It has been said that the best source of new business is upselling old clients or asking them for referrals. This is a great strategy but what if you are a new website without a big following?

This is a great question and The Diva has an answer for you. THe best way to grow a mailing list is to create an offering. Now let's be reasonable offer something that is affordable for you and interesting to your audience. The bottom line is assume everyone is at least as smart as you are. Offer your audience something that you would want if you went to another site.


Here are a few examples of what to offer:

1. A weekly top ten list that pertains to your specific market. This can be a summary of the top ten news items or hints and tips about your subject.

2. A monthly question and answer column. Spell out a specific question that is on the mind's of your target market and send it out to your mailing list.

3. A monthly special offer that is actually of value to your audience. Don't offer a fifty percent discount while inflating your price. Don't offer a rebate that will be available in three months. On the other hand a free personal phone or email consultation or perhaps a free add on with a reasonable minimum purchase is probably worthwhile.

Marketing Sherpa released a paper about five years ago that said clients and prospects will provide websites with their personal information if they receive something valued at the price of a Big Mac. Granted inflation has been in the mix and gas is over four dollars per gallon, but certainly you can offer something that is of value and doesn't break you.

Contests are another opportunity to capture names and emails. A very catchy contest about now is a gas card. t doesn't matter where you are because many gas stations are nationwide but if not AMEX and VISA offer gift cards and they can be used for gas or merchandise anywhere the cards are accepted.

Make sure that you let your visitors know that their information will not be sold or shared and therefore will not spawn a junk mail pandemic in their in box. Of course if you are selling or sharing information it is best to tell your visitors. Be honest with your visitors and offer something valuable and not only will they return but they will refer others.