When I first began my email newsletter, I took every unsubscribe and opt-out as a personal sign of failure. Every time a subscriber “unsubscribed,” it was like a stab in the heart. I realize now that unsubscribes are actually helping me create a more targeted and focused moneymaking list.
Here’s a success truth: It’s not about how quickly or how large you can grow you email list, it’s about how effectively you build a qualified list. Your list building efforts should be aimed at developing a database of qualified subscribers who are willing and able to buy what you are offering. When it comes to your subscribers, it’s the quality of your list that will make you money and grow your business.
It’s easy for anyone, and everyone, to take you up on an enticing free offer or giveaway. Freebie offers and giveaways don’t always provide a clean and qualified list of potential buyers. With a list built around freebies, eventually the uninterested subscribers will opt-out and the truly interested ones will remain.
Here’s another success truth: Your qualified subscribers are pure GOLD! When you think about it, building a moneymaking list of interested subscribers is a lot like panning for gold. You have to wash away the silt and sand until only the gold remains.
There’s a point in your list building where the question becomes, how do you begin to grow a quality and targeted list with fewer unsubscribes? Here are three suggestions:
1. Offer freebies targeted specifically at the wants and needs of your target market. It’s your job to understand your target market. What are the wants, needs and challenges of your potential subscribers and how do you intend to address those wants, needs and challenges? It’s an important element of any effective marketing plan to do the research and stay on top of what is trending within your target market.
2. Once you’ve developed your email list, don’t overdo the emails. Too many emails can quickly become email overload to the receiver. Overwhelming your list with a barrage of emails becomes annoying. Be a courteous and considerate “emailer.”
3. Make sure you only email quality content. Your emails must be timely, informative and well written. Personally, I’ll hit the unsubscribe button when I begin receiving emails that waste my time and provide no value. Your reputation for providing value begins with your first email. If your subscribers believe they are getting great value from a one-page newsletter or other email, they know they’ll get value when they purchase your products.
The bottom line: If you are providing quality emails with quality content, then don’t fret the unsubscribes. Have the mindset that with every unsubscribe you are developing and fine-tuning a qualified moneymaking list of potential buyers.
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Sharon Recommends:
Here is a book that has been recommended to me several times although I've never used it myself: ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income
My opinions are solely mine. I am also an affiliate of Amazon.com and if you purchase through this link, I will earn a commission.
