Why Build A List

If you’ve spent any time researching affiliate or online marketing you’re almost certain to have heard the maxim that ‘the money is in the list’.  So what’s this list you keep hearing about? 

A ‘list’ is a database of people who have subscribed to a mailing list we run which relates to a certain topic or interest (usually based around something we are promoting). 

“Hold on, I thought all I needed to do was point a customer towards the merchant’s sales page, and my job was done?” I hear you say.

Well, on one view that’s right.  As long as the customer, or prospect, makes a purchase, you’ll get a nice little commission.  That’s not bad, but it’s a little short sighted.  Even though we might be promoting a certain merchant’s product right now, why shouldn’t we get to build a little investment on the side which can serve to earn us massive income down the track?  I mean, we’re going to put in a lot of work to get people’s attention. 
How is a list an investment?

Look at it this way.  Imagine your are a marketer who specializes in products in the health and wellness industry.  Now imagine having a list of thousands of customers who you already know share your interest in that very same topic. Let’s assume that for at least a few months you’ve been writing to them.  They know you.  If you’ve done it right, they trust you.  Some of them might have even purchased something from you before.

Now…lets say you (or a merchant you are promoting) have just developed a brand spanking new product aimed at satisfying the needs of people in that very industry.  Which do you think is going to be easier…going out and trying to convince thousands of complete strangers to buy your specific product, or saying to your list ‘Hey…I’ve found this great new product I’ll bet would be of interest you…’

I’ll give you the tip…your list is going to eat that product up a heck of a lot faster than you convince ten times as many strangers to even take an peek. 

In affiliate marketing, your list is your biggest asset. 
It is the key to having money on demand.

And the best part is, we can use a merchant’s product to help build our own highly responsive list, and continue to earn income from that list even if we stop promoting that merchant’s products.  We might promote someone else’s, or we might even promote our own. 

Here’s the rub.  Most if not all new affiliate marketers don’t have a list, right?  So at some point, it means we’re going to have to generate this wonderful list of customers.  That’s going to take some time, right? 

Well, it can, but it doesn’t have to…and in any even the reality is that list building is an ongoing process.  However, there is a way we can build large, multiple lists of customers in different markets…and make money at the same time! 

What we want to do is have a system designed not only to enable us to build our primary asset but to put cash in our pockets whilst we do it.  It’s a process of back end selling large ticket products after establishing raport with our customers after selling them small ticket items.  That way, we generate income and an asset. 

Now that’s a smart way to build a list.