Spam filtering has made it increasingly difficult to ensure email deliver-ability to your opt in subscribers, which is critical to your success in monetizing your list and delivering value to your subscribers consistently. An incorrect spam filter classification can reduce your click through response rates by as much as 20-30% of your total number of messages sent.

Here are are 12 specific actions you can take to ensure your email gets delivered.

#1. Always be CAN-SPAM Compliant

This is RULE NUMBER ONE! The January 2004 Federal CAN-SPAM law introduced a number of rules regarding the delivery of email. It’s important you have your legal counsel review your practices and ensure you are in compliance. The two most important rules include having a valid postal mail address listed in all commercial messages and a working unsubscribe link that is promptly honored to remove the subscriber from future messages.

#2. Get Your Subscribers Permission

Confirming that the people who ask for your information have actually requested to be on your list is the number one step in the battle for deliverability. You should be using a process called confirmed opt-in or verified opt-in to send a unique link to the attempted subscriber when they request information. Before adding the person to your list they must click that unique link verifying that they are indeed the same person that owns the email address and requested to subscribe.

#3. Get Your Subscriber’s Best Email Address

Always ask you new subscribers to opt into your list using their “real or best” email address. Many online marketers and information seekers use a throw away or catch list as a means of sorting through opt in email. Typically this is set up using a free email service such as G-mail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc. This means that the address you are mailing to can be easily thrown away or at their capacity, which will result in bouncing email addresses that hurts your delivery statistics.

By confirming an email address that is hosted with the subscribers primary ISP, you develop a higher quality list, dramatically increase your deliverability an achieve higher click through rates.

#4. Maintain Your List and Sort Out the Bad Addresses

Review your campaign stats after every mailing and promptly remove all email addresses that are bouncing. Make note of the address and send a direct private email that request a new email address, advise the subscriber that you had to remove them from your list and provide a simple opt in gift to persuade the subscriber to subscribe back into your list. If this email bounces, move on and do not invest anymore time correcting this problem.

There are times when a bounce is caused by a temporary situation, such as a full email in box or ISP downtime. A less aggressive practice would be to review addresses that return a permanent error more that three times in 30 days should be removed from your list. Keep in mind that ISPs track the number of emails you send to accounts on their servers that are closed and with enough frequency may in turn block you from address as a result.

#5. Use the Multi-part Message Format

For marketers HTML messages provide a powerful opportunity for branding and sending multi-column messages to format newsletters and e-zines. Most auto-responders offer both HTML and text formats for sending your email, the best services for marketers offer a feature known as Text/HTML multi-part mime format, which allows you to create both an HTML and text version of your message and the format delivered will depend on the receivers email client.

AWeber conducted a study in 2004 which determined that plain text messages are undeliverale 1.15% of each mailing and HTML only messages were undeleverable 2.3% of each mailing. consider this, many spam messages are HTML formatted and it can be difficult for spam filters to determine spam from requested email. I personally feel that the brand opportunity is greater than the risk of a small percentage of your messages being filtered out. I always use the multi-part format and so should you.

#6. Write Spam Free Content

Many ISP’s filter messages based on the content that appears within the message text itself in addition to the sender’s email address. Be sure to use an auto responder service that includes a “spam grader” feature that measures the likelihood of your message to be blocked as spam based on your content. The “spam grade” is determined by the frequency of words appearing in your message that are deemed to be spammy such as make money, business opportunity, etc.

Don’t make your messages appear to be spam by using odd character and spacing to disguise spam sensitive key phrases (for example ca$h). If you must use a phrase in your message that results in a high spam grade, try to replace the phase with the same meaning and re-score your message. Repeat this process until you find a phrase that works.

#7. Advertiser’s Website URLs Matter

If you are offering advertising opportunities on your newsletter or e-zine, take care to research potential advertisers before allowing them to place ads in your newsletter issues. If they have used their website URL to send spam, just having their URL appear in your newsletter could cause the entire message to be filtered.

#8. Use Images Selectively

Properly titled images can greatly enhance your SEO results and should be used to enhance your newsletter and e-zines. When it comes to email, I would largely avoid using images or do so sparingly.

#9. Always Use Links and Rarely Use Attachments

With viruses running rampant and spreading thru the usage of malicious email attachments many users are wary of attached documents. It’s often better to link to files via a website URL to reduce recipient fear of attachments and reduce the overall message size.

