Today I want to share a thoughtful email I received from one of my subscribers, Rob. His message reflects a challenge that many people face when trying to build an online business, and I hope my reply will help others too.
Here’s what Rob wrote:
“You have so much going on I think, how could I possibly do all that when I am so slow at getting even the simplest things up and running?
I know it does not all happen instantly and you have developed this business of yours over time, but I guess I am asking: What should I do first to focus on as a way of building a list?
I am in LeadsLeap—of course—but I fall down on the advertising side of things. I have started a WordPress site.”
Great questions, Rob—and I appreciate you reaching out!
My Journey: From Overwhelm to Focus
First of all, I completely understand where Rob is coming from. When I started out, I also tried to do too many things at once. Like a lot of beginners, I jumped from program to program, hoping to hit the jackpot.
It wasn’t until 2017 that I got serious about focusing. That’s when I launched my blog Top5Programs.com with the aim of narrowing down to a handful of evergreen tools that truly deliver value. I’ve made some changes to my “top five” over the years, but four of the five programs have been on my “top five” list for several years now.
Back to Rob’s question. Actually, Rob is already in a good position: he’s using LeadsLeap (which has been one of my top five programs since 2017) and Wealthy Affiliate (another of my top five programs since 2017). Both are excellent, evergreen services with which to build an online business.
So, What Should You Focus on First to Build a List?
Here’s my answer in a nutshell:
- Set up a campaign on LeadsLeap focused on one evergreen offer.
- Promote one lead capture page consistently.
- Make building your list your number one goal.
Why? Because sales come from your list, not from randomly throwing affiliate links at ad sites. The key is to build your list first, and nurture it with valuable content.
A Simple Plan to Get Started
Here’s what I recommend:
1. Choose an evergreen offer
Pick something proven. A great option is OLSP (One-Time $7 Offer), where you pay once and earn 100% commissions through their Mega Link. Another good choice is Wealthy Affiliate.
If you prefer, my 100% Commission Funnel uses one lead capture page and follow-up campaign to promote three 100%-commission-paying programs, including OLSP.
2. Create and promote one lead capture page
Create one lead capture page in LeadsLeap and drive all your traffic there. No distractions.
- Post 10 Pro Ads inside LeadsLeap, each pointing to your lead capture page.
- Post a free Leadsleap ad and click 10 or more ads daily to generate traffic (and earn from the daily profit share).
3. Expand to safe lists and traffic exchanges (wisely)
Don’t promote affiliate links directly: always promote your lead capture page.
- Build a portfolio of safe lists. Look out for lifetime upgrade deals to leaverage your traffic-generatiing power.
- If you use traffic exchanges, go for quality. Traffic Ad Bar is my top traffic exchange recommendation.
4. Make promotion part of your daily routine
Track your activity with a simple spreadsheet. List all the ad sites you work with and then check off the ones you used each day:
- Did you post your ads today?
- Did you generate credits on your safe lists?
- Are your best lists topped up with credits?
This will help you stay consistent and organized.
The Big Picture: Build First, Sell Later
Your mission is not to chase sales right away. Focus on building your list. As your list grows, you can send broadcasts about new launches or evergreen offers.
There’s no need to create multiple lists. Just keep adding valuable follow-up emails to your main list autoresponder as you discover new offers that you like.
Final Thoughts
It might look like I have dozens of programs in the air at once. But in reality, I focus on building my list. That’s the engine. I promote one lead capture page and offer value to my subscribers through my emails. In those emails I discuss various programs and strategies, which is why it seems like I have a lot more going on than I actually do.
So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, remember:
- One campaign.
- One lead capture page.
- Consistent promotion.
That’s the path to building a list and a business that works.
If you’d like help setting up your first campaign or want to check out my 100% Commission Funnel feel free to get in touch or explore the resources at Evergreen Funnel Club.
Cheers!
David Hurley
#InspiredFocus