One of the most successful ways to make money blogging is with a mailing list. Readers opt in to receive exclusive updates from you via their email inbox, giving you a great way to keep in touch with them. Building your subscriber list (and ultimately your blog profits) can be a bit intimidating – to help with the process, here are some practical ideas.
How to Build Your Subscriber List
You Have Won!
Hold an ongoing prize drawing in your e-zine. The prizes should be something of interest or value to your subscribers. Most people who enter will continually read each issue for the results.
100% Original
Give your subscribers content they can’t read anywhere else. I’m not saying all your content has to be 100% original, but a portion of your e-zine should have original information. People will usually read information they haven’t read before.
Was I Right?
Give your subscribers a quiz or a series of trivia questions. Publish the correct answers in your following issue. The people who participate will want to see if they were right.
Read All About It!
Supply news stories related to your e-zine’s topic. People want current and up-to-date news. If you can be their first source, they will become loyal readers.
The Polls Are In!
Hold an interactive poll in your e-zine. Ask subscribers a poll question. Have them e-mail their vote or opinion. People love to give their 2 cents worth. They would also like to read the results in your next issue.
Become A Jester 
Give your subscribers a little humor now and then. Don’t be so serious, tell them a joke. If they associate your e-zine with being happy they will want to read every issue.
The Information Free-way
People love to get free stuff. Tell readers were to get free stuff online or offline. It could be software, services, sample products, e-books etc. The freebies should be related to your e-zine’s topic. Keep the freebies coming and your subscribers will keep reading!
Mini-Yahoo
Tell your subscribers about Web sites related to your e-zine’s topic. The web sites should be interesting and helpful. Become your readers miniature “Yahoo”.
In Our Next Issue…
Get your subscribers excited about your next issue. Tell them about upcoming articles, prize drawings, freebies etc. If they know what’s in store for them, they won’t want to miss reading your next issue.
BONUS Tip: Offer Exclusive Invitations
Provide your readers with opportunities that no one else has access to. Or, provide them with opportunities before making information public – give them a first in advantage. This is something I did recently by allowing Blogelina subscribers to sign up first for the 100 Comments On My Blog Event.
Tanya,
I am horrible, I mean horrible, at keeping up with my list. These tips have given me some new ideas that I may just try out, especially the idea of given them something that may be hard to find online. Maybe stuff I have done and thought “Ah ha, why did I never know that.”
Maybe with your tips I will keep up more and build it.
~Allie
Allie recently posted..Blogging Success: Failure Is Success
Glad the post was helpful, Allie – I have a hard time, too, keeping up with the email list along with everything else involved in blogging. I’ve thought about scheduling my weekly newsletter issues in advance, as well – or at least getting most of them written ahead of time. For some reason, remembering to make the time on a weekly basis just isn’t working well for me. Wishing you the best in your email list ventures!
Tanya,
That is a great idea. I know an autoresponder series can be set up for intervals after someone signs up. I can get that going then it will look like I am always on top of it.
~Allie
Allie recently posted..Blogging Success: Failure Is Success
Tanya
I joined your 100 comment event and it was really great! I hope you do something like it again soon it was hard work but well worth it. Thanks
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