How to Build a List From Scratch In 5 Steps: Step #5

Welcome to Step #5!

Finally, we're here - the fifth and FINAL step.

Also the most fun step of the lot.

Since you're an El Cheapo a budget-conscious marketer, we'll only be using FREE traffic from FB. There's no need for Facebook ads.

Free traffic works well too and converts better, if you do it right. It takes more time and work, but it's worth the effort.

We're only focusing on ONE traffic source here because ONE is all you need initially.

One of my friends, Fred Ferguson, has never launched a product, barely has a YouTube channel, and doesn't use paid ads.

Yet, when it comes to affiliate contests, the old guy can definitely hold his own against far more experienced marketers with HUGE lists.

Here's a sneak peep at some of Fred's stats...

You can see that he won 1 contest and has placed within the top 5 positions for a few other contests too. I'd know... I keep sending him prize money.

Now, some of you skeptics might be thinking, "Ahhh, but Arun, he only seems to be a hit for your launches..."

Wrong! You see the 'AMOC' in one of the contests above?

That's not even my launch. It's for Ben Fletcher's 'Affiliate Marketing On Crack'.

So, Fred did well there too! If I recall right, he has done well for Chris Derenberger's YT Evolution launch too.

Whatever the case, we cannot deny that this 70-year old guy is making money online.

That's the question you should be asking.

He leverages the power of Facebook, my friend.

Half the time even I don't know what he's up to. He creates new FB groups faster than most people change their underwear.

Whatever he's doing, it works for him and he has a small but very loyal tribe. And that's ALL THAT MATTERS.

So, don't tell me that free Facebook traffic doesn't work.

This is a crucial factor and it will make or break you.

Let me tell you this, "You're NEVER too cool to engage on Facebook."

Listen, you'll never be cooler than me. Really.
You just won't... and even I engage on FB. So you better do it too!

There's no other way around it if you want to generate free traffic from this platform.

This is SOCIAL media. That means being social - it means to engage and show an interest in others.

Which reminds me of 2 examples...

I'll give you 2 real-life examples of 2 clowns I know on Facebook and how they got in their own way.

Clown #1

This guy made it known that he ONLY used Facebook for 'business'.

He thought that using social media for fun or socializing was beneath him. In his own head, he was a serious and focused marketer busy forging ahead.

Here's what happened - he never gained traction.

His constant promotional business posts annoyed people after a while... and he got blocked and was kicked out of a few FB groups.

Guess where he is now?

Long gone. There's no news of him anywhere. Probably quit the scene or something.

Clown #2

Clown 2 is around Fred's age - but without Fred's street smarts.

He too thinks that Facebook is for the 'young folk' and he's too serious for it.

It supposedly gets in the way of his productivity, but I know for a fact that this guy is a lazy bum who doesn't do squat.

But in his mind, being humorous and wacky tars one's business image. So he's all stoic and 'mature'.

Guess what?

This guy can BARELY get a single affiliate sale.

In fact, when he had a launch, he got so little traction that he had to ask another marketer to post about his launch for him on his wall.

Why?

Because he has NO REACH... because he's too serious. Too serious to get sales.

Yet, when he needs traffic, he goes to someone else who's active on Facebook. Someone else who understands that engaging on FB can lead to sales.

Don't be like these 2 clowns! Don't get in your own way and sabotage your chances of success!

Facebook is extremely powerful for driving free traffic. Leverage it wisely!

To survive on FB, you must understand one thing - "IT'S ENTERTAINMENT!"

People get on social media to have a laugh and be entertained... though these days they keep arguing with each other.

But on some subconscious level, they're entertained by the vitriolic debate too. It keeps things interesting.

Which is what you must be - INTERESTING.

Your posts must provide value and also be interesting.

Call it 'valuetainment' or 'infotainment' or whatever you want. You have to be creative and imaginative to get attention.

When you share a post, share your opinion along with it.

Your 'voice' must be heard in whatever you do on FB.

Your goal is to get as many people as you can to your landing page.

This will mean sharing the link to your landing every time you get an opportunity to on Facebook (without spamming).

I'll give you a bunch of Facebook strategies below.

Apply them ALL and you'll see your traffic snowball.

Have a cover photo for your personal profile that hints at your business and so on.

Add a link in the cover photo description to your blog, Facebook group, etc.

Make sure your personal profile 'Intro' has links to your site, video channel or whatever you're involved in. (See pic below)

Join several FB groups in your niche. Make sure the groups you join have enough members to make your efforts worth a damn.

Avoid joining more than 5 groups a day. You don't want to get flagged by the FB robots.

Engage, engage, engage - in these groups and provide value.

I'm in the official WarriorPlus Facebook group and I saw a lady I know ranting about what new affiliates were doing and how it was aggravating vendors.

So I contacted the admin of the group, Shane Nathan, and told him I had a free guide that would help new affiliates.

He gave me permission to post it... and I wasn't even trying to sell anything.

There was a real problem and I wanted to help the clueless noobs... ahem... just like how this training is free and... never mind.

So I made this post...

As you can see, it got decent engagement. I have no idea how many people downloaded the book because I didn't track anything.

What you need to understand here is this - you MUST engage and provide value.

Even when there's no direct benefit to you.

Be social. Be helpful. Be fun.

Leverage other people's groups whenever you can.

I'll show you 3 examples...

Chad Eljisr's group, Strategic PLR, has a 'Promo Monday' where you can share links to your opt in pages, products, etc.

