Here are the five main steps to building your list effectively:

The First Step
Keep it simple. Your target market doesn’t want to use their precious time on figuring out things that are complex and time-consuming; they’ll go to an alternative website if you make enrolling tough on them.

Create a clear sign-up box and also make it obvious that you will operating a double opt in mailing list. That means when they give out you their details they will get an email asking them to confirm they want your information.

Studies are now showing just asking for an email address gets the the majority people to opt-in. You can always ask for additional details afterward on, when they have gotten to trust you more.

And remember to make it just as stress-free to opt-out of your list.

The Second Step
Keep in touch with the your prospects on your list often and regularly. Send out newsletters often; at the very least, bi-weekly. The optimum is weekly. These newsletters fulfill all sorts of purposes. To name but a few:

• They keep you ‘top-of-mind’ with your prospects
• They allow your to show off your skill
• You can publicize your products and services

The Third Step
Make certain that you give the people on your mailing list valuable and worthwhile information. If all you send them are ads for your products or services, you’re going to get many people unsubscribing.

When you offer valuable information, you are showing your prospects you know your stuff and that they should purchase from you as you are the expert.

The Fourth Step
Actively seek out subscribers to your mailing list. It is not sufficient to set up a website and expect your target market to join your list. ‘If you build it, they will come’ is not going to happen… ever!

There are literally thousands of websites similar to yours; you have got to do something to generate attention and show whyyour mailing list better and more valuable to join than anyone else’s.

Visit forums, chat groups, blogs and social media outlets. And post articles to generate interest in your and your site.

You can also build your list quickly by incorporating a promotional event to generate visibility and exposure.

The Fifth Step
Use networking to get referrals and links. Use the power of other peoples lists to build your own by asking others who serve a similar demographic to recommend your list to theirs.

Are you looking for more ideas to build your list quickly? I have a free report “Secrets to Building a Profitable List” by visiting http://discovereasylistbuilding.com/

Her reasoning was based on the fact that she would have to opt-in to each person’s list instead of just getting everything on a download page. She was also upset that each marketer involved in the Be Heard Day giveaway had a different process to collect the information. Some asked for just an email address. Others asked for more info. One is even asking for snail mail info.

A pain, yes. But a bait & switch? Really?

What took me by surprise even more was the fact that she said she knew I was going to share the email addresses with all the other participants so why would she need to do all this work to get a report or audio, or whatever other marketing and PR content they were giving away.

First, I DO NOT give away email addresses to anyone. That be against my own privacy policy. There’s a link to the policy right on the opt-in box at the Be Heard Day giveaway site, so I do take it very seriously.

Second (and this may hurt you a little), this little giveaway isn’t just fun and games. It’s serious business to me and to the other marketers who are participating. Many created brand new products to give to you. Why shouldn’t they ask for something in return, in this case, your contact details?

Let me tell you a story about a young, naive PR person, new to internet marketing… (Yes, I’m talking about me here.)

When I started on the Internet, I was told to give away something to help others so you can gain their trust.

So I did. I gave out tons and tons of very useful materials; all you had to do was click a link and it was yours.

People praised me for all my helpfulness. I got tons of thank yous from the coaches and consultants who used the information to get some free publicity. And I thought, “This is great! They like me and soon they will buy from me.”

But guess what? No one bought a darn thing from me.

And you can guess why… I couldn’t stay on top of their minds, so they forgot about me. Plus, with only one contact with me (that free stuff), they never got to know me, like me or trust me enough to buy from me.

Basically, I whored my talents out for nothing. (Yes, I’ll admit it!)

Once a very smart Internet marketer showed me that having people opt-in was a better approach, both the new subscriber got something and I did.

And guess what?!? It worked. I started marketing myself more and made more money. And the rest… is still going strong.

So I’m sorry if all the opt-ins offend you. It isn’t personal. It’s business. And frankly, part of Be Heard Day is about me being heard too!

So what do you want for nothing?

Well, how about a laugh from one of my favorite bands, The Blues Brothers.

And by the way, just because the stuff is free doesn’t mean it isn’t valuable. I’ve learned a ton from some of the giveaway items I’ve gotten a chance to see already. So I know you can too! Visit the Be Heard Day giveaway site today! And yes, you need to opt-in!

And for more PR ideas, including press releases that have everything you need to make a local publicity splash, check out Penny Pinching Publicity.

The key is publicity. But how do you start?

I have a little recipe I share that can help you achieve publicity:

1. Find your voice. Know your target market and understand how to communicate with them. It’s one thing to have a marketing message. It’s a completely other thing to be able to share it with your target audience. I suggest sharing your expertise with tips, tactics and ideas.
2. Tell your story. What avenues will you use to get publicity? A press release? Social media? Networking? Choose a couple of avenues that resonate with your target market and craft messages using ‘your voice’ as indicated in step 1.
3. Be Heard. Distribute your messages in the proper format in the best way your audience can consume them.

Want more ideas on how to get publicity and PR? Be Heard Day is coming in just two days. You’ll get tons of free ebooks, free audios, fill-in-the-blank press releases and more.

Gates open on March 7 (National Be Heard Day), but you can check out the website at http://www.beheardday.com

What?!? You don’t recall this holiday being on your calendar?  National Be Heard Day is March 7. I created the holiday to help entrepreneurs – like you – to find their voice, tell their story and be heard by using low-cost marketing tactics to promote their businesses.

