Free reports and ecourses are one of the fastest and best ways to build a profit making list. I have over built a list of over 5,000 subscribers in less than a year, all opt in, using free reports, ecourses and lessons. Plus it didn't cost me a cent :o)
If you don't know why you need to build a contact list then I'm going to let you in on a secret. Get closer cuz I don't want everyone else to hear this...these opt in subscribers will fill your pockets with cold hard cash! You see you can put affiliate links in the reports and mail them occasionally with a complementary product, both ways are profitable.
I hear, "But I'm not a writer". But you don't need to be!
You need to write what people are interested in.
Not "5 Ways To Murder Your Mother-In-Law". OOP's that is not nice of me to think of that:o)
Or "How To Make Dandielion Wine". OK, maybe you are interested in that...:o)
But you get the idea. Write what is a hot topic that everyone is talking about or asking about.
Don't know what
they are looking for? Ask them. Ask your friends or family what
they would like to know more about in your subject field. Or if
it's marketing put up a survey
or poll form on your website or send emails to your contacts.
See what are
the top keywords or keyword phrases at wordtracker.com This is an
excellent place to visit for optimizing your website, mini-site
pages for the search
engines! Get the trial version and if its worth a few bucks subscribe.
Browse hot forums and see what everyone is talking about. The messages with the most 'views' or 'posts' are the hot topics.
Here are a few report ideas:
1. Tips/WaysThis is the easiest to create as all you need are a handful of themed tips with 3-7 sentence explanations. Presto! You have a free report!
2. Tutorial (step by step)
This is probably the report most people want. Find a hot topic and provide step by step tutorial on solving a problem or do something and you will become very popular...overnight!
3. Resources
This is the EASIEST of all free reports to write. Heck my granddaughter, Kylie, could probably write one :o)
Might take some time doing research but it's super easy.
"10 Ways To Link You Website" "8 Tools Every Webmaster Should Have In Their Toolbox"
You get the idea.
4. Interviews
This is another easy one cuz someone else does all the writng for you!
Develop a list of 'burning questions to ask the 'expert'.
Send the expert your list with a good reason to answer them. At least a nice bio with a link to their website adn the right to distribute the report in anyway they want.
What is probably the most important step in creating your free report? The HEADLINE! As with ads, unless you capture the attention of the reader in the first 1-2 seconds you won't have many subscribers.
Here are a few headlines:
"7 Quick Tips To Overnight Profits"
"7 Quick Tips"
"How I Made $650 With 7 Quick Tips"
Which one would you pick? The first? I don't think so. In my humble opinion it would be the last. It has two eye catching factors. 7 and $650. People will know its not a long drawn-out report but 7 quickie type tips and everyone would like to make $650 by knowing these tips.
Bottom
line. Remember the old worn out by don't every forget the famous
radio station, WIIFM or WHAT'S IN IT FOR ME. Keep that in mind every
time you write a headline and you will see 100's or even 1,000's
subscribing to your free
report.