Last May I reviewed List Building for Bloggers by Phil Hollows, and have since shared with hundreds of people that it is one of my *favorite* guides on the 'net.
Certainly my favorite on list building and email marketing. Even being very experienced with both, I was shocked that I ended up jotting down 26 tasks/ideas for my own lists on my FIRST read through this guide!
You can read my candid review and see the table of contents here.
I know many of you already own this guide, but if you don't - we have an exclusive coupon code where you can get a copy for only $14.95. Use the coupon code "clicknewz" (without quotes, at that link) for $10 off. - Thank you, Phil!
Since so many of us already have this guide, I thought we'd work on it together as a group project. That way I can answer questions along the way, we can discuss options & resources, and of course share our results...
I've created a new tag to make it easy to follow the posts in this series. The tag is LBFB. As we work through the guide and discuss various chapters & topics, each post will use that tag - so you can easily follow along at that link.
In my Private Brainstorming Group we have a challenge every month. Last month the challenge was to choose one guide, read it, and implement what you learned. This month the challenge is List Building & Email Marketing.
I chose that as the March Challenge because so many Elite Members selected List Building for Bloggers as their guide to follow & implement. And List Building is incredibly important no matter what type of business model you have.
One of the things we do within my mastermind group is brainstorm what type of email marketing to do, what to send, how frequently and which format to use. In addition to reviewing opt-in copy, squeeze pages, and ways to grow the list.
What To Expect In This List Building / Email Marketing Series
I've done series on these topics before, but for this LBFB series we are going to walk through the "List Building For Bloggers" guide by Phil Hollows together. I always find it more fun to have an "accountability" group of sorts, don't you? 😀
This will give us an opportunity to discuss each aspect of list building and email marketing in more detail, and work together as a group to grow our mailing lists and make them more profitable.
I'll share my own thoughts and ideas along the way, of course - including those that are inspired by but not necessarily included in the actual guide. 😉
Stay tuned for the next post on this topic, as we start digging into the guide. And if you don't yet have a copy, be sure to use our coupon code to get $10 off:
http://www.listbuildingforblogs.com (coupon code: clicknewz)
This makes the guide only $14.95, which is a steal when you consider what your mailing list is (or WILL be) worth.
I look forward to working with you on List Building, and working through this guide together to implement all the great tips & ideas!
Best,
About Lynn Terry
I'm very excited about this. I have big plans for my list. This month I have planned to follow a theme for one of my lists so it should make it easy(?) and fun.
Right now I am only sending one consistent Sunday mailing plus of course a blog broadcast after every 3 blog posts. I think I want to change that to 5, what are your thoughts?
Can't wait to get started with your series.
Themes DO make it fun. It makes it easier for you to come up with content to send your list, and your readers start to enjoy knowing what to expect from you. I look forward to seeing how that works out for you this month!
Why do you want to change from 3 to 5 posts in your archive (or "recent posts") mailing? And how often do you publish new posts?
Lately I am publishing more posts so my readers who get the broadcast get it more often now since I'm blogging more than usual. Maybe I'll just stick with it, wasn't sure if they would get too much email.
Themes definitely make the whole month easier!
Here at ClickNewz I offer two options: a weekly archive on Monday morning, and a daily email with the full post sent via email around 11:30am Eastern (on days where there are new posts).
I will get the guide and join in as I have an iContact account just sitting there collecting dust - that I would like to learn how to use.
This is an area I've always had trouble with. Not with the mechanics part, but the content part.
I would like to keep it small (my list) and make it an active one.
I'm in, look forward to the challenge.
Cheers,
Missy
Glad you're joining us, Missy!
I'm curious why you want to "keep it small"?
I am super excited about this. Just purchased LBFB and am part of your elite group. So I can't wait to do this... I like Angie don't do much for my list so this is a great thing for me. I need to do so much more with my list.
Count me in. We ALL do. 😉 It is one of our most valuable assets. This should prove to be a fun AND rewarding challenge. 😀
Okeydokey Lynn, I'm taking a page from your book and have bought it and emailed it to the 24 hours Fedex Office around the corner to be printed and hold punched for easy offline reading 🙂
I do that with a small local printer here in my town too. I love having a printed/bound version of guides I reference a lot!
