If you’re trying to make money online, whether it is affiliate marketing or any other type of business, opt-in list building is key to generating  long term success. In fact, many internet marketers spend over 80% of their time building their opt-in list.

There is one main reason that you should build an opt-in list and believe it or not, it’s not to make massive amounts of money. Of course, you want to make money from your list, but you must realize that the number one reason to generate the list is to build a relation with your customers and gain their trust. Making money is secondary.

You see, the money won’t come, or at least it will be a lot harder to generate, if you don’t bond with your readers, customers, and followers.

One of the biggest mistakes new marketers make is building an opt-in list and then bombarding them with offers immediately after they have opted in to receive emails from you.

Depending on the type of list you are generating, it is likely that the user chose to opt-in to your email list in order to receive some valuable free information on whatever niche topic you are in. So, be sure to give that to them, otherwise you are sure to have a large unsubscribe ratio.

This is especially true for affiliate marketing. As an affiliate, you are making money from recommending other people’s products and services. You must first gain the trust of your readers before you go and blast them with every offer under the sun.

The ultimate goal is to continue to add new subscribers to your list while keeping the current subscribers happy. Even after they have been on your list for a while, be sure to continue sending them a freebie report, articles, downloads, and other valuable information every couple weeks at least. This will keep them happy and actually look forward to opening your emails which will pay off in the long run when you get a high open rate to the times when you do send out an offer that will make you money.

Don’t be a salesman. You need to look out for your subscribers and be their friends. Do that, and they will gladly buy from you.

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