Quote: (12-29-2014 02:38 PM)Vigo_the_Carpathian Wrote:
Thank God WWT linked to this in another thread--hidden gem of a thread, +1 man.
I actually just closed a deal to take over a bunch of IM-type stuff from a site that has a big list (mid 5-figs), but that's fallen on some hard(ish) times, mainly because they've neglected product creation for like 5 years and pumped the list with affiliate offers too often, so there's some sales fatigue there. Going to handle the copywriting (of course), but also some product creation, email marketing, etc.
Don't want to get into my gameplan too much, but essentially I hope to do some direct market research, build products around the results, launch them with extras/discounts/time constraints, and then turn those launches into autoresponders for new sign-ups from here on out.
A couple questions:
1) Sound like a viable course of action?
2) Any shifts in the market that any IM-types have seen over the past few years? The biggest one I can think of is the "Promotions" tab in gmail and other email providers that's a bit of a cockblocker . Any way around this short of begging your list to put you in the "main" tab?
3) Other advice? I'm happy to PM you if you want more details on the niche, products, etc.
Thanks man--great stuff.
Vigo
Hey Vigo!
Most of that list probably won't amount to anything.
I have one list that I ended up killing and wasn't really able to bring it back to life. Not so much hitting it up with offers but neglecting emailing them and then hit them up with some offers on some products that I release only to neglect them again. haha
Here is what I would do...
You're going to want to start a brand new conversations with them. I would go through the landing pages that these people signed up for to see what type of info they where looking for when they signed up.
Then start emailing them with information that helps solve some of those problems. They may or may not have the same problems but it's better than shooting in the dark.
In the beginning, I would try and get as many of these people to sign up for new lists. You really need to segregate that baby out because most of that list is probably worthless. Do try and pluck out the gems by getting them to sign up again and by doing so you have a better understanding of what they are looking for information wise.
After you get those segregated, start having conversations with them. You don't want to randomly hit them up every few months like I did with that one list. You want to make sure you keep the list warm so when you do send out a promotion they will be ready to read it.
I found sending a brief email and linking to a blog (or forum post in my instance) with more details to be much more effective than simply laying everything out in email.
By using the blog, facebook page or a forum post, you're creating an interactive conversation instead of read this and click this link type of stuff.
You should test all of this out.
The more conversations, the more information your customers will confide in you and that is where you start seeing patterns for products. Surveys work well but only after you build up a relationship with these people. That should be your focus with this old list.
Then you keep building your list by adding new people that want the same info. Never stop adding people! You may survive for months or even years but it will end if you don't keep adding more.
It doesn't take a large list to make a lot of money. I had a list of 200 or so people and pulled in 10k in one promotion from that list. I routinely made more money from that small list for years. I don't think people realize how much money they can make from a smaller list of just the right people.
It's a game so have fun trying out new stuff. Never be afraid of testing something new out.