#10 Monitor and Protect Your Reputation

As you grow your list and begin to deliver a growing volume if email across a growing number of ISPs it become a necessity to monitor, manage and protect your reputation within the ISP community. Many new and experienced marketers alike are unaware that you can take a proactive stance in exposing your good practices to the “Reputation Services” that many ISPs reply upon to identify safe senders.

Take the initiative to become listed with these services and as a result, your messages will be given far less scrutiny or in many cases may no longer be subject to filtering as long as your reputation is maintained.

Here are three reputation services your should consider:

http://www.bondedsender.com

http://www.habeas.com

http://www.isipp.com/iadb.php

#11. Relationships & Whitelisting

Several of the major ISPs including Yahoo and AOL have specific whitelisting programs and postmaster website management tools developed to ensure your email is delivered on the condition that you messages meet their stated policies and procedures. Again, be proactive and advise the major ISP’s and email service providers of your opt in and mailing procedures and policies related to subscriber email.

#12. Always Give Your Reader an Easy Opt Out

No matter how hard you try to ensure the quality of your list, from time to time a subscriber will forget that they opted in or decide that they no longer want to receive your mail. When these circumstances occur you must make it easy for them to opt out, which will decrease the chances of a false spam complaint.

The major email service providers include a subscription management function which places an opt out script at the bottom of your messages by default – verify that this is the case with the provider you use. If not, create a signature to include in all of your email message resulting in a one click opt out function.

Email deliverability is about ensuring requested opt-in email is delivered to the intended recipient. While no single tip will enable you to get 100% of your email delivered each one utilized as a group can go a long way to reaching that goal.

By following the advice provided here you can ensure that your email is delivered and that your sender reputation is maintained as a viable asset in your online business. I welcome your comments or questions, so please feel free to leave a comment and if you like what you have read, be sure to re-tweet this post.

I am here to help you succeed!

(c) Copyright 2008-2009 James A. Holmes. All Rights Reserved.

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James Holmes, Global Team Builder, Coach and Trainer, combining online and offline techniques to help you grow your business. To request a free 30 minute consultation contact James by phone at 303-523-9503 or email at james@AskJamesHolmes.com

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Note: If you’d like to reprint this article on your blog or in your newsletter you have permission to do so as long as the copyright information and the resource box above remains with the article.

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Effective List Building Part 4

As an entrepreneur you are rewarded for two specific outcomes:

1. The Value You Provide

2. The Problems You solve

When it comes to list building the rewards you earn are loyal responsive subscribers who choose to remain on your list and sales of your info products, affiliate programs, business opportunities, and other resources you recommend.  My goal in this post is to help you maximize your list building activities by providing your subscribers with extreme value first, allowing you to create loyalty and solidify your relationship with your list.

Here is my strategy for adding value as a component of  effective list building!

Give Your Subscribers What They Want and Need

Be consistent and targeted with the information you send to your list. Keep in mind that you attracted your subscribers based on a invitation or item of value likely focused on a specific niche. For example, if a subscriber opted into your list for an internet marketing product, they likely will not expect you to email them information about cooking or how to restore a vintage automobile. If you work in a variety of niches, you should build separate list for each niche and only mail across all of your list when the information is relevant to the entire list.

If you email your list with targeted information that provides added value for their lives and helps them grow their businesses, you will develop loyalty and maximize your rightful opportunity to monetize your list. People like to buy from those they know, like and trust – you can develop these three qualities by seeking to add value first and monetize second.

Provide High Value Content and Resources for FREE

I have constructed “My Private Vault” to give high value resources to my list free of charge. The vault includes software, videos, audio MP3s, e-books, marketing systems, training materials and so much more. I offer literally thousands of dollars in value to my list every day in order to help them grow their businesses. You should be doing something very similar to this and then watch your list grow.

In addition to adding value to your subscribers, you can also use free items to “pre-sell” your paid products and services by providing your subscribers with a free sample of a paid product or a complete version of a paid product. By doing this you allow your list to try it before they buy it and in the long term all parties will benefit from this high value sales cycle.