Philip Lopez's group, Niches Be Crazy, has a 'Wow Me Wednesday' which is the same thing.

Of course, I have to take things to the next level and mine is called, 'What the Hell You Selling Wednesday!' and you can share links here too.

And I told them not to share shit. Ahem... one can never be too careful.

(Enlarge image)

Anyway, by joining other people's groups, you'll have more opportunities to get traffic to your landing page.

If the group doesn't have this opportunity, don't panic. Just keep providing value and engaging.

Do so for a while until people start recognizing your name and knowing that you share good stuff.

After a few weeks, slowly send friend requests to people in these groups - ESPECIALLY those who like your posts and comments.

It's implicitly understood that since they liked your comment, you probably want to be their friend.

Once again, don't friend a hundred people in one day. Go slow.

Some FB group owners don't even like their members sending each other friend requests. Don't worry about these clowns. Go ahead and make friends.

On your own wall, share posts and links to your blog posts, videos, etc.

You can bet that some of your new friends will be interested in what you're posting because they'll be in the same niche.

Create your own Facebook group. Invite your friends to join your group INDIVIDUALLY. Do NOT send out a mass invite.

Private message the person you're inviting and tell them that you're creating a group.

Since they seem interested in the same topic, you're inviting them to join. This personal touch will work wonders and in most cases, they'll accept.

Create a Facebook fan page and optimize it.

Share content there too. Yes, FB pages have limited reach but you'll still be able to snare a few stragglers.

Look at the example below...

This is a screenshot of a post on a FB fan page - Last Beer Standing.

645 likes, 300 shares... See, fan page traffic is NOT DEAD yet.

Create a fan page for your stuff.

Offer deals in your FB groups and fan pages.

Discounts and special offers will get more people interested in what you're selling. Once they buy your product, they'll end up on your list.

Remember this - Facebook is NOT a long form sales letter.

Unlike Facebook ads where you can blatantly sell - with free traffic, you'll need to be more subtle.

Avoid being too salesy. Instead, be fun and make selling look like an afterthought. Subtlety is everything here.

The content you post must be shareworthy. Don't post rubbish. Be fun but not useless. Unless you're me. But you're not.

Everything affects everything else - negatively or positively. It's up to you.

Give the people what they want. This is one of the most important points.

Some niches like the bodybuilding and cosmetics niches prefer videos over written content.

Other niches such as Kindle publishing and copywriting prefer written content.

The best way to find out will be to initially share different types of content and see which get the most likes and engagement. Now you'll know what your tribe wants.

Have links from your blog, video channel, Pinterest boards, etc. pointing to your Facebook group or profile.

You can even have a pop up or a scroll mat on your blog posts asking people to join your Facebook group.

The difference between Facebook and these other platforms is that you can engage with your tribe on a more personal level.

This builds camaraderie, trust and loyalty.

This is why Fred has such a strong following. He engages with his people often.

Don't be misled or discouraged by metrics such as likes and comments.

Many people are lurkers and some won't like or comment on your posts but they'll still be following what you're doing... and will buy from you.

Keep at it and you'll see people quietly signing up to your list and so on.

Don't let old posts die. Take note of which posts get the most likes and engagement.

You can always publish that same post again 6 months or a year later. In this way, you'll always have content to post if you have no time to create a new one.

Here's something interesting to note - you can say the same thing 10 different ways and people will still be hooked.

I went to the 'AthleanX' YouTube channel.

This guy, Jeff Cavaliere, is one of the biggest names in the fitness scene.

I searched for 'AthleanX biceps'...

These are the videos that showed up. Notice how many videos he has made just to say the same thing in different ways.

Listen, there's only a couple of exercises to build big biceps.

He could say it all in one video or stopped after the first one... but he has made many.

Why?

To get more views, more engagement and more traffic. That's why.

Saying the same thing in different ways will make your content appealing to different people. And it keeps things fresh.

Just look at the 'law of attraction'.

That damn thing has been worked to death and yet, people keep making 'new' content on the same principles.

You'll then have broader appeal and more content.

Well, that wraps up the traffic generation part.

Always use Facebook in moderation.

I follow a method which I like to call 'rapid fire engagement'.

Basically, I get on Facebook for 10-15 minutes, post my content and engage with as many posts as I can.

I answer any questions I get in my private messages and so on.

After 10-15 minutes, I'm out. I can do this anywhere from 3 to 4 times a day. I'm not that busy... ahem... or that serious.

If you spend too much time on Facebook, you'll end up getting sucked into the debates and politics and dumb comments which the unwashed masses leave.

This can not only drain your energy and sap your soul - but also make you dislike the platform.

Like they say, "Hell is other people."

Use FB moderately to drive traffic and have a laugh - but DO NOT take it too seriously.

I know I've given you a ton of information and it may take you a while to digest it all.

That's ok. Take your time with the training and understand it well. Then apply what you've learned.

There's one last thing though...

I know that many of you are wondering how to create Facebook groups and drive traffic with them.

Worry not!

I'm in the process of creating a course on that. Ahem... you'll have to pay for it though.

Remember I told you in Step #1 that I had a congruent offer and plans for you?

Well, this is it. See... I practice what I preach.

My Facebook Group Profits course will be out soon. I'll let you know when it's ready.

Until then, start building your list with the training I've given you here.

I wish you all the best in all that you do.

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