It seems to be that time of the year again when everyone is jumping back on the “Build Your Email List” bandwagon. I have only been building my list for about a year, but I like to think I’ve learned a few lessons along the way. A few things that I listened to initially, I now consider rather bum advice.

The purpose of your list is to continue building that trust and conversation you have going on your blog in hopes of increasing your conversions. To do that, you need to be talking to the right people and in the right way. For this reason, it’s not always in the numbers. You may have 5,000 people on your list, but if only 5 of them open your email and read it each week, what is that doing for you? You won the Biggest List Award? That’s great. How much money did you make from your list? None? Well, here’s were things may have gone wrong.

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Giveaways - If you have a blog, you have likely heard the fastest way to grow that list is by holding a giveaway. People love free stuff! They will subscribe…but they may never read a single email. You have to remember there are serious “Sweepers” out there. They don’t care what you are giving away, they want it. They don’t care what your blog is even about. They probably never looked. They saw a giveaway, subscribed with lightning speed, moved onto the next giveaway blog. The serious sweepers likely have a designated email for these giveaways. Once yours is over, they unsubscribe or let your emails pile up without notice. That doesn’t help you.

If you feel the need to do a giveaway, choose something that is truly relevant to your readers. I have done one giveaway on my blog. I gave away a copy of a book about small business marketing. Was the response huge? No. But those people were targeted to my message. They are likely to keep listening to what I have to say. If you are blogging about freelancing, choose a helpful product for freelancers not a pair of earrings.

Joint Venture Opportunities – I have done a couple of joint venture opps in my short day. JV Opps are when a group of people get together to, in essence, share lists. A separate website is setup. You all stick your opt-in form up there so people can sign up to receive your free report in one easy place. I email my list and tell them they can all go get their freebies there. Everyone else participating does the same. There are good JV Opps and there are bad JV Opps.

Many are not targeted to any one audience. Instead, anyone with a list and a freebie can join. There is going to tons of crap given away. Tons of freebie seekers showing up. They are in, out and off your list before you can send your first newsletter. Waste of time!

On the other hand, I have participated in JV Opps with a few of my fellow small business owners that have been great. Michelle Schaeffer and Jill Hart got a few of us together with freebies that were directed towards small biz owners. Everyday a new person was featured. We each had the opportunity to explain what our freebie was about and why these small biz owners needed it. It was great. The response was much better than the junk pile. Those people stayed on my list and kept reading after they received their freebie. These are good.

Segmented Lists – I love segmented lists. I talk about a few different areas here on the Work at Home Wife. I talk business, and I talk blogging. People on one list may not care about the other. No problem. I can talk to each individually. Both have their own designated freebie. Both receive different emails. This is very good. My Open and Click-Thru rates for my lists is much higher than the industry standard.

Another reason this is a good idea: My freelance friend Danielle is on my Blogging list. When she received one of my autoresponders, she sent me an email letting me know she was going to pass along my report to her list and asked if I would do the same. Her report was directed towards freelancers, not necessarily bloggers. Not a problem! I sent her report to the Small Biz Owner segment of my list. Good stuff!

Build your email list with quality in mind. The numbers don’t count if those on your list couldn’t care less about your message. Target those that need and want to hear your message, and will stick around long enough to get it.