opt-in list. What to do with it?

webdev · #1 (**permalink**) 11-30-2007, 01:12 PM

I have been sitting and wondering for days to figure out how i can use my opt-list to make money? I have had very little success at pitching PHP books to my list even thou the list is gathered from my PHP site.

At the moment I'm pitching a book on PHP and MySQL development. I follow up with informational messages about the book 3 times in the interval of 8, 10 and then 12 days. I thought that having pitched multiple times will increase sales but I have trouble generating sales altogether. In the last month and half since i got autoresponder, i have had 5 sales. Now, I have no way of telling if the sales came from my follow ups or through my website ads. The merchant doesn't have any way of tracking clicks. I can only tell how many clicks I had and how many sales i generated. It's either that people are not buying or the merchant is stealing the commission (but i don't think they would do that).

Now, I'm wondering, if i can use the list to pitch something else other than PHP or web development related? Would it be a good idea? Any thoughts? Anyone with any experience dealing with opt-in list to pitch products?

lisa · #2 (**permalink**) 11-30-2007, 06:00 PM

I've always had low conversions promoting books, except the book on the homepage of my flat stomach site. I think it's because I review it and my customers can see I've actually bought and read it. Do you present a through review of the books or do you just give some benefits and tell them to buy it?

Also, do you know the level of experience for your average subscriber? Could it be that they are mostly newbies and the books are too advanced or vice versa? I'm wondering if you are promoting the right books to your audience?

Since you use AWeber you can collect some data from them when they subscribe. Maybe that can tell you more about what they would be interested in.

Have you ever thought about putting together some kind ebook or tutorial you can sell yourself? That way you can keep all the profits and possibly generate more per sale too.

webdev · #3 (**permalink**) 11-30-2007, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Also, do you know the level of experience for your average subscriber?

Actually that's also a problem. Since I don't know what kind vistors i have, its hard to determine what i should pitch to them.

Quote:

Since you use AWeber you can collect some data from them when they subscribe. Maybe that can tell you more about what they would be interested in.

Ahh that's a good point. I can setup another field with option to pick whether you're a beginner or a expert.

Quote:

Have you ever thought about putting together some kind ebook or tutorial you can sell yourself?

I though about it but I wanted to gain experience pitching products as an affiliate before coming out my own. Having your product involves a lot of work and skills.

ssmorgan · #4 (**permalink**) 12-02-2007, 01:11 PM

Hey Buddy,

To address your previous question... I would definitely not promote other non-php or non-website programming related stuff. This may make them think that they are getting spam and they would unsubscribe.

Lisa made some great points!

Adding another field would be great, but to get to know a little bit more on who is in your existing list... you can come up with a survey of questions about what you want to know about them, and email them a link to the survey. In your email subject:

a) you can appeal to their good nature by having your subject "I need your help!" Or b) you can appeal to their capitalistic nature by bribing them with a bonus.

Of course, the point is that they would be helping you to help them (i.e. to serve them better), so they may go for it.

Maybe this is tacky, is it? I don't know. I am just thinking out loud.

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