Monetizing an email list? Could use some help.

Discussion in 'General Marketing' started by JeffC, Jun 18, 2008.

  1. #1
    I have a list, just over 21,000 people that were/are looking to buy a car.
    I have no experience in monetizing an email list, and obviously want to maximize income from it.

    Any help would be greatly appreciated.
    thanks!
     
    JeffC, Jun 18, 2008 IP
  2. titletown

    titletown Peon

    Messages:
    34
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #2
    I would look into affiliate programs for the various different car insurance companies and pitch them on those.

    Scot
     
    titletown, Jun 18, 2008 IP
  3. Joelo

    Joelo Active Member

    Messages:
    122
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    #3
    I would first make sure that they are still interested in hearing from you.
    When did you build this list? If it was a while ago, then they may not like hearing from you (mostly if you are promoting something).

    Start sending useful content emails first for awhile, to build up trust. Maybe even consider making a blog to send them to.

    Then later, yes, you can send them information about products/services that you are an affiliate for.

    Check CJ .com for lots of car related info. And CPA offers about insurance are all over the place.

    Just be careful not to come across as "spammy", whether you are truly spamming or not.


    Joel
     
    Joelo, Jun 18, 2008 IP
  4. JeffC

    JeffC Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,288
    Likes Received:
    60
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    165
    #4
    Its been built not very long ago.
    So CPA offers, what about selling ads in an informational newsletter?
    What would yield the most profit (yes I know its a guess, thats all I'm looking for ;))
     
    JeffC, Jun 18, 2008 IP
  5. Joelo

    Joelo Active Member

    Messages:
    122
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    #5
    As for CPA offers, I was meaning offers that you go find and promote.
    But selling ads in a newsletter is a way to go as well. Just make sure that it is an informational newsletter with good content, so that advertisers will want to buy ads.

    Promoting your own products or affiliate links will probably be the most profitable, since you control them, and are not relying on advertisers to find you.

    It just depends how big you want to go with this.

    You could set up a blog and a whole big site about it. That would eventually be the most profitable. You could even end up creating your own product to sell and set up JV partners.

    Or, if you are just wanting to make it a smaller project, then just a newsletter would be fine. Offer good content, even if it's from other people, and promote to them.


    Joel
     
    Joelo, Jun 18, 2008 IP
    JeffC likes this.
  6. JeffC

    JeffC Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,288
    Likes Received:
    60
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    165
    #6
    Thanks for the response... I think I might just sell the list. How are these valued?
     
    JeffC, Jun 18, 2008 IP
  7. Joelo

    Joelo Active Member

    Messages:
    122
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    #7
    Sorry, I have no idea about selling a list.

    But you do have to be careful. Did they double opt-in to your list? Single opt-in?
    Double is better, it would be worth more.

    Or instead of selling it, keep it. Personally, I would keep it. Then like we mentioned, sell ads in it.
    There are sites/services out there that allow you to post your list information (what topic, how many subscribers, etc) and then potential advertisers can see that and contact you for an ad.

    21,000 subscribers is a lot, especially in a niche other then Internet marketing. A lot better if it's double opt-in.

    You could also set up a free survey to ask them to take. Make it short and quick, but use it to find out what they are interested in, even more then just buying a car. This can help you target specific ads to them.


    Joel
     
    Joelo, Jun 18, 2008 IP
  8. JeffC

    JeffC Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,288
    Likes Received:
    60
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    165
    #8
    I guess I'm just a little weary as this is new territory for me. And if I do want to handle the mailings I'm going to need to get special software, as well as track down some affiliate ads.
    Ok, I know this may be the BIGGEST ball park/guess out there, but what kind of money realistically could be seen from a niche list like this?
     
    JeffC, Jun 18, 2008 IP
  9. HomeBiss

    HomeBiss Peon

    Messages:
    135
    Likes Received:
    3
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #9
    What!? You have a 21k email list and you don't know how to make money from it?

    Man! You're missing the chance to make lots of money! :)

    Go ahead, try sending some affiliate links that would interest car owners. Since the price of gas is ridiculously high at the moment, why don't you try promoting alternative fuel or technology for car owners?

    Don't just promote things, okay. Give them some free tips to save money from time to time. Nobody likes to receive emails asking them to buy stuffs all the time.
     
