Getting people to join your list is a struggle I read of and hear about all too often. People stick a sign-up box on their website saying "Join our mailing list" and then wait. They watch as the tumbleweed bounces past and no one comes. Their list is empty - their efforts of writing the content are wasted. So let's put a stop to that once and for all. Right here and now.
For anyone to share their information with you, they have to see something that you have that they want. Information such as a name and email address is precious - ever more so in the spam filled world in which we live. So before anyone will want to part with their email address you have got to sell them on the idea. It's just like making any other sale, but instead of their hard earned cash - you're after their details and that is where the struggle starts.
THE best way of getting people to sign up is make it look like it's an option, not to make it too hard sell. Today people are SICK and tired of being sold to. Take this blog as an example, I'm not selling a thing, I'm just providing you with useful information but is that enough to have you sign up for the updates?
Your job is to convince the reader that they will personally benefit as a result of being on your mailing list. Here are some great ways of doing just that:
1. Offer a free incentive. Something they can have such as a report, mp3 download and something that in order to send it to them you will logically need their email address. However if you're sending an e-mail product (mp3 or pdf e-book) you have no right to ask for their postal address. It's not relevant.
2. Ask for minimal information. To start just ask for first name and email address. Then after you build trust you can make offers that will require postal addresses that you can then use. The shorter time it takes for them to complete any transaction the less resistance you'll get.
3. Make it exclusive. Tell them that as a member of the list they will receive things that mere none members will not. E.g. notifications, discounts, an exclusive newsletter, a free gift.
4. Make it relevant and specific. If your site is about weight loss, make the sign up offer something relevant to weight loss. For example, "free e-copy of my book 'how I lost 14 stone in a day". If they want it they will enter their info.
5. Make it urgent. Adding the phrase "For a limited time only..." to the beginning of any offer creates a reason for them to do it right now. Remember if they don't act now - chances are they never will. They'll browse another site, read a magazine and get on with their lives all without you being able to trace them or contact them at all.
Much more on lists, coming next!
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