How to create value for your readers and boost your subscriptions
The key to being effective at building a reader-base, whether it be to your blog or email newsletter is to provide value to your readers. So, this article is about exactly what that means and some tips on how to accomplish this goal.
What is “Value”?
Simply put, value is how much a thing is worth. If it’s worth a lot it has a high value, if it’s worth nothing it has no value. Obvious enough, but the other side of this is that the fact that I’m talking about stuff you give away for free. So there’s no real dollar value since you’re not actually selling it. This makes the meaning of “value” a little more complex.
What I mean when I say it is that it is of benefit to your reader – that it makes their life better in some way. And the size of the improvement is the measure of the value. So if you give someone a tip that saves them 5 minutes, you’ve provided value. If you teach them how to cut their heating costs by 50% in 5 simple steps, you’ve given them a lot of value. And in some cases it may not be measurable. It might just be a new insight into a way of thinking or understanding the big picture of their business. This could have far-reaching benefits that they may not realize for months or even years down the road.
The point is that you should always be striving to provide a benefit to your readers by focusing on delivering as much value as possible. The fact that the information you’re providing is free does not mean that it can ever be worthless.
The Value Test
Here’s a quick and easy way to determine if you’re providing value or not: Just ask yourself if you would be glad to have received the information or if you would feel like you’ve wasted your time reading it. Be honest and you’ll have your answer.
Also ask yourself if you would you give this information to a friend? Are you trying to help, and do you believe the information you provide is helpful? The key is to serve first. Always have as your goal to be of service and you will most likely be providing value.
How to Provide Value
Method 1:
- Look for problems or “pains.” These can be anything from saving time logging into the same websites again and again to getting your email messages opened. Anything that is a common problem.
- Search for solutions to these problems. Do the research, spend the time and find solutions. This is where the value comes in. You’ve spent the time finding the answers that people want to know.
- Give the details of the solution to your readers. These can be step-by-step guides, resource lists, tips, etc.
Just think of how valuable it would be to you, if someone went out and found the solution to your most nagging problem . . . and then gave that solution to you for free. That’s what creates trust and good will. And that’s what builds relationships.
Method 2:
The other way to provide value is to give some of your specialize knowledge away for free. This could be anything that people want to know, but generally don’t. In the case of this blog it’s all about internet marketing and making money online. I happen to know a little bit about it and I want to share that knowledge with you. I also want to help you make money online.
Action Steps
So, I’d like you think about what you want to learn and post it below, and I will write articles focused on the topics you’re interested in. Don’t ask me how to copy and paste. 
Instead think about what you need most to move your business forward. What are you having difficulty with? What just doesn’t make sense? What do you want to learn about?
And if I’m not an expert in the area you’re interested in, I’ll find someone who is and pick their brain for you. Either way, I’ll post the information you need here on this blog. Please don’t be shy – tell me what you need, and I’ll give it to you.
Hi Dustin,
I have a couple of questions to start you off.
1. It seems that all the gurus in this business direct their sales efforts towards those of us who would like to be like them. Does anyone sell non internet marketing products?
2. How would you suggest that we start creating our list of email addresses?
3. Once we have those addresses, can we earn money by sending emails with good content and affiliate links or do we need a website to direct our list people to where we again leave good content and affiliate links.
4. Last, but not least, why is it that everything that is for sale from the gurus ends in a 7: $27, $47, $97, $197, @1997?
Whatever you have to say about any or all of these things will be greatly appreciated.
What I want to know is how find the kind of people who are excited, motivated and have the money necessary to start and build a home based business. If possible, I would like the process to find these people to be free or cost(in $$) as little as possible and would not require me to have to do a lot of work in order to get them into my business. Heh I am not opposed to hard work, but if there is am easier way I want to know what it is!
Hi Dustin,
I´ll tell you exactly what I need without hesitation
But first, let me just explain why !
I lost my job not so long back and at 50 years old in a foreign country (Spain) it´s not easy to get a job unless you want to “fly under the radar” so to speak.
So as I used to be involved in I.T , and I´ve always perceived that a money could be made out of the internet I embarked on putting my empire together, but boy was I in for a shock. It´s like going back to college or Uni´and studying all over again. There are so many aspects to this game.
Unfortunately I´ve fallen into the trap of buying everything that I perceived would sell and basically have got bogged down with everything to the point where things are getting desperate.
I have 30+ “easyniche” domain names which I intend to develop as a brand name. easynicheadsense.com…easynichesales.com…easynichevideo.com.
and so on.
