Build or Buy--Should You Build Your Own Opt-in Email List?

The easiest way to acquire an email list for your ezine or email marketing is just to buy one. They're not too expensive, and they provide you with a long list of names and email addresses.

But if there is one thing I've learned as the owner of an ezine, it is that the easy road is not always the one that brings you the best results. The problem with buying an email list is that none of the people on that list know who you are. When they receive an email from you, most likely they will just delete it without bothering to open it.

That is why it is so beneficial to build your own opt-in email list. Yes, creating a list from scratch is the more difficult and time-consuming solution, but at least it is a solution. Email lists rarely bring the desired results, so the money you spend on them might as well be flushed down the toilet.

Email marketing and ezine distribution isn't about blasting a bunch of strangers with sales pitches and information they don't want and didn't ask for. If you really want to achieve results with your email list, you need to build your own.

Here is a list of questions you need to ask yourself when building your email list:

*Who is your target audience and what do you have to offer them?

*What kind of relationship do you want with the recipients of your emailings?

*What method or methods will you use to collect email addresses? Web forms, registration or subscription forms, trade shows, telephone contacts and sales calls are all viable ways to get the email addresses of people who will be interested in what you have to offer.

*Will your emails come in the form of ads, newsletters, deals and specials, company announcements and press releases, or discussion lists?

*Will you handle the creative aspects of your mailings, such as copywriting and editing, or will you need a little help?

Once you're ready to start building your list, use outside lists to help you get started. You can recruit opt-in list members by renting an opt-in list to send out an announcement. You could also try taking out an ad in a targeted email newsletter or discussion list.

About The Author

Mohamed Rabea is the owner of one of the Internet's most popular home based business and marketing websites, available from http://www.bizpeak.com & http://www.bizpioneer.com

E-Newsletter Layout: Add White Space to Improve Readability

White space in newsletters is like pausing in conversation. Take... Read More

Email Etiquette II

I had great feedback from my last article, and was... Read More

Email Advertising - How Ad Tracking Helped Create a Killer Ad

I recently undertook an email advertising promotion, using a number... Read More

7 Ways Email Can End Your Business Relationships Before They Start

Too often, people forget they're anonymous in the internet world.... Read More

Spam Check Your Newsletter for FREE

Spam is a bigger and bigger problem nowadays. Recently Ralph... Read More

How To Avoid Having Filters Eat Your Emails

You've probably read 1000 times that "the money's in the... Read More

Turn Your Old Articles Into Profitable E-mail Courses

If you've written numerous articles, you can use them to... Read More

10 Ways to SCREW-UP Your LIST

Just in case you don't know, your 'LIST' ? is... Read More

Are Opt-in Email Lists Still Valuable in this SPAM Age?

One of the things that the introduction of blogs has... Read More

Combating List Building Frenzy: Take The Time To Promote

It is an accepted fact among the experts now that... Read More

A Little Secret That Produces BIG Results

What if I told you that with each passing day,... Read More

Use Autoresponders, to Build Relationships In Your Affiliate Marketing

It's true that "content is king," but equally important to... Read More

New Realities for E-Mail Marketing

Spam e-mail is no longer the mild irritant it once... Read More

Use Permission Based E-Mail Marketing to Promote Your Home Based Business

With all the negative Publicity that S.pam is Getting, Permission... Read More

Internet Tip of the Week: Mistakes Count Against You

Before the advent of email most of us, other than... Read More

Why Use Permission-Based Email Marketing?

The goal of all marketing is to attract interest in,... Read More

Personalizing Your Emails? An Amazing Technique That Doubles Your Click Throughs And Profits

Are you publishing an ezine or offering an email course?... Read More

How To Create An Irresistible Subject Line For Your Next E-mail Promotion

As I logged into my e-mail account, I clicked on... Read More

Achieve Success With Your Own Money - Making Newsletter

To be successful with a newsletter, you have to specialize... Read More

Autoresponders - One Simple Trick That Will Improve Your Results

Autoresponders, or responders, are simply programs that allow you to... Read More

How To Get An Instant Response To Your Urgent EMail!

In the business world, "You've Got Mail" has turned into... Read More

Are Your Subscribers Receiving Your Newsletter?

In my e-mail one day, I received the following message:... Read More

EMail Newsletter Marketing Essentials

If Gutenberg were alive today he would be in publishing... Read More

Using Mirror Pages Effectively

Thought I would share with you a very effective technique... Read More

Reach Out and Slap Someone

I got my first email account way... Read More