The Easiest Way To Build A List
Almost everybody new to Internet marketing ends up asking the same questions. One of the most common is, “What’s the easiest way to build a list?
Well, I guess I could answer, “Collect email addresses!”, but that wouldn’t be particularly helpful. So I’ll try to go deeper.
First, understand that there are two flavors of easy:
- one that costs money
- one that doesn’t
It’s pretty common for beginners to have more time than money, so getting what you can get for free is a great strategy. Assuming, of course, that the free way actually works.
In this case, it does. In fact, either way can work extremely well, and I’ve used both myself.
The free strategy starts with offering something free, like a downloadable PDF report, or maybe an ecourse.
Then you need to send free, targeted traffic to that offer to entice people to sign up.
1) Post in forums, with a link to your site in your forum signature. That “sig” is likely to get you some click-through traffic, if what you say is compelling enough. (HINT: You could tell them about your free offer!)
2) Write short articles and publish them for free at sites like EzineArticles.com. You’ll put a link to your site in your author box at the end of the article, which most article sites encourage. You might say something like this:
“Michael Rasmussen wrote this article. If you liked it, there’s more where that came from! Visit http://www.SomeSite.com to read more, and get a free list-building kit just for stopping by.”
3) Create what’s called a lens at Squidoo.com. That site lets you create your own page (they call it a lens), much like a blog. Then you can link to any other site you want. You could create a lens, describe your free offer, give people a link to your site and see your traffic soar.
All of those techniques will give you high-quality inbound links to your site, which will help you Google PageRank.
A side benefit of all of those strategies is that search engines like Google love sites with frequently changing content. Forums, article sites and especially Squidoo all fit the bill. Google loves them. So you’ll probably get an extra SEO boost for any keyword you put in your link text in your forum sig, your article author boxes, or your Squidoo links.
None of this is revolutionary. All of these techniques have ALWAYS worked. They haven’t changed much over time. Squidoo is a new ripple for free traffic, but forum posting and publishing articles have been around a while.
Best of all, every single technique I’ve talked about here is free.
If you want to spend some money, put some cash into a Google AdWords campaign to get some targeted PPC traffic. But be careful. Unless you know what you’re doing, AdWords can be costly.
But hey, why spend money when the free techniques still work great? If you’ll start using them yourself, pretty soon you’ll have a growing, healthy list you can use to make your business more profitable.
All the best,
Michael Rasmussen
CEO, BulletProof Marketing, Inc.
About the Author
Michael Rasmussen is a successful Internet Marketing Consultant and author of many top-selling eBooks. Michael has been marketing online since the early days and he knows what it takes to make money and succeed online. Stop by his Web site and subscribe to his Free monthly newsletter full strategies and techniques for successful web site promotions that can help YOU! Go to http://www.MichaelRasmussen.com
Welcome to the Bulletproof Marketing Blog. In here, you'll find the kind of high quality content that most marketers would greedily charge hundreds of dollars for. These tips, tricks, and tactics are some of my best material, and I'm more than happy to give it to you for free.
From Davion | Learn To Make Real Money Online
Hey, these tips are really simple like what you said in your title. But list building does require a lot more than this. But I can attest to the fact that what you said will work for newbies.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From eric
Nice article
I agree that the easiest way to build a list is still to give away something for free.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Wanda Grindstaff
Thank you Michael for some great information. I will start using these ideas immediately.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From SaiF
Hey Michael!
Thanks for this post! Fundamentals for the win!
I have one question that I hope you could answer.
My blog posts are long enough to write an article. Would you suggest me sending them to article sites or Squidoo like you mentioned?
I have been wanting to do this but I’m afraid of duplicate content. What’s your take on this?
To CANI,
SaiF
P.S. There seems to be some problem using my Web Audio Plus after the recent flash update. There’s screeching sounds and I don’t know how to fix this. Do you have a fix, Michael?
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Craig Wilson
Email promos looks sweet, plus your list building info looks interesting as well…Will check out your blog!
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Le Tuan Anh
Hi Michael,
I am wonder why not you put blog comment as a way to build a list?
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From The Robot Vacuum Lady
4) Leave replies in blogs, for added visibility.
That way, people who are looking for what you have to offer might just pop by for a look and join your list while they’re at it.
In my case, that would be home robots, available at the Robot Vacuum Buyers Guide (BestRobotVac.com). Who doesn’t need a robot to put their housekeeping on autopilot?
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Randy
Great advice Michael!
A good follow up article would be how to get an autoresponder for beginners. Those who have money, and those who don’t.
Keep up the good work!
Randy
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Kirk Mc
thanks for the help!
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Anna C Williams
Thanks Michael
There are times when you read the same information over and over and say, “I heard this all before”. Then there is the time that you read the “Same” information and say, “This really does make sense!
This was one of those times.
May others prosper and have good success through your plain and simple style of “getting it across.
Anna
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Ron
These are all tried and true methods indeed. As always, thanks for the simplicity without the hyped up language Michael. I find creating a squeeze page with a free offer as you mention is the highest converting landing page for newsletter signups (see my sig as an example).
Also, I know that many people don’t care for safelists, but I tend to get about 50 additional subscribers a week submitting to 5-6 safelists. Since it’s an affordable means of advertising, as most of my accounts are free, I feel safe (no pun intended!) recommending that method as well.
Ron Passaro
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Garth Bradley
Michael,
Your website not only looks great, it’s jam packed with what is obviously valuable information for newbies like myself. It’s a breath of fresh air in a room filled with second hand smoke…
Thanks,
Garth Bradley
Benicia, CA
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Sweetrock
thanks Michael.. i m surely gonna use these methods..
hope they work for me.
bye
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
Davion,
Yes, I talked about “newbie” things. But here’s something lots of people miss…
If you don’t have a responsive list (of any size), you’re still a “newbie”.
