Engagement Versus List Building

After recently launching my training site for budding online entrepreneurs @Keypoint Learning I've returned to the reason I'm actually online. 


My motto is that:

 I'm online to have fun, network with like minded people for mutual inspiration and to fund my travel and lifestyle ambitions.

In a nutshell that's my definition of life balance. Many online marketers seem to have different motivations. I constantly see them masquerading as friends on the social networks, posting only to blatently pitch their unsolicited message to anonymous connections they've shamelessly collected as a misguided list building exercise.


Misguided? When someone who I've never interacted with connects with me via Twitter or Facebook I find myself much more enthused if their 'followers' number in the 100's rather than the tens of thousands. Mass followers originate occasionally from some form of guru or celebrity status, but more often from the pursuit of building a list

I recently conducted an exercise whereby I direct messaged 100 'connections' who had solicited a follow request, with a specific and personal comment relating to them ie non automated. The reciprocal result was ...... eerily empty. There is a whole world of Tweeters sending automated messages to 1000's of loose connections none of whom have any inclination to respond. Pointless.


Well maybe not entirely. It's akin to a massive letterbox drop. If 1% respond then that may be an acceptable ROI but.... it's a real killer of relationship building though. The irony is of course that if these Tweeters took the time to actually personally connect with just 100 - the impact would be extra ordinary.

For this reason I've become more choosy with who I connect with on Facebook and have no desire to accumulate too many disinterested number chasers. Twitter? I'm happy to accept 95% of requests with minimal expectation of real connection - and there is some value as a broadcasting forum.


Where's this blog heading? Sorry to ramble on. The message relates to the under rated value of engagement. If you read a blog that has some interest maybe take a second a hit the like icon - it's a minimal commitment but ....you guessed it -it's a form of engagement.


Perhaps the odd comment. (no pun intended - odd comments are often quite funny!)  There is a whole community of bloggers who spend half their lives commenting on other blogs just for a reciprocal comment. That to me seems pretty manufactured - though not a criticism


Real engagement is a habit that takes time - but like most interactions offline and online the reward maybe surprisingly is that the reward and self satisfaction more often comes from the giving than the receiving


Almost forgot! My latest Video updating my primary online business My Paid Vacations

Get Online FAST and Protect and Build Your Market Share

Consider this:


In 1996 there were less than 20 million people online. Today there are well in excess of a Billion! It is estimated that more than one in five people on the planet is connected. 


The landscape has changed utterly, and you know what? It’s virtually untapped. It’s like the dawn of the industrial revolution. We’re just stumbling around in the dark trying to figure out what’s happening. 

Most people will sleep walk through this historical period of unlimited opportunity only to awake years later and wonder what happened! No kidding...

The message is this. Tap in fast. Get involved and evolve with the technology. Those that embrace the medium will attain successes that previous generations could only dream about. 


And for one simple reason. It’s called Leverage. The ability to leverage other peoples’ skills and resources is absolutely phenomenal.

Traditional Marketing strategies are no longer effective. How has your return on investment on your Yellow pages advertising changed in the last 5 years? If you are marketing to a demographic under 45 then I'd guess the answer is sobering


A half hearted attempt to embrace Twitter Facebook and other social media forums just won't cut it. 

Put yourself in the shoes of the super busy 24/7 digitally connected and consider how your decision making process evolves. 


You're on the road iphone4 or ipad in hand. You need two new TYRES/NEW ACCOUNTANT/DENTAL procedure - what do you do?


This is what I do. Google 'cheap tyres Innaloo' 'accountant North Perth' 'dentist Scarborough'


5 seconds later my choice has been narrowed to less than half a dozen businesses. Are you on this list? 


I haven't got time to get 10 quotes - what I want is convienience. When I click on your website - does it convey instatntly why I should call you NOW?


Drive by traffic equates to google search.....





I've found you what next? Wow you offer a discount voucher valid for next two days for all new clients! Free car wash with all purchases over $80! You bulk Bill!


Sure, I'll drop my email address in the box for an update on how to get 10% off all purchases made in the next 12 months.


Cool I don't think I'll bother scouring the 'net for any other companies - I've got a 'coffee catch up' with a friend in 30 minutes.


It's not that complicated. Get found. Have a compelling offer and attract an email address!

Work With Me!

Floating Lead Capture Pages Can Transform ANY Business FAST!

The title sounds like a Click Bank advert promising the world at the click of a button - and there's more....


Seriously if you've been online for more than 5 minutes you've probably heard that there are 3 keys to succeeding online

Build a LIST

Sell to the list

Repeat the process

Pretty simple huh?

Not really of course. Where's this magical list coming from? Sure if I had a list of 200k loyal subscribers who like and trust me enough to actually open my emails and then click through on my links, then this whole Internet Marketing gig would be pretty good wouldn't it?


So many questions!


If you've read my ebook 'Rip Up The Rule Book' (click on the Penguin Pic on the right) you'll know that I am a great advocator of differentiation. Following the Pied Piper can have unfortunate consequences BUT I think it goes without saying that building a targeted audience and capturing their details (email) gives you enormous leverage.


Here's the thing. If by some miracle someone stumbles across your website (excuse the irreverent language!) you have one opportunity to impress them enough for them to click through your links and maybe join a business venture or purchase something BUT that is rare.

Like an ADHD 6 year old who's had a gallon of red cordial - no sooner has the thought occurred to them to check your stuff out than some other shinier distraction catches their eye and a million clicks later they're laughing their socks off at some YouTube video involving the misadventures of someone's cat and parrot -with no earthly idea how they got there!!!


Maybe that's you!


Below are some lead capture links that I use to add stickiness to my websites. They solicit a direct request for information in return for something of value


PS that last bit is hugely important. I might offer potentially $100's of dollars of ebooks, videos and so forth just for an email address.


Check these out for yourself

Free Gifts on your Website

Work With Me Site

Specific Niche Website

List Building With Social Media

PPS: I don't generally like the PPS but anyway if you'd like to hook up with me for more hands on help then I have a proposal that might interest you (limited time-really) 

WORK WITH ME