How List Building Really Works (Step-by-Step Instructions)

If you’re like I was a few years ago, you know you want to build your list, but you’re not sure how to go about it.

Does list building seem like a mystery you can’t quite figure out?

Do you wonder if it can actually work for you?

I am here to tell you that you absolutely can effectively build your list.

Today, I am going to break down how you can build your list in three simple steps.

Step 1: Create a free gift

As you likely know by now, having a compelling free gift will allow you to…

• build your list
• quickly share what you specialize in
• build the know, like, and trust factor with your audience
• and, last but not least, convert new subscribers into paying clients

If you’re like many of the coaches I speak with, writing your free gift feels like a daunting task. You might be wondering…

• what should I write about?
• how do I structure it?
• how long should it be?
• how can I make it look professional?
• how do I create something that will lead people to want to work with me?

Have these questions, and a lack of time, left you at a standstill?

I’m about to help you get into action, because my team and I have created a free gift that you can promote on YOUR website to build YOUR list.

The entire gift is professionally written and designed for you, and I’m giving this to you totally free.

Click here to receive FREE instant access to an ebook you can use as your free gift.

Step 2: Promote the free gift on your website and create a squeeze page that promotes your free gift.

If you have a website, you’ll first want to prominently promote your free gift on your homepage. You will want to have text that clearly states how your free gift will help your audience.

You will want to include an opt-in form, where people can enter their name and email. In order to do this, you will want to sign up for an email marketing system, such as AWeber or Mailchimp. (These are our two favorite services.) These services will help you manage and email your subscribers.

What is a squeeze page is and why do you need one?

A squeeze page is a web page that has one purpose: to promote your free gift and build your list. It does not contain a navigation menu so there is nowhere else for your visitor to go. It simply provides the information about your free gift and contains the opt-in form.

A squeeze page is different than a homepage because a homepage has navigation and other pages to visit. Sometimes when people visit your website, they may be interested in your free gift but end up distracted by viewing other pages before they get a chance to enter their info into your opt-in form. Squeeze pages have no distraction and therefore increase the likelihood of your visitors entering their information.

While you will most certainly send people to your home page in certain situations, when you are engaging in list building activities, you always want to send people to a squeeze page.

Step 3: Drive traffic to your squeeze page

Once you have created your squeeze page, you want to get people to visit that page, so you can build your list.

Now the burning question is, how can you get people to your squeeze page?

Here are the top three strategies I have used to grow my list.

1. Facebook Ads

Run Facebook Ads that promote your freebie. Target your ads, so that you’re reaching people who are most likely to be interested in your freebie and your program. These ads should always direct people to your squeeze page, not your home page.

2. Guest blogging

Guest blogging is where you write a blog post that gets published on another website. Focus on finding sites that are relevant to your target market. At the end of the guest blog you’ll have a bio. In the bio, include a plug for your free gift and a link to your squeeze page.

3. Promotional Partners

Make a list of colleagues you know (and don’t know), who have the same target market as you and offer a complementary service. Reach out to them and discuss how you can support each other.

Typically, in these cases, you will each agree to promote each other’s freebie to your list and/or on social media. When your colleagues promote your free gift, make sure they link to your squeeze page. This is great because you’re getting in front of a whole list of people who likely don’t know you.

Your promotional partners can also be affiliates, where they receive a commission on any sales that come from their referrals.

Once you have promotional partners lined up, ask them to promote your freebie and have them link to your squeeze page.

Want to fast track your list building efforts?

Click here to receive FREE instant access to an ebook you can use as your free gift.