to be careful. It has to be done in a way that is not tricky to anyone so that people know what they are really signing up for. You’ll gain a lot more trust if people realize that they are signing up for your list.
Get JV Partners
Getting JV partners to promote your list gives you access to their list of subscribers. This strategy also helps you to come across as an expert since someone else is recommending you.
You can find JV partners on forums, by contacting them through their website, as well as a variety of other methods. It is often best to contact someone who has a product or website that complements rather than competes with yours. They’ll be a lot more likely to promote the product of a person who is not directly competing with them.
Keep in mind that you will often be asked to promote something for them in return, either now or in the future. Make sure you’re comfortable with everything they are doing before you agree to promote them back.
It becomes infinitely easier to attract JV’s once you have an affiliate program. Obviously, you’ll need your own product in order to do this, but once you do it’s easy to get JV partners. Basically what you get from this is traffic to your offers and opt-in box without doing additional work yourself.
As your affiliates drive traffic to your web site, you can capture people’s addresses before and after the sale. You’ll not only make money by having the affiliates promote for you, you’ll gain long-term subscribers as well.
Exchange Newsletter “Plugs”
Another thing you can do with JV partners is agree to mention each other in your respective newsletters. This does not have to be a hard sell, rather a way to show that you recommend each other’s products.
If the people on the other person’s list know and trust that person and have a good relationship with them, they are likely to immediately trust you as well since you come so highly recommended.
Hot Tip!If you have an affiliate program, offer a lopsided offer, which can really get people interested in a mail swap.
• Offer to send their offer to your list.
• Let them send your offer to their list THROUGH their affiliate link.
This accomplishes two things …
1. It gets your foot in the door.
2. Once the sales come in, that JV partner will likely want to continue to promote your product.
Post a Link to Your Squeeze Page In Forums
Forum marketing is an excellent way to grow your list.
1. Search for forums in your niche.
2. Make sure the forum allows you to put a link in your signature.
3. Join those that do.
After you join some forums, begin answering people’s questions and presenting yourself as the expert you are. People will be a lot more receptive to the things you have to say in this case. Your hope is that you become a very respected member so that you get a lot of clicks to your website and then a lot of sign-ups!
Use Social Bookmarking
Social bookmarking is an excellent way to get traffic to your squeeze page and sign-ups to your list. There are many different social bookmarking websites out there, like Digg, Delicious, and Stumble Upon.
You’ll not only get a backlinks to your web site by bookmarking, but you also get the benefit of people in your niche clicking through when they find your info.
Keep in mind that the traffic from these web sites is not always super- targeted, but it is well worth it to sign up for accounts. Bookmarking doesn’t have to be a daily task. Simply bookmark your best content every once in a while. It can increase your opt-ins a variety of different ways.
Check them out:
www.StumbleUpon.com
www.Digg.com
www.Reddit.com
Comment on Blogs
Commenting on blogs is a strategy that is well worth your time. You’ll want to find a few of the top blogs in your niche and leave regular comments on them. You will get a backlink to your web site, but just as importantly, you’ll get visitors when people click on your web site link.
This is great because it can help you get the attention of an authority that is already in the niche (the blog owner), and you may gain some of their traffic, which is highly targeted.
Use Yahoo Answers
Yahoo Answers is yet another way that you can get traffic to your website. People ask questions on this site on a variety of different topics – and you can provide answers. Yahoo Answers also tends to rank highly in search engines like Google, and people who need answers can search all the old topics as well as start new ones!
This is great for you when you leave an expert answer with a link to your website. Keep in mind that Yahoo Answers strives to keep the spam away, so make sure that the page you have linked to is actually helpful and relevant.
Use Linkbait
Link bait works best if you have a blog and are in a niche that has a lot of other bloggers. Linkbait is simply a way of talking about something controversial or having a controversial opinion. When other bloggers and webmasters notice your post they may link to you because they want to share their opinion as well. You’ll likely get a lot of comments from readers agreeing and disagreeing with you.
Keep in mind that not everyone is going to like what you have to say, and you might get some flak. As long as you can back up what you’re saying, you’ll probably gain respect from both those who agree and those who disagree. At the same time, you may see an increase in your sign-ups!
Write a Press Release
Press releases are a time-honored strategy of announcing new information to generate interest.
There’s nothing new about press releases and the internet. Here’s how it works.
1. Do something eventful or plan something interesting.
2. Write a press release about it.
3. Submit your release to the press release sites like PRWeb.com, including a link to your web site.
There are some free and inexpensive press release distribution web sites. Just search Google.com and you’ll find them.
What you might want to do is announce the opening of your blog or web site, or your new product, or anything else that people would find interesting.
Have your press release link to your web site where your opt-in list is featured. Remember, you’ll get more opt-ins if you have some sort of incentive there — especially during the period where your press release is active. If you make your press release interesting enough it might get picked up by news channels.
Send Articles to E-zine Publishers
There are many electronic magazines out there that have a very large subscriber base. Better yet, they are often looking for authors. You can use this to your advantage and send an article (after inquiring, of course). After your article is accepted, you will be able to include a link back to your website or squeeze page. If people find your article interesting and compelling, they are likely visit to sign up for your list!
Remember, you don’t have to stick to just one e-zine. The more you submit to over a period of time, the more likely you are to be seen by as many people in your niche as possible. Getting your name out there and branding yourself is half the battle.
If you’re looking for ezines that accept articles, you might check out the www.directoryofezines.com
Submit Videos
Yet another great way to get traffic to your opt-in page and your web site is to submit videos to sites like YouTube. There are many people who browse for videos on a variety of different topics. The description area of your video can contain a link back to your web site. If your video is compelling enough, people will likely click over to visit.
One thing that many people forget to do is put a call to action at the end of the video. This is a great way to increase responses to get people to visit your web site. You can even make it clear that there is something available for free if they do visit.
Write Guest Posts
Writing guest posts on other people’s blogs or web sites that are already established will showcase your own credibility. Browse around on Google for the top authority web sites in your niche, and present an offer to the web site owner to write an article for them.
Many blog owners would love the chance to take a break, and many readers enjoy reading guest posts. Make sure you provide high quality content, and you’ll get a lot more visitors to your own web site with the link you’ll be allowed to put there. This will increase your exposure with people who are regular readers of the other website — your hope is that they want to bookmark your web site as well and join your list.
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