The key to is to build a responsive list from the beginning, not just focus on list size. Sure, a BIG responsive list is great, but responsiveness counts more than bigness
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From George
I am a newbie ininternet marketing but I want make it big as soon as possible. These days I do nothing but sleep,drink and eat Internet marketing as the saying goes. Whenever I read Michael’s articles I wonder how long I need to be just 25% at his level. I am always looking to read his artcles on building lists with all the restrictions that I creeping into the game.What is your advise Michael?
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
Le,
First, my apologies if I’m using the wrong part of your name.
Second, sure! That’s a fine strategy, and you’ll notice the The Robot Vacuum Lady used the technique right here.
Be careful of two things, though:
1) Don’t blow your entire day commenting on blogs that don’t get you traffic. Focus on the ones with proven results for YOU.
2) Don’t spam blogs. Our friend the Vacuum Lady is walking the edge on that one…but her comment illustrated your point beautifully, so I let it slide this time.
If you follow those two guidelines, blog comment posting can indeed get you some targeted traffic. Go for it.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Shiva
It is really a good one. Yes i heard these things some where else already but when i see here again i am just beating myself why the hell i haven’t implemented properly. Thanks for reminding us again.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From HealthNutJ
Hi Mike,
I am steadily building a list (1-2 opt-ins per day) a free PDF download giveaway, but I want to turbo charge my opt-in rate. I’ve written 5 articles in my niche, have a forced opt-in on my sales page and have done a few minor social networking posts… What else can I do to speed things up?
Thanks,
HNJ
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
Randy,
Thanks very much for the suggestion. I’ll put it my list for a future issue.
The goal for this Q&A feature is to keep it self-sustaining…meaning all the questions are actually from my subscribers, with only an occasional one I throw in because I think it’s worth asking and answering.
So far, so good!
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
Ron,
Yep, if safelists work for your niche, keep using them.
As with any promotional strategy, the key is doing what works. If you’ve proven it works, who can argue with that?
Of course, you have to take that first step, but if something is just theory for you, you have to prove it to yourself before you jump in with both feet.
Thanks for the tip. It might lead others to try an experiment with safelists to see if they can get results like yours.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
Thanks, Garth!
Your compliments are definitely better than hearing you think my site stinks
I’m glad newbies are here. Some marketers look down on those folks as an annoyance. And let’s face it, some new marketers can be a little demanding or obnoxious until they get used to some basic rules of etiquette.
But most new marketers I’ve met have been genuinely interested in learning, and downright pleasant to deal with. Those folks are definitely welcome here.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
George,
A few comments in response to what you said…
“I am a newbie ininternet marketing but I want make it big as soon as possible. These days I do nothing but sleep,drink and eat Internet marketing as the saying goes.”
Two things:
1) Don’t burn out. Do a little bit every day. Set aside (just a recommendation, not a rule) 1-2 hours every day to work on IM. Be focused during those two hours. Then quit and live life. Einstein said you’ll be an expert within a year at anything you do for 15 minutes a day.
2) Don’t focus on “making it big”. Focus on making it CONSISTENT. Big will come later once you have a platform to build on.
“Whenever I read Michael’s articles I wonder how long I need to be just 25% at his level.”
As long as it takes you. Really, that’s not an attempt to be funny. There is not “right” schedule. Everybody gets there at different times. I’ve been at this a few years, and I didn’t start at 25% of my current level either.
“I am always looking to read his artcles on building lists with all the restrictions that I creeping into the game.What is your advise Michael?”
I’m not sure what restrictions you mean. Concentrate on using tried-and-true methods that still work. They work because…drumroll please…there aren’t restrictions against them.
Stick to those and hit them hard. That should help.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From The Robot Vacuum Lady
Thanks, Michael. I wanted to illustrate the point, not push the limits. I do have a tendency to be overenthusiastic. ;-0
Love what you’re doing!
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From FRANCISCO
I am just a beginner, I plan to set some ads and some affiliated links on my site. I will appreciate any advise. Thank you.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
SaiF,
You said,
“My blog posts are long enough to write an article. Would you suggest me sending them to article sites or Squidoo like you mentioned?
I have been wanting to do this but I’m afraid of duplicate content. What’s your take on this?”
I say definitely make articles out of your blog posts.
The duplicate content issue isn’t all that well understood, from what I’ve read. But here’s how you can be pretty safe…
Take your blog post and reword it to create another version. Post that new version to any article site you want. If you want to post to multiple article sites, you can go through the exercise again.
Yes, that’s a bit more work, but it’s also safe.
You also can try submitting the same article to multiple article sites to see if Google penalizes you. I bet they won’t. My guess is that having original content on your site (meaning it’s different from the articles you post to article sites) will let you avoid any penalty.
Regarding Web Audio Plus, go ahead and contact my assistant, Lisa Johnson, using the Contact Us page. She can help you out.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Bob
Hey Michael,
As a Newbie, I sure can use all of the info and help!
Thanks,
Bob
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
HealthNutJ,
Get.More.Traffic.
That’s not the solution to all of life’s problems, but it definitely will “speed things up”, as you put it, in two ways:
1) You’ll get better information about how well your opt-in page converts.
2) You’ll get more subscribers.
Both of those things will help you move faster, I think.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From David ‘The Healthy Chocoate Guy’
Thank you Michael.
It’s amazing how easy it is to get caught up in all the hype that is out there.
The bottom line is simple - people buy from people and online you must take the time to build these relationships that turn into a strong list.