Right on time! I am trying to build my list now and look forward to going through the book with you all. I love going through a course with people rather than doing it by myself.
Me too, Gabrielle - it's much more fun to work *together* on a project than to work alone! 😀
Thank you Lynn. I got it now and going to read.
You always share the best and what you have used
I look forward to hearing your thoughts, James! This is one of my *favorite* guides!!
Thanks Lynn
Am totally excited about this and looking forward to building my list big time!
I'm glad you're joining in, Sue! 😀
Thanks Lynn. Great challenge and perfect timing because my list needs nurturing!
Excellent, it's good timing for me too.
Should be fun! 😉
Thanks for the post Lynn. My focus this year is on list building. From what I can tell, at this rate I should have a list of over 2,000 in about 40 days. This guide will certainly come in handy. Maybe it'll give me the additional boost I need. Thanks for the share...and the discount.
Phil was very generous with the discount. 🙂 Sounds like you are moving at a *great* rate. I would love to hear more about what you're doing to build your list - if you care to share?
Thanks Lynn. I’d be happy to share. Since the whole Google Adwords is kind of a bummer now (meaning you really can’t do a normal squeeze page ppc), I use 3 different sources of advertising for my squeeze page.
1. I buy solo ads from various solo ad networks in my targeted niche.
2. I buy banner ads for blogs in my targeted niche.
3. I do guest posting/forum posting in various blogs.
You see, I learned years ago in the direct sales business, that you can acquire a customer 2 ways. You can do it the slow way and knock on doors and make phone calls. Or you can do it the quick way…buy a list and do lead generation advertising. I choose the lead generation advertising. Either way you make an investment. Either time…or money.
I did the math, and it’s actually cheaper if I buy leads (a.k.a-subscribers).
I really enjoy reading other blogs in my niche and doing guest posting. I spend about an hour a day doing it. One of the most successful sites for me is the Warrior Forum. I’ve been a member there for about 3 years. I’ve also been a reader of your blog for around 2 years.
I’ve learned a lot from your blog. Your reviews, posts and tips are great. You’re a pleasure to learn from.
Thank you.
Shane
P.S. starting Monday the 19th I will incorporate social media into my list building strategy as well. Good times fuzzy bunnies.
How is the social media strategy going, Shane?
Perhaps you would like to do a guest post on that here on ClickNewz, social media for list building? 🙂
Hey Lynn Terry:) Social Media is doing great. It’s kind of like article marketing meets cocktail parties meets neighborhood block parties meets the Chamber of Commerce (as crazy as that sounds). I’ll keep you posted on the comings and goings of that deal. 😉
Also, I’d love to do a guest post for your readers. I’ll touch base with you after Easter. I’m emceeing a youth convention in Charlotte, NC this weekend, so I’ll be out of the loop for a few days. Good times fuzzy bunnies. Happy Easter folks.
The next post in this series is now available at:
http://www.clicknewz.com/3270/mailing-list-priority/
😀
Hi, Lynn,
I just signed up for your March "special" and BAM you're dealing with my biggest "Bête noire" ... I just CANNOT get a handle on it!
I've got a few on my list but just do not know what to send them
I've bought "Listbuilding for Bloggers" - started in on a 4 hour train journey - the journey sure went fast!
Looking forward to working through this with the "group".
Jennifer
PS I know I'm slow on finding this but hope to keep up!
Welcome Jennifer! 😀
These posts may prove helpful to you in brainstorming content to send to your subscribers:
http://www.clicknewz.com/2056/email-newsletter-ideas/
http://www.clicknewz.com/2058/web-content-writing-tips-and-inspiration/
http://www.clicknewz.com/3239/fast-content-ideas/
http://www.clicknewz.com/2661/blogging-ideas/
(Some of these discuss blogging ideas, but you can easily use those same ideas for newsletter content!)
Count me in all the way.
I am totally lost when it comes to the how-to of list building this is a project I need to do for both my self my clients
Great! Welcome, Corina 😉