Build Contacts

Although I'm trying to simplify the process for you, I guess you will be starting to realize the significant challenges of creating a site and getting visitors to it for the first time.

So, when we get them there, we want to make sure that we can build a longer term relationship with them so that we have a ready-made audience for anything new we do that is related to their interests - books, products, info.

We need to build a mailing list.

You will see on the demo site that every page has an opportunity for visitors to give you their email address.

What is important to realize however, is that it isn't enough just to say "join our mailing list" - why should they?

Give them a good reason - and the reason might be different on every page.

You can set up different lists for different things without having to do any programming or maintenance at ListBot.

They will send you updates about who has joined your list, and you can send out mailings right from the site (though you probably want to worry over the wording in your own word processor for a while before pasting it into their form).

You do need to be aware that in return for this free service, they reserve the right to place text ads in emails you send out to your mailing list.

Step By Step

Go to here

There are many options you can change, but in summary, I suggest you set up an "Announcement List" with an appropriate name, and your (ideally PDCB-specific) email address as the "from:" address.

As your list grows, you will want more control over your mailings, and you will want to consider strategies such as automatic follow-up message sequences.

Services such as ROIBot allow you to set up and manage mailing lists, autoresponders, and follow up sequences from your desktop (as well as a range of other useful tools for on-line business). There are parts of the service that are free - you can sign up here.

A couple of final words about your mailing list:

• Only add email addresses that have specifically asked to be included.
• Always include a way for people to unsubscribe from your list (most service providers take care of this automatically)
• Only send relevant information. You will always get a trickle of people unsubscribing, but this will become a flood if you start abusing your list by sending them "off-topic" information.