    HomeBiss, Jun 18, 2008 IP
  10. Joelo

    Joelo Active Member

    Messages:
    122
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    #10
    Well again... sorry. I'm not in that niche, so I don't know what kind of affiliate payouts and such are out there.
    But as for insurance type of affiliate programs, they general pay pretty good. I would assume at least a few hundred a month, if not a lot more. But remember, I know nothing about this niche :)

    As for special software...
    How did you get the list in the first place? Maybe I should have asked that from the beginning.

    All you would need is an autoresponder, like Aweber or GetResponse. You would then have to import your list into their system. BUT depending if your list is double opt-in or not, you may not be able to do that.

    Do you have any way to email them now as it is?

    I would first suggest though that you do not promote to them right away, that you offer good free content for a while (a week, a few weeks). There might be some cheap private label right content that you can use for this.

    Where did you get the list?
    And is it double opt-in?
    (meaning that they had to confirm their subscription to the list)


    Joel
     
    Joelo, Jun 19, 2008 IP
  11. JeffC

    JeffC Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,288
    Likes Received:
    60
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    165
    #11

    Joel,

    As far as opt-in the list was compiled but users requesting information on a car. They were then contacted by phone, and verified.
    As where the list came from, it was put together by my company as a side project. (hey lets build a list) sort of thing. Obviously we did a decent job and just don't know what to do with it now.

    I have been given the go ahead to use the list to see what I can make of this. My target is $600 a month of this single list, I've been told that is not to far fetched. But we'll see.

    So:

    Start with purely informative emails, offering nothing to buy and slowly start adding in products?
     
    JeffC, Jun 19, 2008 IP
  12. Joelo

    Joelo Active Member

    Messages:
    122
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    #12
    Oh ok... ya, $600 should be do-able, may be not right away, since you want to build a relationship first.

    I would suggest getting a GetResponse account, but check first if they will allow you to import the list into their system. They may not allow it. If not, then find another autoresponder service. The info that they will want to see if proof that the subscribers are verified. From their perspective, how do they know the people were called.

    But ya, start slow and work up from there.


    Joel
     
    Joelo, Jun 19, 2008 IP
  13. JeffC

    JeffC Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,288
    Likes Received:
    60
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    165
    #13
    Joel, you've been most helpful! thank you!
     
    JeffC, Jun 19, 2008 IP
  14. Joelo

    Joelo Active Member

    Messages:
    122
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    #14
    It's not a problem...

    Now go and create a great relationship with your list and make them start emailing you everyday wanting new content because they like it so much! :)


    Joel
     
    Joelo, Jun 19, 2008 IP
  15. JeffC

    JeffC Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,288
    Likes Received:
    60
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    165
    #15
    Just signed up with GetResponse. I guess this will be more or less a case study thread on how this goes.

    thanks again!
     
    JeffC, Jun 19, 2008 IP
  16. Joelo

    Joelo Active Member

    Messages:
    122
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    #16
    You already signed up?

    You might want to contact them first :) I'm not positive if they will allow your list to be uploaded.

    But sure, keep posting updates here to see how it goes.

    Joel
     
    Joelo, Jun 19, 2008 IP
  17. JeffC

    JeffC Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,288
    Likes Received:
    60
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    165
    #17
    Just imported the list now, they send a confirmation email to all my subscribers to verify that they aren't just random people, and I think they send only 2,500 confirms a day so I have some time before this will actually happen.
     
    JeffC, Jun 19, 2008 IP
  18. Joelo

    Joelo Active Member

    Messages:
    122
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    #18
    Oh ok... sounds good then.

    It will be interesting to see how many confirm/verify.


    Joel
     
    Joelo, Jun 19, 2008 IP
  19. CrowneEffect

    CrowneEffect Peon

    Messages:
    31
    Likes Received:
    0
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    #19
    you can make a pretty good newsletter with Microsoft Publisher...good luck on your experiment.
     
    CrowneEffect, Jun 19, 2008 IP
  20. Joelo

    Joelo Active Member

    Messages:
    122
    Likes Received:
    1
    Best Answers:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    #20
    Hey Jeff...

    I just wanted to see hows it going for you?
    What have you done with the list since Jun 19? (I guess two months ago now)


    Joel
     
    Joelo, Aug 20, 2008 IP