If you read my previous post on Why you should build a list, you know that a list is an important part of an online business. If you didn’t read it, then WHAT ARE YOU DOING?? Go and Check it out!

Ok, so now that you know why you should have one, lets talk about How to set one up. Technology has really come a long way. It has become extremely easy to get an mailinglist going with a service like Aweber, which is the system that I use and recommend highly.

Why Aweber?

Autoresponders can be very complicated. There are many different types out there with a bunch of bells and whistles, many of which cost a bunch of money. However, most of these have awesome features that I would, quite frankly, never use.

Aweber is simple and relatively easy to understand. You can get up and running within the hour and have everything you need set up and get a basic understanding of how to use it.

In addition to being able to send out automatic follow up messages, it also has a very strong tracking component that allows you to analyze just about every important aspect of the effectiveness of your mailinglist. You can see how many people opened your emails in addition to how many clicked on each link in each email (in addition to a bunch of other stuff). That way you can track everything accurately, see what works and what doesn’t, and then make changes to increase your overall effectiveness.

How to start a Mailing List

The first thing you will need is to sign up for an Aweber account. You can get a trial account for $1 for the first month and then $19 per month. This will allow you to be able to test it out fully for an entire month and decide if it’s something that can benefit you.

Once you have your Aweber account set up, you can then create a list by following the easy steps and then start putting in your follow up messages, in addition to setting the time intervals over which the messages should be automatically sent out.

After that is completed, you can then create a web form to put on your website. They make it so simple that it generates the form for you and then you just copy and paste the code onto your website and voila, you have an opt in box right there on your website.

Tips on how to make a GREAT list

Tip #1: It’s ALL about the Relationship

One thing to keep in mind that the main purpose of your list is to nurture relationships with your subscribers and provide value to them. If this is not your focus, you will be loosing more subscribers than you are gaining. Always ask yourself the question – what can I give to my subscribers free of charge that can help them solve whatever problem they might be facing. People are more likely to buy something recommended by a friend than by someone who they don’t know.

Tip #2: Put it above the fold

When you are setting up your opt in box to capture leads, you want to make sure that you are putting it above the fold on your site. In other words, you don’t want them to have to scroll down to find it. It should be easily accessible.

Tip #3: Give away something for Free that entices your visitors to join.

People aren’t going to sign up to your list just because you have one. With all the spam that’s out there, people are more hesitant to sign up to mailing lists now than they were a few years ago. However, if they see that you are giving away a Free Report, Free Training Videos, a Free eCourse or something of that sort, and the thing you are giving away can help them solve a problem (like needing money, looking for a relationship, loosing weight etc), they are much more likely to join.

Tip #4: Don’t oversell your list.

This goes right back to point number one. I’ve been on a number of lists in my time online and you can tell the difference between those that are really trying to provide value and those that are just trying to make money. Some marketers aim to make huge lists and promote a ton of affiliate products so that they can make a bunch of money regardless of the value they don’t provide. The problem here is that this is a very short term solution and really doesn’t last. Whenever I notice that I’m on a list that does this, I unsubscribe really quick, and so do many others.

Tip #5: Be consistent

It seems as if all of the points go back to Tip #1. If you are building a relationship with someone, it’s important to be consistent. If you send your list a message today, but nothing again for 2 months, chances are that they will forget who you are. Being consistent helps to nurture a relationship that can be beneficial to everyone involved.

These are some of the things that I’ve learned from my mentors and that have contributed to helping me take my business to the next level.

Have you started building your list as yet? If not, start today. If so, I’d love to hear about how it has worked for you in the comments below. Also, if you have any specific questions, don’t hesitate to ask.

Related Posts

1. Five reasons why you should build a list
2. How to build an effective Squeeze page
3. 5 Tips to help you take your business to the next level