Remember why someone joined your list in the first place. Then stay on this topic and provide the very best content and information to them on a regular basis. I am not saying that you shouldn’t include other information in your newsletter, ezine, or email broadcasts, but make sure there is a reason for you to digress.

Think about this for just a moment. If you have signed up here to receive tips on how to make money from a very small list, you would not expect to see a post about blogging for small business or how to write an eBook. Even though you may also be interested in these othe topics, it is not the reason you are subscribed to this blog’s updates. (Make sure you are subscribed to receive updates. I post twice a week on how to make huge profits from a tiny list.)

If you are not sure what your list wants to hear about from you, as them. The people who are interested will be happy to tell you what they want to learn from you. Turn that into an opportunity to connect with more people and to give them exactly what they are looking for.

I talk here about the many different ways to make money with your small list, but why is that so important? If you think about it, a small list means something different to everyone. I was at a conference recently, and a man was telling me about his small list. When I asked how many people he had, the answer shocked me. He told me that he only had about 20,000 names on his list, and that was why he was setting up his business the way he was. His niche was one where the people who were making money typically had more than 100,000 prospects. That is definitely not the norm, no matter which niche you are in.

My idea of a small list is one with just a few hundred names. I believe it is important to make money with a list that size so you can create a marketing

You gave your prospect something when they originally signed up with you. It may have been a special report on your topic, an eBook, an audio recording, some tips, or any of a varity of other things. Even if you gave them helpful tips, give them some more.

Set up a series of 10 autoresponder messages to go out over a 20 to thirty day period. This means they will receive a new tip every 2 to 3 days. Number them, and make sure they are helpful and informative so your prospect will be able to put them into use right away.

By numbering them, people will look forward to receiving each one in sequence. End each message with an action step or call to action, such as asking them to

Sometimes we assume that because our clients found us on the internet that we must continue to work with them only online. Nothing could be further from the truth! You can build great rapport with your list by taking them offline as quickly as possible.

As soon as someone signs up for one of your products, courses, or services, send them a postcard or an envelope with a small gift. These ‘lumpy’ packages are lots of fun, and can contain anything from an eraser to a notepad. The point is that you are reaching out to them in a way your competitors likely are not.

Better yet, pick up the phone and thank them personally for their purchase. Ask them if they have any questions about what they have just ordered. I started

It will be a huge mistake if you assume that the people who join your list can read your mind. In fact, they may not be reading your blog or your articles either. It is up to you to let them know what you are up to online.

The way I like to do this is to send them an email about once a month asking them to read one of my articles or my latest blog post and to leave a comment. I include a shortened link to what I want them to read, making it simple for them to click to read what I have written. Last week I sent them a link to a post I had written about Labor Day and what it means to me.

Also remind your list of the products and courses you have to offer. This can be done even if you are recommending and promoting affiliate products. The important thing to remember is

This may not be the easiest thing to do, but look for current events that you can connect to your niche. For example, when the Amazon Kindle made some changes, I wrote to my list and told them about it. Then I reminded them of the webinar training I had done to show how to submit your eBooks and short reports for publication by Amazon for Kindle users.

The idea was that my list would

You are only human. We tend to forget that fact when we start an online business. Your list will understand this, so don’t be afraid to show your vulnerability when you make mistakes.

Last month, when my main blog was down for two days, I shared the story with my list. I admitted that I had

Everybody loves a secret.  This goes back to our childhood, when knowing a secret made us feel more grown up. Why not share secrets with the people already on your list? This can be a very effective way to build a relationship with your prospects so that you can connect with them on a deeper level.

Starting an online business seems like a mystery to many of the people on my list. They may be frustrated with the process or struggling with the technology. The marketing is completely different from anything they have encountered previously. When I share some ‘insider’ or ’secret’ tips they feel like they are part of the inner circle that

When people find your blog or optin page, they will leave their name and email address in exchange for your free giveaway. Usually this is in a form of a short report on your topic. This report can be several pages in length or longer if you choose.

The most important thing is to include your contact information on every page, as well as affiliate links within the report. These must be relevant links to products or services that make sense to your target market. As people get to know and trust you they will be even more likely to click on your links and make purchases.

People on my list email me regularly before they make a purchase. They discuss the product that I am promoting, and then ask me to make sure they are buying through my link. This is an honor for me, for I know that they trust me to help them make the best possible decision for them as individuals.

Even when my list consisted of fewer than one hundred people, I still promoted affiliate products and services to them on a regular basis. I made sure that what I was recommending to them was a fit with my niche, so that it would make sense to them. For example, I was teaching them how and why to blog regularly, so it was appropriate for me to promote products and services from the Blog Squad on how to blog for your business.

After a few months, my people came to expect my recommendations on affiliate products and services that I had found beneficial. Some began to contact me and ask me if I was an affiliate for someone before they signed up for their program. My income increased and I continued to build my reputation as someone who only promoted what I had used personally and benefitted from in my own business.

Take a look at