Why You Should Give Your Readers the Chance to Opt In to Your List

Once you've established a website and understand how to use keywords to direct traffic to your products, the next step is to ensure that those customers become repeat customers.

This is accomplished by presenting an opt-in offer. Opting in means that visitors to your website choose to receive (via email) a free gift or more information about what you have to offer. This prevents you from being labeled a spammer.

An opt-in is a critical component of your company's foundation. This is the tool that will allow you to keep in touch with potential customers. The person who does not buy after visiting your website for the first time may do so after you've established a relationship and they've learned to trust what you have to say.

You can not only reach those who sign up with an opt in, but if they like what you have to say, they may forward it to a friend. Customers who visit your website and purchase directly from it should opt in because they've already demonstrated an interest in what you have and the likelihood that they'll purchase from you again is extremely high.

You will, however, require their permission to contact them. If a customer leaves your site without making a purchase, you've almost certainly lost their business unless you have another opportunity to contact them.

Of course, there will always be those who read about your products or information, but because they've been burned before, they're hesitant to trust anything - so you'll need the opportunity to show them that you're not the guy who stole their money and their trust.

You have an opportunity to demonstrate to them that there are still good people in online businesses, but you won't have that opportunity unless they sign up for your mailing list. You should place your opt-in box near the top of your page.

Unfortunately, most site visitors do not scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page. You should also keep in mind that they have no reason to contact you. They are aware that you wish to discuss your products and try to sell them something.

So you must ensure that opting in is important to them. In order to entice them to sign up, give them something they want or need. It can be as simple as a brief eBook, a report, or a series of emails referred to as a newsletter.

Whatever it is, make it worth the download, and you'll find that people are far more likely to listen to what you have to say when you do send messages to your opt in list.