Build a Quality List and Maintain it

From day one set your objective on building a quality list and maintaining your list quality as it grows. The highest quality list is a targeted list of loyal subscribers who choose to remain on your list and are responsive, meaning they choose to open your emails and follow your recommendations.

Here are 10 Key Tips to Get You Started

I have found that presenting your opt in as a “subscription” to a newsletter or inner circle list works best across multiple platforms. Keep in mind that you need to identify an opt in gift (example) worthy of attracting subscribers and then take action on the following marketing ideas.

1. Offer a free subscriptions to targeted (by niche) Ning communities
2. Offer a free subscription to popular forum members in your niche
3. Offer a free subscription to members of social networks such as Facebook and Twitter
4. Offer a free subscription through online classified advertising sites
5. Offer a free subscription in your email signature and auto reply from your email service
6. Issue press releases virally to publicize your free newsletter
7. Offer a free subscription on ALL the pages of your blog and website
8. Acquire relevant opt-in e-mail lists and introduce yourself with a free subscription creating a actual opt in
9. Offer a free subscription to members of professional associations in your niche
10. Use a “Tell a Friend” script to encourage your subscribers to spread the word and provide “gift subscriptions” to their friends

Closing Thoughts

Building a subscriber list is essential to the long term viability of your online business and creating a responsive list requires focus and commitment to adding value to your subscribers. If you follow the advice I provide in this series of post on effective list building, you will be well on your way to developing a thriving, responsive list of loyal subscribers.

Be sure to leave a comment and share this post with your friends and members of your social networks. Remember the more value you provide and the greater problems you solve the bigger your reward.

Remember, I am here to help you succeed!

(c) Copyright 2008-2009 James A. Holmes. All Rights Reserved.

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James Holmes, Global Team Builder, Coach and Trainer, combining online and offline techniques to help you grow your business. To request a free 30 minute consultation contact James by phone at 303-523-9503 or email at james@AskJamesHolmes.com

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Note: If you’d like to reprint this article on your blog or in your newsletter you have permission to do so as long as the copyright information and the resource box above remains with the article.

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Effective List Building Part 3

List Building Doesn’t Have to be Difficult

New and intermediate marketers operate under a false impression that the only way to build a list is to have a visitor opt into a subscriber form on your website or blog. Unfortunately this leads to a lack of action because they get stuck either because they don’t know how to put a web form on their site or they put the form on their site and do nothing more.

The long-term impact on the business of these marketers is a lack of sales. The longer you go without an organized and consistent list building strategy, the more difficult it will be for you to begin making real money online. If you read this blog post carefully and take immediate action, you will be on your way to building a responsive list with relative ease.

Subscription Opt In Forms an Obvious Place to Start

I believe that every serious online marketer should have a blog which services as the hub for their primary online activity. That being said, placing a web form on your blog that offers a free item of extreme value to your visitors for subscribing to your mailing list is the obvious place to start, so this is your first assignment.

Here are a few bullet points detailing how you establish a high converting subscription magnet to encourage your visitors to (join) opt in to your list.

1. Offer a valuable ethical bribe, which can be any item that creates desire from your visitor.

2. Make your form attractive using a template or custom web form. These forms can easily be created using an auto responder service such as Aweber. Refer to this blog post: Aweber Web Form Generator

3. Ensure that your subscriber form (or a subscriber form) appears on every page of your site. Depending on how a page viewer finds your site they may arrive at a page other than your home page. Most standard blog templates present a static sidebar that appears on every page. I would suggest placing your opt in form on the sidebar or in the header of your site.

4. Keep it simple to encourage an opt in by your visitors. It is best to ask for a fist name and email address only – asking for more information will lower your conversion rates with each additional question on the form.

5. Deliver the opt in gift immediate to reward your new subscriber and begin to build your credibility and trust.

Gain Organic Traffic by Creating Content

Dynamic content creation is such a big topic that it requires an entire series of post and cannot be covered here. The bottom line is that you should be posting to your blog weekly, writing articles, bookmark your site, become active in social networks, and re-purpose your content in a variety of ways.

Buying Traffic is a Solution if Your Budget Allows

If you have a sufficient budget, you can purchase traffic or subscribers from a variety of resources. I will cover this specifically in future post, but here are a few ideas. You can use pay per click, e-zine ads, solo ads, classified ads, advertise on other blogs, and purchase subscribers from list providers.

