How to Build a Targeted Email List of Buyers

Using business smarts

You have probably heard that you can make hundreds, thousands or even millions of dollars by building a targeted email list and then selling products and services to the people on the list. There is some truth to this statement. A targeted email list can certainly come in handy when trying to promote an existing business, supplement current sales or jump start a new enterprise.

Things You'll Need

• Auto responder software

Instructions

1. Identify your target market. A target market is made up of people who are likely to be interested in your product or service. Target individuals can be located anywhere as long as you can provide your product or service in that location. For example, if you provide a product then you can meet their needs anywhere that product can be shipped. If you provide a service your target market will be in any location where you can provide that service. For example, if you run a carpet cleaning business that covers the entire Atlanta, Georgia area, then you will want to find people in Atlanta who need their carpets cleaned. However, if you run a virtual carpet cleaning school that teaches students how to steam clean apartments quickly and efficiently through a series of email lessons, you will be able to target people everywhere who are interested in carpet cleaning businesses and can receive your information via email.

2. Select your autoresponder software. An autoresponder is a type of software that collects names and email addresses and sends out emails automatically to the people who provide contact information. Some autoresponder software is free, while others cost from about $20 to several hundred dollars a month to maintain. However, this software is crucial to building your email list because it stores all the information and keeps up with list members automatically, leaving you free to run the rest of your business. Keep in mind that autoresponder software will also come with instructions and appropriate code on how to collect emails and names. This is unique to each type of software.

3. Build some autoresponder content. The reason that email list contacts are great is because you build a rapport with the list members via email messages that have real, valuable content that you give away for free. This helps people decide to take your advice later when you recommend that they make a purchase because you have already provided them with solid information. Your autoresponder software will have product-specific instructions on how to add emails. Then, you simply decide what kind of information will be useful to your readers. For example, if you own a pest control business you might give them tips on how to evaluate different types of pest control, instructions on how to handle pets and pests and ideas about ways to discourage pests from coming in your home. Providing this information will help you develop a reputation as a helpful expert and make your advice and services appear better and more reliable than those of a company with whom the list member does not already have a relationship.

4. Begin to solicit email addresses. You can do this in a variety of ways. In the end, your goal should be to get any interested party to the web page that your autoresponder software is using to collect information. You may use paid advertising, such as banners or ads in appropriate periodicals. You also can write articles about topics related to your business aims and post them in article directories online. You also can leave information about your email list on public forums related to your topic. The most important thing is to always make sure that you leave a link to the web page where people can enter their information.

5. Build your rapport with people on your list. The articles in the autoresponder will help you build a rapport with list members from the second that they sign up for your list. However, if you really want a strong relationship with your potential buyers you may need to throw in some bargains, deals or give-aways. For example, you might offer them a chance to win something related to their interests in return for reading an article that doubles as a sales pitch for your product or service. Then, even if they do not buy, they will feel like they received something of value and continue to wait eagerly for your next offer or sale.

Tips & Warnings

• Many people use affiliate ads, content related links and other sponsored promotions on their web pages to increase the amount of money that they can make from an email list. These are programming and web design issues. You may wish to hire a coder to design a template for all your articles that will encourage people to click advertising and make you money even when they do not buy things from you.

• Any business endeavor should be initiated and monitored with the help of appropriate financial, legal and business advisers. Remember that no business undertaking or investment is ever a sure thing.