You might have read about list building, it’s importance, the potential and the ease on many websites, including this one. But one thing no one would have told you is to learn how exactly to market to your list before you start building it. How to write effective email copy, how to carve out headlines which generate better response, when to send emails, how to position yourself and a lot more “basic” marketing concepts. An understanding of these along with a basic hold over copywriting goes a long way in making much more money off your list. After all, you’re not collecting emails just for the sake of it, right?

So, the question is, Is list building essential from the start?

My one word answer would be “No”.

I’d advice anyone to get a grasp of the basic marketing concepts before jumping on building a list. Otherwise, you may lose reputation, a lot of subscribers and a lot of money. You might ask “How” can one learn without testing it. Simple answer – Carefully observe what the other successful marketers are doing. Get on their lists.

Let me explain.

There are many other marketers who market to their list effectively and rake in a lot of money doing that. Follow them. That’s not to say that you go out and buy their products, but observe how they market, their emails, their positioning, how they make people buy, when they send emails, the language used, the words used, the headlines – everything. Don’t copy it. Learn from it. Swipe the best email copies and keep a record of them.

In fact, go ahead and make a new gmail account and subscribe to the best internet marketers like Frank Kern, Mike Filsaime and some of the best copywriters such as Michel Fortin, Clayton Makepeace, John Carlton. Also, study the newsletters of Gary Halbert. Learn before you apply. Without knowledge, you risk a lot.

I see a lot of people talking about “marketers taking their money”. Seriously?! Do they put their hands inside your pocket, pick the wallet out and run away? YOU give the money to them happily. If you trace the reasons, what made you buy, what was so special in that email that had you itching to click the Buy link… you’ll be doing better. Much better.

Now with that said, I’d like to add that you should keep on experimenting as you learn. Trying will get you better, accumulating the knowledge won’t. Though starting when you don’t know squat about marketing to the list would be harmful, keeping on accumulating knowledge with no intention to use it won’t do any good too.

There may be two different schools of thought but my opinion lies somewhere between. I’m against starting out before knowing anything, because that will be the much tougher way to learn. I’m against not taking action when you know a tactic that might make you more money. So, my advice would be to learn and along with learning, apply. Test out everything, every element of your copy, the headline, the subject, the content, the position, the matter – everything.

Tags | List Building