Build Your List with Your Funded Proposal

One of the most powerful ways to build a list is through a self-funded proposal. I use the Prosperity Marketing System as one of my automated funnel in addition to hosted sales pages offering a free e-book or audio mp3 files. In my opinion, having a series of self-funded proposals posted across the internet is the best free or low cost method for building a quality list.

In addition to building your list, a self-funded proposal also develops buyer among your list members allowing you to identify segments within your list most likely to purchase your products and services in the future.

Here is a Golden Nugget

You have likely heard it said that “the money is in the list,” the truth is that the money is in the buyers within your list. So providing your list members with extreme value for free in the beginning builds your trust and credibility. Once established you must convert free opt in subscribers to buyers, even for a small monetary amount such as a seven dollar special report or a paid membership to your site.

Build a Targeted List

It is critical in all aspects of your business to be very specific about your market and develop an effective message to market match. Once a visitor opts into your list, you should consistently provide them with content, products and services within their targeted areas of interest. If your subscribers suddenly find that your content and recommendations no longer fit their needs, they will simply (unsubscribe) opt out.

Recognize the Lifetime value of Your List

Having a large responsive list of loyal subscribers allows you to effectively market on a continual basis as long as you do not abuse the privilege. If you use care to market relevant products and services while consistently rewarding the loyalty of your subscribers with free reports and other bonuses, you will secure the long term viability of your business.

Be sure to provide me with feedback concerning this post and your own thoughts on effective list building. Be sure to follow this entire series and share you have discovered with your friends.

I am here to help you succeed!

(c) Copyright 2008-2009 James A. Holmes. All Rights Reserved.

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James Holmes, Global Team Builder, Coach and Trainer, combining online and offline techniques to help you grow your business. To request a free 30 minute consultation contact James by phone at 303-523-9503 or email at james@AskJamesHolmes.com

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Note: If you’d like to reprint this article on your blog or in your newsletter you have permission to do so as long as the copyright information and the resource box above remains with the article.

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I received an email last week as a member of Joel Comm’s affiliate program stating that I was being given permission to give away four of Joel’s most popular e-books including the wildly successful “AdSense Secrets” which sells for $97 absolutely FREE. My conclusion was that the flying monkeys on staff over at Info Media (Joel Comm’s business) must be running things, so who am I to argue.

I have added all four titles to “My Private Vault” located here:

My Private Vault Log In

If you do not have a password for “My Private Vault” go here:

Request Your Private Vault Password and enter your name and valid email address and you will be sent a password immediately. My Private Vault contains over $1,400 worth of products for free and immediate download and I add new products every month for subscribed members of this site.

If you are interested in using AdSense in your business you must read “Adsense Secrets 4” the information is still very timely and will help you leverage your marketing efforts. I want to kick things off by giving you immediate access below. Keep in mind there are three additional titles available in the vault.

Download Access Here: AdSense Secrets 4

I have known Joel for a while now and I believe his products are first rate and will provide you with exceptional value. Get AdSense Secrets 4 and read it cover to cover. What you learn here could add a consistent revenue stream to your business that is scalable.

I am here to help you succeed!

(c) Copyright 2008-2009 James A. Holmes. All Rights Reserved.

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James Holmes, Global Team Builder, Coach and Trainer, combining online and offline techniques to help you grow your business. To request a free 30 minute consultation contact James by phone at 303-523-9503 or email at james@AskJamesHolmes.com

Note: I am a Affiliate Marketer and it should be assumed that links provided within the content of this blog and individual blog post are affiliate links from which I may be compensated for sales made at the recommended sites. All products and service recommendations are made as a result of my personal experience with the product or service provider.

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Note: If you’d like to reprint this article on your blog or in your newsletter you have permission to do so as long as the copyright information and the resource box above remains with the article.

Effective List Building Part 2

List building is largely a numbers game but many marketers forget that quality matters when it comes to earning revenue with your list. If you want to monetize your subscriber list you must first provide real value for your members for free and then within your funnel convert those subscribers to buyers.

The basic formula that I teach to achieve our objective is simply offering visitors to your websites and blogsites a high value item free as a reward for opting in, I refer to this as an ethical bribe. Keep in mind that this is a reflection on your brand and for your future customers it is their first sample of the quality and value you provide. As a result you want to give away some of your BEST information. If you give your new subscribers cheap or low value products and information, they have no reason to pay for what they will perceive to be more of the same.

