Tap Into the 3 L’s of Listbuilding
By Shawn CaseyThere’s no disputing the fact that in order to remain competitive, you must build targeted lists. Listbuilding, albeit important, is not as complicated as it may seem. If you incorporate the three “L’s” into your marketing machine, you can create targeted lists of buying customers.
Here are the three L’s of listbuilding success:
Lead Generation – Attracting Attention to Your Website
Anything you do to generate leads for your business falls under the umbrella of lead generation. For instance, when you conduct research to find keywords or key phrases, you’re doing lead generation. When you optimize your website, you’re doing lead generation. Basically, the function of lead generation is to persuade people to visit your website.
Lead generation is an important component of the marketing process because this is where you’re creating the buzz around your product or service. Don’t focus on getting everyone to your website. Focus on getting qualified leads to your site. There’s no reason to attract prospects who will never buy your product. Your goal is to convert browsers into buyers.
Lead Capture – Getting Them to Hand over Their Contact Information
This is where you want to capture the contact details of your visitors. Also known as a landing page, this is where the customer enters your website after clicking on a web link.
Squeeze pages are the most popular way to capture leads. The goal is to create a way to communicate with your prospects, usually by asking for names and e-mail addresses. Once a website visitor types in his name and e-mail address and submits to you, he has given you permission to contact him via e-mail.
This is the first step toward building a relationship with your customers. Lead capture is the lifeblood of listbuilding. Once you capture leads, you can create rapport by sending automatically generated e-mails to your list.
Once you build a targeted list of interested prospects, you can begin positioning yourself as the “go-to” person in your niche. Here is where you’ll establish yourself as an expert in order to brand your name in the minds of your customers.
Lead Conversion – When Prospects Become Customers
This is the end result you’re striving for—when prospects turn into customers. The success of your lead conversion is dependent upon the frequency and consistency of your message. To convert leads, you must stay the course. It often takes at least seven contacts with the prospect to convert him into a customer, and that is why a consistent e-mail campaign is important.
One of the best strategies is to give away free products: reports, e-books, etc. Also, send free tips to your lists. The more you give away, the more prospects you’ll convert into cash-paying customers.
Listbuilding is a process that takes consistency and effort. The key is to test your efforts periodically to see what works and what doesn’t. With a little trial and error, you’ll discover the secrets to successful lead generation, lead capture, and lead conversion for your niche market.