Dec

Building Your List through Opt-Ins

Building a list of email addresses saves time when you are trying to reach your target market. You have a dedicated group of individuals or companies that you already know are interested in your product. But, how can you get these people on your list to begin with?

What are Opt-Ins?

You have seen them before but probably didn’t know that they had a specific name. When you visit a site and they offer you a reduced rate on a product or something free, they usually ask for a name and email address so that they can send it to you. When you volunteer this information, it is called “opting in.”

Opt-ins is one way to build your list of targeted customers. People protect their personal information very carefully. If they decide to even give you an email address, then they have demonstrated right there a level of trust that will be the backbone characteristic of your list.

The trick is getting people to opt-in in the first place. For this, there is no trick. But, what you might want to do is to include a disclaimer link on your opt-in forms to let those who sign up know exactly how their information will be used. Without one, you will be considered a spammer if you send unsolicited information to them. With one, you assure people that you will not sell their information to others to build paid lists.

What type of opt-in offers will you promote? It all depends on your niche market and what these potential customers want. One thing that everyone wants on the Internet is information. Helpful information can take your business places that you can’t reach in other ways.

Much of the info on the Internet is recycled over and over again. Offering a mix of original, up-to-date resources and content with common sense tips can be your ticket to creating a successful list of email addresses. This includes content on your website and your blog.

Types of Opt-Ins

So, what will you offer? Think free. Everyone loves free stuff. On the Internet, the free stuff shouldn’t be just any stuff but relevant information that they can use.

For example, if you have a website that sells homeschooling products, consider giving away a free report on how to teach algebra to pre-teens. This is only an example. What you want to do is create a freebie that is relevant to your target audience. If they already homeschool their kids, then tips on how to do it more efficiently will most likely peak their interest.

You can also offer longer pieces like eBooks. Usually, if you offer a valuable eBook, then it is not your first opt-in offering. You are pretty sure that the ones who will sign up for it are going to buy something else. Maybe use the eBook as a freebie for customers who have bought once, to help encourage them to buy again.

Opt-in pages are a popular way to gain trust and encourage buying from your visitors. Whatever you decide to offer, be sure that you follow through on your promise. Better yet, over deliver on it!