The money really IS in the list
Mastering the art of the “squeeze page”
Ask any successful internet marketer and they will tell you that you if you are serious about making it online, then you need to build a list. There is nothing “secret” about this fact, and yet, the incredible vast majority of internet marketers fail miserably and give up (usually after losing thousands of dollars) within the first year.
So, if it’s no secret that you need to be building a list in order to truly be successful, then why aren’t very many people doing it? Are YOU building a list right now? If not, have you asked yourself why?
Now before I go any further, I should warn you that I am going to be pretty blunt with my approach on this issue (if you have read my other articles, you already know this about me). Too many times in life we are told half-truths in order to protect our feelings … and these half-truths will always hold you back.
I don’t know about you, but if I am doing something wrong, I want someone to tell me flat out that it is wrong so that I can move past it quickly and get it right. Just give it to me straight and give me details so I know what to fix. Whenever somebody is vague with their feedback, it’s never good and usually means they are just trying to protect your feelings.
Now, let’s get back to the question I asked … if you are not building a list, why not? Is it because you don’t know how? Is it because you don’t have time? Is it because list building seems like a lot of work? Is it because you ….
I could go on and on here, but these are little more than excuses that people use to justify why they haven’t taken action. In fact, most people will create their own roadblocks just so they have an excuse for not taking a prescribed action. If you are somebody that continually creates your own roadblocks at every turn, then you need to stop this right now or you will never succeed.
Back to “squeeze pages”. So, what exactly is a “squeeze page”? Well, the term is derived from the fact that this webpage is designed with the sole intent to “squeeze” some information out of the visitor … namely their name and email address. Now, since this is the ONLY purpose of a squeeze page, it differs greatly in its content versus a splash page (which I discussed in my previous articles). There are a few similarities, like keeping it short and catchy, but that’s where it ends.
The big question quickly surfaces … “how do I get people to join my list?” Although there is more than one technique to get people to join your list, they all have the same thing in common … give them something they want for free!
Which brings up another question … “what do I give them?” And the answer is … “give them what they want!” To which you ask … “but what do they want?” Anybody else thinking “dear liza, dear liza”?
As you can see, there are a lot of things to consider when setting up a squeeze page that you don’t have to think about when creating splash pages … but, unlike a splash page, a properly designed squeeze page will provide you with a list of responsive people that you can contact over and over again. And once you have the “backend” all setup, it is actually pretty easy to start pumping out several different squeeze pages in order to increase your target audience and your list(s) will continue to grow.
Due to the more complex nature of squeeze pages, I can’t fit all the information into a single article, so I have broken it up. My main purpose with this article was really just to prep you a little so that you have some time to take down all those roadblocks that you have put up in front of yourself.
In my next article, I will tear apart a squeeze page into all of its required components so you can see exactly what goes into building one.
The simple reality is that anyone can build a responsive list through the use of squeeze pages. You don’t need a whole bunch of skills and crazy technical talent … you just need to stop making excuses.
Squeeze Pages DO make sense
Author:Â Tyler Huculak – President/Co-owner Logiscape Technologies Inc.
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20 users commented in " The money really IS in the list "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackTyler: I agree. Building a list is very important.
However, what a person does with the list is just as
important. This is rarely, if ever addressed.
In the past, I have sent for information, and quite naturally, ended up on that person’s list.
Then, I am bombarded with daily emails, promoting the
latest flavor of the week (day). I opt out, as fast as I
can, and put that address on automatic delete.
Unfortunately, it has happened more than once. Even, some
so called “gurus” are guilty of this. Some of whom, in my
opinion are frauds.
The best in the business, I believe, is Perry Marshall. He
teachs, entertains, and sells.
The Holy Grail, is not only getting a list, it’s making WISE
USE of it, a skill very few so called “internet Marketers”
have.
Yes, this is an area where some people need some serious education and I will be focusing on this specifically in one of my articles. I have found that few people actually teach this part of the process, even though it is just as important as getting the names in the first place. Thanks for your comment.