When you provide high value information as a free gift and continue to provide quality content through your auto-responder messages, you begin to build trust by establishing your expertise and you create a desire in your subscriber to obtain more of your content and a willingness to pay for the value they receive.

To recap there are three steps in the funnel:

Step 1. Provide a high value opt in gift

Step 2. Use auto-responders to provide high value content through consistent communications with your list

Step 3. Convert subscribers to buyers based on the value you have provided (give them a reason to buy)

Nurturing Quality Leads

People are attracted to join a subscribers list for a variety of reasons, your online presence, perceived level of success, demonstrated expertise and other qualities you have successfully presented through your self promotion and marketing your sites are all valid reasons for a prospect to opt into your list.

Now that you have gotten the attention of your visitor give them value and trust that the most likely buyers will self select and purchase from you as a result of your actions.

Most professional marketers will tell you that their objective is to earn one dollar per month for every name on their list. So, if you have a 500 subscriber list, you would be earning $500 per month, a 5000 subscriber list would earn for you $5,000 per month and so forth. I have found that these number do tend to be valid as an average and you should make this your goal.

As you put together your front in reward (ethical bribe) and subsequent auto-responder messages be mindful of to attract targeted prospects, so your opt in offer must be focused on the products and services you intend to sell. In addition, your follow up messages must likewise be targeted on your niche and continue to offer high value content associated with a link that leads to an offer. It is essential to provide offers early in the process of your communication.

Maintaining your Subscribers list

When a visitor opts into your list they are giving you permission to communicate and market to them as your relationship evolves. However, be careful not to abuse this privilege by spamming your list. There is a delicate balance between communicating too much and not communicating enough to maintain there interest and evolve your relationship.

I recommend that you send a keyword targeted email to your list two or three times per week and include an offer in each of these communications. There are some marketers who email their list everyday, I think this is too frequent and those who market to me with this frequency tend to get their emails opened less often.

In addition to your weekly email messages, I would also recommend that you publish a monthly or bi-weekly e-zine or newsletter. This is were you can add additional value, make bigger ticket recommendations, author reviews, and summarize information previously sent during the preceding weeks. The e-zine format also lends itself to sharing non-business related aspects of your life to further build a relationship with your list.

Knowing What to Give Away

If you are a newer marketer and have not yet created your own products, there are a variety of ways to obtain high value items to give to your list. One of the best resources is membership in “Viral E-Book Explosion,” which will provide you with a large inventory of e-books and audio MP3 files that you can re-brand and give away to your subscribers.

I will share additional ideas concerning the use of private label rights (PLR) and master resell rights (MRR) later in this series, but for most leveraging Viral E-Book Explosion is a perfect solution.

Get Viral E-Book Free Here: Viral E-Book Explosion Offer

Knowing What Your Subscriber Needs

The most effective marketing always if focused on the needs of your subscribers and customers and your ability to provide solutions for those needs.

• What is your niche?
• Who are your customers?
• What do they need from you?
• Why do they need your products and services?
• What is their tipping point that will cause them to buy from you?

If you keep the needs of your subscribers in mind as your first priority and develop a funnel that addresses those needs effectively, you will build a responsive opt in list over time. Once you have received an opt in subscriber you should treat them like gold and recognize that there is a longterm value for every member of your list.

I am here to help you succeed!

(c) Copyright 2008-2009 James A. Holmes. All Rights Reserved.

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James Holmes, Global Team Builder, Coach and Trainer, combining online and offline techniques to help you grow your business. To request a free 30 minute consultation contact James by phone at 303-523-9503 or email at james@AskJamesHolmes.com

Note: I am a Affiliate Marketer and it should be assumed that links provided within the content of this blog and individual blog post are affiliate links from which I may be compensated for sales made at the recommended sites. All products and service recommendations are made as a result of my personal experience with the product or service provider.

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Note: If you’d like to reprint this article on your blog or in your newsletter you have permission to do so as long as the copyright information and the resource box above remains with the article.

