Posted by If you want to build a BIG list and you don’t care whether or not anyone on that list ever opens or reads your emails, then do what most marketers do:
Create a blind opt-in form that does NOT tell the new subscriber what they are receiving.
They will instantly mistrust you, give you their throw away email address, glace through your lead magnet, throw that away, and never read one of your emails again.
Hey, but at least you have a BIG list, right?
Or you can make BIG promises that sound like every other shyster market out there. You know the kind of promises I mean: “Here’s How I Bank $10K per week Using One Surprisingly Weird Trick.” Yeah. Right.
Again, they will give you their junk email address because they do not trust you. They will glance through the report (maybe) and then forget about it (certainty) and never open another email from you again.
But at least you got lots and lots of subscribers, right?
Question: If someone gives you a junk email address and never opens your emails, are they a subscriber? I don’t think so…
The key to building a RESPONSIVE email list is to build TRUST before you ever ask for the email address.
How do you build trust?
There are several ways, but I’ll give you the two easiest ones right here:
1: Create a long form opt-in page. Instead of having a little box with something that says, “Get the greatest report ever written!” and a space for their email address, take some time to tell them what they are getting and what it’s going to do for them.
Talk about their problem, let them know you’ve got the solution, create a long list of super enticing bullets, and back the whole thing up with plenty of testimonials.
This works even better if you have a memorable brand that makes you stand apart from the crowd.
2: Give dynamite content BEFORE asking for the opt-in. This one is even better, yet most marketers are downright terrified to try it.
Create several pages of your VERY BEST content. Make it conversational and interesting. Put plenty of PERSONALITY into it. In fact, your personality is going to count for more than the information you give. Make each page naturally flow into the next page, so they keep clicking from page to page as they read.
Everybody gives out good or great info. You’re going to give out great info and do it in a way that let’s your personality shine through.
Talk to the one person you are trying to reach. Be passionate and enthusiastic. State your opinions, have confidence, and tell it like it is.
Each page is full of great info and naturally leads into the next page. Finally, on the last page, you make an offer. That’s right, go ahead and sell them something. You’ve just spent several pages earning their trust, so why not?
If they don’t take the offer, ask if you can give them something for free in exchange for the email address.
For example, you offer them a package deal of 4 products for an awesome price. If they don’t take it, then offer them one of the 4 products for FREE, in exchange for their email address.
You have just spent several pages earning their trust, so which email address are they going to give you? Their REAL address, because they actually WANT to hear from you again!
These two methods are so simple, and yet marketers are afraid to test them out because they know they will get fewer subscribers.
But the QUALITY of the subscribers is infinitely better. You get REAL email addresses from people who actually WANT to hear from you.
Test it out for yourself. I think you’ll be astonished at the difference it makes in your bottom line.