List Building- Ask and You Shall Prosper

When you haven't written anything for a while, or youhave to guess.
feel that you're just not good at it, list building canAsk a question of the month or the week, if you like.
become a stumbling block for you. But you see, theNow, you have all kinds of things you can answer in
thing is... List building is the most important thing to do, ifyour autoresponder series. "Jackie wants to know
you want to succeed in Internet marketing. List buildingwhich quilting table is the best or what the best sewing
is all of it. That means: autoresponder series. One ofmachine is or whatever, and I have a couple of
my students asked me, "I don't have a problem writingsuggestions. I've used... and it works because..." You
emails, only the first one that establishes thecan even write it like an advice column in the
relationship. I just can't get that first email written."newspaper, if you want to.
My answer? "OK, so write the second one." WhenAsking what your list members want is so easy to do
you can't get started, begin with the second email, butand you're able to come up with writing ideas very,
just start writing something. But if that still doesn't helpvery easily. You don't even have to do it as though
you to jump in, here's an idea that will:someone was asking a question. Just write a short
Find out what your list wants. Your first message canemail about solving the problem and then offer a
say, "What's your single biggest question about..."product that will solve it for them. Smart?
whatever niche you're working in. "What's your singleYou can also use surveys. has a basic service that's
biggest question about quilting?" "What's your singlefree to use, and until your list gets very large or until
biggest question about dogs?" It fits any niche. Here'syou need the extra analysis that comes with a pro
the whole email: "Dear first name, I'm happy to havemembership, it's very easy to use and it doesn't cost
you on board! But I don't want to take up too much ofyou a dime. Or, you can go through Both systems give
your time, so I'll get right to the point. Because I want toyou the ability to direct customers to different products
get your questions answered about digital cameras,with some radio buttons. Each one sends them to a
please click this link and let me know what your singledifferent product. It also gives you information about
biggest question about digital cameras is."what interests them.
Now, you're accomplishing two purposes. First, youUse either service or one of your own, but you have
have something to write to people. Second, theto start doing something. List building is the prime
questions they ask will help you to figure out whatdirective and you have to crank on it. Get it moving as
kinds of products they're looking for. Then, you don'tquickly as possible.