Here is a quick heads up on a special offer that was made on my podcast “The Internet Business Blueprint” podcast by Internet Marketer Doug Champigny for his “Power Start 2010” 4 Week Coaching Program – I am signing up for the program today and so should you – here is why.

There is a tremendous opportunity to develop your personal brand, expand your market, and create a six-figure income by creating and marketing information products. Many new and intermediate marketers have a large number of ‘private label rights’ (PLR) and ‘master resell rights’ (MRR) ZIP files sitting on their hard drives unopened because they do not know how to take the steps required to get these products personally re-branded and posted online. It is like a treasure chest of cash waiting to be opened.

The purpose of the Power Start 2010 program is to help you go from a dead start to a complete online info product business with website hosted, monetized and getting traffic in 4 weeks. I invite you to join us if you would like to take massive action and get your business launched in 4 weeks not 12 months and start making real money online.

Here is an overview of the weekly sessions:

The sessions are being held on 4 consecutive Monday evenings at 7:00 pm EST beginning February 1st and the sessions are presented in a tele-seminar format and there will be assignment given week to week to ensure that you are implementing what you are learning and getting your business established. Students will also be given videos for each module in the program, these are how to videos designed to help you take action at your own speed.

This is a serious high intensity fast start program and you shouldn’t sign-up unless you have made a firm decisions to build a successful online business. If you have made a decisions to build your business, this program will save you both money and time by shortening your learning curve.

During the podcast Doug and I tried to out do each other by adding special bonuses for listeners of the podcast and readers of my blog – you will reap the benefits. So here are the bonuses you will receive if you sign up for the class by Monday January 25th for the first session.

1.) Program Tuition Discounted 40%

2.) Complimentary Membership to the “Info Product Profits Blueprint” membership site that I am launching in March

3.) One Hour Personal One-on-One Consultation with Doug Champigny by SKYPE of Telephone after the program

4.) Assistance Promoting Your Site to Doug’s Personal JV Network (upon completion of the course)

If you are ready to take action go here and sign up: PowerStart2010 Special

Here is the link Itself: http://askjamesholmes.com/PowerStart2010

Who is Doug Champigny?

Doug is a full-time Internet marketer, Affiliate Marketer, E-Zine Publisher, mentor and speaker, is often called a super-promoter because he’s an expert in creating wealth online and teaching others to do the same. A 25-year veteran of the marketing and advertising industries before coming online, Doug has worked online full-time since 1997.

As you know my purpose is to provide you with a blueprint for your online business success and I fully endorse this program and I am proud to promote the program as an affiliate. Please feel free to contact me directly if you have questions. Once you have enrolled in the course send me a private email to james@AskJamesHolmes.com with your receipt and I will send you information for my membership site along with a few other bonuses.

I am here to help you succeed!

(c) Copyright 2008-2009 James A. Holmes. All Rights Reserved.

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James Holmes, Global Team Builder, Coach and Trainer, combining online and offline techniques to help you grow your business. To request a free 30 minute consultation contact James by phone at 303-523-9503 or email at james@AskJamesHolmes.com

Note: I am a Affiliate Marketer and it should be assumed that links provided within the content of this blog and individual blog post are affiliate links from which I may be compensated for sales made at the recommended sites. All products and service recommendations are made as a result of my personal experience with the product or service provider.

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Note: If you’d like to reprint this article on your blog or in your newsletter you have permission to do so as long as the copyright information and the resource box above remains with the article.

Effective List Building Part 1

List building is a crucial piece of the success puzzle when it comes to creating a successful Internet marketing business. The bottom line is clear, you need a list regardless of which business model you choose; information product marketing, affiliate marketing, direct sales or any other the other handful of variant models you have to choose from. The bottom line is to be successful you must place your message in front of your market with consistently.

There are a variety of channels that you can use to deliver your message, but few are more effective than a responsive double opt in subscriber list of buyers who already know you, like you and most importantly have grown to trust you. Once you have a subscriber list in place, you should plan to earn one dollar for every name on your list each month. Then if your desire is to make more money simply grow a bigger list.

I will be focusing a lot on list building in 2010, both in my personal business and in the training I share on my blog. To get things started, I wanted to provide you with a simple checklist providing actionable ideas that you can implement today to begin building your list.

