Boost your subscription sales by asking these 4 questions

by Keir Smith

http://optinlistbuilder.wordpress.com

Want to ramp up sales from your regular subscribers?

Here are 4 must ask questions. When you answer them, your subscriber will be more likely to make a purchase from you.

Question #1: Can you solve my problem?
Remember, someone has performed a search on your key word set and found you. They are very valuable to you. Now it is your job to answer their questions and bring a solution to their problem. This is just one of the reasons why it is critical to select key words that boom, bam, hit the "center of gravity" in your targeted market. This is one of the reasons why blogs (web logs) are great ideas. A lot of questions can be addressed in a blog over time and the search engines love them. Blogs offer lots of fresh updated content. What more could a Search engine ask for?

Question #2: What do you do?
Yes, visitors are interested in what you do. Talk to your visitor. Use copy that involves them. Like you are talking to them. It's easy. Isn't it? Here's a hint. Slip into your weekend style of storytelling. Get to the point, but with flair and casualness that attracts listeners. Here's an example: you see someone you've not seen in a while and they ask what you are doing these days. Knowing their time and attention span could be brief, you deliver the key points with an anecdote, a comparison, an example--in short, a story.

Question #3: Who are you?
Your visitor wants to know all about you. They want to see pictures of Your company, pictures of your employees and they want to know all your past history and experience. It is your job to give it to them. The best way to do this is to give it up. Let them know what your company looks like. This is usually accomplished with an About Us page that is just one click away.

Question #4: Do I believe you and can I trust you?
Let's talk about testimonials. Collect testimonials from both clients and character testimonials from friends. And most importantly the testimonials must be meaningful. For example: "My company grew by __ %" or "My profit ____ in ___ months." Another great way to gain trust is by developing an online relationship With an ezine or an email newsletter. Share regular helpful information and don't try to sell your services. Just inform them on what you have to offer.

71 Good Ways to Build Links

I was browsing through my links when I landed upon this gem.

It's loaded with some useful tips for anyone who wants to know how to generate a good stream of traffic to their site.

I know that it's from 2006, but some of the tips in it still work.

www.seobook.com

That's all for now.

Keir Smith
http//optinlistbuilder.wordpress.com

Generating Traffic To Your Website: 5 ways to get a ton of traffic coming to your site for free

by Keir Smith
http//optinlistbuilder.wordpress.com

There are lots of ways to get traffic to your website however most people are interested in getting the most traffic for the least amount of money, preferably for free.

While it's difficult to get anything for free nowadays there are still a few good ways to help build your web traffic and still pay nothing.

1. Build a second content-rich website.

Because content is king on the internet many have adopted the idea of building a content-rich site in addition to their original sales site.

If you set up your title, description and keyword tags carefully and find a good balance for your keyword saturation, you may be better able to achieve high search engine rankings with a site that contains only good content and information.

Once you have built your content-rich site you can then use the content to point your viewers to your sales site.

2. Add an article page to your existing site.

By adding article pages to your web site you can once again point your readers to your sales page.

For example, let's say you have a website that sells vitamins. Set up a few article pages that reference vitamins such as a page on the benefits of vitamins, how to take vitamins, the effects of vitamins, etc. Allow each of the articles to reference links to your sales page.

This can be a very effective sales tactic because you've attracted the attention of someone interested in your topic. If they read your article and like what they've read they're more apt to check out your links and you've increased your chances of making a sale.

Also, with proper meta tags and keyword usage, an article page is much more likely to make it to the top of a search engine listing than a sales page.

3. Submit your articles

Any articles that you write should be submitted to as many sites that accept articles as possible. This is important because sites that accept and include your articles in their article banks establish links for you and you are not obligated to reciprocate.

4. Build your links through reciprocal linking

By establishing reciprocal links you are verifying to the search engines that you have credibility. If high ranking sites link to your site then the search engines will find you worthy of high ranking as well.

Find sites that rank well and request a link exchange. This can be done manually or you can purchase linking programs that will automate this for you. Either way spend a few weeks focusing on creating quality links and you will soon see your link ratings go up as well.

5. Join and participate in online forums.

The internet is full of discussion forums that cover hundreds of business and non-business topics.

Find a forum in your topic and look over the discussions. Ask questions, contribute your expertise and get to know some of the forum members. This is an excellent opportunity for you to meet others and introduct your website. It also helps build trust while helping you learn how others have found success.

Email Marketing: How to Change The Responsiveness Of Your List

by Keir Smith
http//optinlistbuilder.wordpress.com


Do you have a big list? Do you have any list? But your email responsiveness is really low?