That gives you a bit of background so here goes….
1…The first thing I need is to make some money quickly but more importantly long term, I think I need a mentor.
Most people seem to have been through the mill so to speak and when hooking up with a mentor have gone on to be succesful.
Hope that answers your question and I look forward to your response.
All the best
Phil
Dustin,
I appreciate your offer of helping out with your readers questions and or problems in online marketing. I think it adds a lot of value and it is appreciated.
My question is, “traffic” I know this covers alot of territory but it is a big hurtle for me, first there is SEO, but I had my site built and I just don’t have a clue how to make changes and getting a change made by my webmaster might as well be like me climbing Mt. Everest! Maybe it’s possible and I’m willing to work at it but PHEW there has got to be another way! It was expensive and took forever!
Then there is PPC, I spent a good 1000.00 to take Google Adwords and MSN PPC for a test drive but the competition is fierce and expensive. Then the, pay a service for your traffic routine, I’m sure your laughing right now, but live and learn right. 100.000 visitors for a few hundred bucks yea I tried that twice and I’m sure you know that does not work.
Lastly there is email, now I happen to be somewhat proficient in this arena, operate my own servers and have quite large lists but that is my only means of traffic/sales I know there must be another way, I’m just not sure what it is. Thanks for letting me bend your ear and I look foreword to your response.
Damon,
Hi All
I’d really like to know about video’s. I am stumped when it comes to what type of templete to use for the video sites, also I have 1 video and have no clue how to up load it…to say youtube etc. what specs. I have to use. I’m just completely lost?. I have downloaded camtasia 3 and I have movie maker in my software,
I’m perty sure I can do it I just need to know the whole process.
Thanks Much………..David…(BostonDave)
I need sign ups. Show me how
Hi Dustin,
A few months ago I set up a very simple web page to help people locate a valuable cancer resource ebook, which I consider to be the best book I have ever come across.
I also set up this 1st real effort to sell an affiliate product, as an experiment, to learn from it as well as to assist folk.
Well I made my 1st $100 over a couple of months and then the traffic just died and I have no idea where the sales came from in the 1st place!
I am scared to use adwords, since I am only earning a part time income and I am confused over the subject of article marketing, with regards to duplicate content.
I also set up a wordpress blog on the same dimain at:
http://www.asunburst.com/healthtips/
Despite incorporating a large ping list – there is simply no traffic coming to this blog – again the blog was set up to help others first and then to be an additional spring board into affiliate marketing.
I would appreciate any advice you would kindly give as I want to get into affiliate marketing for various reasons, and also with the goal of benefitting my fellow man.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Robert
how to build a squeeze page.
well, where do I start! I am inexperienced at internet marketing…so I think the first thing is I do not understand how to load up my website to send to multiple leads.I have about 200K leads on my desktop that are five days old and need to be
sent. Even, simplier than that I have two programs I am working and want to have my own “personal website to identify who I am and use “my” website to advertise the two programs I
want to promote!! Both programs have a similar product. I am
just now downloading the instructions to setup both programs and I’m not even sure how to pick up emails at each website.
Any help….with graditude!! Mick
Hello,
You know I am promoting several programs and I have several affiliates(by several I mean a minimum of 25….the highest being 53. Combined totals being about 150 affiliates)
But I also have probably another 800 contacts through various networking sites with affiliates in them as well.
Most of the programs I am promoting already have GREAT auto-response sales systems in place and I know that ANY KIND OF PROMOTION IS A NUMBERS GAME. Its partly only common sense that….Yeah More affiliates means a more likely chance of a sale. ( I have made a few sales here and there but in relationship to the number of affiliates and programs it seems pretty low)
The programs and services that I have to offer supply great value and people join them because they are great and they are affordable but I have found that most people would rather join, keep it free and do nothing with it.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind if my affiliates want to keep their memberships free because then if they do promote, the majority of what they are promoting are my programs.(I don’t want to sound selfish but that fact is just logic….”I Think”)
What would be a better way for me to express the value of the benefits of paid memberships without making it sound like I just want them to pull out their wallet to make a purchase for my benefit.
Any tips here or do I just need to give It a little more time and just keep doing what I’m doing?
I greatly appreciate your input
Thank You
Dawn
Hi !
I’m trying to get affiliates to this new technology that will revolutionize the entire web, but it is extremelly difficult, and i’d like to know how to make it easier
Thank you.