10 Ways to Build Your Subscriber List

#1. Remember that content is king: Provide relevant, unique content and actionable content. Your visitors will not give you their email addresses just because they can subscribe to your newsletter free of charge. You have to provide unique and valuable information that will be useful to your subscribers.

#2. Add a subscription opt-in form on every page of your website: Make sure it stands out so it is easy to find. If appropriate, you can also include it in more than one place. For instance, your opt-in form might always appear in the top-left corner of your site, while you also include an opt-in at the bottom of some of your popular articles.

#3. Make it easy for your readers to sign up. The more information you request, the fewer people will opt-in. In most cases, a name and an email address should suffice. If it’s not necessary, don’t include it here. (Note: If you don’t have a Privacy Policy, put the words “privacy policy generator” into a search engine and you should be able to find a suitable form for your readers to review.

#4. Instill confidence by publishing your privacy policy. Let your readers know that they can be confident you will not share their information with others. The easiest way to do this is to set up a Privacy Policy web page and provide the link to it below your opt-in form. As an added benefit having a privacy policy posted on your site is recommended for higher quality scores.

#5. Give value first in exchange for an opt in. This lets potential subscribers review your newsletter or e-course before they sign up to determine if they like the content you provide and the manner in which you deliver it.

#6. Create an Archive that you subscribers can access easily. A digital archive of past newsletters, podcast, etc will allow you to present past content and add value to your new subscribers. The credibility that comes from have a large body of original content that has been delivered over time is hard to beat.

#7. Collaborate with other newsletter publishers and bloggers. One simple way to create equal value between yourself and another newsletter publisher is to exchange content by guest posting to one another’s list. Be careful that you do not siphon off parts of your list to a direct competitor and the list exchange that you complete should provide like value in a separate portion of your niche – this will allow you to add the greatest value to the reader and not jeopardize your list.

The issue of list siphoning is far less a concern when guest posting and welcoming guest host on your blog. Just be sure that the content being written is congruent with the content your readers have become accustom to receiving.

#8. Reward your loyal subscribers. Reward your readers consistently with resources and high value digital products to show your appreciation and further set yourself apart among other leaders on the Internet. It is a benefit to become predictable by allowing your readers to anticipate the timing of the next perk as a continued member of your list – they won’t want to miss out.

#9. Don’t be afraid to ask your subscribers to tell their friends. Viral list building is powerful! If your subscribers are getting value from the content you provide and the rewards you give, why wouldn’t they want to share what you have to offer with others.

#10. Allow others republish your newsletter content with two condition. Allowing others to republish your content as long as the content is not modified in any way and as long as your attribute box of your design is included with the article linking back to you.

If you take action on these ten ideas you will be on your way to growing a responsive opt in subscriber list and can expect to receive value back in multiples as a result of your consistent efforts.

For more list building tips grab a copy of my e-book:

List Building Secrets for Entrepreneurs

I welcome your feedback and additional comments.

I am here to help you succeed!

On Friday January 22, 2010 at 3:00 EST I am going to produce a podcast interview with a leading information marketing expert, a man that I greatly admire and someone who gave me the final piece of the puzzle to initiate my own information product marketing buisness. Yes, he had no idea, most ‘go-givers’ sow increase into others with the ease of taking their next breath.

Doug Champigny is a successful Internet marketer and he has a down to earth manner in which you actually learn what he is teaching. So what does all of this have to do with you and your success? Doug will spend enlighten all of us how to build a profitable business in four simple steps.

1. Get Started: Install your blog, select the “correct’ plugins, integrate your blog with Web 2.0, set up your e-courses, your e-zines and knowing when to use each.

2. Get Your Products Online: Info products, understand master resell rights and PLR.

3. Get Traffic: Leverage article marketing, podcasting,video marketing and social media.

4. Get Affiliate Commissions: How to choose the right affiliate programs, building residual commissions, promoting affiliate products and BIG JV launches.

All this will serve as a primer to a new tele-seminar that Doug is launching in February titled “and you are going to gain an inside track on some truly important strategies to make 2010 a year of success in your online ventures. I am thrilled to be able to bring this interview to you.

Here is the link to my podcast show page:

The Internet Business Blueprint Podcast

Doug Champigny, a full-time Internet marketer, Affiliate Marketer, E-Zine Publisher, mentor and speaker, is often called a super-promoter because he’s an expert in creating wealth online and teaching others to do the same. A 25-year veteran of the marketing and advertising industries before coming online, Doug has worked online full-time since 1997.

