Growing your online audience using email

Posted by in Creative Ideas, Email Marketing tips, inspiration | 17 comments

How can you get eyeballs on your product, offer or website?

By now you probably know that success online comes to those that have a large audience (also called visitors, eyeballs, followers, traffic etc. – it’s all the same thing to me).

How can you get these ‘followers’ and what is the best way to stay in touch with them? These are two questions I can confidently answer for you because I’ve been doing it myself for a long time.

A short time ago I posted an article on my blog about several false assumptions that people have about succeeding online. As part of that blog post I encouraged email list growth as the primary way to accomplish building an audience.

Here’s a link to the first article (Part I): Audience growth Part I

Due to the large number of responses and comments left on my blog after that post I’ve decided to talk more about the subject of audience and list growth.

This audio is Part II of the original blog post with even more ideas on list growth.

If you can’t see the above play button, below is a link to the same audio as an mp3 (drag this to your ipod or listening device or listen right here):

Jim Talks About List Growth

If you like this recording, or have a comment please click the comment button below and let me know what you think.

If you use twitter please click the green ‘retweet’ button above and help me spread the word!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

  • Ed

    Jim, thanks for the reminder. Fads come and go, but the basics never really go out of style.

  • http://www.easyaerials.tv brian uk

    hi jim just listened to the audio and the first one i purchased silent salesmachine years ago never really made any money online

    but like you said their are tens of thousands of people who know very little i think your

    an inspiration to anyone i liked the idea about when you said its about having a great idea i havent got one yet but im trying i run my own business which i started 18 months ago

    but would like to get into something online

    and building my mailing list sounds good,my brother in law had an idea for a product but after i told him all the stuff i know through you he gave it up,it saved him thousands thanx again jim

  • Shauna

    Thank you for your candid comments about this aspect of internet marketing. I am just in the beginning stages of building my business, and I have found the info in your newsletter the most helpful to me, as you really do give the information and don't just hold it out as a carrot. I plan on joining your subscription site soon. Thank you so much again.

    Shauna

  • Mickid

    Hi Jim, have just listned to your tape and read your book, and in both you mention ebay classified adverts.

    Do you think that this applies to the UK market which I am in, as the ads that I have looked at do not seem to get a lot of traffic.

    Just wondered if you thought it worked as wll over here as back in the USA.

    kind regards mick

    [reply from Jim]: Anyone with an eBay account can post classified ads on the eBay U.S.A. site where the classified ads appear right along with all other eBay listings. Google the term 'ebay classified ads' and look for my video. If you can't find it look for it on youtube with the same search phrase. It will be at the top – the author line appears as 'silentjimdotcom'

  • http://www.stayhomeandworkonline.com Maurice

    Thanks for the information and encouragement. I have been growing a mailing list for several months and have one on my list. I'm still trying.

    [reply from Jim]: you need a jumpstart! Try contacting someone in your industry that has a large following (a popular website or better yet a large email list) and formulate a win-win-win arrangement that kick starts your list growth efforts! Give the expert something they can use to inform their audience in exchange for offering your free email sign up form to them. That's just one idea….twitter, youtube, articles etc. all will work too.

    One final thought – if you have an obscure or too unusual niche that you are trying to grow a list for you might have a hard time. Do people loose sleep at night thinking about your topic? If not it's going to be a harder sell than the more popular niche markets (crowded niche markets are the best).

  • WhiteStarr

    Thanks Jim for another outstanding audio!

    Your advice and guidence over the last couple years has really help me move foward with building my online income.

  • bryan

    great ideas Jim, I will work on them a bit more now and keep you informed.

  • randy

    Jim thank you for the advice, I am in lieu of starting a fan club for my son who plays basketball for the university of maine, its a div 1 school, hes a junior and wants to pursue

    a basketball career after graduating college and I am trying to generate a fan base for him and you information on starting a mailing list suits me fine..again thank you and good luck…rp

    [reply from Jim]: HOOPS! Now you are talking my language~ :0) Considering his age I think you should start a facebook FAN page for him. Easy way for fans to follow his career.

  • http://RenegadeRetirementRescue.com Jim Vickers

    Hi Jim,

    Thanks for the great perspective. As usual, your stuff makes me think about what matters rather than all the minutia. It's good principles rather than hype. Keep up the good work.

    Jim Vickers

  • Reg B.

    Listen to part 2 of building a mailing list. Great information. I have one question how often should you contact your list? I don't want to bombar them that they opt out. I see too many Guru's that do that and I get a little upset.It's like they e-mail every day some times its 2 times a day. I don't want to to that. So what do you recomend…

    Thanks again for all your helpful information you give…

    Reg B.

    [reply from jim]: good question. I once surveyed my list and asked that very question. The findings were obvious. People don't mind be contacted frequently as long as you are giving them good helpful information. I use the 70/30 rule. 70% info and 30% selling something that's related to and useful for those that enjoy my information.

    Perhaps a better question to ask is how long is too long to go without contacting my email list? In that case I'd say once per month is pushing it. Anything less and they'll start to forget who you are.

  • mark watkins

    Thanks Jim for your useful information. I am a 49 year old private investigator, ex-cop brand new to the online marketing world. I joined the silent sales team which is awesome and read your silent sales machine book and am getting into the materials presented. You deserve that #1 rating. I have learned a lot from you and Skip McGrath about e-bay. There is an incredible amount to learn but I am going with the advice you give it makes good common sense. Life is all about relationships and doing right by others never goes out of style. Thanks so much I look forward to promoting your great products and some of the others you have recommended as I get up and running. Thank You.

  • http://sellertrainingcamp.com Sherry

    Good solid info in this recording. Jim speaks from the heart and does not use hype. That is what we need in today's world is someone who does not have money as his motivation but just to help people.

    Blessings

    Sherry

  • http://777blessingsstore.com Sherry

    Thank you Jim for always allowing your spirit to be open to new information or former information that you can pass on. This man has a heart for people and he is so willing to share.

  • Christine Dillon

    Hi Jim
    I love your generous heart.Giving back.
    I sincerely appreciate all your information.
    Still struggle with giving good creditable information to people who will want to hear from me and follow me. I have to give this some real thought. As for finding people to buy resale right to…… where would I go to find topics that interests me as well as may interest others?
    Thank you again for your gving heart.
    Sincerely,
    Christine

    [reply from Jim]:Here’s a good place to get a ton of useful resale rights products: http://www.mysilentteam.com/ClassifiedAdResaleRights.html

  • http://www.jamesleporeonline.com James LePore

    Hi Jim
    Informative, fun, friendly… great. YES — Part 3, please!!
    Purchased Silent Sales Machine, reading now, love it!
    TTYS, James

  • http://www.buildabundance.com Shirl

    Hey Jim,

    Thanks much for all this info. love your audios – this is the way I learn best, by hearing and video. Going to see video now.

  • http://peytonsplacefurniture.com peyton

    Why is your facebook page a personal instead of a fan page?

    [reply from Jim]: I’ll be launching my fan page soon. When I started facebook I didn’t realize there was a 5,000 friend limit and having a “fan page” felt too “celebrity”…but it’s time to get one I guess since I’m nearly at my limit.