I’ve been caught in the endless cycle of trying one “can’t fail secret marketing system” after another without much to show for it.
Now it’s time to get back to basics and build those relationships.
Thank you again Michael - time to go over my copy of Email Promos again.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
Francisco,
Well, where to begin…
You need to start by defining your market. I don’t have the time to do in-depth consulting here, but I took a quick look at your site. I can’t tell anything about what you’re selling, or to whom.
Ads and affiliate links are fine, but what’s your market? What do they want? How can you provide it? How many different ways can you profit from it?
Those are important questions to answer from the start. Your answers don’t have to be set in stone forever, but you need to know where you’re headed.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From David ‘The Healthy Chocoate Guy’
Thanks Michael. After two years I’m still a newbie - time to get back to basics.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Garth Bradley
Hi Michael,
If I don’t like a marketer’s website, I don’t even bother telling them. The only reason I even mentioned other websites is that your site REALLY STANDS OUT from the crowd in tone & appearance…
Do you make any recommendations for the best blogging software or sites? I’d love to treat you to a cup of coffee some time if you wish.
Thanks again!
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Joyce Mallul
I am one of the newbies who is having a heck of a time with making any money at all. One of the reasons is that I don’t have a list. So everytime I see anything on line about building a list I read it. What you are saying Michael is what others have said, but then they stop short. I want to know once you have the name and email address, how do you get them all together on your computer into a list. Is there software that will do that for you? Or do I have to make myself a page and copy all the names and email addresses to it, as I get them? That is the help I need, and I sure hope there is some free software someplace that will somehow get the names and email “captured” all together in a database.
Thanks
Joyce
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
Not a problem, David. The “basics” are what really make the most money anyway. New-fangled stuff can be profitable, but the core of your business will always run on basic blocking and tackling, as the American football analogy goes.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Tom
Hi Mike, Nice Blog, I feel your pain as i to have been a glutten for punishment, i wont go into how many scams i fell for but my cost was in the thousand’s and to painful to remember. I also did the survey thing and found out the company i was going through to do the surveys were giving me points to replace the money they were keeping for them selves that rightfully belong to me. I didnt need points, i needed money and since i wasnt getting it i quit. I didnt have anyone to contact at the time.Im glad you found an honest one! You appear to be in your early 20s with a long life ahead of you so dont feel your young unexperienced trials were from being gullable. I was desperate to find the right oppertunity as well but came up empty handed and now almost to burnt out to do anything about it. In switching from att to comcast and i lost 8 years of research because att deleted my info before comcast picked it up and at 65 im to tired to start over or continueing to search for the right program.Think about this while your young, do you want to be passing out shopping carts to customers at wall mart when you retire? I dont think so! Anyway that sounds more ethical to me now as i wouldnt have to worry about being scammed again!
Your survey information sounds inviting but at this point im just not sure, man! In my day we didnt have computers and didnt have the oppertunity to do what your doing but let me say this, take it and run it to the limit, im glad for you with the knowledge you have and the expectations you have to look forward to!
I will continue to read your news letters and who knows, after i catch my breath maybe i will look you up and see if the survey thing will work. You have a wonderful day!
God Bless and to your success!
Tom
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Vin
Great post, Mike!
What about using some of the software “gadgets” like Boomerang List Builder?
Thanks!
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
Garth,
Thanks again.
I use WordPress for my blog, and so far I like it fine. It’s hard to beat “free”. And there are lots of free themes out there to make your WP blog look nice.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Rogerio Job
Thanks Michael! Now I remember that I have to create a lens. It’s so much easy to do that we always forget.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
Hi Joyce,
Don’t despair. It’s really not hard at all.
What you need is an autoresponder. More specifically, you should sign up for an autoresponder service. I personally recommend this one: http://www.AutomateYourList.com.
An autoresponder service handles putting the names and email addresses of your subscribers onto a list. They’ll maintain the list for you–keeping it on your own computer is a great way to go insane, and your email delivery rates will stink too.
There are free options out there, like the free version of GetResponse.com, but they do put limits on your list size, the number of emails you can send out, etc. And you’ll probably end up with ads in your emails. That’s typically not wise.
So all you really need to do is investigate autoresponder services and you should be all set.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
Vin,
“Gadgets” can be good…but the proof is in the proof.
If you want to try using them, go ahead.
More often than not (or at least often enough to bother me), the gadgets end up making the gadget owner rich and leaving you without a responsive list.
I prefer focusing on attracting real people, using reliable methods of attracting people who WANT to be on my list. They get to know me, I help them out, they occasionally buy something when I recommend it. That’s the best path to take, in my opinion.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Ross the Pit Boss
Good advice Michael, as always, and now that I’ve seen it mentioned for the millionth time, I will finally take the time and effort to sign up at Squidoo. Haven’t done so before now as I didn’t think it would be that much of a help, but I did some checking on Google and MSN search based on your comments and indeed lens are getting good rankings.
Thanks for the extra “push”.
Ross the Pit Boss
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Lorelie Held
Hi Michael,
I think that your correct saying quote: None of this is revolutionary. All of these techniques have ALWAYS worked. They haven’t changed much over time. Squidoo is a new ripple for free traffic, but forum posting and publishing articles have been around a while.
Keep it simple,
Lorelie Held
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Elsie
Great overview Michael,
I’ve heard of Squidoo.com but never learnt how to use them. Could you elaborate on how to use them and what not to do etc.?
Regards Elsie
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Mike
Mike,
Keep Up the good work.
You got my Vote!
Regards,
Mike
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From miroslav
Hi, Your advices are excellent. Can You advice further, how to find sites where to put articles.And even further maybe how to make articles, etc
Miroslav Turcinovic
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From 25 FREE ebooks $425
Hi Michael
As usual, an excellent post from expert!