Agreed that list building is important. It work hand in hand with other methods to make success in the internet business. Great post,
Patience is a virtue! Building the “list” is the holy grail to network marketing. Have been building slowly but surely four bites in a month. I am glad that It is starting to show that my sizzling mouse is good for something. Thanks for your information go to my page and go to my blog to learn more about me!
I did not know this,I thought that a squeeze page
and a splash page were the same although I do not
know how to setup either one,maybe its time I learned
but this would also require an autoresponder would’nt
it?
Thank you for the info
Shirley Guyomard
seaweed5026
I agree totally! As affiliate marketers we are basically taught to simply join a program, grab our referral link and get it into traffic. The reality is that this is a very poor way to market as any traffic you send to your link is basically wasted. If someone does join your program, you are building the program owners list for them. If no one joins you can’t get that visitor back again. By using a squeeze page you can first capture the email and name of the person who is interested in the program and then send them on to the affiliate program you are advertising. Using an autoresponder is a great way to not only build your list but manage that list and it allows you to follow up with those prospects over and over again. In many cases you can make additional income from that list, just like the pro’s do. Great article, I hope people reading it take the advice to heart. Build your list first!!
Ok, you sent me the email and you said be blunt about what I thought you did wrong.
Your statement:
“The simple reality is that anyone can build a responsive list through the use of squeeze pages. You don’t need a whole bunch of skills and crazy technical talent … you just need to stop making excuses.”
This sums up the disservice being done here, you are joining the two subjects “list building” and “squeeze pages” at the hip when they are truly only connected by a fine thread.
A squeeze page is simply a tool to use after you have formulated what type of list you want, what your ultimate use for that list will be, what and how you will market to that list, etc…
Building the squeeze page is easy after you have the list building process down (they used to call this a business plan) because you know exactly who you are talking to, where to find them, what they want, etc…
The squeeze page is really the easiest step in the process, it is simply your business card for the internet.
Building a page that simply gives something away will simply get you a list of people that want something for free and blasting all around the net will simply get you a larger list of people that want something for free. It really seems this is what people want to see or be told because it is simple. Truly simple but a business? No, I think not.
Building a large list is really easy with all the crazies on the net. It reminds me of a video that was put on You Tube, titled “Did You Know?”. Millions picked up the video and said “ain’t that interesting” but it did not change their lives at all. That video was designed for a small group of people at a college as part of a presentation driving how they should approach education in the United States. To those few and others in their community, the information was or will be world changing. It is easy to grab the fleeting interest of a large number of people, I believe is called “grabbing eyeballs” in today’s vernacular.
Please, do not make the rest of your blog post something that promotes people throwing inane pages offering drivel to the masses in hopes that they can build a list that they can then email drivel to.
Well, you asked…
Well, if you had read my other articles and a little between the lines (as well as my reply comment to somebody else in this very article), then you would see that I am going to go a whole lot deeper than just the usual “make a squeeze page, get a list”.
Like I said in my article, I appreciate people giving honest opinions that are straight to the point … I just like them to do their homework first. Don’t take this comment too personally, I am just addressing your comment which appears to have pegged me (and my article) completely wrong.
Dang,the email invite didn’t say I was into it for a homework assignment.
Oh well, you asked, I gave. Like it, fine. Don’t like it, fine. It didn’t cost anything.
You obviously didn’t get my point. I wasn’t suggesting that the reader go out and do a bunch of “homework” on the issue, I simply meant that you should have taken a little more time to think about where I might be coming from and where I might be going with this. By reading the article it is quite obvious (because I state it clearly) that this is just the first introductory article in a SERIES of articles I will be posting on the subject. So jumping to conclusions (and the wrong ones at that) based on an introductory article is where you went wrong.
Mike Dillard said it best…
It is not the amount of people on your list that counts…
It is the relationship you have with your list that matters most.This is how the money is made.
