Here is an article that I submitted earier today to EZA about list building.  I usually don’t post these articles on THIS blog, ( and really don’t recommend you do either) simply because they are written for a pretty general, generic and often "newbie" type of reader. 

But, in this case, I decided to post it here as well, partly because I have nothing else interesting to say today, and sort of could use some content for this blog for the 12 people who stop by semi-regularly.

But also, because I think it applies.  And fits, to a large degree, mas or menos, with lots of the folks who are on MY list, and do read this regularly.

While lots of the people I’ve interacted with personally on here DO have a list, and ARE actively trying to build, nurture and grow their own, I dare say…..unfortunately, most of the people who stop by and even comment ( about 2% or less of my visitors…..but, by very definition, those more inclined to "take action" on the material) DON’T have a list.

Want to know the truth?  If you looked at my analytics account and saw the HUGE traffic surges this blog gets ( and I say huge in a very relative way….but still very significant from a traffic standpoint) it’s NOT when I add new content.  Not when I jot down another deep thought that emanates from the very core of my creative essense.  It’s not when I post cute baby pictures, either. 

It’s ONLY when I send an email out to the list and let ya’ll know that there is new stuff to read.  That’s it.  A straight bar graph UP on the totem pole of traffic.  And if you have ANY online presence at all and are not doing the same thing, you are making a mistake.

Want to know what I think keeps people from building their first list? 

It’s fear.  Plain and simple.  It’s that leap.  That sort of putting yourself out there, frailties and all, and being willing to be responsible to a crowd of people who are hungry to hear what you’ve got to say. 

And that can be a scary thing. 

Look – when I first started selling stuff online, I hestitated to start building my OWN list. 

Why? 

I still hadn’t fully gotten over getting beat up by Robbie Hawkins in second grade for stealing his baseball cards. 

He literally bitch slapped me in the playground for the better part of 15 minutes while my history teacher just watched and ate a tuna fish sandwich.  And it’s still painful to think about. 

But you know what?  I got over it.  And so too will you.  Check out the article below, and if it applies, put it aside and get started today.

(article below)

In this article we are going to talk about how to build a super big opt in list very fast. Now, in my opinion, list building is probably the central piece of the online marketing puzzle, and I dare say that most active online marketers would probably agree. Yet, it never ceases to amaze me how many people KNOW that list building is a crucial, and critically important component to building a viable online business, yet….don’t do it anyway.

Want to know what I think it is? Fear. People are honestly, genuinely and truly Afraid to build a list.

Why?

Who knows, I’m not a mental health professional, and didn’t stay a Holiday Inn Express last night either.

But if I had to guess, I would probably say it has something to do with their inner child being wounded.

Or, they are simply afraid of the perceived responsibility that having a list entails. What am I going to say? What do I offer? How often do I email them? What if they unsubscribe? What if I’ve just got NOTHING creative, compelling or otherwise worthwhile to communicate?

Does that sound like you? If so….here are a few simple pointers for quickly overcoming list building phobia and building a MASSIVE opt in list, and in a hurry.

Don’t have anything worthwhile to say? Don’t sweat it. Neither do half of the guys making millions of dollars a year mailing their lists. It hasn’t stopped them, and it shouldn’t stop you.

You WILL Improve. Start with short messages, build your confidence, and equally as importantly, build the confidence of the people reading YOUR messages. Inspiring people is easy, and all that is required to be a magnificent marketer to boot.

Borrow the sequence from someone else. If you are selling an affiliate product, you can ETHICALLY "borrow" the vendors sequence, loosely re-calibrate it so that it’s yours….and that’s totally kosher to do. (remember, they want you to sell their stuff)

Put your form everywhere. Yes, on your blogs, on your squidoo pages, link to it on blog comments and forum posts,on your bike rack when you’re heading for a long weekend in the Hamptons. The more places that people see your form, the more exponentially, and explosively your list will grow.

Get best of breed giveaways. Simply search and scour for good stuff to give away. Search your niche on the major engines and append "free", "ebooks" "pdf’s", etc – search blog directories, Twitter, etc….and just have primo free stuff to offer. Nothing will do a better job of growing your list in rapid fire turn around time than free stuff, and there is plenty of it around for EVERY marketplace if you are willing to look!

(end article)

Remember, you can go out and get opt in templates that are PROVEN to convert, and all you really need to do is copy and paste your own content in, where the appropriate spots are.  ( lots of people, it seems….are afraid of creating the actual PAGE itself)

Also – as above, you can literally take an entire email sequence that you KNOW is already working, drop it into your own sequence, borrow an ebook or giveway ( or even simply buy one that gives you the rights to offer, which can even be better for opt in conversions) and just use article marketing to drive traffic to the page and get the fabulous list building fiesta fired up…and fast.

I truly can’t think of anything easier…..and if any of the above is holding you back, think it through again – this stuff is NOT tough, and if it was….I’d probably be doing something else.