But could you please let us know more about the best Internet Marketing forums from your opinion.
I also know that lens in squidoo need some tactics. Could you please let us know more about it. Please indicate more about links in squidoo lens, should be included in the bio box, or it can be direct links in the article itself.
Thank you.
Hilal
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Guy Siverson
Howdy
Excellent advice as always.
May I add optimizing your pages for natural search results to your bundle? It’s really not that hard to do (at least the basics) and it does pay off down the road.
Even better, go for the low hanging fruit by using a free service called HitTail. They identify long tail keywords that people are currently presently using to find your site. With this information you can formuate new pages specifically focused on those keywords. Sweet!
Check out HitTail.com some time when you have a chance.
Cheers
Guy
PS: More traffic tactics can be found on my site, including free articles and resources.
PSS: Hey Michael, is the above what you were talking about?
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Jay Jenkins
Hey Michael..You’re a good person to have around when I forget some of the fundamentals of marketing. Yes, list building is important but it does have to be (one more time) responsive. A huge number of folks on my small (890) list came from Triple Your List and have remained with me for over 2 years. I think this is because once a month (never more) I send them a well done article or book to help them with whatever they’re trying to do. I find out this information by asking for it in the second email I send out. Questionnaire form like..
Keep on Keeping On.
Jay
Do or do not…there is no “Try”
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Scott Wilson
Hi Michael,
As always you supply good useful information that works.
Thanks for your time.
Scott
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
Miroslav,
Creating articles is as simple as writing them. I’m serious. Aim for about 500 words for a solid article. You can probably hire somebody at Elance.com to write as many as you want for $3-5 each.
They don’t have to be pieces of literature…just helpful and informative.
Once you have your article, post on article sites with decent Google PageRank, low Alexa rank and a good reputation among marketers. You might try EzineArticles.com and GoArticles.com. Those are typically good.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
Hilal,
Hey, could you do me a favor? Next time you post, don’t put an ad where your name should be.
I obviously have nothing against advertising online, but I want this blog to be more of a community than an ad board. Feel free to include a link to your site when you post (it’ll show up as the “Author’s Site” link), but let’s keep the advertising to that, if you don’t mind.
Regarding your question about forums, I highly recommend the Warrior Forum. Best there is, bar none.
Regarding Squidoo, I think they’ll allow a link pretty much anywhere…as long as your lens is helpful, of high quality and delivers on what you promise. If you say your lens is about puppy training, but you advertise chainsaws there, they won’t like that. Neither will people who visit your lens.
Squidoo actually LIKES online marketers, so feel free to experiment with where you place your links. I don’t know of any rules limited where you put them.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
Guy,
Yes, that’s what I was talking about.
For anybody else reading this post of mine, I don’t mind if you tell people in your post to visit your site…as long as your post is helpful, you’re not spamming the blog, and you’re not a promotion monster.
Let’s keep it helpful and on topic.
But there is one hard and fast rule…
No affiliate links, please, unless there’s a good reason to use one. Even then, tell people it’s an affiliate link and give them a non-affiliate link option. That’s simply nice.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From adam
Very informative site, keep it up!!
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Hilal
Hi Michael
Sorry about the ad. You can change it if you like.
Thank you for your reply.
I’ll see this forum soon.
This is good news to know about Squidoo links.
Thank you again.
Have a very nice day.
Hilal
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Andrzej Marszalkowski
Greetings from Poland! I only learn how to make online business and for me the value of your articles is great. I have only a very slow internet direct connection (by GSM ERA) with a small monthly limit of transfering. I like to work with businesses without a beginning fee to pay, because I am unemployed with no incomes as till now, even for the daily living costs, but I have got a good computer and have many international contacts. Besides I am handicapped, invalid, but with hope to improve my financial situation working by internet.
With best regards,
Andrew from Poland
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Mike Johnston
Hey Michael,
Thank you for the suggestion regarding Sqidoo. I’m going to get on that one right away.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From JD
A lot of thanks will be due for making this simple Michael.
You also hint in comment replies about the importance of theming.
This is a Long Term Strategy and in my opinion it is the best way to get free traffic.
That is:
=> Having a well defined niche
=> Highly relevant and important chapters (categories) for your content
=> Highly relevant article themes under each chapter
=> Every page supported, by including around 30 Relevant, Important and Synonymic Keywords/phrases (expert verbiage, long tails, diverse synonyms)
It takes some planning and research well before your website structure goes up, but it will bring in a ton of free traffic from the bottom end of your site levels and float them upwards.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Lawren Smith
Hello Michael,
I am fairly new to network marketing. I have often noticed your emails, but due to time constraints, just could not find the time to read them. I thought I would take the time to read this one and I am glad that I did. I find your articles to be very informative and I am assuming your other articles are also just as informative. I see why you are so successful. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for letting me share…
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Le Tuan Anh
I heard many times about duplicating content, but my question is how can I know if Google pernalize my site?
Squidoo lense is greate tool, I have a squeeze page
for Squidoo Secrets free ebook offer as affiliate, it reveal some basics but good enough if you want to learn about Squidoo. See my sign for example, sorry for my pitch!
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Muhammad Usman
Thanks Bro it is soo simple.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Star Riley
Hey Micheal,
Another informative post I’ve used the share this to post it on my blog do you consider this a method that affects your list building or am I one of few who post your Blog posts to their own sites as some would say it sends my readers to your blog and away from my site?
I personally feel if someone else has good valuable information why not share with others, what’s your take?
