Three Tactics to Build a Profitable Opt-In List

By Carma Spence-Pothitt

See all Articles by Carma SpenceSee Carma Spence's Expert PageGet Updates on Business Start-upGet Updates on Carma Spence

To have a successful business, you really need to have a responsive, loyal list of prospects and clients. This is called an "opt-in" list -- a list of people who have given you permission to send them your marketing messages. But how do you build this list? There are plenty of ways, but these are the top three.

1) Build trust in who you are and your expertise.
People may opt in to your list if they visit your website and see that you have an attractive "ethical bribe" in exchange for their name and email address. But if they, once they've received your ethical bribe, have no reason to believe that continuing to stay on you list is of value to them, they will opt right back out.

Therefore, you need to be constantly working on illustrating that you know your stuff and are a valuable resource. You do this by providing relevant information in a wide variety of places:

• Your blog
• Article directories
• Forums
• Social networking sites

and more. Work on your "aura of expertise" and your opt-in list will become more and more valuable to you.

2) Make your opt-in form stand out.
Make it easy for visitors to your website to opt-in to your list. You can make the first page of your website focus only on getting the opt in.

Or, you can place the opt-in box in a strategic location "above the fold."

3) Partner with other list-builders.
Create win-win-win joint ventures where you, your JV partner and the members of both your lists benefit and you've got a formula for success! Joint ventures can be powerful list-building tools, as well as successful money makers. Just be sure to make it a win-win-win - anything else and you'll taint your "aura".