Karen
Being listed on natural searches is a very hard task. I want to eventually create a template of sites that would earn me a few hundred a month for each site, whether through adsense, affiliate, drop-ship, or my own products. Its the point of breaking through and finding a decent source of income other than selling “make money” products!
I dont have a website. I have been fooling around on the net for a little over a year and what drives me crazy is info overload
I would rahter have it as needed it just confuses me.
So I am quiting everything else and consontrating on The Millionaires Club. Might as well head for the top, right?However I am having trouble getting my 3 referrals I only have one so far. So some advice on this probvlem would be appreciated.
I really like this idea and an interested in reading all your answers . Keep up the GOOD work.
Hi Dustin, where do I start. I am a total newbie who has made
nada online. With all the promotions,safelist advertisements,
Launches, etc.It can be overwhelming. aahhh!!
How would I know in writing a blog that what I have to say or offer
hasn’t already been done,Or if what I have to say to my readers is what they want to hear about. How would I go about writing something off of the top of my head and know that,that information would benefit my readers and make it sound like they havent heard that information already.
There is alot of information circulating that sounds the same
Setting up an autoresponder is daughting. I am signed up with
An autoresponder and for the minimal amount they are charging
it is a no brainer and they are reputable. But it doesnt serve me well if there are no messages in the system. I dont know where to go except a thankyou page being my first letter being sent out
I know you have heard it all before but I would greatly appreciate any insight
Thankyou,
Michele
Hi Dustin,
I joined yesterday so I haven’t finished reading everything. I should have it all finished by the end of tomorrow. I guess the first thing to do is get people to purchase the program. I have tried a lot of programs and spent a lot of money and I have nothing to show for it. It would be nice to be successful so I’m willing to put in the effort to make it happen. I was in network marketing and that was an expensive waste of time. I welcome any ideas you might have and I’m sure I will have some questions for you. Thank you very much.
Jack hadley
This is really not an answer to any of the above problems, but another statement and question. I have a message from e-mail that can, I believe will help me to make enough to help getting started in an internet business. I need elp getting at least 30 good hunmgry people to help me to get this thing rolling. Can You help in any way. Thanks. April 24th, 9:18 PM
I love the business model of network marketing, but everything I have read says to make value for the prospect. The value should be in the product and business opportunity, NOT me! The way I see it, if value has to be created, it isn’t a good opportunity. This is why I was so relieved when I found an opportunity that was free to sign up, you get a free website, and there are no juices, vacations, memberships, or any of that stuff to convince the prospect that they need. People just have to do what they normally do. Check out my site for more info
There is a BIG clue as to internet success in your request that readers/subscribers actually get involved.
It shows you care about your ‘list’ a little more than you care about a dollar.
The other clue is the fact that you “asked” your readers/subscribers for input. Same thing.
People who subscribe are ‘people’ – NOT dollars on a balance sheet.
Most ezines I’m subscribed to just hype up their product…Buy this $4000 value for $297, no 197 no 97…no 47…get it before midnight this date for only 27….( why all the 7s? Good question. Because it works).
My question: What are the ’signals’ that an internet person/marketer can be trusted?
I’m honestly new to this internet business myself – but my newsletter already has subscribers in 50 countries. Must be doing something right. And it’s NOT about how to do business on the internet!!!
Michael Knight
Editor – Earth Change Report
http://www.buycontacthasbegun.com
(Couldn’t help myself. A self-plug right there….which I learned from a ‘guru’….))
Building Value & Traffic. Those are keys. Also How do you get in on real Joint Ventures.
Hi Dustin
I am absolutely zero on the internet.
A lot better with a 9-5 which is what I am waiting for..
Language is a big constraint where i am now..Moscow
I am waiting to relocate and make fresh beginnings in India where I have lived and worked before making my way to Russia.
If you have any connections in Health, Education or both in India and know of someone who can benefit with someone like me let me know..I will give you my resume and be there …I am rooting for Bangalore where my Guru and daughter are .
Thanks for all that you have given me so far and the time you took out especially for me
Trust this finds you in good cheer
regards
Nayanika
Hello,
I want to thank you for your offer of help. It is greatly appreciated. My problem is getting people to sign up for my program. Any suggestions on how to close and get them to sign up?
Thanks again,
Sharleen
-1-templates-2
-2 Quickwebsite
-3videos
Warning to anyone using Yahoo Search Marketing:
You cannot use affiliate links as target URLs (I suspect this is a change of policy) You have to OWN the domain you are sending visitors to, AND if selling as an affiliate you must state that you are doing so. Seems to me that just creates another hurdle for would-be buyers and may put them off completely.