You send out emails, but very few are read, and even fewer click any links?

There are definitely a few things you can do to change the responsiveness of your list.

1) In your mind, you must stop thinking of them as a list and start thinking of them as individuals with needs online just like yours, or other needs online that you don’t know anything about.

2) You must communicate with them. And communicating with them is not just sending them a sales letter every few days. When you communicate with your spouse, it is not a one way street. When it is you are nagging, or complaining, or lecturing, but not communicating. When you are communicating, both of you are talking. Same thing with your list.

3) Send your list a free gift at least once a week. If you have a really unresponsive list, send them 3 individual emails this week, spaced 1 day apart each, with the subject line: (first name) - a free gift for you… and then in the email include a link to a 100% free, no strings attached, product, that does not have any OTO associated with it. This is a gift.

4) Ask your readers for their help. Use the subject line: (first name) - I need your help… Then tell them something you need help with. You are writing a new book, you are having a hard time coming up with meaningful emails, etc. Then ask them what is the biggest problem they are having in internet marketing. Ask them what they would like to read about it future emails. Ask them what they are having trouble with. Tell them to just hit ‘reply’ to send you their responses.

5) Write every reader back when they respond. Then, take some of the questions and answer them 3 at a time in emails to everyone, leaving out their names and identifying info, and answer the questions ‘mailbag style’

6) Start offering content and products that match what they said they need or are looking for.

Follow these steps and you will increase the responsiveness of your email list, guaranteed!

Email marketing: "Building an opt in list in 3 easy steps"

by Keir Smith
http//optinlistbuilder.wordpress.com

Are you making a $1000.00 or more a month from your opt in list?

Most email marketers are barely making any kind of income from their list.

It's not that they don't want to...it's just no one has ever showed them how.

All they know and have been told is that the money is in the list.

And that is partially right.

What they were never told was that not only do you need to have a opt in list...but you need to know how to to get money from that list.

I won't go into the many ways you can go about getting money from your list because that's not what this article is about.

Instead I want to share with you 3 simple and easy ways you can begin using today to build your own opt in list.

1. Choose a hot topic

This is a very important step. The topic you choose to write about should be one in which is in demand. There should be people looking for more useful information on your subject.

It's true that it helps if you write about a passion you have...but if there aren't enough people interested in reading what you have to say then you'll be just wasting your time.

2. Create your offer

What are you offering me that will make me want to click on your link for more information?

Think about that for a moment.

Your offer has to be something that your market wants. They have to want it bad enough to overcome their fears. The fear of being made a fool of. The fear of being scammed. These are just a few of the things that will be swirling around in your potential subscribers mind.

You have to put those fears to rest in order for them to feel comfortable moving forward to the next step.

In case you don't have any idea of what you can offer them to help them feel at ease then you can take a quick look at the list of possible bribes:

Offer a free report on autoresponder
Create a newsletter
Offer a free e-training course
Provide free software appropriate for the audience
Give away free e-books
Have a contest or sweepstakes
Give away deep discount coupons

Once you have chosen a bribe. It's very, very, very, important that you tell them how what you are offering will put their fears to rest.

3. Now let them know about what you have to offer

Having a hot topic and a great bribe will be of little to no use to you if no one ever see's it.

You have to now place your bribe in front of your targeted audience. Once they see that you have something that can help them solve a problem or help them out of a situation they're in they will will click on your link or signup for whatver you are offering.

And you're done...

It's important that I mention that this method will build you a single opt in list.

In time you will make the most money the fastest when you can build multiple list's at the same time.

Copywriting: How To Write A Profitable Ad That Gets Subscribers

by Keir Smith
http//optinlistbuilder.wordpress.com

Regardless of how you look at it, the most important aspect of
any successful business is its advertising. In fact,
the success of any business is largely dependent on good advertising.

First of all, you've got to have a dynamic, spectacular ad that
attracts the eye and grabs the interest of the people you're
trying to sell to. Thus, unless your ad really "jumps out" at the
reader, your sales won't live up to expectations, and your ad
money will be wasted.

The eye-catching appeal of your ad must start with the headline.
Use the headline to very quickly create a picture in the minds of
the reader--a vision of all their problems being solved, and
attainment of the kind of happiness they seek. If your headline
fails to catch the attention of your prospect, you cannot hope to
capture him with the remaining of the ad, because it will go
unread! So in writing your advertisement for just a little while,
so you must quickly interest him in your offer, show him how he
can get what he wants, and then cause him to send immediately for
your "solution" to his problems. Your copy must exude enthusiasm,
excitement, and a positive attitude. Don't be afraid to use a
hard-sell approach! Say what you feel and believe about your
offer. And use common, "everyday," but correct English.

