Marketing your business? You Gotta Grow Your Database!

These days, building your email database is a key strategy to grow your business, both online and offline. I don’t mean just focusing on having BIG numbers on your list; what you want to build is a quality database.

How to do that?

Here are three tips:

1. Participate in an affiliate campaign. That means agreeing to offer a bonus product to the launch of someone else’s product (book, eBook, audio CD, program). You agree to promote their product to your email list in exchange for a commission on any sales that come from your list ($ in your pocket) as well as increasing your visibility to prospective buyers thus driving traffic to your website. People come to your website and sign up for your mailing in order to claim your bonus = increase in your database.

2. Are you a good writer? Pick some topics you’re an expert on and offer them to article submission sites such as www.ezinearticles.com, www.ideamarketers.com and www.selfgrowth.com There are tons of sites that accept free articles or you can pay to have your articles listed. Be sure to write about content-rich subjects you really know about that offer value to the reader. If you’re serious about having your articles attract traffic, hire a VA to handle this task. There are hundreds (maybe thousands!) of article submission sites and taking on the job single-handed is daunting and costly. I’m talking HOURS and HOURS taken away from your business that could best be invested elsewhere. I chose a VA (virtual assistant, www.justtoobusy.co.uk) to handle this task for me rather than use an article submission service. Why? I’ve heard that spam dramatically increases when using article submission services. No thanks. I’m already deluged by spam.

3. Write a blog. Search engines love blogs. Be sure to offer readers information that is of value. That’s my intent in creating this blog so I hope you are finding information you can use to help you!

A few additional comments on building your database… ok, I admit this is more of a rant. I often find I’m subscribed to someone’s ezine or email list without permission. This can happen when I meet people at networking events and we exchange cards or I contact someone and they just add my email to a mass mailing list. Often, I mysteriously get emails from people I’ve never heard of who have somehow gotten my email address. You may not realize that on some sites, your email is captured the moment you click on the site.

By assuming people want to become part of your network without gaining their permission to say, “Yes”, you might be sabotaging a potential business relationship. To me that’s just another way to spam folks.

To be added to my mailing list or blog, you must either confirm your subscription or be sent a one-time mailing from me with an invitation to join. At the bottom of mailings, be sure you have a link to unsubscribe or change subscriptions so that people remain in charge of whether they wish to hear from you or not.

That’s why I appreciate the emails that request confirmation of agreement to “opt-in” to a mailing list. Even though it’s an extra step, I find that being asked to join with someone gives me choice - something I respect and need. Listen, I have no problem with one-time samples of newsletters or ezines that give me the option to subscribe. Hey! I want to be asked!

One of the keys to success is developing quality relationships with people whether they are clients, colleagues, friends, prospects or visitors. In my opinion, growing your business and your database means being a person of integrity and treating others with respect - you know The Golden Rule…do unto others.

Bottom line - pick marketing strategies you enjoy and have fun with them!