How to build your prospect list?

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You’ve heard it – till you’re sick of it!

“The money is in the list!”

And the reason you’re sick of it is that while they tell you that’s where the money is, they won’t tell you how to build your list!

Well, let’s set that right. This discussion is about ways to build your prospect list.

Build your list by blogging

For a complete beginner, the quickest, easiest way to get targeted visitors to your site is by publishing a blog. You can even get a free blog set up without your own web hosting, by going to Blogger.com or Wordpress.com

On the blog, you can either place an opt-in form where readers can sign up to your list, or just link to a form on another page where you can subscribe people.

Build your list on forums

Participating in discussions on online forums in your niche is another way to attract readers to join your list. At the end of every post you make on forums, have a ‘teaser’ that pulls readers to your opt-in page, where you invite them to subscribe to get more information about the promise you made in your ‘hook’.

Build your list with free reports

People like following experts. By authoring a short special report on a subject related to your niche, preferably one that solves a big problem many people in your audience face, you instantly gain the perception of being an expert. And when you offer to give away that report for free, in exchange of having a prospect opt-in to your list, you’ll gain subscribers easily.

Build your list with joint ventures

Another way to rapidly scale up your list membership is to partner with other list owners and invite them to let their readers know about you. Have a good reason for them to endorse you – great quality content, expert status, free consultations or something else. In the ‘JV List Building’ report, I share even more methods that worked well for me… download it for free here.

Build your list through advertising

Running ads on ezines, search engines, or popular websites related to your niche may be another way to build a list. Make your offer compelling enough to guarantee a fair number of responders to the ad end up signing up, or you may lose a lot of money.

Build your list on social media

When you engage an audience on social media like Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Squidoo or any others, you have a chance to invite them to join your list. Make them an irresistible offer, give them a compelling reason to sign up, and your list will grow quickly.

Build your list through barters

Having your ezine or email listed mentioned on co-op ads that subscribers on other lists see after they have signed up can be a way to get some extra members to join your list. Of course, you can also swap ‘ads’ with other list owners who have similar sized lists. These can be very effective.

Build your list with customers

Whenever anyone buys things from you, you can invite them to sign up to your list for receiving updates, getting discounts or specials in the future, to hear about your new products or services, or simply to stay in touch with the latest trends in your industry or niche. Don’t miss an opportunity to do this – because a list of people who have paid you money for something is pure gold!

There are no doubt many other list building methods that work very well. Do you have any favorites that you use effectively? Please share them – leave a comment.