Will Google go the same way? And does this spell the end of affiliate marketing via PPC as we know it?
Hi, Dustin,
Thank you for your kind offer. My problem is a little different from the usual run. I have a major invention that has been valued at billions of dollars USD. I have been sending info to big companies in the energy field, aiming to inform them and build up trust. To date there has been little interest, in spite of the importance of the invention.
I will be interested in any suggestions you have.
Thanks,
John
As you said in the video , will you please suggest me anything to open a web domain.
How to go for getting a web site ?
What I really want is to know what traffic programs to stick with and which ones to drop.
It seems like every marketer is creating a new traffic exchange/program so that just seems to mean I have to spend even more time flicking emails I don’t really want rather than just getting on with building my business.
So a guide to exchanges and exchange linking would be great.
Hi Dustin,
Thankyou for the chance to ask.
I guess I would like to know how to find exactly the right type of people for my business. You see, I would like to create a team of like-minded people who want to help each other succeed.
I have been reading … or rather .. studying quite a lot of internet marketing materials over the past two years and with my day job included I seem to have fallen into “information overload”, which ends up entering into my email account with so many people with so many new and great courses.
I cannot do them all and I cannot seem to find enough time in the day.
I think what I need is some time management techniques and a decent laptop so that I’m not restricted to my home and desktop.
But where do I start looking?
Thanks in Advance,
Best Regards,
Steve
Thank you for taking the time to want to help and more importantly ask how you can help.
There are two things I am looking for information, advice, or further resources on now.
1)What are good options/solutions for a self hosted autoresponder and is going that route instead of the monthly paid membership route a safe, reliable, recommendable way to go?
2)While hosting a wordpress blog, what would I do to add sales pages, resale pages, auction sites, etc.? Since I’ve just began my first blog and used fantastico to simply set up the blog, I have no idea where pages go if I want to upload them to my server. Basically I don’t know where sales pages go if I upload them, or where to upload them.
Once again, thank you for you consideration and any advice you can offer us will be beneficial.
Hi there thanks for the offer ti help.
My main problem is how to promote my program. I’m using adwords and different support groups and forums but the internet is like overflowed with people like me. But as I’m a total newbie it’s going good I’ve got 5 leads in a week – is this good?
But the program – the idea of the system is great.
Petra
How to build the website and the list
Dear Dustin Struckman,
I am here Tahir. Thanks for your good wishes. My friend Dustin I may mention that I wasted my precious time and money but in vain. I have participated many affiliate programme and have a bitter experience. Frankly therefore I hesitate to participate. My brother I want to earn some real money it will be your kindness if you could help me. Last day I reading an article with the heading “If I were the master of my fate”. The guy in this article faced unbelieveable problems. In the end given away his efforts to face new adventure. It is a very interesting article. I will sent you this article if you have some time to spare.
Warmest reegards,
Tahir
I really need to earn money on the internet to supplement our old age pension. I am a newbie, but I feel with the right coaching I can earn money on the internet. Jean Lowry
Thanks for your concern at all times. I love all your marketing article and advisory services your offer to help.
The problem I am facing are numerous but to mention few:-
- I had no wesite of my own
- Whom do i sell the ideas to when i am in accounting field.
-How do i diversify and be able to function and market people wirh marking forces?
-I had no fereign account o trade with.
-How do i get people to sign up my programme – how to fashion video and templates for designing products
-Geting funds transfer from Nigeria in foreign currencywhen you have no domiciliary account is a big problem to buy some of your products to diggest.
-thanks for solving the above issues raised and offer to help
Israel.
Hi Dustin,
I’m a bit like Phil. No. 3. I’ve spent more than I can afford, so need money quickly. I have a lot of trouble understanding some instructions. Because of this, I’m flat out trying to keep up with all my emails so I don’t get much spare time either.
I’ve been trying to advertise my programs, but if I go to do something a couple of days later, I’ve forgotten how to do it, which makes me very slow.
It would be great to have a mentor, but I can’t afford to pay one, so I very much doubt if you can be of any help.
Ann,
I am 69 & only doing affiliate marketing at this stage, but I need to be able to build a squeeze page. How do you get it onto the Net with a URL?
Many thanks – I appreciate the offer of help!
I am new to this and am not getting links or traffic. What do I need to do?
Thanks for your help.