Not easy to do but the gist of his statement is so very true.
Yep, obviously didn’t get your point.
You said “I just like them to do their homework first.” but apparently did not mean it “I wasn’t suggesting that the reader go out and do a bunch of “homework†on the issue”.
It is very obvious that your post is the first in a SERIES.
Any conclusions jumped to are simply based on what you said in the post.
Your answer to the question on how to get people to join a list; “give them something they want for free!” is in my opinion just wrong. Your reputation combined with the content of the page is what should compel a person to join your list, basing it on giving something away means that the people on the list care nothing about what you have to say and will not respond to any offer promoted to them that requires they give something.
Remember, the squeeze page (horrible name by the way) is simply a business card with a built in internet answering machine.
It is standard advertising stats, 2% of your given market wants what you have to sell “right now”, make your offer to them before they buy from someone else. The other 98% you want on your list, simply because they may be interested in the current or a future product.
Knowing the market is the tough part, building the page and installing it with an auto responder so it is useful on the net is the easy part.
If building web pages, installing web applications, copy writing, etc… are not within the scope of a business owner’s market, they would be well served to have this done for them by someone in that market. The surgeon is not the person to have build the hospital.
Hmmm… seems to make whatever you may say in any SERIES of articles a moot point.
Yes, I did mean what I said about doing your homework before posting a comment. And the “homework” you should have done was to take a moment to consider who exactly I might be trying to help here. From the other articles in this series so far (not to mention the fact that I take the time to explain what a squeeze page even is), it should be fairly obvious that I am trying to help people that are just starting out.
In other words, I am not trying to teach advanced list building strategies here. I am trying to give an alternative method of advertising (especially within traffic exchanges) to people that currently do little more than promote their affiliate links directly.
My proposal to use squeeze pages to build a list through giving things away is because this is a method that is not too hard to get going and will produce results, even for the beginner. Obviously there are other list building strategies out there (as I stated in the article), but I am focusing on this particular use of squeeze pages. Again, remember who I am trying to help here.
And as for the concept of giving away something for free, this is a proven strategy that works very well and it doesn’t mean that the people joining are only looking for free things. Sorry, but you are way off base on that one. There are lots of things you can give for free (a short video, the first chapter of a soon to be released publication, etc) that will attract genuine buyers. You just have to know how to link them. Remember, I am trying to help people that don’t yet have a reputation online and therefore they can’t just tread on their name … they need a different “carrot”.
In my upcoming articles I will go over a lot of the things that are critical when designing the “structure” for any squeeze page. This will cover things like knowing your audience and relating your offers, etc. These are all very important parts of building a strong and loyal list. So don’t worry, I am not going to trivialize the list building process … but I am also not going to talk over everybody’s head.
Ok, now I believe you missed my point.
I never said these tactics were not effective, just wrong. Many advertising and business practices that have proven effective are also “wrong”. Bernard Madoff found a process that was very effective…
Offering prospects a free sample is not a bad idea in itself, but using the list generated from this type of promotion to trade on has been proven over and over again to be wrong. The mail-order industry has already been through this, quickly generated lists have been offered for sale for years, the buyers are nearly always disappointed.
Just can’t resist carrying on quickly.
“Junk mail” (snail mail box) and “spam” (email box) have a proven effectiveness of 1-1.5%. They are proven effective but, teaching someone to build a business on these numbers is just plain “wrong”.
The fact that someone jumps through hoops to get your “free” item and inadvertently becomes a “double opt-in subscriber” does not make the resulting auto responder generated email any less “spammy”.
A little background;
Really, I don’t dislike the author here, I don’t know him or her well enough to do that.
I am a paid member of Trafficera.
I have read the rest of the blog here.
You can find many things in this blog, from a rather interesting article on relationship marketing (where it is clearly stated that the statement “The money is in the list” is not entirely true) to a some what questionable article / video promoting “The art of screaming”.