Even so, you can and must remember to be honest. Don't exaggerate
or make claims you can't back up. Never make promises you cannot
or don't expect, to keep. To do so could get you in trouble with
the Federal Trade and Fair Practices people.

Stress the benefits of your product or service. Explain to your
reader how owning a copy of your book (for instance), or
receiving your services will make his life richer, happier, and
more abundant. Don't get involved in detailing all the money
you've spent developing the product or researching the
information you're selling, or you're selling, or your
credentials for offering it. Stress the "sizzle" and the value of
ownership.

It is important to involve th reader as often as possible through
the use of the word "you." Write your copy just as if you were
speaking to and attempting to sell just ONE person. Don't let
your ad sound as a speaker at a podium addressing a huge stadium
filled with people, but as if there were just one individual
"listening."

And don't try to be overly clever, brilliant or humerus in your
advertising. Keep your copy simple, to the point, and on target
toward selling your prospect the product or service because of
its benefits. In other words, keep it simple, but clear; at all
costs, you don't want to confuse the reader. Just tell him
exactly what he'll get for his money; the benefits he'll receive;
how to go about ordering it. You don't have to get too friendly.
In fact, becoming "folksy," and don't use slang expressions.

In writing an ad, think of yourself as a door-to-door
salesperson. You have to get the attention of the prospect
quickly, interest him in the product you're selling, create a
desire to enjoy its benefits, and you can then close the sale.

Copywriting, whether for a display ad, classified ad, sales
letter or brochure, is a learned skill. It is one anyone can
master with a bit of study, practice, and perhaps some
professional guidance.

Your first move, then, is to study your competition, recognize
how they are selling their wares. Practice rewriting their ads
from a different point of view or from a different sales angle.
Keep a file of ads you've clipped from different publications in
a file of ad writing ideas. But don't copy anyone else's work;
just use the ad material of others to stimulate your own
creativeness.

Some of the "unknown facts" about advertising--and ad writing in
particular--tell us that you cannot ask for more than $3 in a
short classified type ad. Generally speaking, a $5 item will take
at least a one-inch display ad. If you're trying to sell a $10
item, you'll need at least a quarter page--perhaps even a half
page of copy--and $15 to $20 items require a full page. If you
are selling a really big ticket item (costing $50 or more) you'll
need a four-page sales letter, a brochure, separate order coupon,
and return reply envelope.

If you're making offers via direct mail, best to get into the
postal system with it on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday, to be sure it
does not arrive on Monday, the first and busiest day of the week.
And again, unless you're promoting a big ticket item, the quality
or color of your paper won't have any great effect on the
response you'll get, but the quality of your PRINTING definitely
will, so bear this in mind when you place your printing order.

One final point to remember: The summer months when people are
most apt to be away on vacation are usually not good months for
direct mail. But they ARE good for opportunity and advertisements
in publications often found in vacation areas, and in motels.

Email Marketing: 3 Steps To Creating A Responsive Email

by Keir Smith
http//optinlistbuilder.wordpress.com

Is your opt in list responsive to your emails?

One of the secrets to making money with your opt in list is that your list must be responsive.

When your subscribers actually look forward to getting your emails, then you'll have a better chance of actually getting them to respond and buy from you.

So how do you improve your chances of getting your subscribers to respond to your emails?


1. Improve the responsiveness of the people on your list who are no longer opening your emails.

One of the things that I have found to be very productive to increasing the responsiveness of my list is to send them free gifts. I buy or create short ebooks to give away as free gifts, and use the 'free gift' in my email campaign, and my response rate goes up - and not just for that email, but for following emails.

2. Another thing that you can do to help improve the responsiveness of your list is to ask questions of your list.

Ask them what they want to learn more about. Answer the questions mailbag style - all at once in one big email - you really create the illusion of a very responsive list and since people tend to do what others do - if they see that the rest of the list is responsive, they might do the same.

3. Create curiosity and intrigue in your subject lines.

When you learn the art of writing enticing subject lines, you will not only improve your response rate, but you will also improve your opening rates.

If you don't know how to write subject lines that appeal to your readers curiosity then just do a quick google search and you should find plenty of information about creating powerful subject lines.

I should also mention that you shouldn't just go out and buy the first course or ebook that promises to make you an expert overnight. Do your homework.