Hi Saul,
Good questions. Here are your answers:
1. Yes, many internet marketers make good money selling non-IM products. You just don’t hear about them because you’re in the market to find ways to make money. If you were looking for dog training tips, for example, you would find offers from marketers in that niche.
2. Two ways to go about creating your list: The easy way is to join Affiliate Silver Bullet, which automates the entire process. The other way is to do it all yourself. This requires an entire article (or series), which I will write for you soon (since you asked first).
3. Well, first it’s difficult to build a list without a site, so you’ll need one anyway. And there are a lot of advantages to having your own site, which I’ll go over in the article(s) I write for you…
4. Oddly enough, there is a reason for this. I’m not sure we know why, but it’s well known that prices ending in 7’s sell better. between $95, $99 and $97 the $97 will convert more than the others. It’s some strange psychological thing that no one can really explain, but it works.
Hello Denise, Flo, Esten, Dan, Steve and others who are involved in MLM / network marketing.
Some of the things that I’ll talk about here on this blog will apply to you, however there are aspects of your business that are beyond the scope of this blog.
In network marketing, no matter what anyone tries to tell you, it’s all about the personal relationship. This is very different than the kind of relationship you develop through your website, email and public forums. It requires one-on-one time on the phone and ultimately in person to nurture and grow. And although it’s commonly touted that you don’t need to rely on any one person in your “downline” to make your business a success, you do need to build these relationships. Because if you don’t have anyone in your downline, you don’t have a business.
So, the marketing side: driving traffic, developing content, generating leads and otherwise automating the front-end of your funnel all applies. But getting people into your business, motivating and keeping them there is something you need to work with your upline for support on.
I’m happy to help with anything that applies strictly to internet marketing.
Hi Phil, Ann and anyone else who feels like they need a mentor.
I completely agree and think having a mentor is a great idea. Keep in mind that there are different kinds of mentors…and not all of them charge for their time. Mentoring or coaching programs offered to groups are what you’re used to seeing online and they have a cost associated.
However, there are also mentors available right where you live that simply want to “give back.” These are people who’s already made their money (are probably retired) and now want to help someone else along the way. Begin by talking to people you know and respect and tell them you respect them and you’re looking for a mentor. Ask if they or anyone they know would be interested in helping you.
I’ll also consider starting a scaled down mentorship-type program – maybe a private forum where we can discuss your specific business needs and goals. If there’s more interest in this, I’ll look into putting something together for you…
The rest of the questions seem to fall into a few more groups:
1. Traffic – which includes free and paid.
2. SEO
3. Video
4. Email Marketing
5. Autoresponders, hosting and other tools
6. General getting started
And a few specific questions, that I’ll answer below. For the other 5, here’s what I’ll do:
1. I’ve already written several articles on traffic generation and I will continue with more on this…
2. I’ve been planning on writing about SEO, so I’ll stub that in now and get to it next (after list building and more traffic).
3. I will be talking about video in the traffic generation series and on it’s own. I’m also working with a video marketing expert to get you some exclusive content on that already.
4. This is important and I will write some on this for you, as well.
5. I’ll try to work on a resource list for you. I’ve been through a lot of different tools and services, so I’ll pool together what I’m using and what I like best and post it up somewhere…
6. This one seems to be the most common, so I think what I’m going to do here is create a complete “Getting Started” guide and deliver it in the form of an email series. That way it keeps you on track and doesn’t confuse you by giving too much info too quickly.
So you can Subscribe to the RSS Feed to be notified or check back here regularly for these updates…
Hi Dustin,
Thanks for your response. I look forward to your writings and whatever else you are willing to share with all of us. I guess it paid to be number one on this comment list ie:{This requires an entire article (or series), which I will write for you soon (since you asked first). }
With great appreciation,
Saul
I am new at this too and can relate to many of the questions and frustrations mentioned. Certainly information overload and thereby confusion etc is high on the list, and I think a step by step email course would be good. Also a mentoring forum sounds good too, I’d be up for it.
By the way, how’s the new affiliate silver bullet system coming along?
Hi Jonathan,
I hear you and I’m on it!
You can keep up to date on ASB over at the member’s blog here
very tough to get traffic but with so much competition its even harder. i also have the idea of many small income generating sites that i can reasonably handle to eventually quit my job. the problem with this is again, TRAFFIC. i’m fine doing the PPC thing but bidding on these words is getting more expensive where the little guy cant afford it. the deep pocket marketers are squeezing us out, so where is the “equalizer” mentality of the internet where anybody can compete?