By Ken Flanders

Another advantage is when you add content to your site, you’ll be recognized by the search engines and you’ll get better rankings, meaning more people will find you – it’s a snowball effect that can only be good for business.

Let’s get back to the all-important list. You build that list by offering some of this information in the form of a special report, or white paper, or mini-course, or video series, aim for something electronic that doesn’t cost you anything to send. Even if it costs you a bit to create – it’s an investment in your business that will pay for itself many times over, so don’t hesitate to invest in creating something to give away in exchange for contact information.

You offer that ‘give-away’ on your site and your visitor enters their email address in exchange for the information and you’re on your way to building that most valuable asset: the opt-in list.

Once you have even one opt-in, start sending a newsletter, regular email or articles that are relevant and meaningful to this list – build a relationship with them so they get to know you and your products and services. This is a way to build fans, build trust and win business. Keep it consistent. Frequency matters less than consistency. If once a month is all you can manage, that’s better than trying to send more often and never sending at all, or sending inconsistently.

Don’t build a list and ignore it. Think of it as a living, breathing entity – after all it is – there are real live people behind those addresses – people that are interested in what you offer and who are more likely to part with their hard-earned dollars with the companies, businesses and individuals who have gained their trust. Be one of those entities by nurturing your list and you’ll find that you’ve created one of the most valuable business assets that exists – people who are genuinely interested in what you offer!