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From Rika Susan
Hi Michael
Thanks for always giving sensible, doable advice. It can be a long, often frustrating road for a newbie to get going. Unfortunately the so-called ‘gurus’ often come with pie-in-the-sky stuff that simply doesn’t work for the regular guy with a limited budget. I have found that article marketing works really well. Best of all, it is a free option. I haven’t had much success with blog comments yet.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From 2Rich2Die
Hello Michael,
I have to admit, I din’t know anything about squidoo.com.
Where could I get intensive and detailed information on several methods that could be used on forums. I’d really like to explore the forums
I’ll see the e-zines later :), probably I’ll use the short articles from my own forum articles to E-zines.
Many thanx for the invaluable information.
• Author's Site • April 23rd, 2008
From daniel skinner
hi michael, im , a dead set beginner,and im not sure if my website is right for this sort of business, i am a chauffeur in london, england,and although, i can see that internet marketing looks good,would this benifit my business or should i start a new website on the side, besides being virtually computer illiterate, i dont have a lot of cash to spare,(which is why i want to try it )i think what your doing is great, and i want a slice regards danny skinnr
• Author's Site • April 24th, 2008
From P. Peveto
Thanks I learn alot from You and I appreciate what You do for people. With people like you theres hope for some of us just getting our niche and wanting to jump in both feet forward. Cheers to Your success!!
• Author's Site • April 24th, 2008
From venkatesh
i have created my web site but iam not able to do what next so pls can u help me out in this solution
so pls
• Author's Site • April 24th, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
JD,
Good points. Some advance planning (in some cases “advanced” planning) can yield big results.
The bottom line is that free traffic is about getting visits from targeted prospects. If your site content and organization helps you do that (and it should), it’s like the gift that keeps on giving.
• Author's Site • April 24th, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
Lawren,
Glad I could help. Thanks for being here.
But you mentioned “network marketing”. Don’t confuse that with Internet marketing. They’re very different in most cases.
Network marketing is a business model based on building networks of people who buy. You can certainly do that online, but Internet marketing, as most people use the term, is about selling to products to people online.
Now that we have that cleared up…happy learning!
• Author's Site • April 24th, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
Star,
Linking to other things does take people away from your site, unless you force the link to open another browser window. You can do that with the “target=_blank” attribute on your anchor tag.
But even if you don’t do that, it’s fine to link to other sites. There’s potentially some search engine impact, but you know what? Don’t worry so much about it that you make your site technically great but bad for human readers.
If you want to link to another site, link to it. Feel free to link here.
What you might want to do is write a little bit about what I said and why you liked it. Put that little blurb on your own blog. Then link to mine. That would help us both.
• Author's Site • April 24th, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
Hi Danny,
You said,
“i am a chauffeur in london, england,and although, i can see that internet marketing looks good,would this benifit my business or should i start a new website on the side”
I’m not sure if “chauffeur” means cab driver or personal driver. Either way, you have to know your way around London pretty well. The test for cab drivers over there is legendary.
It sounds like you’re wondering if a website will benefit your business or not.
The answer is yes if (and it’s a big if) you can figure out what your market wants and sell it to them. It’s as simple as that.
Obviously, people buy your service to get places. It’s essentially a physical product (transportation).
How do you get clients today? If you could attract more clients online, that might be a way to smooth out your business by letting the customers come to you instead of you having to go out and find them.
“besides being virtually computer illiterate, i dont have a lot of cash to spare,(which is why i want to try it)”
Sure, I understand. That’s why I talk about free options for lots of things. But let me be blunt…you WILL have to spend a little money to start a website. You’ll at least want to pay for a good web hosting company to host your site. That’s never free.
But you don’t have to spend a ton of money. I suggest having at least 100-200 pounds ($200-400, I think) to put into your business initially. If you have more, great. If you have less, work to save up that small stake, and spend your time figuring out what your market should be.
• Author's Site • April 24th, 2008
From Jay Jenkins
This is a reply to Daniel Skinner’s post…
Daniel, a well-done one page site about your service could have a huge impact on your business. To get an idea, you might try Googling “London Chauffeur” and see if anyone else is using a page to promote. An even quicker way to get noticed would be to start a blog using a free service like WordPress and promote yourself/your service that way. There a literally thousands of blogger in the UK and I’m pretty sure, from what I’ve seen on some of the blogs, they’d certainly be interested.
Jay Jenkins
• Author's Site • April 24th, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
Le,
You said,
“I heard many times about duplicating content, but my question is how can I know if Google pernalize my site?”
The easiest way to know is to see if Google doesn’t show all of the pages for your site that it used to show. When you search for “site:[your main URL]” you’ll see fewer pages, and Google might say it hasn’t displayed all of them because others are similar.
I’m no SEO guru, but that means some of your pages have been put in what’s called the “sandbox”. That’s how Google pokes you in the eye for duplicate content.
• Author's Site • April 24th, 2008
From Jay Jenkins
For Daniel again…I just did a google search for “London Chauffeur” (in quotes) and it returned a couple of thousand entries!
• Author's Site • April 24th, 2008
From Andrea J. Stenberg
Michael,
I’d like to add a couple of things to your list.
In addition to forums, I’ve had great success with social media sites - particularly LinkedIn. I know others who have done well with Facebook. By participating effectively and carefully targeting my audience I’ve driven a great amount of traffic to my site.
Having a free teleseminar really jumped my subscription rate. Everyone seems to offer a free report to get email addresses. When I offered a free teleseminar where I interviewed an “expert” I got a huge jump in traffic.
Andrea
• Author's Site • April 24th, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
Andrea,
Those are great tips. My list obviously wasn’t exhaustive.
Social networking sites are great places to build relationships and get traffic. Folks almost might try Yahoo! Answers.
