Internet Marketing and List Building - Make Your Opt-In Rates Soar

If you're just starting out with Internet Marketing, you probably don't know where to begin when creating your first list building page. Tracking and testing of whatever page you create is important, and you should start doing those things right away. But before you begin, you really have no stats to base your business on, so you may find it useful to use the stats of others. MarketingExperiments.com is one place to find them.

In 2004, MarketingExperiments.com conducted a survey about subscription rates. Though the study isn't completely about list building, many of the ideas that the company presents are highly relevant. I'd like to share some of the results of the 2004 test and show you how they relate to list building. (You can see the full report at http://tinyurl.com/2ymexr.)

1) Be sure your value proposition is prominent.

The value proposition is the primary benefit of whatever it is you're providing for the customer. It should be unique and stand out on your page. You may be giving away a free report, if you're list building with your niche in mind. How does the report solve your potential list member's problem? Let's say your niche is gardening, for instance. Perhaps the report is about how you can keep deer from eating your plants. What's your unique angle on this? Don't give too much away, of course, but you might write something like: "Report proves that you can keep deer happy and away from your plants, without bother." There. The plants are intact, the deer are happy, and you won't have to go to much trouble to keep things that way. That's your value proposition. Sign up free and learn... Your unique value proposition should probably be your headline.

2) Make signing up quick and easy

When you design your list building page, it's smart to stick to basics. Use a headline 3 to 5 bullet points and an opt-in box. That's really all you need. Let people know why they're signing up, what they'll get for doing it, and then, make the process as simple as possible. Don't make them fill out a lengthy form for your free report, just ask for a name (even first name) and an email address. You can get more information from people who join your list later on, when they become customers and actually buy your product.

3) Let people know you'll protect their information.

Because identity theft is so widely publicized, people are often leery about signing up for anything online. How can you change their minds? Let them know your privacy policy, right below your opt-in box on the list building page. "Your information is private and will never be rented, sold, or given away." Simple. Or, you can include more, but let people know that you're not one of the bad guys. It gives them just a tad more security.

4) Advertise your low-risk factor.

If you let people know that they can unsubscribe at any time, they'll be more likely to sign up. Some people are reluctant to join any lists just because of the sheer volume of mail that arrives in their inboxes on a daily basis. By letting them know they can unsubscribe without trouble, you'll get more people to sign up.

5) Use your list building page to funnel your customer into a sales process.

Most list building has selling subsequent products to the customer over time. So, make your list building page the top of your sales funnel. Once someone signs in, your thank you page should be your sales letter for the product you want to sell. Even so, they may still not buy, and that's what autoresponder messages are for. Though you've advertised your product in your special report that people got for signing up, you want to continue to send a series of informational messages with the product in mind via your autoresponder. If you give them good content, a greater number will be willing to buy.

List building and conversion will see a boost if you incorporate these ideas into your list building pages. Just remember that your customer's question, "What's in it for me?" should always be at the top of your mind. If you can show them what's in it for them, if you help them solve their problems, you'll not only have a valuable list member, but you'll have a customer for life.

Tellman Knudson, Internet Marketing master, is CEO of Overcome Everything, Inc. Get your Free list building CD and a free trial of Tellman's List Building Club when you visit http://listbuildingpower.net