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5 List Building Techniques Using Partners

By now you’re probably aware of what a robust email list can potentially do for your business. If you’re still not convinced, take a look at the first of our five-part series on list building.

Constructing your list is an undertaking that will pay dividends now and down the road, even if it may seem a little daunting at first. Don’t let it overwhelm you, especially when you don’t have to face it alone.

That’s right. You can bring along a friend. Building an email list isn’t a zero-sum game, where you add to your list at the expense of someone else. In fact, a partner in a related business may be just what you need. Here are 5 ways a little teamwork can help get the job done.

  • Guest posting. You’ve probably been working hard trying to build up a following. So have other people. Take advantage of their hard work by being a guest on their program. It’s a chance to get your name out there in a friendly atmosphere and introduce yourself to their audience. Bring your best content with you and knock ‘em dead.
  • Combined events. Team up with a partner in a festival or community get-together. Exchange referrals and recommendations. Direct them to your partner’s table while they do the same for you. You can not only share in the fun, but also potentially in the expenses.
  • Combined advertising. Local businesses do this all the time. Often it’s as simple as just asking to put your business cards on someone else’s shop counter. It’s a great strategy, but you don’t have to rely on just your hometown businesses to implement it. Contact an online business and see if you can put a small ad or link on their site, with the understanding that you’ll do the same for them.
  • Webinars. You have expertise in a particular field. You wouldn’t be in business otherwise. Share that knowledge by participating in a webinar. For those not familiar with them, webinars are basically online seminars in which one or more experts share their knowledge with the participants. It’s a chance to not only build your reputation as an expert in your field, but to pitch your product to an interested audience.
  • Digital summits. Once you have a few webinars under your belt, you may want to try a digital summit. These gatherings are a little more formal than webinars. The biggest difference between digital summits and webinars is that the participants are usually paying to be there. It amps up the pressure for your presentation, but it also means you’re dealing with a more committed audience. As with a webinars, make sure to bring your best content with you and perfect your pitch. Know who you are and exactly what you have to offer.

A partner may be just to thing to jumpstart your email list. When choosing potential partners take a look at what they have to offer and where they are in terms of their business growth and number of subscribers. Ideally you’ll want someone who’s your equal so you’ll have more to offer each other.

Just as in real life, finding a right partner can be challenging, but it also can pay huge dividends. Teamwork can take you places you can’t go alone. So grab a friend and build that list!