As for the form your free item takes, sure, you can offer a PDF, an MP3 recording of an interview, just about anything you want. As long as people want it, and are willing to give an email address to get it, you can build your list that way.
• Author's Site • April 24th, 2008
From Craig
Creating a lens at squidoo is a great idea. Thanks foe all the info, it’s alot of help.
• Author's Site • April 24th, 2008
From Le Tuan Anh
Hi Micheal,
Your advice:
“The easiest way to know is to see if Google doesn’t show all of the pages for your site that it used to show. When you search for “site:[your main URL]” you’ll see fewer pages, and Google might say it hasn’t displayed all of them because others are similar.
I’m no SEO guru, but that means some of your pages have been put in what’s called the “sandbox”. That’s how Google pokes you in the eye for duplicate content.”
Many thanks!
• Author's Site • April 24th, 2008
From Ron Galuska
Michael,
Thanks for the excellent information regarding: The Easiest Way to Build a List. Targeted traffic is the key. I use a combination of recipricol links from quality sites, one-way links, directory submission, article submissions, 3 way links and Squidoo. A well rounded marketing plan needs to use multiple techniques to be successful.
All the Best,
Ron
• Author's Site • April 24th, 2008
From delords
Thanks for the good infos i guess this will help lots of internet beginners to start up in advertising
• Author's Site • April 24th, 2008
From Bob from Affiliate Marketing Help
To gather email addresses, you need to send traffic to a squeeze page. I haven’t really found a satisfactory, low cost squeeze page option. Can you recommend? Also if you are developing a large website, how do you decide where to put the squeeze page?
Thanks
• Author's Site • April 24th, 2008
From annie b lawrence
Great article Michael. Squidoo and ezinearticles have worked very well for me.
• Author's Site • April 24th, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
Bob from Affiliate Marketing Help,
I don’t have a squeeze page tool recommendation off the top of my head. But I do offer around 30 squeeze page templates as an extra bonus with this package of mine:
http://michaelrasmussen.com/video/killer-emails
Regarding where to put a squeeze page for a large site…
Don’t think of “a” squeeze page for a site. Think of a squeeze page as an email capture page you can put in front of anything you want. You could have multiple squeeze pages on one site…perhaps one per info product you sell (hint, hint).
You don’t HAVE to have multiple squeeze pages, but you CAN.
There are several strategies:
1) Put a squeeze page in front of a product sales page
2) Put an email capture page in front of a free download that you point to from published articles (this is commonly called a “subscriber trap”)
3) Put a sign-up form on any page you want…or even in your site template, so the form will show up on all of your pages
You’re only limited by your imagination, I think.
• Author's Site • April 25th, 2008
From ghulam mustafa
hello michel
that is really fine way to d marketig.i really appreciate ur mail.thanks for giving me such an informative mail.
• Author's Site • April 25th, 2008
From Jayenn (Juergen Nuhn)
Hi Michael,
We already heard it but from time to time it’s helpful that somebody reminds us about the possibilities.
Jayenn
• Author's Site • April 25th, 2008
From Aaron Johnson AKA realmp
Michael,
Thanks for always provided helpful and simple information, especially for the newbie marketers. Your experiences and insight are truly appreciated in our industry. Keep on shining the light!
Aaron Johnson
CEO-Real Map Marketing
• Author's Site • April 25th, 2008
From Antonio
I have a problem that I can not earn money from clickbank and Google ad..
Please help me how to do .
Thanks a lot.
• Author's Site • April 25th, 2008
From Pamela
Hi Michael,
I too am new to the internet marketing game. Initially I was told there are several way to market, given a few free ideas, paid and free and told to have at it. I was spending 5-6 hours placing ads on the free sites. Then someone told me I should write blogs and articles for ezines. The couple of good things I have going is that I do have a splash page, movie and autoresponder.
I know I must drive traffic to my site and am starting to do that offline as well as online. Like most people, I do not have enough traffic. (Oh, I forgot to mention that I am also using a couple of paid resources.) I must have missed something because I don’t know what to blog about - especially being new to the profession.
I know that we should also build relationships with the individual in the autoresponder so how often would send a blast email if they have not been moved to make a decision. Any suggestions and thanks for your help!
• Author's Site • April 27th, 2008
From Linda Freeman
Hi,Mike
This is Linda Freeman I have a question I hope that you can give me some advice. Well I came up with an invention Idea an I got involved with a company that helped me bring it to life at a very high cost.Well I feel as If they got their money now they are not working as hard at getting me licensed as I think they should. I have applied for the patent and it came threw. I was wondering If I would get more interest if I had a blog or web site. What I came up with is Auto Gear it is a way to express yourself with magnetic images that you can put on your car. Like pink polka dots on a V.W. Bug or your favorite holiday ,Or JUST MARRIED on a newlyweds car. I even thought that maybe you could use them for a funeral to let other cars know that you are in line, Because everyone drives with their lights on now and I had A terrible experience with one one afternoon and I wished that they had some way of letting us know that they were in line. So what do you think I should do ? Linda
• Author's Site • April 28th, 2008
From Cindy
Hi,
You provided some very valuable ideas and although I already take advantage of some of them, I will work on adding some others to my plate of marketing tools.
Consistency and Follow-up are also key to building relationships.
The key to locating interested parties is taking an interest in their needs and they will build up trust
and be willing to listen to what you have to discuss with them.
Cindy
• Author's Site • April 29th, 2008
From Yram
Bulletproof Blogs? What does bullets have to do with this wonderfl blog?
Why can’t it be rather “Scamproof Blog?” I am starting a class in our community for young fifth graders and i am looking for places to find webmasters who still try and stick to some of those good practices that defines them and separates them from the others.