If you want to take advantage of a special Discounted Tuition click this link:

PowerStart 2010 Internet Marketing Crash Course!

I encourage you to take  advantage of this rare opportunity to hear from a true master and join us on the show. We will have the phones lines open for your questions and have a few bonuses for those of you who take action and ask Doug a question or two.

I am here to help you succeed!

I have been partnering with Russell Brunson creator of the Micro Continuity Program for the past several months and I have to tell you, Russell is an amazingly gifted person and he has a heart to help others succeed and is very open when sharing what really works in online marketing. In March 2009, Russell made a presentation at a live event that the attendees paid $2,500 each to attend. It was a six hour session and those who attended and took action benefited by creating successful businesses online rapidly with little or no money.

Russell has semi-retired from his business, more on that later. He has decided to go out with a splash by giving away the recording of the entire six hour session pre-loaded on an mp3 player, he is giving it away for free with no strings attached. You will only have to pay shipping and handling of $9.95 and you keep the mp3 player, it’s yours and the content will make you a ton of money as long as you take action.

Get Your mp3 Player Here: Micro Continuity Free mp3

This video will provide you with an idea of Russell’s no nonsense, practical training style and get a overview of the Micro Continuity process.

Watch this Content Rich Video Here: 51 Minute Content Video

If you have any immediate questions feel free to contact me directly as I look forward to visiting with you personally. In addition to the exceptional six hours content on your new mp3 player, I will work personally with you to help you set up a profitable online business.

I have found that the material and training that I have purchased from Russell Brunson in the past has been of high value and extremely actionable. I am an affiliate of Micro Continuity and all of the programs in Russell’s “The Second Tier” affiliate suite.

I am always looking for the best new training resources and eager to share them with my readers. If you have discovered an exceptional training resource let me know. I am on a mission of continual self improvement.

Have a blessed journey!

(c) Copyright 2008-2009 James A. Holmes. All Rights Reserved.

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James Holmes, Global Team Builder, Coach and Trainer, combining online and offline techniques to help you grow your business. To request a free 30 minute consultation contact James by phone at 303-523-9503 or email at james@AskJamesHolmes.com

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Note: If you’d like to reprint this article on your blog or in your newsletter you have permission to do so as long as the copyright information and the resource box above remains with the article.

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Damian Benko

Damian Benko author of “The Truth Report” was my guest today on the Internet Business Blueprint podcast and the replay is available here.

The Truth Report was written for newbie and intermediate online marketers who need to learn the basics to quickly become profitable in their Internet based businesses. One challenge many face when considering an online business is information overload and knowing how to identify a rod map that will lead to success.

It is easy to become overwhelmed with the hype and programs that only share half of what you need to know to be successful. Damian decided to create and offer this report free of charge to help others find an easier path than his own to focus on the information that will deliver more immediate results.

Here is what is covered in The Truth Report:

1. The four most lucrative ways to make money online

2. The most profitable Internet money making “Secret” used by every top earner

3. The ultimate online marketing truth

4. What you need to do to start making money in the next few weeks

During the interview Damian delved deeply into each of these four foundational principles and expanded on how to make each one actionable.

If you take advantage of Damian’s offer and claim your copy of “The Truth Report” you will also be given an opportunity to obtain the complete “4 Step System” for free as well for a limited time. The system includes over 30 training videos and two workbooks.

Damian Benko is an associate in my primary business and has worked full-time online for more than three years. Damian entered the world online marketing from the off-line world running an insurance industry that largely served the real estate industry. He love in Georgia with his wife and two children.

I encourage you to listen to the replay from the show and be sure to claim your bonuses complementary of Damian and the Turnkey Marketing Group.

I wish for you a blessed journey!

James

(c) Copyright 2008-2009 James A. Holmes. All Rights Reserved.

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James Holmes, Global Team Builder, Coach and Trainer, combining online and offline techniques to help you grow your business. To request a free 30 minute consultation contact James by phone at 303-523-9503 or email at james@AskJamesHolmes.com

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Note: If you’d like to reprint this article on your blog or in your newsletter you have permission to do so as long as the copyright information and the resource box above remains with the article.

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