Do I need a list to build an online business?

Written on 10 February, 2012 by Clancy Clarke
Categories Email Marketing Tags customer behaviour email marketing online business

If you do any research on how to build an online business, one of the first things you will be told, is that ‘the money is in the list’. To sustain a successful online business, it will be to your advantage to build your own list of repeat customers. However, it is possible to launch your business and still make money without a list.

Most people searching online are looking for a solution to a problem, so if you have a product or service that is going to give them a solution, you will find a ready-made market. For example, if you were a florist with a web presence, you would be solving the problems of what to purchase on Valentine’s Day, how to have the perfect wedding bouquet or how to ease the worry for family and friends attending a funeral. The difficulty is making sure that your potential clients find your website before your competitors. This means making it to the first page of search engine’s listings.

If you have a product or a service to sell, then you can approach the online world in a similar way to the real world. You do this by targeting those people who will be interested in what you are selling and bringing them to your site. One of the best ways to do this is by writing articles and blogging. Regularly updated content, promoted by twitter and Facebook can bring a stream of visitors to your site. Once they are there, it is important that you then entice them to buy.

With Google’s new algorithm, one of the most important things to remember is that searches will be closely linked to location. So with the above example of the florist, it would be important that the business owner informs potential clients within their local area and this is best done with use of keywords. For example, if the florist is situated in Bondi, then the words ‘Bondi florist’ or ‘flowers Bondi’ within the text of regular blogs and articles is what will rank the website within Google’s search engine.

Even though this way of operating online will get you customers, it is worth including a capture page or opt in box on your site so that you can also build a list. A list then enables you to continue marketing to the people you know will purchase from you. Informing them of special promotions and preparing them in advance for special times of the year, can ensure a steady flow of traffic and sales. The best approach to your online business is to begin whether or not you have a list, and then steadily build it for sustained customers.

For further information on start up business online and how to begin without a list, contact Netregistry here or telephone today on 1300 638 734.

Looking for some help with domains, hosting, web design or digital marketing?
 

Send me marketing tips, special offers and updates