National Be Heard Day is recognized in Chase’s Calendar of Events, has been recognized in New York State, and has gotten amazing media coverage including being featured by the Associated Press, as well as numerous business publications across the US and Canada.

But what makes Be Heard Day so wonderful is that each year I have given away free tools to help entrepreneur to be heard. Plus, I’ve asked a few of may marketing pals – people I respect – to give away additional free tools to help you be heard.

You’ll get free information from Rebecca Murtagh, who will help you make sure your website is getting ‘Google Love’; learn 25 ways to hear Ka-Ching! in your business fast from Michelle PW, and even  two fill-in-the-blank news releases  from me.  All in all, you’ll get more than $5500 worth of marketing tips and tactics for free.

I know. I know. You’re wondering… what’s the catch?  What do you need to buy to get all these great things – and more?

But that’s the great thing.  There’s nothing to buy.

The site officially opens on March 7 (which happens to be my husband’s birthday) but you can get all the details of this event at http://www.beheardday.com

So mark you calendars for March 7 to get tons of information to be heard!

And if you are looking for more information about press releases, as well as completely formatted fill-in-the-blank releases, check out Penny Pinching Publicity.

According to the Associated Press (AP) Stylebook (the leading writer’s guide for journalists), stories based on public opinion polls must include the basic
information for an intelligent evaluation of the results.

If you craft your news release to answer the AP’s suggested questions, you’re on your way to getting some great media coverage.

1. Who did the poll and who paid for it?
2. How many people were interviewed? How were they selected?
3. Who was interviewed? (The demographics of the people interviewed.)
4. How was the poll conducted — by telephone or some other way?
5. When was the poll taken?
6. What are the sampling error margins for the poll and for subgroups mentioned in the story?
7. What questions were asked and in what order?

And what happens when your survey is done? Recycle it!

Create a white paper, based on your research, to offer to current and potential customers and clients.

Then send a news release to industry reporters that you have a white paper available on a specific topic.

Need more help with creating a survey or poll for publicity? Grab a 30-minute publicity breakthrough now. You’ll get a one-on-one session with Shannon, and have all your publicity and marketing questions answered

Yesterday I was busy packing for Bob The Teacher’s Simple Event in Wilmington. My flight was leaving this morning, so I had plenty of time to relax before the event started on Friday.

Notice I said ‘was leaving.’ The fact of the matter is  it didn’t. My flight was canceled last night due to the first major snow storm of the season. (Some are actually calling it a ‘snow hurricane’!)

Here I was stuck at home… snowed under. I woke up early still because somehow my body told me I was suppose to be catching a plane even though my mind knew it was canceled.

While I was thinking of what I could do with my spare time, I realized it: we all get snowed under once in a while -whether it’s the weather or just something that overwhelms us.

So why not embrace it with a sale?

So I decided to create a 24-hour ‘Snowed Under Sale’ to help you get you out of your blizzard and understand some great marketing techniques and tactics. 

For $17, you’ll get 14 reports on topics including Twitter, StumbleUpon, YouTube, Web Copy, Upsells, Product Creation and more.

So join me in my cabin fever. Find out more about my Snowed Under Sale by visiting to http://www.beheardsolutions.com/snow.htm

Now here’s how to create a survey that the media will love.

1. Have plans for the results. In order to benefit from conducting a survey or poll, you have to plan in advance what you want to do with the results. Realize that while some responses may support what you intend to, they won’t always go your way. The best thing to do is to select a survey topic that can be interpreted as a newsworthy fresh angle no matter the outcome.
2. Cover controversy. You should always tie your area of expertise in with current headlines, particularly with a topic of controversy. Take a poll concerning how Americans feel about a heated topic and offer your own interpretation and explanation of the results. For example, relationship expert can capitalize on the recent Tiger Woods scandal and create a survey on what people think he should be doing to help his relationship.
3. Prove them wrong. When faced with survey or polling results opposite of what you had expected, chances are they are the opposite of what most people expected as well. When you prove a known fact or popular belief wrong, it generates curiosity and interest, therefore readers are more likely to be intrigued to read on. I helped a client conduct a survey of area brides. It turned out that most of the brides surveyed were ditching the traditional June wedding for fall dates. The results weren’t expected, but it made for great headlines in the media.
4. Start things off. Surveys and polls help to make your writing much more appealing. Even if you don’t want your release to revolve around statistics, you can add a little zest by starting it off with a face or two. For example, if you’re writing about the benefits of a hypo-allergenic pillow, you can start things off by offering statistics of Americans with allergies or Americans who sleep restlessly. This way, you clearly and strongly demonstrate the commonality of this problem in America and that will likely intrigue Americans to read on.
5. Create visual appeal. One thing that editors love is the visual that poll and survey results can offer. Depending on the type of survey or poll, use either a graph or chart if possible to enhance the presentation of the article. This will entice both editors and readers.

Looking to create a theme for your survey as part of a publicity campaign? Let Shannon help with a 30-minute Publicity Breakthrough session. Most people walk away with at least 6 months worth of PR ideas. Book yours today at http://www.publicitybreakthrough.com

I’ll be sharing more survey tips next time! So stay tuned.

And if you are looking for more help in crafting quality press releases that get media coverage, check out Penny Pinching Publicity.