Building a relationship with your list can be a simple process if done from the very beginning. Storytelling is a natural and powerful way to connect with your target audience on a much deeper level than what most marketers are doing. You can learn to craft and shape these stories to retain their integrity while still making a point related to your business. Storytelling is comfortable for our audience, can be used to explain what we are doing, and is the basis for list relationship marketing.

We all grew up listening to stories told by the adults in our lives. In school we heard even more stories, especially those related to the history of our country and the world. Over time we become accustomed to hearing stories that shape the way we make sense of the world around us. When you think of someone who has motivated or inspired you, it is very likely you will connect them with the story they tell. Craft your own story to let people know who you are and where you came from. It will allow them to make sense of who you are and how you can help them to succeed. This is a comfortable medium to use with your prospects and clients.

You can explain what you are doing by telling a story around it. For example, I am teaching people how to hold teleseminars when they are new and have no list. The story I shared with them is how I started doing teleseminars by making up a list of names and questions. These were my make believe friends, and they asked questions that moved my calls along. As I began to build a list I no longer needed this pretend list of students, and my business was launched successfully. The point is that anyone can hold a teleseminars, even if they have no one on their list.

Craft stories to connect with your prospects and teach what you know. This is an excellent way to monetize even the smallest list.

Are you excited at the news you are sharing with your list? You must exaggerate what you say and write when you are working online, because the majority of your prospects will never meet you in person. You will want to tell everyone who you are and what you have to offer. This is a form of storytelling that works well on the Internet.

Don’t be afraid to brag about what you are doing and how it will benefit others. You can easily create a ‘buzz’ online by blogging, sending press releases, and sharing information about what you are doing on Facebook and Twitter. Build excitement with everything you, no matter how small it may seem to you at the time. I call this the ‘Kindergarten Effect’ because you will be just as excited in sharing your business news as a Kindergartner is when they have show and tell.

I first did this with an email I sent several years ago. I carried

When I was just starting out online my autoresponder messages were very dry and businesslike. I never wrote about anything that wasn’t precisely on target with what I was writing to them about.

Once I became more comfortable in my business I loosened up quite a bit. I now write about all kinds of things that happen to me, as well as things that will make a point. I have written about winning 25K at