Building your customer list

By Bruce · Monday, April 13th, 2009

When building your customer list, there is no better way than with a business blog. One of most important things to do is put up an “opt-in” box on the sidebar of the blog. You want to entice the visitor to fill in their name and email address so they become part of your targeted email list. It is as simple as that!

Typically an opt-in box will send your visitors name to an autoresponder. It could be a third party autoresponder such as “Aweber,” or “Get Response.” These third party autoresponders are the best way to go versus having an autoresponder on your server because the third party autoresponder companies have worked for years on forging a favorable relationship with the internet community and the governing bodies that oversee best practices on the internet. This practically gaurantees that you will NOT get accused of spamming your list whether intentional or not, therefore more deliverable emails. They are “whitelisted” with all the major search engines. Conversely, using an autoresponder on your own host will risk you being labeled as a spammer, even if you didn’t intend it. You don’t even want to get mistaken for a spammer because you could become “blacklisted” by the search engines or even shut down by your internet service provider.

Prior to a visitor getting on your list, you have some “homework” to do. An autoresponder is made to send pre-made emails out at specified time in the future. We suggest you make at least 5 to 12 “advance” written emails written to be time released over a period of time from a month to several months. That way, you help “automate” your marketing to this targeted database. Very important tip, when sending out your “time released” email, make sure it is consistent . If you send out once a week, keep to that schedule, if you send out twice a week, keep to that schedule. That way, you list “expects” your email and the open rate will be the best it can be.

To keep in regular contact with your targeted opt in list will score much in customer relations and therefore “lifetime” customers who will buy from you over and over again.