• Author's Site • April 30th, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
Antonio,
AdWords is way too big a topic for me to give you a complete tutorial in a blog comment. But I can probably put you on the right road.
Start by focusing on “pre-selling” the ClickBank product you’re promoting.
That means creating a page at your site that talks positively about the product. After you tell them why the product is a great solution to their problem, give people your cloaked hoplink to click.
That’s the key, really. Point your AdWords ads to that pre-sell page and your performance should improve. You’re getting a prospect “warmed up” to buy. Let the sales page do the selling, but get people ready to hear what it has to say. That should help.
• Author's Site • May 1st, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
Hi Pamela,
You said:
“I must have missed something because I don’t know what to blog about - especially being new to the profession.”
I think what you might have missed is targeting your market. If you do that, you’ll have much less trouble figuring out what to blog about.
What does your market want? What are they interested in? Blog about that. It doesn’t have to be profound, just helpful information.
Your splash page and video are nice things to have, but unless you know your market, they might not be helping you much. Start with your market, and everything else will follow.
You also said:
“I know that we should also build relationships with the individual in the autoresponder so how often would send a blast email if they have not been moved to make a decision.”
This is almost impossible to say in any general way.
Go ahead and load up your autoresponder and try to get people to take action in those messages. If you notice that nobody does, you can increase the number of messages or (probably smarter) try different email content until something effectively gets people to take action.
As for blasting messages, I would send at most one a week on average. Two would be a busy week, maybe during a promotion. Make those emails as persuasive as you can, but remember…the ONLY direct action you want somebody to take from an email is to click a link. The selling happens wherever that link takes them.
• Author's Site • May 1st, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
Hi Linda,
That’s a great idea! Car magnets…what a great invention.
I don’t know if there’s interest in that idea online or not. Here’s what I suggest.
Use Google and find some forums having to do with car stuff, specifically car accessories. Maybe bumper stickers, since it would be great to have “temporary” bumper stickers you could switch out if your presidential candidate of choice loses, for example.
Since you have the patent, you don’t have to worry so much about people stealing your idea. All you need to do is find out if there’s demand. Post in forums. Ask around. See what people are buying. Look at the websites they frequent.
That will give you a better idea of what keywords to target so you can get some organic traffic (meaning free, from search engine results) to your site or blog.
Beyond that, I would contact some auto supply companies offline, like AutoZone perhaps. See if they would be interested in in-store displays. Even better, what about Wal-Mart? Get your product in there and you just might strike it rich.
Remember, a website or blog is just one marketing channel. There are others, and you should explore them all. You’ve got a great idea. Now you have to sell it!
• Author's Site • May 1st, 2008
From Jay Jenkins
Re: Pamela - You said “I don’t know what to blog about”
Here’s something I use when I get stuck for a post idea when I am trying to promote a ClickBank product (or any product): I go to one of the article marketing sites like Articlerich.com and find an article pertaining to that product. You have to leave the Author’s name in the post so they get credit for it, but then I put a link to my page at the bottom.
To find an article this way, all of the article sites have a search box where you can put in a name or phrase that is related to your product.
This is also a great way to find material to build a short summary around and use it as an email.
• Author's Site • May 1st, 2008
From Ron Killian
I’ve been “working” on the net for almost 10 years and if there is one thing that I’ve seen over and over with people not making money, is that they don’t take action. You won’t get anything till you do something.
Of course it’s obvious and every one knows it, yet time and time again, it’s what I’ve seen keeping people from making an income.
To many people are always in the learning mode and not the doing mode (been there, done that), thinking they need to learn just a little more before they can start. Worst comes to worst learn as you go.
Get started today! So what if what you try doesn’t work, least you know what doesn’t work, try something else.
It’s been said many times over, do something today, right now.
• Author's Site • May 8th, 2008
From Tarik
Also, you can try submitting press releases to free pr submission sites to gain some inbound links and traffic.
Article marketing always works wonders, but I will have to try Squiddoo Right NOW!
Will probably post some updates on twitter about it:)
• Author's Site • June 17th, 2008
From Dan weyler
michael this may seem like a dumb question but where does one start writing a website, microsoft word,
word pad?
• Author's Site • June 19th, 2008
From Michael Rasmussen
Dan,
Not a dumb question at all.
You can choose where to create your website. You can type raw HTML into WordPad or you can use a tool that makes it a little easier (hint, hint).
You can try the free trial of the Macromedia (now Adobe) Dreamweaver product, or you can use MS FrontPage, or you can Google “free HTML editor” and find lots of options.
• Author's Site • June 19th, 2008
From Jay Jenkins
Michael, I agree wholeheartedly with your admonition to build the list first, then go on to other things. I violated this cardinal rule and as a result did not get anything done. Now I’m back to basics of list building using quite a few different methods (blog posts, list building programs, article writing, etc.). There’s a saying that says (to paraphrase) “Pick one small battle to fight each day and in the end the war will be won.”
Each day I concentrate on just one thing for no more than a couple of hours and the results are amazing. I get more done week-to-week and now my list is growing by about 10 people each day.
Keep up the good work!
Jay
• Author's Site • June 20th, 2008
From Jay Jenkins
To Dan Weyler…
Dan, I spent quite a few months (and dollars!) trying to learn HTML and all of that. Then one of my mentor’s (Hi Michael!) turned me on to a free website builder that does all of the “grunt” work and I use that exclusively.
If you want to simplify the process you can have the same one for yourself that doesn’t cost anything. No sign up, no form to fill, nada. Just click the link and that’ll get you there..
