Thread: How to get a list

I wanted to start a new list and thought we could brainstorm some ideas here. The way I've always done this was either just throw up a pup-up that said sign up or do a contest and say sign up to win.

There has got to be a more creative way than that to get some freaking e-mails at my disposal though.

Anyone had any luck doing any of those, "find out which desperate housewife you are" or "what is your mood color" stuff where they have to submit an e-mail to get an answer? I was thinking of doing that and would be ok if less than 50% of people leave after being asked for their e-mail, but if its like 70% leave rate, I'm going to try something else.

I went to mailermailer.com (years ago), got a script to put on my site letting people sign up, they opt in, mailermailer handles all of that, and I have a nice list for my newsletter, which mailermailer sends out and if there are any complaints, they handle it.

Getting a list the way you describe isn't a good idea, it's not targeted, people aren't opting in for your mail and it just results in spam and spam reports.

You want to send your stuff to people who want to see it. That way everyone is happy and you'll actually see some results.

Good point. A generic site isn't targeted. What if I put the quiz as a widget on my site though. Then I will know I have targeted traffic because they found me through the SERPs.

I like your point that it could take years to build up a targeted list though. I guess that is why being an e-mail affiliate is such a hard industry to break into.

Oh, I like that idea. Get their e-mail for something else and give them the option to be included on a list. I guess in that case you would have to make sure to have them check a box to allow e-mails though and you might have some people uncheck the box.

Double opt ins are obviously the best lists to have as everyone on them has submitted their e-mail, received a confirmation and then clicked a link on it to get put on the list. I just worry that I am going to send out the first e-mail and have it blocked by spam filters or just plain laziness.

What if I just sent an opt in e-mail that said "you have been signed up for this list, do nothing to stay on it, or click here to remove your name". That would ensure that I didn't have fake e-mails or people signing up freinds as a joke.

P.S. back in my college days, I did that once... in a prank war signed a guy up for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and a few other recruiter lists. They got a ton of letters, e-mails and calls before they finally got their name removed from everything. He got me back pretty good though, but that is a story for another time.

LOL Renee, but now we're just getting off topic. Plus, remind me never to get in a prank war against and Aussie.