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List Building Essentials

BY: Sean Ray
Words: 392

That�s a good question. Why should you build a list? What�s all this paranoia with list building? The thing about a list compiled through your internet business is that, if compiled properly, it should be of people who have deliberately requested you to provide them with further information. In other words, your list is composed of customers interested in your product.

This being the case, you will be able to send them information and offers that they have a reasonably good chance of being interested in and so resulting in sales to you. You will be able to do this time and time again, though you should no overdo it or they might get a bit annoyed at being inundated with emails offering the latest new �thing�. However any internet marketing strategy should involved building a list.

You should never let a customer leave your website without at least giving them the opportunity of staying in touch. You can do this in three ways. One way is to add a button on each page giving the visitor the opportunity of adding that page to their �favorites� list. Your URL will then be recorded on their website and can be accessed by them clicking on it from their favorites list. However, how many people look at their favorites list? You could also add a social bookmarking site chicklet to your website, so that they can bookmark you in their Spurl or Del.icio.us account.

On the other hand you could add an opt-in page to one, or even all, of your webpages. The minimum you need to capture is the first name and email address. In order to get this you will probably have to offer a freebie, such as a free ebook, course of lessons or newsletter. Whatever you have to do, get that email address. Try never to let anyone leave your site without providing you with it.

The importance of doing this is underlined by the fact that it takes the average visitor to a website up to seven exposures to a product before making the decision to buy. You therefore have to have the opportunity to send emails containing offers for your product(s) until your visitor decides to make the purchase. If you fail to do so, you will not have maximized your selling opportunity.