The Joy of a Small Opt-In List
by Cathy Bryant
The year 2003 is coming to a close. The new year will bring
with it many changes for those of us who do business on the
internet. Because 2003 has seen a tremendous change in the
way we market, newsletter publishing has taken on new and
often frustrating challenges.
With the advent of all the new regulations regarding online
publishing, I became quite disillusioned. At one point I even
made the decision to give up my website and newsletter entirely
and focus my energies elsewhere.
I really had intended to close up shop.
Fortunately, the love that I have for online marketing won
out (it always does). But in order to protect myself in the
new era of government regulation of permission-based email
marketing, I decided on a subscription method that no doubt
was going to drastically reduce the number of subscribers
to my newsletter.
And it did - no doubt about it. My subscription rate is now
approximately 1/10th of what it was when I provided a simple
form on every page of my website.
But what I've discovered is this - those who do choose to
subscribe are those individuals who are sincerely interested
in developing a home-based income. And their response to my
publication has been nothing short of amazing.
My current list is small - much smaller than what I've had in
the past. But not surprisingly, these subscribers have
proven to be what I would call "hard core" home business
enthusiasts. I've had that confirmed not only through the
correspondence I've had with them, but even with phone calls
that I've received.
So in effect I have what could best be described as an
intimate list made up of individuals who have either already
ventured into a business of their own, or who have shown
that they are much more than the proverbial "tire kicker."
These are people who recognize that nothing comes without
hard work, and they are willing to invest the time, energy,
and capital that it takes to develop home-based income
streams.
Because the list is small - and no doubt will continue to be -
I avoid the naysayers and negative thinkers that often
permeate the larger lists. These are individuals who seem
to take great delight in sending hateful, nasty emails to
those who are in the best position to help them. I know I'm
not alone among my colleagues by being on the receiving end of
some of these tirades. I refuse to be a pawn in the head games
that some of these people want to play; yet, it can still be
disheartening at times. And the worst part is that it takes
away from my ability to help those individuals who are sincere
in their quest for success.
The bottom line is this - if you're a publisher and feel that
you need to go for quantity when building your own opt-in
list, I suggest that you consider the quality of your list
instead. Small lists do not necessarily translate into
small profits.
By focusing your efforts on only those who are anxious to
succeed and have shown that they trust your advice and
recommendations, you eliminate the frustration that comes
with answering countless emails and inquiries from the
merely curious.
It is then that you are free to help those who are anxious to
help themselves!
______________________________________________________________
Cathy Bryant has written extensively on home-based business
and online marketing. Published since 1999, her newsletter
focuses on helping those who wish to earn an income from home.
If you're serious about working from home, visit her website
at http://www.homebizjunction.com to learn more.
______________________________________________________________
| DISCLAIMER: The content provided in this article is not warranted or guaranteed by Developer Shed, Inc. The content provided is intended for entertainment and/or educational purposes in order to introduce to the reader key ideas, concepts, and/or product reviews. As such it is incumbent upon the reader to employ real-world tactics for security and implementation of best practices. We are not liable for any negative consequences that may result from implementing any information covered in our articles or tutorials. If this is a hardware review, it is not recommended to open and/or modify your hardware. |
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