Every Internet marketer knows that the gold is in the list. You’ve got to build a solid list of targeted prospects to ensure long-term, Internet marketing success. The key is not to work harder. Instead, work smarter. If you want to set up your business for prosperity, here are five listbuilding tactics that really work.

1.    Keep the opt-in form “above the fold.”

For optimal listbuilding success, keep your opt-in form where website visitors can see it without hitting the scroll bar. “Above the fold” simply means the top half of the web page.

For instance, when you fold a newspaper in half, the most compelling stories are printed above the fold. Your objective is to draw attention to the form so that readers won’t overlook it before they click away.

2.    Give them more than one chance to subscribe.

Place opt-in forms on each page of your website. While some visitors will choose to subscribe on the landing page, others will want to browse your site first before committing to your list.

However, by the time they’ve read your blog, checked out your articles, or browsed your products, they may forget to subscribe. Adding the option to subscribe to your list on any page increases the odds of capturing their names and e-mail addresses.

3.    Offer “freebies” to e-mail list subscribers.

People love getting something free. That’s why many Internet marketers offer free reports, e-books, CDs, etc., in exchange for names and e-mail addresses. Be sure that what you offer is directly related to the products or services you offer. For instance, if you’re selling diet products, a report with free diet tips or an e-book offering low-fat recipes may entice visitors to join your list.

4.    Highlight the benefits of subscribing to your list.

Overcome any objections that individuals may have of subscribing to your list by outlining the benefits of joining it. For instance, free weekly sales tips for novice Internet marketers may encourage people to join your list. Perhaps your subscribers will receive a regularly published newsletter to help them earn more money. Let them know how they’ll benefit from opting in to your list.

5.    Be creative with your article marketing!

Add a “Forward to a Friend” function to reports, e-books, and newsletters. This is a great way to build interest in your products or services and to encourage more readers to sign up for your list. You may even want to use the opt-in form to enter subscribers into a contest that offers a prize they cannot resist.

Also, use article marketing to drive more traffic to your website. This will lead them directly to your opt-in form and, hopefully, provide an incentive for more sign-ups.

There you have it: Five listbuilding techniques that really work. The key to listbuilding success is not to work harder but to make your website do the work for you. Experiment and have fun with new ideas. Most importantly, keep it simple. You’ll often find that the best ideas for attracting new subscribers are the simplest ones.