Every online business needs a targeted responsive permission based email list.  It’s the bread and butter of every online business and many brick and mortar businesses as well.  Our list is our audience, our community, our peeps. They are curious about us, interested in what we have to say and what we have to offer.  They are our customers and our future customers.  The people we market our products and services to.   The people who keep us in business.

You’ve been told that size matters, right?  Well sometimes.  It’s better to have a small list of 2500 people who know, like and trust you and who are interested in what you have to, say, than it is to have a list of 250,000 who could care less about you or your products and services.

Some will disagree with me when I say you can make a good living with a smaller list.  I’ve heard some of the so called “gurus” say you need a list of at least 10,000 to make any kind of money.  That’s just not true.  The money is not in how many are on your list, but how well you care for them.

When building your list, treat them with respect.  Be generous with your information.  Make sure you are giving them good relevant content that they find of value.  That means you have to get to know your list.  Build a relationship with them.  Nurture them.   The main way to do this is to give away lots and lots of really good content.  This will make you irresistible and create a community of buyers who eagerly go to their in boxes every day expecting to reap the benefits of being in your space.

You’re thinking, “Yeah right, like that ever happens.”  Unfortunately it doesn’t happen enough, but it does happen for those who understand the important role that relationship plays  in their business.

So what can you do to create such raving fans?  Content.  Lots and lots of valuable content.  Share knowledge and insight with them.  Teach them new things.  Tell them stories.  Let them get to know you.   Make them laugh.  Show your gratitude.

Small thinkers are afraid of giving too much away for free.  Big thinkers know the more you give your community valuable worthwhile content, the more they like and trust you and want to be in your space.  Then when you promote to them, they’ll know that if the free stuff is this good, the paid stuff is going to be well worth the cost of admission.

Not only does treating you list with respect, gratitude and generosity keep them and create buyers, but it in turn grows your list even more.  We all love telling others when we really like something, and your list is no different.  They will forward your emails on to others and tell their friends, peers and colleagues about you and those people will want to be in your space as well.

I’d love to hear your “take away” on this.  Please leave a comment  below.