• Author's Site • June 20th, 2008
From Ken
Ok, so can you, or anyone else make a recommendation about a good, ideally free or inexpensive (under $50)”opt-in” software that makes the list collection easier. Two of my sites are with SBI and I have an auto-responder, my other mini sites are at Bluehost and they offer auto-responders but I don’t completely understand how to use them…I need some guidance on how to put this list building, opt-in, auto-responder thing together.
Please advise,
Ken
• Author's Site • July 31st, 2008
From Tadas
Hi Michael,
I am in clickbank autopilot profit system.
I am building list in automateyourlist.com with your 30 profesional emails. I have about 120 members in my opt in list. I am newbie and I made first sale:)
My question to you is:
Maybe do you know methods and techniques how to control my list, that people would glad, that they are in my list and would be happy for the products and would become paid member?
How to take deeper relationship or maybe friendship
with members in my list ?
Do you know any methods and techniques ?
Thanks
Tadas
• Author's Site • August 3rd, 2008
From Dani Edson
Thanks! Great tips!
• Author's Site • November 1st, 2008
From renda extra
thanks Michael, good information ! i’ve already subcribed to your feed
• Author's Site • August 5th, 2009
From Clark Petersen
Very interesting and useful post, thanks!
• Author's Site • December 8th, 2009
From Ganhar Dinheiro
Hi michel
Thank you for some great information good work
Many thanks!
• Author's Site • March 14th, 2010
From Jonathan
Hi Mike, I have followed your stuff for quite a few years and have seen you grow in the IM world. Thanks for coming out with such helpful info for us.
Question: Do you still offer 1 on 1 Mentorship/ Coaching? And what are the details of that, including the numbers?..
Regards.
• Author's Site • March 20th, 2010
From Morris Sturkie
I love reading your blog. You seem like a natural in sharing your experiences. I am starting my blog as well, do you think only natural writers can have something to share?
• Author's Site • May 13th, 2010
From coupe 2010
This is a really good read for me, Must admit that you are one of the best bloggers I ever saw.Thanks for posting this informative article.
• Author's Site • May 14th, 2010
From onlinecasinogames
You may have not intended to do so, but I think you have managed to express the state of mind that a lot of people are in. The sense of wanting to help, but not knowing how or where, is something a lot of us are going through.
• Author's Site • May 14th, 2010
From Augustine Buley
Random question: I am starting my own blog to share my photography experiences. Do you find it hard or easy to post consistently?
• Author's Site • May 14th, 2010
From paris travel deals
What you do is great - but more frequent updates, please?
• Author's Site • May 18th, 2010
From p90x dvd
This is a great site, thanks for sharing.
• Author's Site • May 26th, 2010
From insanity
Very cool!
• Author's Site • May 26th, 2010
From local chat
Keep on blogging! its getting through the tough times that make you stronger and then the good times will follow, keep writing about your experiences and we should all pull together.
• Author's Site • May 27th, 2010
From Uczciwe pozycjonowanie
That is some inspirational stuff. Never knew that opinions could be this varied. Thanks for all the enthusiasm to offer such helpful information here.
• Author's Site • May 27th, 2010
From Yadira Sibell
I like your post. Your blog is fantastic.
• Author's Site • May 27th, 2010
From Carole Homs
thanks!You made some good points there. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with your blog
• Author's Site • May 27th, 2010
From Online Shopping
Hello webmaster I like your post ….
• Author's Site • June 3rd, 2010
From Tisa Greinke
I was looking for this the other day. i dont usually post in forums but i wanted to say thank you!
• Author's Site • June 3rd, 2010
From Herman Szwaja
Hi. I wanted to drop you a quick note to express my thanks. I’ve been following your blog for a month or so and have picked up a ton of good information as well as enjoyed the way you’ve structured your site.
• Author's Site • June 3rd, 2010
From emensurrell
Hey im new on here. I hit upon this chat board I have found It quite accessible and it’s helped me so much. I should be able to give something back and guide others like it has helped me.
Thanks, See Ya Later
• Author's Site • June 3rd, 2010
From Randal Risner
I’ve recently been an avid admirer of your website for a while and never really provided nearly anything back, I hope to alter that later on with more debate.Thanks for another new inclusion to the site.
• Author's Site • June 3rd, 2010
From Santa Banta
I can imagine the serious work it must have been required to research for this post.All what i can say is just keep Publishing such post we all love it.And just to bring something to your notice,I have seen several blog providng your blog as source for this information.
• Author's Site • June 4th, 2010
From Blogs
I am always searching online for articles that can help me. Thank you
• Author's Site • June 4th, 2010
From All Movie Downloads
Thank you for keeping us updated. I really appreciate it and find all the information very useful.
• Author's Site • June 4th, 2010
From film
I liked to read this
• Author's Site • June 8th, 2010
From Pasquale Neeson
What a great site you have. Did it take you much time to lay it out. I have had a go but I am not really good at web conception. Where did you discover it?.
• Author's Site • June 14th, 2010
From Thiago Santos
Thanks Michael
i’m Brazilian not take this wrong my bad English writing (laughs)
I would like to thank this post, it really was very important for my pretensions to my site, I will become reader of your blog, thanks
• Author's Site • June 15th, 2010
From emensurrell
What’s Happening i am fresh here, I hit upon this chat board I have found It amply accommodating and it’s helped me out so much. I should be able to give something back & aid others like it has helped me.
Cheers, See You Around
• Author's Site • June 16th, 2010
From Natalya Hoon
Thumbs up for that meaning yes. It gives the whole information.
• Author's Site • June 19th, 2010
From pozycjonowanie Kraków
Hi, it’s very interesting website. There are a lot’s of good informations.
Have a nice day !
• Author's Site • July 15th, 2010