Most of the blog articles here have generated very few comments and this article just seemed to be crying out “well, if you didn’t like other things, maybe this…”
We’ll keep reading and see what comes up.
Hi peeps,
If I might interject here? Tyler was talking about squeeze pages and why you use them to build a list. I think you are jumping the gun at the starting line.
Not even good etiquette on Jerry Springer really so let’s see what the basics are here.
1) Use Squeeze pages to capture a list = good.
2) How to use them and why = not determined yet other than idea of using giveaways. Seems to me that model is used by Huge corporations and marketers all day long. So no that is not a bad method. Are there other methods for building a list? Well of course there are. My main method: I will build a list from people who only purchase something…How bout them apples?
3)Please continue.
Scott
As Scott reiterated here, my main focus is to teach others how to use a squeeze page to build a list, and do it with traffic exchanges. The people I am looking to help are the people that are currently not using traffic exchanges correctly. As I stated in an earlier article, there are only 2 things that you should be “rotating” in the traffic exchanges … splash pages and squeeze pages.
So, I am not trying to say that squeeze pages are “THE” way to build a list, but rather that they are “A” way to build a list. And if you are looking to build a list using traffic exchanges, then squeeze pages are the way to go.
As for giving something away for free as a way to get them on your list, there is absolutely nothing “shady” or “wrong” about this. The only place where “shady” and “wrong” come into play are when you don’t do it properly. This is what I will be focusing on in my upcoming articles. Do it properly and you will succeed … do it the wrong way and this is when you walk the fine line of “spammy”.
In other words, it’s how you develop the complete process that determines whether it is acceptable (and successful) or not.
Ok, lets get a little more targeted here.
This post is the first of a series, the foundation of what is yet to come.
From the post:
So, what exactly is a “squeeze page� Well, the term is derived from the fact that this webpage is designed with the sole intent to “squeeze†some information out of the visitor …
Conclusion:
This seems to infer that since we can’t get the information from the visitor willingly, we must resort to some sort of covert method and the “squeeze page” is the method we will discuss here.
Which side of “shady” is this on?
From the post:
Although there is more than one technique to get people to join your list, they all have the same thing in common … give them something they want for free!
Conclusion:
Any technique to get get people to join a list that will be discussed in future installments will include some variation of “free giveaway”, with the further inference that this is the “only” way since “all” techniques have this in common.
The inference that this is inherent in all list building techniques is just wrong (false, incorrect, not true…). There is no mention in this post or any way of discerning from this post that there will be mention in future installments of the only “right” way to use this type of web page / application – “Offer a product or service that is of value to your market”. What a concept.
The current practice of attaching this type of web page to an auto responder that is preloaded with several messages will generate a greater level of spam when used to promote a giveaway, promoting the use of a giveaway offer on these types of pages is promoting the use of spam driven marketing. Shady? Maybe…
The proliferation of auto responders and spam filters seem to have a correlation. What could the connection be? Hmmm…
Clearly you just like to argue, and I really have better things to do so I will just leave it there. You obviously have some axe to grind with certain marketing styles for whatever reason and no matter what I say, you are only going to argue with me.
The long and short of it is that squeeze pages done properly (which is my goal with this series) are a valuable asset in list building, especially for the beginner. Sure, there are lots of ways to abuse the process and I know of lots of cases where this happens regularly (even by so-called self-professed gurus), but when it is done properly, it is a valuable marketing strategy and is not in the least bit underhanded or “spammy”.
And as for my comment that “they all the same thing in common – give them something they want for free” … this referred to splash pages as a list building tool and NOT to all list building strategies. Remember, my article is about building a list with squeeze pages and there are a few ways to design this process, but it almost always ties back to giving something away.
Perhaps we will just have to disagree here. In my online marketing experience (all 11 years of it), I have had to disagree with many along the way … most of whom I haven’t seen or heard from in years.
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